Daley

"Most of my style comes from fictional characters!’

With his curly Johnny Bravo locks, and thick rimmed black Buddy Holly style glasses, it’s hard to miss 23-year-old Manchester born Gareth ‘Daley’ Daley! BBC Radio DJ’s such as Ras Kwame, Same Walker and Jo Wiley have all aired Daley’s music which started with Daley uploading a track (‘Rainy Day’) to BBC Introducing… This led to being shortlisted on the poll for BBC Sound of 2011, appearing at Maida Vale at the BBC Electronic Proms as well as working with Gorillaz, Wretch 32 and touring with Miquel.

His EP ‘Those Who Wait’ was released in 2012 and featured guest vocals by Marsha Ambrosius as well as an acoustic cover of Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin.’ Now, signed with Polydor and Universal Republic Records, the singer-songwriter has just done a duet with Jessie J (‘Remember Me) and his debut album ‘Days and Nights’ is set for release in February/March. Daley is set for big things! If you want to find out how to get hair like Daley simply follow the steps below!

Your hair is amazing, how long does it take you to style it
in the mornings?
It can take 30 – 45 minutes, but I don’t have to do it every day. It’s the kind of style you can sleep on, so once I’ve done it it’s good for about 4 days. So that would average out at 11 minutes a day!

What hair products do you use?
I only really use one product for maintaining the style – hairspray.  Brands I use regularly are TIGI Bed Head, Tresemme and Shockwaves. Tresemme Freeze Hold Hair Spray (£5 for 100ml at Superdrug) keeps everything where you want it. And I sometimes use a wax spray to keep it shiny.

Do you have a ‘grooming’ routine?
Yes, I like to feel fresh and clean at all times, so I wash, exfoliate with a flannel everyday and use a salon shampoo and conditioner. I also hydrate my skin with an emollient moisturiser and finish off with something great smelling.

Have you ever had any style disasters while on tour?
Not so far… touch wood. I play it pretty safe when I’m touring, usually
get my hair styled before I go, and take a hat just in case…!

Daley, how do you feel about beards?
Well I’ve never had a full-on beard. I guess they are generally associated
with older men? Although I’ve seen a few people my age and younger rocking
them recently. I have nothing against beards. Personally whenever my facial
hair gets too long it just becomes ridiculously itchy though, so I don’t
know if I could do it myself.

How do you feel a young guy should stay well-groomed?
I try to make myself presentable at all times, keep my hair trimmed, stubble
neat, smell good, wear something appropriate for what I’m going to be doing
that day. I have my more relaxed days and then days where I step it up, if
I’m doing a big event or show etc. I think it’s safe to say the minimum requirements
of wearing deodorant, clean nails, breath in-check, etc should be adhered to.
It’s consideration for other people if nothing else… !

Who is your all time style icon?
The first person who really caught my eye was Prince, as
extreme as he often was, there was no denying or mistaking his identity.
Aside from him most of my style comes from fictional characters, cartoon villains,
super heroes – striking visual references that I think made their way into my subconscious at a young age and kind of influence the kind of style and clothes I like as an adult.

Be honest, have you caught yourself using women’s products before?
Of course. It was hard not to when I was younger, my Sister and Mum would
leave stuff lying around and I’d just be like… hairspray yeah… I’ll try
that. Moisturiser… quite like that… fake tan… nah actually I’ll leave
it there. And there is something to be said for women’s deodorant, nothing
too feminine but some of them are alright, they just have that clean smell.

What’s your favourite fragrance?
I wear Dior Homme Intense (£49 for 50ml at Debenhams). Again it’s very fresh, clean, not too intrusivend also not something that everyone in the world seems to be wearing – I really don’t like it when I find out I’m wearing the same thing as someone
stood next to me!

Finally, do you have any grooming secrets you’d like to share?
Choose your aftershave / fragrance carefully, because that’s something people
remember you by…!

Originally published on The Grooming Guide