Reading Spiky Hair on Male Idols: Direction, Sections and Height, from Shotaro to Taeyang
CORTIS’s James, RIIZE’s Sohee and Shotaro, NCT’s Taeyong and BIGBANG’s Taeyang show that spikes have more than one rebellious character. Begin with the ends for everyday styling.
Spiky hair separates strands into sections with ends projecting in different directions rather than simply combing the whole head upward. CORTIS’s James, RIIZE’s Sohee and Shotaro, NCT’s Taeyong, BIGBANG’s Taeyang and LONGSHOT’s Kim Ryul range from short black hair to longer pink-blond looks. The useful comparison lies in section thickness, support at the roots, direction at the tips and space around the face. These turn the same idea of “pointed” into different personalities.
For an Everyday Version, Keep Some Fringe and Uneven Directions
RIIZE’s Shotaro keeps black hair, short sides and lightly raised upper tips neat, with a little fringe remaining on the forehead. The example shows that not everything needs the same height: changing the direction of the ends adds detail to an existing outline. With a black jacket, the hairstyle does not overpower the clothes but adds playfulness, making it useful for observing a smaller change.
RIIZE’s Shotaro keeps black hair, a short fringe and selected raised tips neat.
NCT’s Taeyong uses light brown, uneven sections and short pieces falling naturally over the forehead for a looser dimensional effect. Different thicknesses and heights suggest movement rather than fixed teeth. Against a sharply structured leather vest, loose sections contrast with clean clothing edges. Those seeking less stage-like styling can begin with examples that retain some downward-falling hair.
NCT’s Taeyong uses uneven sections and light brown for a looser spiky outline.
Raising Everything and Coloring the Tips Magnify Different Shapes
CORTIS’s James raises the short fringe, crown and sides in multiple directions, exposing the forehead and adding small oval sunglasses for a comic-like playfulness. Black and blond versions differ: darker hair concentrates the silhouette, while light color makes fine sections easier to see. Height is only part of the change; the proportions between the glasses and hair also matter.
LONGSHOT’s Kim Ryul uses dark roots and light tips to clarify the points. Another vivid purplish-red version spreads the top upward like a fan. Color already adds information, so every section need not be equally fine or dense. To understand spikes, first observe how black hair changes direction in light, then decide whether color is needed instead of changing everything at once.
LONGSHOT’s Kim Ryul emphasizes shape through dark roots and light tips.
Long Hair Can Spike Too; Start with Less Product
BIGBANG’s Taeyang places pink and blond in longer sections, lifting the front and sweeping the sides back so movement continues behind the ears to the nape. RIIZE’s Sohee combines pale pink with fuller sections of different widths and a studded jacket for a rock mood. Both show that spiky hair is not a fixed length, but an arrangement of outline and color.
Taeyang extends longer pink-blond sections around the sides and nape.RIIZE’s Sohee pairs pale pink and fuller sections with a studded jacket.
For everyday preparation, build root support while drying, spread a little wax evenly across the palms, use fingers to organize the whole shape, then pinch selected ends. Matte products suggest a drier finish, while glossy wax or gel defines sections more sharply. Adding gradually retains more air than applying a heavy amount at once. When showing a stylist photographs, identify whether you like direction, height or color, allowing your actual length and styling time to help decide the result.
