Unlike menswear trends, chopping and changing your hairstyle is generally discouraged. It stands to reason. Few things compare to the crippling fear of returning to school after your mum got trigger happy with the clippers, and that anxiety endures in adulthood. The theory goes: pick a hairstyle that works and cling onto it for dear life.

While it’s understandable to want to disaster-proof your barnet, haircuts are like dairy, and soon after their use-by-date they start to stink. Not convinced? Rod Stewart, Liam Gallagher and Simon Cowell have all stuck to their tried-and-tested styles long after they should have faded into history.

But before you bound down to your local barber, take a look at these five key hairstyle trends for AW17, which have been given the seal of approval by some of the industry’s most follicularly informed experts. This is, literally, cutting-edge style.

Millennial Curtains

Scientifically speaking (probably), back in the nineties any boy band worth their salt spray had at least two curtain-headed members. All that was needed to get the look was a pair of scissors, a steady hand and a ruler.

And just like gum sole sneakers and bum bags, the style is back. “A modern twist on a classic nineties haircut, ‘millennial curtains’ are pretty versatile,” says Denis Robinson, creative director at leading barbershop chain Ruffians.

To make sure you’ve got the AW17 update and not the Backstreet’s Back version, Robinson recommends letting your barber know you want loose, long curtains. “If you don’t currently have enough hair length, they can cut the shape in. Your barber should use a round layering technique to give the hair the shape and texture required.”

As well as marking you out as a man with an eye for the trends, the throwback cut can be used to help round-out pointed facial features. “The style works particularly well for square and rectangular face shapes,” adds Robinson, “but if you have a longer face, then best avoid.” Unless you want to look like Gareth from The Office, of course.