Admit it, it was once pretty easy to dismiss Harry Styles: just another boy band clone, famous for fifteen minutes and headed for same scrapheap as every other X Factor contestant. The next thing you know, he goes from being one fifth of arguably the biggest band in the world to standing on his own as a solo artist, clocking up the accolades including a BRIT award, a Rolling Stone cover, a Gucci campaign and a revolving selection of hot women on his arm. And that’s before we get into his glorious head of hair. How the hell did it happen?

In 2010 Harry, a 16-year-old from Cheshire, stepped up to the mic to sing Stevie Wonder’s ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ to the UK’s X Factor panel. He failed to light up the soloist category, so judge Nicole Scherzinger moved him into the group category along with four other unknowns: Niall, Liam, Louis and Zayn. One Direction was born and they finished in third place. Not that it mattered. 1D were ridiculously successful overnight, making millionaires of the quintet before they could even buy a beer.

Of the five, Harry Styles stood out as the one-to-watch: with the star quality of a young Mick Jagger and the originality that British rock stars are famous for the world over. He has wit, he has charm. And, of course, he has very good hair.

Top stylists Tyler Johnston and Oliver J Woods help us break down a short history of Harry Styles’ best hairstyles (try saying that after a few drinks), while giving the lowdown on how you can replicate each look.

The Harry Styles Wavy Mop

From the audition days, Styles favoured a heavy mop with an exaggerated side sweep. At times wavy, at times curly, it worked like catnip on his fans and helped cement his tween heartthrob status. It also attracted Caroline Flack, Xtra Factor presenter, 14 years his senior. It looked like he was punching above his weight …until he moved on to Taylor Swift.