Mark Grayson’s hair always looks as though it was going somewhere sensible until one piece changed its mind. The sides are neat. The top sweeps back. Then a lock drops over his forehead and gives the whole cut its character.
On the Invincible subreddit, one fan posted six pictures of Mark and asked what his haircut was called. Another wanted to know how to get hair like his after friends suggested it would suit him. The answers went from short back and sides to low taper fade, with one commenter pointing out that the drawn version changes shape from panel to panel. Look at the six pictures again and you can see how everyone arrived at a different answer. The haircut thread · A fan asks how to get the look
Why fans are looking for the Mark Grayson haircut
You can buy the costume. The haircut takes a conversation.
Part of the appeal is how little of the character you need to borrow to make the look your own. Take away the yellow mask and you still have a quiff you could wear to work. In the drawings, a few strokes of black ink give the top enough height to change Mark’s silhouette. In the barber’s chair, that translates to length at the front, weight around the temples and room for the fringe to fall. The panel can exaggerate all three. Your hair only needs enough of each for the shape to read.
That’s also why the reference matters. In one drawing, the front is high and sharply swept back. In another, it’s looser and you see more of the piece over the forehead. For an everyday version, pick the softer reference. It gives your barber a clearer idea of where the front should sit once you leave the shop and have to do it yourself.
Who is Mark Grayson?
Mark is the teenager at the centre of Invincible, the comic created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. Ryan Ottley joined early and drew much of the run. Steven Yeun voices Mark in the Prime Video adaptation. At 17, Mark develops powers inherited from his father, Omni-Man, and starts learning how to be a superhero while he’s still in high school. He can fly before he’s figured out what kind of man he wants to be. Skybound’s comic history · Prime Video’s guide to Invincible
The haircut suits him. The sides look tidy enough for a school photo. The front looks like he got there in a hurry.
What to ask your barber for
Ask for a textured, side-swept quiff with a low taper. Show the frame where the top is swept back and one piece comes forward, then say:
> “Keep the taper low around my ears and neckline and leave some weight at the temples. I want texture on top and enough length at the front to lift it up and sweep it back. Leave me a piece I can wear loose over my forehead.”
Three to four inches at the front is a useful starting point. Ask your barber to judge the length by how your hair sits dry. Fine, straight hair usually needs less weight through the front to get that lift. Wavy hair may need a little extra length so it can settle into its natural bend. Thick hair can benefit from taking bulk out through the top while keeping the hairline long enough to sweep back.
Before you leave, ask your barber to show you which way they dried it. Knowing that direction can save you a week of trying to make your fringe go the other way.
How to style it with Hairbond Drifter
Hairbond Drifter Professional Hair Crème gives the quiff light hold, a natural sheen and enough movement to reshape the front with your fingers. Build the lift with the dryer, then use Drifter to finish. See Hairbond Drifter Professional Hair Crème
1. Lift the roots. Start with towel-dried hair. Use your fingers to lift the front while blow-drying on medium heat.
2. Sweep it diagonally back. Follow the direction your hair naturally falls. Once the front has the height you want, give it a short blast of cool air.
3. Apply a little Drifter. Rub a pea-sized amount between your palms. Start at the back and work lightly through dry hair. Use what’s left on your fingertips at the front.
4. Let one piece fall. Pinch a small section at the hairline and ease it towards one eyebrow. If the whole fringe comes with it, sweep the top back and try a smaller section.
If the quiff goes flat as soon as you add product, use less crème next time and spend a little longer drying the roots. Check the shape from the side. Once you can see the rise at the front and one lock falling loose, leave it there. That’s the detail the fans were trying to name.