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Hello there.
General Obi Wan Kenobi is a fan favourite in the Star Wars community.
Fans enjoy his memorable lines, dad jokes, and his appreciation for short negotiations.
However, like most Jedi, he uses his grooming and personal style as a weapon to help aid his objective of peace.
In this article, I will delve into Obi Wan’s hair and beard, and clothing style, and how you can bring aspects of it into your wardrobe.
Obi Wan’s Hairstyles
Obi Wan Kenobi’s style evolves over the duration of the Star Wars films, and his hair is no exception. That said, I would consider some styles more ‘successful’ than others.
Obi Wan Kenobi’s Episode 3 Long Hair
- Name: Medium length left sided part.
- Shine: Low
- Hold: Medium
- Length: Medium
- Formality: Low to Medium
- Key Elements: The subtle looseness of the hairstyle, and the longer length on the sides and back.
- Hair Type of Original Inspiration: Ewan McGregor looks to have fine hair.
- Essential Recommended Product: Matte & medium hold, such as Shear Revival Northern Lights Matte Paste (Links to Amazon)
Obi Wan’s definitive hair style, that he sported in Episode 3, is a medium length left sided part with longer sides, with a medium hold, and low shine. This results in a low to medium formality hair style, that’s defined by a subtle looseness.
The change from a messy, to a more structured style, represents the shift in his character from a padawan learner, to a Jedi Master and military General.
What’s more, a 1999 study proposed that the side that you part your hair has an effect on “perceived personality traits, self-perception and self-development”.
The theory states that a part on the left side of the head draws unconscious attention to activities typically associated with masculinity: discipline, productivity and logical reasoning.
On the other hand, a right part is said to convey more typically feminine traits such as creativity and emotion.
In other words, according to this study, by parting your hair on the left, you are constantly radiating Jedi mind tricks!
How to Get the Look
The Cut
In my opinion, the defining element of this hairstyle is that it’s on the longer side, especially on the sides and back.
Consequently, to get this hairstyle, you will have to grow your hair out until you have 3.5-4″ on top, and 1.5-2″ on the sides and back, whichever you manage to get to last.
After this, you will probably want to, or need, to go to the barber for a tidy up. At this point, you’ll ask them to keep the length of either the top, or sides and back the same, depending on which are currently at the correct length, and trim the other part down to the required lengths.
For example, if I managed to grow my sides out to 1.5″, but I had 5″ on top due to my old hairstyle, I will get the barber to leave the sides, and take me down about 1″ on the top, to 4″.
Moreover, during this tidy up, to get your hair as close to the style as possible, I would ask them to blend the top into the sides, and to cut your hair with scissors. Additionally, for general maintenance, it’s always good to ask your barber to cut off your split ends.
And, as always, I would highly recommend to bring a picture with you, to make it 100% clear what you’re looking for.
The Styling
- Dampen your hair with water.
- If you have one you swear by, apply your pre-styling product. If you’re like me, and have fine hair, I apply Aveda Thickening Tonic, to give the final result a boost of thickness.
- With the hair still slightly damp, emulsify a medium/high hold matt product, and apply it to your hair from the roots to the tips, pushing back. I find Shear Revival’s Northern Lights Matte Paste perfect to get that natural, healthy, matt finish, with a medium hold.
- With a good comb, find a natural hair parting on your head, and part your hair, slicking it back and to the sides. My absolute favourite comb (of all time) is from Percy Nobleman.
- I would recommend using your fingers to comb the hair into direction while using a hair dryer on high speed, and medium heat to speed up the drying process, and to activate the products.
- If required, brush the sides of your hair back with a hair brush, and make the parting more definitive. I’ve been using Denman’s hair brush for 10+ years; in fact, my mum even uses one she’d had since I was born! You may also want to pull your hair down slightly, to get the diagonal flop that Kenobi sports.
Recommended Products For This Look
The key product you’ll need for this hair style will leave your hair with a matte or low shine finish, with a medium hold. For this look, and a majority of my other favourite hair styles, I’m currently loving Shear Revival Northern Lights Matte Paste (Links to Amazon), for a healthy, neat finish, with a good hold.
Depending on your hair type and the quality of your current styling tools, you may want, and need, to invest in additional styling aids that will help you get the look you want, such as pre-stylers (to address issues with various hair types, that prevent a good look), and high quality combs and brushes.
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Example Result
Using the above cut and styling instructions, and the products I’ve recommended (yes, I actually have and use them, surprise!), I’ve managed to achieve the following:
In my opinion, this result is fantastic, and is 90% accurate (bare in mind, it’s almost impossible to get the exact same hairstyle, for many reasons: his hair even changes slightly from scene to scene!)
In the original reference photo for this style, he perhaps has it slightly longer on the sides, but not by much. But as you can see, the sides are definitely long enough, and elegantly ‘puff’ out like the original. Moreover, my hair is correctly rather flat on top, and has a slight floppy overhang between the top and sides, instead of being swept completely back.
One thing I neglected to do was go to the barber for a tidy up, as my hair was at the exact perfect length on the top and sides. Consequently, I do have some split ends, which I’d usually ask to be removed by cutting off the tips of the hair, and the hair at the bottom of my neck isn’t perfectly neat, like in the films.
Oh, and, I part my hair on the right, as this is naturally where my hair parts (it looks like a trash compactor if I do it on the other side).
Obi Wan Kenobi’s Episode 2 Long Hair
In episode 2, Obi Wan sported a mullet, of sort…
But, it’s not the 1980s anymore, so I wouldn’t recommend trying to replicate this, and would urge you to stick to his episode three styling.
Obi Wan’s Beard and Grooming
Obi Wan’s Episode 3 Beard
Obi Wan’s beard is simply known as a “full beard” – there is no specific distinction.
The key though, is that it is well-kept.
Alike Obi Wan, you must make sure that any beard you grow is groomed – this shows that you are fully in control of your appearance.
How to Get the Look
To be able to achieve something like Obi Wan’s beard, you should invest in a good beard trimmer or razor, and regularly clean up any hairs on your neck.
To find the boundary you should shave off, place your index finger on your left lower jaw bone and then, keeping pressure on your skin, draw a line to your right lower jaw bone.
You should notice that your finger curves around your neck.
Trimming excess hairs below this line will not only neaten your appearance, but also give your jaw the illusion of being stronger.
Besides, if you can’t control the hair on your face, how can you control the force?
Here are some good tips on how to grow a full beard.
Obi Wan Kenobi’s Clothing and Style
Though we see him in unrelatable, other worldly clothing, there are a few style cues that we can take from Kenobi, that have a, at least semi, functional purpose.
Light Earth Colours
Obi-Wan is a quietly confident character.
His style further displays this – more specifically, his use of light earth colours like ecru.
Even though in most tactical situations light colour is not good camouflage, Obi-Wan is so confident in his ability that he believes he doesn’t need it.
It is almost as if he wants to be seen, as he believes his presence will strike fear into his enemy.
Furthermore, in this particular Clone Wars outfit, he is wearing similar armour to those he is commanding in the Clone Trooper legions.
The choice to emulate part of the uniform of those who are serving him showcases the humbleness of his character.
He relates to his subordinates, and does not place himself at any higher importance.
From this, we can take away a few things:
- Wearing clean and light earth colours is an exceptional way to make any outfit pop.
- Do not over-dress or out-dress people to the point when you alienate them.
- You don’t have to drastically dress above subordinates to convey authority – the way you act and your leadership should be the main indicator of rank.
A Built Up Chest
Obi-Wan’s style throughout the films features strong and structured shoulders.
This gives the appearance of a V shape, builds up his chest, and is a classic indicator of strength and masculinity.
To add to this, the V shape of his neck opening and contrasting earthy brown adds visual interest to the area, drawing attention to the face.
How to Get the Look
The most effective method is to exercise your chest and shoulder muscles, so it doesn’t just look more like a V – it actually is!
However, you can create the effect by adding visual bulk, by wearing any type of jacket with structured shoulders.
You could bring in some neck wear, like a scarf, to draw attention to your face.
This is the perfect item to experiment with, and can become a defining feature of your style.
Moreover, if the weather doesn’t warrant either of the above, a properly fitted V-neck t-shirt should do the trick.
Obi Wan Kenobi’s Accessories
Dual Tone Lightsaber
“Don’t mix your metals.”
This general style rule refers to not mixing the colour of metals in your outfit, for example, a gold watch paired with a silver belt buckle.
Admittedly, Obi Wan did stick to this general rule for his first two.
But rules are made to be broken.
Although it is unlikely that you will be walking around with a lightsaber on a daily basis, there are many ways you can implement dual tones into your outfit.
The easiest way to do this is through jewellery, such as brass and silver cufflinks, or a bracelet.
They are unique pieces that make a statement without drawing too much attention – the Jedi way.
Burgundy Boots
Something that has always stood out to me from Obi-Wan’s style is his burgundy boots.
They’re awesome.
With both Obi Wan actors coming in at 5 foot 8, boots can also give them the… high ground.
But you’re going to have to be pretty confident to pull off knee high boots in today’s age.
The good new is that there are contemporary alternatives, such as these dreamy Chelsea boots from Thomas Bird.
Burgundy is such an under used colour in menswear, especially when it comes to footwear.
If you incorporate burgundy footwear into your ensemble, I can almost guarantee you a flood of complements.
The Low Down…
So, now you know how to dress like Obi Wan Kenobi: we have covered Obi Wan’s beard and hair, and how he uses his clothing to project power and authority.
In emulating his style, you will become more authoritative and liked.
And who doesn’t want that?
