1) dye

If you want to look like the real Elvis Presley, it’s best to start with straight or slightly wavy hair. His jet black hair color was actually dyed as he had naturally blonde hair. The King used a blue-black hair color, but anything relatively dark should be believable. You can get your color done at a salon, or most drug stores will sell a box of hair dye. If you’re having it done at a salon, bring a photo of Elvis that most closely resembles how you’d like to look. That way, the barber can also cut your hair his style. (*If you don’t have hair, you may have to resort to a wig. Any online store that sells clown wigs will also carry Elvis wigs. Just search “clown wigs” or “Elvis wigs” and you’ll be fine.)

2) ointment

Once you’ve taken care of the cut and color, you’ll need some styling products. You can use a gel or an ointment. When the hair is clean and slightly damp, take a good amount of gel and begin to slide the hair back starting at the sides and working towards the top. you’ll want to put the gel only on the topmost layer of your hair, unless yours is very thick. To create a pompadour, you’ll want some volume at the top. An easy way to do this is to comb your hair up and then let it fall back, and also avoid using too much gel. If you are using ointment, you will use a smaller amount and be sure to warm it up in your hands before applying. It works much better this way and gives a more polished look.

3) comb

Now that the product is in your hair, comb the sides back, angled with the angle of hair growth towards the back of the head. Then, comb the top or front part up and back loosely to create Elvis’ signature pompadour. You may need to do this a few times to get it to look exactly right. If you feel like you’re losing significant volume, flip your head, comb all your hair to the floor, straighten, and start again.

4) Shake it off

The only thing missing from your hairstyle now is the little lock of hair that often falls out of the perfect pompadour, completing the portrait of the handsome young man. While your hair is still damp and freshly styled, run the comb through a very small section of hair right in front and it should fall out of the sculpted streamlined hairstyle, adding the perfect amount of humanity and approachability.

5) facial hair

To put the finishing touch on your Elvis hair, you need to shave and trim your sideburns. Although Elvis’s sideburns grew throughout his career, they were never neglected. Once you’ve shaved and shaped how long/big you want your sideburns to be, grab a good pair of clippers and trim the length of your hair down to an acceptable appearance. Following these five steps will get you as close as possible to channeling Elvis’s hair.