Once upon a time, short-haired, clean-cut men ruled the pages of fashion magazines, celebrity photo spreads and glossy ads. But then one day, Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant grew out his hair into a glorious, hip Afro. Tom Cruise dazzled audiences in the 1999 film Magnolia with his long, unkempt hair. Women swooned over New York Knick Latrell Sprewell, with his tres cool cornrows.

And just a few months ago, the Backstreet Boys unveiled their new look, with two members projecting rugged manliness through their sleek, long Fabio-esque tresses.

Gentlemen, it appears the time has come to let your hair down or at least grow it out and attempt the unkempt.

For years, buzz cuts, shaved heads and neat, short trims dominated the fashion front lines of men's hair. But those concepts of cool men's cuts are now so 1990s.

The new buzzwords in men's hair are big, long, tousled, edgy and seductively rebellious. And here's a tip: You're not going to inspire any of those descriptions with a short, choirboy cut.