I'm looking for someone who can give me advice about hair products and
hair styling. My hair is light coloured, quite thick, and maybe 'cos
my mum cut it when I was little, it grows straight out away from my
head. When most people's hair grows, once it's an inch or so long it
can be gelled so that it can be put into a style. Mine on the other
hand keeps sticking upwards up to about five inches, even if I use
buckets and buckets of extra strength gel, wax, or cream. That just
makes it stick up in little tufts instead. If I let it grow it just
keeps on growing out. I could probably grow a half decent afro (for a
white guy) if I wanted.

The result is that I have to either have long hair (over my ears) so
the weight finally drags it down, or I have to keep it shaved at
around grade two or three. Anywhere in between and I look like I'm
wearing an unusually fluffy crash helmet. None of that matters whilst
I'm a student, but in October I'll be a trainee lawyer, and when that
happens I would actually like to have a hairstyle that doesn't look
ridiculous when coupled with a suit.

So... I'm after products (must be available UK), haircut strategies,
whatever, so long as I don't carry on looking like a convict, or Neil
from the Young Ones.

Many thanks, in advance! I know this is a bit off the beaten path for
Google Answers, but I have great faith in your abilities.

Do they do perms for men in the UK, and have you tried one?

That comment is silly, but only as silly as my question is anyway.
Perm is a possibility for any as-yet-unforeseen lifestyle changes.
I've also considered a mohican.

I have long, thick, curly hair which tends to be very unruly. I've had
good success in taming my wild mop with Aussie Mega Spray Gel. Unlike
many similar products, this stuff does not leave my hair feeling
lacquered and stiff and plastic-ish.

I believe this is sold in the UK, since I found a UK site with users'
opinions:

http://www.uk.ciao.com/reviews/5317242.html

The UK.Ciao site linked above has many such reviews. Perhaps if you
look through them you may see something that looks as if it's worth
trying.

Would it not be possible to wear it about an inch or so long on the
top, spiked up with gel or something, and short at the back? It seems
a pretty typical guy haircut.

How about trying a hair relaxer?  Here's a link to that type of
product in the UK:
http://www.cyberbritain.co.uk/search/cyber.shtml?&mkt=uk&Keywords=HAIR+RELAXERS&dir=0

But probably the best route is to go to a unisex (or even women's)hair
salon for advice.  Good luck