Even in that Silicon Hills den of iniquity where you reside, wolf, ponytails are passe'. It's a conservative world we live in. <shrug>
The shorter the better (for us). I can get out of the shower, squeeze a bead of gel in my hand, wipe it through, push it forward and I'm done. 10 seconds tops. No blowdryer, no hairspray, no mousse, no bs.
Have him go for the Julius Caesar look: