Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. Shaykh, I have two queries.
1. Someone told me that the earnings from a consultancy career are haram. I give motivational speeches in various companies and seminars and get paid for that; is that money haram? Moreover, as a business consultant, people consult me on where to invest their money, is the salary for that haram?
2. Can a man use a hair band, which has like a reverse ‘U’ shape, in order to prevent his hair from going across his forehead? I know that it was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men, and he said, “Throw them out of your houses.” [Al-Bukhaari (5885)] This person, however, is not imitating women; he is merely using it as in order to prevent his hair from going across his forehead.
Please provide me with authentic evidence. Please do not just refer to any similar, related questions. May Allah reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

If the consultations are related to a permissible field, then it is a permissible benefit and it is permissible to take a fee for it, like all other permissible benefits. This is in relation to the first question.

As regards the second question, it is permissible for a man to tie his hair in a way which is not similar to that of women or to that of dissolute people.

However, we draw your attention to the fact that some scholars are of the view that a Muslim should follow the custom of the people of his country in letting his hair grow.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked the following question in Noorun ‘ala ad-Darb: "Is it permissible for a man to let his hair grow long?"

He replied:

"I say, if he fears to cause temptation, as in the case of a handsome young man who may cause temptation if he keeps his hair long, then we say: shave your hair, and do not keep your hair long. But if his hair is normal and it does not lead to temptation, then the correct course of action about that is that a person should follow the custom of his country: if the men there are accustomed to keeping their hair long, then he may keep it long, and if they are accustomed to shortening their hair, then he should shorten it, as this is part of the customs, and it is better for a man to conform to the customs of his country if they are not forbidden."

Allah knows best.