The 21 Best Haircuts For Men
A stylish haircut is a meaningful choice for men who want to boost their confidence, enhance their appearance and be relentless in their pursuits, elevating both their look and mindset. Although trends shift over time, the best men's hairstyles are timeless, attractive and versatile, making them suitable for any texture, lifestyle and occasion. Subtle but powerful, the perfect cut combined with simple styling can make all the difference in how you present yourself, whether you're a young teenage guy or a seasoned business professional.
From classic to modern, here are some of the most popular haircuts for men that will allow you to look fresh, feel great and carry yourself confidently after a visit to your barber.
Attractive, Popular Men’s Hairstyles
French Crop
A French crop is a short, textured haircut featuring an inch or two of length on top with shorter hair at the sides and back, making it a versatile and classically handsome choice for modern men. The style typically highlights a fringe that appears blunt from a distance but has jagged ends up close. Shorter French crops mimic styles worn by military service members, while longer variations tend to indicate a more dapper or sometimes rugged presence.
This stylish men's cut dates to the 20th century, popularized by the European military when it was much shorter. French artists and intellectuals adopted the style a few decades later, and today, a slightly longer version is trending with men in their 20s, 30s and early 40s, offering a chic, low-maintenance look.
Use a texturizing clay or matte pomade with a light to medium hold to achieve a natural style that enhances fullness and flow while providing some control.
Flow Hairstyle
The flow is a trendy, longer men's hairstyle embodying natural volume and texture, delivering sex appeal and masculine charm as the hair flows back. The style can be slicked back, tousled or parted in the middle with thick curtain bangs to frame the face. Wearing the cut with a clean-shaven face will highlight youthful facial features while pairing it with a full, well-groomed beard can be the perfect choice for rugged men.
It has become an iconic go-to style for men of all ages – especially those who prefer a casual look suitable for most occasions. To style, apply a sea salt spray for texture and then use a clay product made with beeswax to infuse a light hold without drying out your locks. Blow dry to create the perfect style and flow.
Quiff
A quiff is a modern men's hairstyle featuring thick, textured hair in the front with a brushed-up finish to achieve volume and height. This stylish, classy look generally pairs well with a short taper or fade on the sides to complement the longer hair on top, offering a versatile cut suitable for casual and formal occasions alike.
Classic variations provide balanced contrast for a professional vibe, and contemporary styles can be sleek and sexy with an edgy touch. The most famous rockabilly quiff involves a vintage look that channels the unique style of the late Elvis Presley.
The quiff requires daily styling and regular trims to maintain its freshness, and styling products can vary depending on personal preference. Texturizing clay or putty offers a low shine, natural approach, but a glossy pomade can create a refined, formal finish.
Crew Cut
The crew cut is a classic short men's haircut involving closely-cropped sides and slightly longer hair on top, providing a masculine, versatile and low-maintenance look suitable for most men. Modern variations exhibit tapers or fades to contrast the short style and some barbers may incorporate a slightly longer fringe for a side-swept finish.
The cut can be brushed forward, spiked up, combed over or parted with a styling product to complement your style and the occasion. Add a slightly longer fringe for a more personalized side-swept finish, or keep it classic for a polished, classy look with minimal effort.
The simple crew cut hairstyle, a military-inspired look, can be the perfect choice for guys who prefer a fresh, polished appearance that requires minimal effort.
To style, use a high-hold product like clay or paste to create a tousled style or short spikes. Apply a pomade to achieve a side part or sweep the fringe over for a classy appearance.
Modern Mullet
The modern mullet is a bold, trendy hairstyle that transforms the vintage "party in the front; business in the back" aesthetic with some cool, contemporary features. The short taper fade or skin fade cut on the sides pairs with the longer, textured hair on top and at the back to achieve a rebellious, fashion-forward style. The latest mullet variations can be brushed back and layered, thick and messy, short and spiky, long and flowing, or curly, offering an excellent medium for self-expression. This fresh look can be a game-changer for some guys.
Pair the mullet with a full beard for a masculine, mature persona or keep your face clean and youthful.
To style, start with clean, towel-dried hair and apply a spritz of sea salt spray or a texturizing product like clay, adding grit and natural volume. With longer hair, use a blow dryer to maximize flow and texture. Use a matte pomade or paste to shape your mullet for a stylish look, locking in the general structure while maintaining a flexible feel. For curls, apply a light-hold styling cream to define and control your strands without weighing them down.
Curly Hair Fade
A curly hair fade is a popular haircut style for modern guys that involves a short blended cut on the sides and back to contrast the thick, longer curls on top, providing natural movement and body.
This cut can be playful and rebellious with a mid-to-high skin fade or professional and polished with a low taper fade. Bouncy curls in front look more voluminous with a higher fade, while shorter, tighter curls look classically handsome with a low fade.
Mod Cut
The mod cut is a fun, funky men's hairstyle with roots in 60s-era British culture and showcases long, textured hair at the sides, back and top, often featuring a thick, short fringe in the front. The retro-inspired style is versatile and allows for various lengths, layers and styling flexibility. The modern variant comes with short, wispy bangs and long sideburns, while the short mod carries a more refined, chicer vibe.
With so many options available, the cut suits almost any hair type or personality with proper adaptation. Shorter, more polished styles are professional enough to wear to the office, while longer, more casual versions are better for those who don't mind being the center of attention.
Comb Over
A comb over is a classic style that involves sweeping most of the hair on top across the crown from a deep side part. Most people associate the comb over with a sleek and timeless finish, but modern versions incorporate a wide range of features for personality and flair.
Leaving the hair long on top and pairing it with a buzzed or shaved undercut creates a head-turning, audacious style, while a textured comb over emphasizes expert layers for a casual, almost playful result. The classic version is neat and clean-cut, featuring a well-defined part and a touch of shine.
Textured Fringe
Thanks to its effortlessly casual appearance, a textured fringe is a welcomed addition to many men's styles. Depending on hair type and personal preference, the fringe can be messy, curly, or angular, with each option offering a slightly different vibe. Many men use the technique to add natural movement and flow to their hair without excess maintenance or styling.
To maintain a textured fringe, men visit their barbers regularly for trims and use appropriate styling products to achieve their desired results. Sea salt sprays and texturizing pomades lend extra body and volume, while mousse defines curls and adds lift.
Slick Back
A slick back is a sophisticated, dapper style adaptable to various hair lengths and types. The classic slick back calls for medium-length hair on top paired with tapered hair at the sides and back. Applying a high-shine pomade to damp hair before combing the front and top sections straight back creates a vintage comb texture while using a matte pomade or wax leads to a more relaxed, effortless look.
Wolf Cut
A wolf cut is an edgy, versatile look that combines two vintage styles: the shag and the mullet. The cut features thick, well-defined layers on top and feathered, textured ends for stark contrast. The classic version introduces shorter layers at the crown that gradually become longer as the hair moves out and back, but adding curtain bangs or a textured fringe can completely change the dynamic.
Styling products like mousse, styling wax, or pomade can help to define individual layers, leading to a choppy, punkish appearance. A blow dryer with a diffuser attachment is essential for men with tight waves or curls, as it enhances natural texture without frizz.
Faux Hawk
A faux hawk is a youthful, energetic style designed to mimic the appearance of a mohawk without the dramatic difference in length. The cut features longer hair in a strip from the forehead to the crown and shorter hair at the sides and the back. Men often experiment with different lengths, colors, and shaved designs to personalize the cut.
Opt for a shorter faux hawk with a fade at the sides and back for a cleaner, more professional look. For an edgier appearance, leave the hair on top longer and create thick, chunky spikes with styling gel or paste or a strong pomade.
Buzz Cut
A buzz cut is an iconic, low-maintenance haircut style with extremely short hair all over the head. Simple and effortlessly masculine, the buzzed haircut is popular with young men, athletes, military members and busy dads who want to exert minimal effort. The modern aesthetic pairs a high fade on the sides, blended into the skin, to contrast the buzz on top, achieved with a clipper.
The induction cut, the shortest variation, requires a number one or no clipper guard, resulting in hair not much longer than stubble. Ask your barber for a butch cut to get a longer style and additional coverage. Personalize the aesthetic with a low, mid or high fade at the sides to suit your head shape and facial features.
The Shag
The shag is a funky, stylish choice popularized in the 1970s due to its relaxed, casual appearance. Numerous layers in varying lengths make up the brunt of the cut, and they can be adapted to suit any hair texture, from stick-straight tresses to tight curls. The slightly messy, tousled finish is playful and energetic, and adding a few face-framing layers adds even more dimension.
High and Tight
The high and tight is extremely popular in the military, particularly among Marines, due to its low-maintenance nature and polished appearance. The clean and tidy cut features short hair on top and shaved or buzzed hair at the sides and back, making it suitable for date nights, board meetings, or athletic events.
For versatility, some men opt for a slightly longer top, with or without a low quiff. A fade can also transform the look by creating a more subtle transition between the top and sides. Though the cut requires minimal styling, frequent trims are essential for maintaining the shape and definition.
Curtains
Curtains are long bangs typically parted in the center or at the side. Popularized by Hollywood in the 90s, the style continues to evolve with newer, more contemporary features. Some common kinds include layered medium-length waves, curls or long, beachy waves. Short, messy curtains add an adventurous flair for men who prefer to push fashion boundaries.
Side Part
A side part is classic men's hairstyle reserved for the modern gentleman who wants to exude timeless sophistication and elegance. The modern part starts with a short taper or fade on the sides and back with longer hair on top, which must be combed to the side to show off a natural part.
The part can be subtle, thick or prominently shaved and the hair in front can be spiked or swept like an Ivy League style. The style is ideal for men interested in an aesthetic that combines iconic and contemporary elements, delivering a polished and professional appearance.
Messy Hair
Messy hair can be playful, casual, flirtatious, or a mix of all three, depending on personal preference. The tousled bedhead appearance is sexy and fun yet still fashionable. Texture and volume are the key characteristics of messy styles; both are easy enough to amplify through careful layering and styling. Styling products may or may not be required, but most messy cuts look best when combed through with the fingertips.
Mohawk
The mohawk is a modern, adventurous haircut for edgy guys who want to stand out as non-conforming individuals with flair. The style emphasizes a central strip of longer hair that runs from the nape to the forehead, paired with shaved or buzzed sides for sharp contrast. The style is rooted in punk culture, designed to turn heads and create shock value. Modern versions are versatile enough to allow for a wide range of styles.
A mohawk fade, offering a less audacious approach, creates a subtler transition between lengths and can be more versatile, allowing guys to show off their personalities at weddings and less conservative work events. A short mohawk maintains the stark differences in lengths with a more subdued finish.
Spiky Hair
Spiky hair is dynamic and bold, ready to be incorporated into various men's cuts and styles. The spikes can be short and homogenous for a more professional, refined appearance, but they can also be thick, chunky, and sharp for a more daring approach to the look. Add a taper fade for a gentler transition to the shorter hair at the sides and back, or for maximum edginess, create spikes all over, including the sides and back.
Pompadour
A pompadour is a classic, chic hairstyle featuring a thick section of hair just behind the forehead swept upward and backward. The hair forms a pomp that is typically longer than the rest of the hair, infusing a voluminous element. Keep the top tall for the classic 50s version and slick the sides back. Opt for a fade or undercut for contrast for a more modern look.