Key Short Haircut Terms
Understanding key words before your visit to the barber can make a big difference. Knowing the lingo helps you communicate exactly what you want and ensures the barber gives you the right cut. It’s worth learning these so there’s no confusion during the process.
Fade
This style is popular and creates a smooth transition from very short to longer hair. It blends the back and sides seamlessly, often with a skin fade for a clean look. This technique ensures a neat, balanced finish while keeping the style cool and low-maintenance.
Taper
Tapering blends shorter sides and back with longer lengths on top using clippers and scissors. It creates a smooth transition from short to long, offering a clean and polished look that’s both fresh and easy to manage.
Taper Fade
Blends short sides with longer hair on top, creating a sharp, clean look. It’s often paired with styles like a pompadour or Ivy League, giving a graduated and smooth transition. Perfect for those wanting a bold yet easy-to-maintain style.
Shape Up
Involves cleaning up the hairline by cutting along its natural lines, removing stray hairs to create a precise, straight line. It helps achieve a sharp and neat look, as seen with Drake’s hair, and requires regular maintenance to stay fresh.
Undercut
It features short buzzed sides with longer hair on top, offering a clean, contrasting appearance. The back and sides are much shorter than the top, making it a simple yet stylish choice for easy maintenance.
Disconnect
For a bold, modern look, go for a disconnected haircut with different lengths of hair. The sides contrast with longer hair on top, and there’s no way to connect the two. It’s perfect for a clean yet standout look, with minimal effort needed.
Picking A Short Haircut For Your Face Shape
Choosing a new haircut involves picking a style that complements your face shape and feels right for you. It’s about finding a balance between what looks good and what makes you feel comfortable.
Classic Low-Maintenance Haircuts For Guys
Buzz Cut
A low-effort, masculine style that’s easy to maintain. Whether you go for a fade or a uniform cut with clippers, it offers a sleek look. Adding a clean line on the hairline and a groomed beard gives it a polished finish, with the faded sides adding extra sharpness.
Crew Cut
This stylish cut features short hair on top with tapered, faded sides, offering an easy-to-style, versatile look. It suits all face shapes and hair types, and works for both casual and professional settings. A subtle side part and a small amount of matte pomade can create a modern vibe, making it perfect for any occasion.
Curly Hair Fade
A fade on the sides highlights the bouncy curls on top, creating a handsome, well-defined look with minimal effort. Just apply curl-enhancing cream or mousse to damp hair, scrunch, and air dry for a shiny, simple style.
Short Brush Up
This cut features shorter hair on the sides and back, with longer hair on top, styled upward and forward for a sharp, masculine look. It’s quick to style with wax or cream, offering a clean-shaven and professional finish. Ideal for both casual and formal occasions, it creates a balanced shape in just a few minutes.
French Crop
The haircut features hair that falls forward from the crown into a clean, slightly jagged fringe. With a high or mid fade on the sides and back, it creates contrast. Use sea salt spray on towel-dried hair, brush forward, and tousle with fingertips to separate sections for an effortless finish.
Hard Comb Over Fade
For a clean-cut, this style uses pomade to style the hair to one side from a prominent part, with the front flowing upward and slightly back. The sides and back feature a gradual fade, making it ideal for both professional and casual. The result is a classy, streamlined.
High and Tight Fade
It blends masculinity and simplicity with a number two, three, or four guard for the top and a skin on the sides and back. It offers manageability and personal style. Adding a shaved line part can give it an edgy touch without sacrificing the overall feel.
Short, Spiky Hair with Fade
For a distinctive appearance, choose feathery spikes on top, while the sides and back are shorter, creating contrast. The hair flows upward and forward at the crown, with a gentle curl back near the forehead. A drop fade adds definition, and a groomed beard balances the overall look.
Butch Cut Fade
A minimalist style with hair on top that fades to the skin at the sides and nape, ideal for busy individuals like athletes or those seeking zero styling time, it requires minimal upkeep. Customize it with a line up at the hairline, or add a shaved design on the side for an edgier look, paired with a full, well-groomed beard for extra flair.
Cool Low-Maintenance Short Men’s Haircuts
Textured Quiff
Longer layers on top with well-groomed beard enhance masculinity, while the style’s natural flow helps to hide imperfections without needing precise care. It’s perfect for those seeking a bold yet refined style.
Short Curls
For a practical and stylish look, easy to manage and prevent breakage and tangling. The cropped length keeps hair healthy while the natural pattern hides growth between trims, saving time and money. Use curl cream or mousse to add moderate shine, providing separation and definition, and either air dry or use a diffuser attachment for a quicker dry.
Mohawk Fade
The mohawk fade combines unique dimension and a burst fade for boldness, offering both natural and structured styles. A rugged touch is added with a beard.
Undercut
Longer hair on top with buzzed or shaved sides creates a noticeable contrast. Hair can be slicked-back or side-swept, and a deep part can be used to personalize. It’s a trendy, sharp cut with disconnected edges that offers both refined and edgy appeal.
Braids
These hairstyles are a powerful way to express individuality and connect with cultural heritage. While they require time at the salon, they need little upkeep and last for weeks or months. With added touches like line-ups, they can be customized to fit your look. They also protect hair from environmental damage, making them a practical and long-lasting choice.
Short, Messy Hair with Taper Fade
The textured style with tapered sides offers refinement, while a feathery, wispy fringe grazes the brow, giving a youthful, carefree finish with just a touch of sea salt spray and styling clay.
Temp Fade with Line Up
A clean cut blends modern flair and precision. The buzzed short hair at the sides with a low skin-faded cut at the temples is paired with textured top light waves. A crisp edge up on the hairline and jawline adds a refined touch, while a short stubble beard brings rugged masculinity. Minimal effort is needed beyond regular trims and daily brushing to maintain this sharp style.
Long Buzz Cut Fade
A buzzed haircut with a low is a clean and easy to maintain option, created with a size two guard and a taper at the sides. This cut gives a fuller effect, especially when paired with a full beard, offering a thicker, soft, and sophisticated feel. It’s a simple, yet fresh, low-maintenance choice.
Textured Crew Cut Fade with Blunt Fringe
This edgy style offers a minimal upkeep option with longer hair on top falling from the crown and ending in a short blunt fringe, while a high skin fade on the sides contrasts with the thicker hair in front. A quick brush or comb is all that’s needed to maintain it.
Shaved Sides
Shaving the sides and leaving the hair longer on top creates a bold contrast that adds height and volume. Pairing this with a faux hawk fade gives the hairstyle extra dimension, and a dense beard can balance the overall look, making it both sharp and stylish.
Afro Fade
The natural hair is styled with a mid-length textured afro that fades into stubble around the ears and nape. The edge up along the forehead adds height and lift, giving a striking top appearance. Use moisturizer and curl-enhancing oils or creams for healthy hair, and styling only takes minutes.
Regular Cut with Low Drop Fade
The evenly cut hair on top and a razored drop fade on the sides and back. The longer hair in front contrasts with the shorter hair around the ears and temples. Clean edges at the hairline and temples complete the finish with a refined touch.
Attractive Low-Maintenance Men’s Medium Hairstyles
Layered Flow
For those looking for a look with length and movement, a cut offers a dynamic appearance. It works well for waves, enhancing natural hair while minimizing styling time. The face-framing fringe draws attention to the eyes, and the cut can be worn tousled for a casual vibe or slicked back for a more professional finish, making it perfect for both formal events and everyday wear.
Slick Back Fade
The style features longer hair at the front and a gradual decrease in length toward the crown. The mid on the sides adds contrast, creating the illusion of extra. With the right styling clay and some brushing, it’s quick to achieve and works well for both young and professional men.
Shaggy Hair
Features long, messy hair that falls over the forehead in a wavy fringe, with scissored sides that highlight your natural texture. Using sea salt spray and tousling with your fingertips creates a relaxed, effortless, and cool look.
Man Bun
Is an easy, functional style for long hair. Simply gather the hair at the crown, twist it, and secure it with an elastic. It can be worn loose and carefree or slicked back, offering flexibility and keeping the hair back and out of the way. It’s an appealing style for busy days.
Short Mod Cut
Blending retro with contemporary elements, it features hair that flows forward toward the face with a thick and wispy temples. Use a strong, moderate, or high-shine styling cream for a wet look, and finish with a stubbly beard for a confident, balanced style.
Medium Middle Part
Features waves falling over the sides for a feathery, contemporary appearance. Apply moderate-shine wax to damp hair, create a center part, and let it naturally flow. It’s a great option for those with busy schedules who want a fresh, effortless style.
Messy Medium Waves
For a relaxed yet effortless appearance, movement requires minimal styling. Layering adds height, while scissored sides keep it tidy. A full beard frames the face well. Simply apply curl cream, create a voluminous side swept fringe, and let it dry naturally.
Dreads
These trendy styles require minimal upkeep once formed. You can choose a basic appearance or an artistic approach with accessories like beads to personalize the hairstyle. They offer versatility while keeping maintenance simple.
Key Short Hair Trends For Men
Take It All Off
A close shave and a short haircut can make thinning hair look thicker. A down-to-the-bone trim or high and tight style, like those of Becks and Zayn Malik, is easy to maintain and keeps things fresh. It’s a simple, low-effort way to avoid a wispy combover while maintaining a clean, stylish appearance.
Texture Is Everything
To achieve a great style, the right products, like matte clay and sea salt spray, can work wonders, especially when used during blow-drying. Scissor work and a good trim help create a choppy effect, giving you a well-styled, voluminous finish that lasts.
Undercut Everything
Has become a standout, especially when paired with a French crop. It gained major popularity thanks to Peaky Blinders, making it one of the most Googled and commonly requested at the barbershop. It works well for both casual and dressed-up looks, making it a go-to for those who want a sharp, refined look.
Keep It Neat
When you want a professional yet stylish look, a clean, classic style like crew cuts or Ivy Leagues is perfect. These styles are great for staying in your boss’s good books while still maintaining style credentials. Celebrities like Gyllenhaal, Gosling, and Reynolds rock these styles, showing they’re both trendy and timeless. It’s all about keeping your look sharp and polished without going too bold with cuts like a disconnected undercut or bleach-blonde buzz cut.
Maintenance & Styling
A short haircut is easy to maintain with the right styling products like pomade or wax, helping you achieve a clean, polished look. Regular touch-ups with hair clippers ensure your style stays fresh, and investing in quality products keeps your hair looking great all day.
The Best Short Haircuts For Men
Crew Cut
This style features short back and sides with slightly longer hair on top, often styled forward or into a small quiff. It’s a timeless, low-maintenance look that suits different face shapes and requires minimal upkeep.
Ivy League
This style blends a clean, neat look with side-parting, offering a modern take on classic American styles. It’s perfect for those seeking a sharp, timeless haircut that balances tradition with a preppy feel.
Buzz Cut
A buzz cut is a low-maintenance style that’s easy to achieve with clippers, offering a uniform length from back to sides. It’s simple to maintain, doesn’t require styling, and can include a fade for added style.
High & Tight
This military-inspired cut features close-cropped sides with a slightly longer top, offering a clean, masculine look that’s easy to maintain. It’s a timeless style worn by stars like Channing Tatum and Denzel Washington, perfect for those who want a sharp, short haircut with lasting appeal.
Textured Crop
The textured crop is a trendy, playful style with a relaxed, tousled look. It uses textured wax or clay to create volume, with the top pushed forwards and the sides and back kept short. This cut is easy to maintain and perfect for both casual and formal setting.
Pompadour
This style combines short hair on the sides with a longer top that’s brushed up and styled with pomade for shine and height. The taper or fade adds contrast, making it a classic, 1950s-inspired look.
Quiff
For a bold style, leave the top longer and trim the back and sides short. Use a comb to style forwards and a good product to keep it in place. The look is inspired by the pompadour, offering a clean, dramatic finish. My brother finds it easy to maintain.
Slick Back
This style offers a tough, modern look with hair neatly combed back. Using gel or pomade keeps hair slicked back and in place. Whether you go for an undercut or a slightly grown out top, it brings a rebellious yet classic edge, much like the look seen in Wall Street. This versatile style works in both professional and casual settings.
People also ask:
What is the most popular short haircut for men?
The classic crew cut remains a favorite for its sharp and simple look. The buzz cut offers a sleek, low-maintenance style, while the faux hawk adds an edgy, bold touch. A side part brings a neat finish, and all these styles provide versatile options for different looks.
What is the V cut hairstyle for a boy?
A V-cut creates a bold, V-shaped design at the back of the head, where hair tapers to pointed tips. It enhances the length and adds depth, giving a sharp contrast between the front and back. This cut adds a touch of character and is versatile, suitable for different styles.
What is a number 1 haircut for a man?
A number 1 haircut uses a ⅛ inch guard on clippers, leaving hair short and close to the scalp. It’s a clean cut style, requiring little maintenance, and is ideal for those who want a short, neat look. Many prefer it for its simplicity and low upkeep.
How do I choose a short haircut?
When picking a short haircut, think about your face shape, hair type, and desired style. A stylist can help you find a flattering look, considering your lifestyle and features. The 2.25 rule helps choose the most suitable length.