Nataly is an experienced freelance writer well-versed in lifestyle, beauty, and fashion. She enjoys testing new hair products to tame her long locks. Believing in the power of self-care, Nataly collects styling tips like gems. Currently, she delivers exclusive content on the latest hairstyle trends and transformations.
Read full bio Editorial guidelinesMeet Mary Allen, a writer at The Right Hairstyles Magazine with a passion for the artistry of hair, who first joined our editorial team in January 2022. With a keen eye for trends in haircutting and coloring techniques, Mary Allen explores the diverse spectrum of beauty, ensuring that her articles resonate with women from all walks of life.
Read full bio Editorial guidelinesNowadays, it’s hard to surprise or shock anyone with a hairstyle, even if it’s very short hair. But this intricate look may just do the trick. Decorating your undercut with an all-over quilt-like pattern might just be the ticket to becoming a trendsetter.
In recent years, we’ve seen a huge resurgence in vintage barbering styles and classy undercuts, as men are becoming more and more aware of their looks. While buns and shoulder-length hairstyles are popular, short haircuts still reign supreme due to their clean and precise styling. Have a look at the trendiest short haircuts for men to choose your new hairstyle!
The Side Part haircut is similar to the undercut, with the major difference that only one side is cut extra short. This haircut is ideal for those who don’t want to put a lot of time and effort into their look. It is a rather casual haircut that works well with men who have medium-length hair, that can be swept over nonchalantly. The best thing about it is that you can alternate between looks by sweeping the hair towards the side with the undercut, or towards the one with longer strands.
Relying on trends only when picking the perfect short style isn’t going to cut it – pun intended. Here’s what to consider so that you end up with the haircut that works best for you.
Face Shape and Proportions. Your face shape plays a huge role in which type of haircut will suit you. If you haven’t figured out your face shape yet, use one of many filters or apps to do so. Believe us, it will make a world of difference.
Hair Texture and Thickness. Hair type is another aspect to factor in. Thick or curly hair favors a textured cut to control volume. Thin or straight hair, on the other hand, might benefit from a shorter, more structured cut to avoid looking flat.
Lifestyle and Activity Level. If you have an active lifestyle or work in a hands-on job, a short cut can be super practical. Fades, buzz cuts, and crew cuts are easy to maintain and keep out of the way.
Age and Hair Condition. As you get older, your hair’s texture and thickness can change. Thinning hair or receding hairline might call for a shorter, more blended cut.
The idea behind choosing the best haircut based on your face shape is to balance proportions. For example, round faces will benefit from cuts with more height on top and shorter sides, like a pompadour, a quiff, or a faux hawk. This way you create the illusion of length.
Square faces, with their strong bone structure, will look great with classic, masculine cuts. Buzz cuts, crew cuts, and tighter fades will all accentuate the jawline. Slightly longer styles, like an undercut or textured crop, will soften the edges.
Wider jaw and narrower forehead of triangle-shaped faces call for fuller styles on top, like a textured fringe or a quiff. Avoid overly short sides, which can highlight the jawline too much.
For heart-shaped faces, where the forehead is wider and the chin is narrow, try a textured fringe or a classic side part to diminish the width of the forehead.
Oval faces are the most versatile, and almost any hairstyle will suit you.
This year, the rules are out the window, as more and more men have decided to make a statement and create their signature styles. Haven’t decided what haircut to choose? Check out the styles that are trending and find the one that suits you best!
Popular among the military and professional athletes, a buzz cut gives off a masculine, clean vibe. With its closely trimmed sides and back and short top, it’s brutal and elegant at the same time. A buzz cut is a true wash-and-go style and requires no styling products, only regular trims.
Typically, a crew cut features faded sides that are blended into a slightly longer top. That’s the beauty of this cut, which allows your barber to adjust it to your hair type and lets you play with the length of the fade and sides to create a custom look.
High and tight is another military-inspired haircut with the back and sides shaved high above the temples. Traditionally, a sharp line marks the edge between the shaved part and the longer top. Hence, the name. This cut works across all spectrum of hair types, from straight to Afro-textured hair and everything in between.
The French crop is a classic for a reason. With short sides and bangs that fall over the forehead, it’s a great option for straight or wavy hair. The longer top, usually styled to the front, will effectively hide a receding hairline and make the forehead less intense for heart-shaped faces.
The preppiest haircut out there! Dating back to the ‘50s and ‘60s, when it became popular among the students of Ivy League universities, it remains trendy today. Tapered sides and longer hair on top – typically combed back and to the side – will make you look professional and put-together.
The line up is more of a technique than a separate hairstyle. Your barber will use a straight razor to shave off fine hair framing your forehead and temples to create a sharp and distinct outline. Line ups will enhance the precision of buzz cuts, crew cuts, textured crops, and different types of fades.
Tidy and managerial, the classic comb over style features sides and back cut to a conservative length and longer top strands parted to one side. Comb your hair left to right or right to left based on your hair growth pattern.
Manifest your punk side through a fierce faux hawk! The important characteristic of this style is a long strip of hair on top that runs front to back. It agrees well with shorter sides, fades, tapers, or even undercuts. You can play it down for work or academic environments or style your hair up and spiky for an edgy note.
This uniformly short cut is often confused with a crew cut. And although they are both closely cropped technically they’re two different cuts. A crew cut isn’t always evenly cut like a butch cut. Some crew cuts have a slight fringe and a square top, but overall, they create similar aesthetics.
The circular pattern formed by smooth, uniform waves is simply hypnotic! The 360 waves can be recreated on natural hair that is at least 1.5 inches long. Whether your curls are tight and coarse or looser, you can still achieve this style.
If super short cuts aren’t your thing, semi-short haircuts are a great middle ground. They offer just enough length to play with different styling techniques and give you more control over how your haircut complements your face shape and features.
This distinct haircut marries two extremes – buzzed back and sides and a long top divided by a strong demarcation line. The length of the tresses can vary anywhere between your eyebrows and your chin, offering you many options on how to frame your face.
If your hair is straight to slightly wavy, not very dense, and naturally grows backward, achieving a slick back style would be as easy as pie. It is commonly associated with a glossy finish but experimenting with matt and semi-matt finishes can be fun too.
Elvis Presley but make it 21st-century. That’s your modern pompadour haircut. The modern variety leans toward a shorter side, featuring signature up-and-backward-styled hair on top. Ask your barber what styling products – hair clay, pomade, or hair wax – are the most suitable for your hair texture and density.
Looking for a haircut that will never go out of style? We bet your offsprings will wear a classic taper as eagerly as your ancestors did. The shorter sides keep things practical, and the longer top gives you room to play around with different styles, adjusting to the needs of various face shapes.
Semi-short Afro haircuts for men come in a variety of styles, like the tapered fade, curly fro, or a line up with a little extra length on top. To choose the most fitting one, think about your face shape – square faces look great with clean edges while angular faces suit closer cuts. Also, your curl pattern plays a role; tighter curls hold shape better with tapered sides. Opt for a dry cut, as coily hair tends to shrink when it dries up leaving you with too short of a haircut.
You can never go wrong with a side-part hairstyle! Clean-cut and polished, it immediately creates a dignified and manly look. Part your hair to the side your hair naturally grows toward. Neatly combed and sophisticated at day time and shaggy and mischievous at night – nothing is impossible for this haircut.
Lots of volume on top, with the back and sides neatly blended? That’s a quiff hairstyle. The hair is styled up and back, with most of the height at the front. You can style it clean and polished or go for a messier, more laid-back look.
If you prefer a tousled, natural-looking hairstyle, ask your barber for a textured crop. The layers will add texture to the style and allow plenty of room for style experiments. Consider dyeing the tips a lighter shade to create a bit of contrast between the top and bottom layers.
What was cool back in high school might not fly in 2024. Short hair trends always get upgraded, so it’s worth shaking things up! Try out new cuts – fades, crops, and textured styles are all on the rise this year.
Want to let your curls shine and have the simplicity of day-to-day care? Go for a curly taper fade that will create a nice contrast with your texture and keep the back neat. Experiment with the height of the fade and finishes. Tousled and laidback or polished and well-defined – you choose!
The textured crop with a low fade is a hit right now because it’s low-maintenance and stylish at the same time. The texture up top adds some personality and the fade keeps it clean and sharp. Plus, it suits most face shapes and hair types – what’s not to love?
To rock short spiky hair without looking like you’re stuck in the 90s, go for a more relaxed and textured look. Use matte styling products to avoid that old-school, stiff finish. Keep the sides shorter with a fade or undercut and the spikes subtle for a modern take on the style.
This modern iteration of a slick back style is giving an urban Viking vibe! Crisp and infinitely masculine, it features clean sides and a gorgeous top nonchalantly swept back. A medium-length undercut keeps the sides short but not too close, just enough to create a strong contrast.
Seemingly simple, the Edgar cut requires precision, symmetry, and great skill on the part of a barber. With its blunt-cut bangs and geometric lines, it looks harmonious on proportional oval, square, and oblong faces. Pair it with a fade for a smooth transition or a sharp disconnect for an edgier feel.
If you google images of Julius Caesar’s statues you’ll get the idea of what the original Caesar cut looked like – short and even all around with straight-across bangs. Modern adaptations take it as a basis and play with the length, texture on top, and styling.
A burst fade, with its curved shapes around the ears, slims down the sides of your hairstyle and adds height. It draws the eye upward, making round or broad faces look longer. Thick, curly, or coarse hair will give just the right amount of definition and texture.
A drop fade dips down around the back of your head, making it look like the hairline “drops” behind your ears. This style gives more coverage at the crown and works with any hair type. You can pair it with any haircut from a side part to a buzz cut.
As we mentioned before, finding the right cut depends on your hair type too. For straight hair, a classic Ivy League, combover, side part, or slicked-back style works best. Wavy hair shines with styles that add movement, like a textured crop, a loose quiff, or a messy fringe. Curly hair will look good with 360 waves and all sorts of fades and afro styles, from ultra to semi-short.
If you’ve got thin hair, a buzz cut, a crew cut, or a short textured crop will help make it look fuller. Thick hair can handle styles like a quiff or pompadour, where volume is key. And for those with coarse hair, a clean, low-maintenance look, like a Ceasar cut, high and tight, or a butch cut will keep it manageable and sharp.
Haircuts with bangs can look great on men and the choice depends on… right, you’ve guessed it! It depends on your face shape. A short blunt fringe will look harmonious on longer faces and side-swept bangs suit rounder faces by creating angles. Read on to learn more!
Short fringe will look great on oval and heart-shaped faces! It will highlight your cheekbones and add some playful edge. Short fringe, textured or blunt, is also a cool option for longer faces, helping to visually shorten the forehead.
A side-swept fringe works really well for round and square faces because it softens the angles and makes your face look longer. It’s also a solid choice for oval faces, adding a bit of movement while keeping things balanced. Plus, it highlights your eyes nicely!
A textured fringe softens strong jawlines and adds a relaxed vibe for square and rectangular faces. It’s also great for oval faces since it keeps the look fresh without messing with natural symmetry. For heart-shaped faces, it adds volume up top, balancing a narrower chin.
Angular fringe excels at adding structure and definition! It harmonizes round and heart-shaped faces by adding sharp lines that balance softer features. For square faces, it helps soften the jawline and on oval faces, it brings some edge without overwhelming your natural symmetry.
When picking a short haircut for older men, remember about the KISS principle – keep it short and simple. A shorter cut can be the cure for thinning hair by making it look fuller. Avoid haircuts that need too much styling if you wish to keep things low-maintenance and easy.
To ace styling like a pro, find the right products for your hair type. For fine hair, a lightweight mousse or sea salt spray can add texture without weighing it down. If you have thicker hair, pomade or clay works wonders for control and definition.
Want a natural, effortless look? Go for matte products like a styling paste. For a sleek finish, a water-based pomade gives you that polished shine without feeling too greasy. A little goes a long way, so start small and build up as needed.
And don’t forget: using a blow dryer to set your style can give it extra hold, especially if you’re aiming for more structure or lift. Experiment to find what works best!
Ultimately, finding the right short haircut comes down to matching your style, face shape, and hair type. Whether you prefer something bold, classic, or low-maintenance, there’s a perfect look for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment – hair is one of the easiest ways to switch things up!
Enter your email to get this picture to your inbox, and get other ideas you might like 💌