Short Hairstyles for Men

You can’t go wrong with classic and cropped short  hairstyles for men. It can be worn with no styling or slicked back with some gel for dates or other special events. Sideburns can be worn long, almost to the bottom of the earlobe, or shorter.

Hairstyles for Men – Straight Hair

One of the classic hairstyles for men, this haircut can be styled several different ways. For fun, spike it up into a crew cut, faux hawk, or bed head. Or try wearing it slicked back with gel, wax, or pomade to get the men’s hairstyle trend of 2012 and 2013.

Short Hairstyles for Men With Thick Hair

Short hairstyles for thick hair look great with minimal styling. The only maintenance required is frequent haircuts, getting hair cropped every four to six weeks. Hair is cut to medium clipper length around the sides and back with a little extra length at the front. Use some pomade to add separation and texture. For work, add a side part and comb hair to the side.

Short Faux Hawk

The faux hawk works for short hairstyles for men too. This short faux hawk is a simplified version of the look, with just the hair at the middle of the top forming the distinctive mohawk peak. The key to the look using product that isn’t visible or greasy.  The rest of close cropped hair is worn gladiator style, down the forehead. Sideburns, as always, are optional.

Grey Hair on Men

As the term silver fox denotes, grey hair on men is an asset. The same rules of hairstyles for men continue to apply – work with hair texture and what you’re willing to style. This short hairstyle looks equally good at work and play. Just add a little product for height and definition. Don’t cover up the spray of salt across the pepper with some Just for Men, the ladies will love it.

Short Curly Hair for Men

Avoid boring short hairstyles for men by embracing natural hair texture. This cropped haircut makes the most of curly hair by cutting hair close at the sides and letting hair flow free with some extra length at the top. Wavy hair give the short curly hair for men cut lift and form. Get you barber or stylist to cut hair without a part and to angle to one side.

Short Wavy Hair Men – Ivy League

Check out this great looking and easy to style short wavy hair for men. A version of the Ivy League, the sides and back are cut close with a little extra length on top.

Top layers are cut jagged for a textured look that blends into shorter hair. To get this style, work in a light wax or pomade into hair and pull it up at the front with fingers or a comb. Going short is a low maintenance option for wavy and also curly hair.

Short Hair Styles for Men

Looking for short hair styles for men? This is an attractive and easy to style cut for straight or thick hair.

The textured haircut is cropped close around the sides and back at the top and front. To style hair, use a pomade or wax to add some height.

Styling options include a faux hawk, working bangs straight up into a crew cut, or combing hair to one side for work. Keep the look neat and clean by getting trims every 3 to 4 weeks.

The Crew Cut – Men’s Short Hairstyles

One of the classic short men’s hairstyles is the crew cut. Hair is cut short all around with some extra length along the forehead. This is a great looking and low maintenance cut for wavy, curly or thick hair. This men’s haircut can be worn with no styling at all. Or add a touch of light wax to spike up hair at the front. Sideburns can be worn long or short.

Caesar Cut – Ultra Short Hair

Getting the haircut from 300 is significantly easier than getting the abs. The Caesar haircut is very short with a little bit of fringe cut horizontally across the forehead. It’s a great cut for unruly hair and hot weather. It’s also one of the best hairstyles for thinning hair because short fringe is combed forward over the forehead, concealing a receding hairline. To ensure hair stays in place, work a small amount of hair gel or holding product into damp hair and comb it forward. Make sure not to use too much product which can great a greasy or stiff look.

Buzz Cut 2012

Shaved hairstyles for men are edgy and clean cut. This buzz cut has been sported in 2012 by the likes of Justin Timberlake, Drake, and hairstyle icon David Beckham. The short buzz says bad boy and good boy at the same time. Cut to the same short length all over the head, the shaved haircut looks great with no styling or product. If you’re frustrated with wavy or curly hair, this is the cut for you.

Blocked Nape

At the back of men’s short haircuts, there are a few options. Hair at the neck can be shaved into a tapered nape or a blocked nape, shown below.

Also known as the blocked neck edge, hair is cut into a defined line across the nape of the neck. This is a square shape as opposed to the tapered nape, which as it’s name reveals, fades between hair and skin along your hairline.

So which one is for you? A tapered nape looks cleaner cut, especially after a few days when close shaved hair begins to grow out, say from a buzz cut. The tapered neck edge is also skinny or long necks.

Short Hair for Men – Fringe Edition

For a versatile yet clean cut look, try this short hair for men. The sides and back and are cut very short with some extra length along the top. Longer hair is cut into jagged layers that offer lots of styling options. Here, hair is combed to one side with some fringe falling forward over the forehead. The look is easy to style, just add a little of your favorite product, comb into place, and let air dry. For more styling options, try slicking it back. To keep this short hair for men looking its best, maintain the shape with regular trims every four to six weeks. Shown here with straight hair, this cut would work for wavy hair.

How to Style Short Hair for Men

Mens short haircuts can be styled for professional and formal events. If you’re going for a Mad Men-inspired slicked back look, here’s how to style short hair for men.

Unlike medium length hair, short hair doesn’t need a hair dryer. The key is using the right product to get the look. The wet look hit the runways for women but hasn’t become a mainstream hit for a reason. It is to be avoided for men as well.

Try label.m Matt Paste or Neal & Wolf Shape Pliable Paste for fantastic and invisible hold. Combing hair straight back works better for longer hair, so this slicked back short hair combs hair back at an angle.

Buzz Cut – Crew Cut

Once associated with the military, the buzz cut has also been worn by hair style icons like Brad Pitt and David Beckham.  In addition to being low maintenance, these close cropped highlight a defined jawline. By definition, a buzz cut is any hairstyle that uses clippers. This crew cut hairstyle has longer hair along the forehead and top of the head and tapers into shorter hair around the sides and back. Here, hair follows the hairline into a slight widows peak. The buzz cut also looks great in a defined line straight across the forehead. This can be echoed at the back with the blocked nape.

Justin Bieber Haircut

Whatever you think of the music, the Justin Bieber haircut has influenced mens hair and there’s no going back. The long windswept bangs seen on adolescents everywhere and Glee have made way to a more sophisticated look since the Bieb reached the age of majority. He continues to make the most of a full head of thick hair with this Mad Men influenced look. The Justin Bieber new hairstyle is just barely parted, with the rest of hair combed to one side. The look is almost slicked back but uses a lighter hold product for a softer look. When this mens haircut gets to medium length, it can be styled into a pompadour or quiff. The Justin Bieber new hairstyle parties like a rock star and is respectable at work.

Short Spikey Hairstyles For Men

One enduring hair trend is short spikey hairstyles for men. While longer hair worn spiked up is popular now, the shorter version is more versatile for work and play. This short spiked hair could be worn with a suit on the job and then out to a date.

To get the spiked look, start with freshly washed hair. Once hair is dry, rub your favorite product through your hair. Choose product based on your hair type – thicker hair will require a thicker formula with stronger hold. A matte hair clay or styling wax look great and easily wash out of more normal hair types. Highly recommended products include Bumble and Bumble Sumo Tech and Redken Maneuver Work Wax.

With a comb, pull hair up and away from the head, using fingers to spike hair up. Hair can be worn vertical all the way across the top of the head or spikes can be concentrated towards the forehead, in a sort of a rhino horn. For another way to style short hair, try this slicked back look.

Very Short Haircuts for Men – Curly Hair

Very short haircuts for men look great with no styling, even with curly hair. This close cropped hairstyle is one length all around the head, with some extra length at the front. A spray of bangs covers the top of the forehead, letting natural curl wave free. A version of the classic Caesar cut, this is the best cut for the first stages of a receding hairline.

For curly and wavy hair, this very short haircut for men offers hair that looks great without any styling or product. This bed head free cut is suitable for work, play, and everything in between. To add a touch of your personality and style, add a beard or sideburns.

Short Ivy League Haircut

A version of the crew cut hairstyle, the Ivy League is a slightly longer version that offers more styling options. This short Ivy League haircut is parted and brushed back on a slight angle. This cut, made popular at East Coast prep schools in the early 1900s retains its popularity today.

You’ve seen this variations of this preppy haircut on Anderson Cooper, Justin Timberlake, and Matt Damon. Around the sides and back of the head, hair is tapered towards the nape of the neck and can be cut medium, short, or somewhere in between. More a modern twist, try the undercut.

The Ivy League haircut was traditionally groomed with butch wax, which would freeze in cold weather and was also flammable. Check out the hair products page for some ice and flame-free recommendations.

Rounded Neck

At the the back of short haircuts for men, you can choose between a tapered, blocked, and rounded neck. With rounded edges rather than square corners, the rounded neck is similar to the blocked nape. Unlike the straight across block, the softer rounded nape is a good option for thicker necks. Always make sure to take a look at the back of your hair. Two mistakes can occur – the neck can cut too high or the neckline may be too rounded, resulting in an undesirable feminine look. Similar to the blocked neck, hair growth below the cut line is noticeable so visit your barber or stylist every few weeks for a trim or shave. Most will offer this service for free between haircuts.