50+ Best Hairstyles for Teenage Guys (+ Styling Tips)

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Master hair stylist Frankie Sanderson shares 2026’s trendiest cuts for teen guys

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Layered Textured Crop

2 Middle Part

3 Crew Cut Taper Fade

4 Messy Fluffy Curls

5 Layered Shaggy Hair

6 Quiff Taper Fade

7 Brush Back with Fade

8 Modern Mullet Fade

9 Brushed Forward and Swept with Low Taper Fade

10 Thick Curly Fringe with Taper Fade

11 Short Shaggy Layers

12 Undercut with Longer Top

13 Fluffy Fringe with Low Taper Fade

14 Medium Flow with Off-Center Part

15 Textured Short Spiky Hair with Mid Skin Fade

16 Long Side Swept Style with Tapered Sides

17 Messy Short Curls with Low Tapered Sides

18 Buzz Cut Fade

19 Comb Over Fade

20 Flowing Slick Back

21 Short Curly Hair with Low Burst Fade

22 Slicked Back Undercut

23 Modern Quiff with Mid-Low Skin Fade

24 Tousled, Textured Medium Flow

25 Long Wavy Brush Back

26 Hard Part Comb Over with Taper Fade

27 Tousled Waves

28 Short Spikes with Mid Fade

29 Cool Brush Forward with Taper Fade

30 Textured French Crop with Mid Fade

31 Long Slicked Back Flow with Curtains

32 Long Straight Hair with Bangs

33 Thick Curls with Low Fade

34 Textured Swept Crew Cut

35 Long Middle Part

36 Faux Hawk Taper Fade

37 Long Comb Over with Mid Fade

38 Trendy Blowout with Clean Mid-Cut Taper

39 Messy Curls

40 Loose Brush Over with Mid Taper

41 Tousled Brush Up with Short Sides

42 Side Part Fade

43 Natural Parted Flow Style

44 Modern Long Hair Top with Short Sides

45 Textured Spiky Hair with Classy Low Taper Fade

46 Classic and Textured Short Mullet

47 Induction Cut Fade

48 Short Jagged Pompadour

49 Crop with a Temple Undershave

50 Broccoli Haircut

51 Wolf Cut

52 Caesar Cut

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Co-authored by Frankie Sanderson and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: January 26, 2026 Fact Checked

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Are you ready for a new haircut, but not sure which one is right for you? There’s no need to go searching online when we’ve got a list of over 50 trending haircut ideas for teenage guys. Find out what makes each one unique, along with whether they’re right for your hair texture and how to style them—plus, trendy tips from master hairstylist Frankie Sanderson and hair stylist Tiffany Carnevale-Russo.

Choosing Popular Hairstyles for Teen Boys

Master hair stylist Frankie Sanderson says that the trendiest cuts for teenage guys have a mixture of texture and volume. This includes styles like tapers and fades with the hair kept natural on top, textured crops with a fade, modern mullets, wolf cuts, low burst fades, and curtain bangs with a center part.

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1

Layered Textured Crop

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1. 
   A layered textured crop has short, choppy layers on top. “Trending haircuts for teenage guys in 2026 are a mixture of texture, volume, and modern takes on retro styles,” says Sanderson, adding that the textured crop is “always going to be in style.” It often has short or faded sides and a back to provide a bold, easy-to-maintain style. The contrast in length between the front and the back/sides is what gives this haircut its definitive look.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, slightly wavy hair
   • Pro styling tip: Style forward or tousle with matte products like clay or pomade to define texture.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Frankie Sanderson is a master hair stylist and the founder of TheStudeo, a styling business based in Washington D.C. He specializes in designer cuts and has styled celebrity clients like Nicole Kidman, Lindsay Lohan, and Alicia Keys.

   Tiffany Carnevale-Russo is a licensed cosmetologist who specializes in men’s haircuts and hairstyles. She’s also the Chief Operating Officer at Jaxon Maximus, a men’s salon and custom clothiers based in southern Florida.
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2

Middle Part

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1. 
   This cut features hair that is partly evenly down the middle. Having a pronounced center part offers a symmetrical look, along with versatility. It can be short or long, but Sanderson says it’s especially trendy when paired with curtain bangs that frame the face. It can be paired with a fade or undercuts to keep the focus on the longer top and shorter sides.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Work a small amount of sea salt or clay into your palms to apply to damp hair before blow-drying.

3

Crew Cut Taper Fade

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1. 
   A crew cut on top blends into a gradual taper fade. Sanderson says that tapers and fades with short hair on top can give you a clean finish. The top hair can be slightly textured, while the smooth fade on the bottom and sides is kept very short or at skin level. A crew cut taper fade is a clean, masculine look that is pretty low-maintenance and suits various face shapes.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Apply pomade, wax, or clay on top for more texture and volume.
   • A fade is a haircut where hair on the sides and the back is longer on top to a shorter at the bottom.
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4

Messy Fluffy Curls

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1. 
   Curls are cut to intentionally look "undone" or casual. Messy, fluffy curls can be worn at nearly any length, with short to medium hair on top. It’s often paired with an undercut or fade on the sides and back so the curls remain the focus of the style. The curls are kept light, loose, and natural-looking to emphasize flow and movement.

   • Best hair types/textures: Curly, wavy; medium to thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply curl cream or leave-in conditioner on wet hair before blow drying upside down with cool air; Style your hair’s top curls with your fingers to finish.

5

Layered Shaggy Hair

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1. 
   This cut includes choppy, shorter pieces on top that blend into longer strands. It’s a multi-layered cut that helps create volume, movement, and a relaxed, messy hairstyle. Layered shaggy hair is ideal when you want to have surfer’s hair, and sometimes includes a fringe.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Use sea salt spray or clay after blow-drying to add volume; separate strands with your hands to style waves or curls.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Tiffany Carnevale-Russo

   Licensed Cosmetologist

   Tiffany Carnevale-Russo is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Chief Operating Officer at Jaxson Maximus, a men’s salon and custom clothiers based in southern Florida. With over 19 years of beauty industry experience, she specializes in haircuts and hairstyling for men and building salon brands. Tiffany received her Cosmetology License from Paul Mitchell the School Rhode Island.

   

   Tiffany Carnevale-Russo
   Licensed Cosmetologist

   Bring photos of the haircut you want to the salon as examples. Pictures speak 1000 words. They're more explanatory than actually verbalizing what it is you're looking for.
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6

Quiff Taper Fade

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1. 
   The brushed-up front quiff is combined with shorter sides and back. The longer hair on top can be styled up and back, which provides height and movement. The sides and back are cut very short, so they fade from the longer hair on top to skin level near the ears and neckline for contrast.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Blow dry to lift roots and create volume before applying a light pomade or molding paste; Style the hair up and away from the forehead.

7

Brush Back with Fade

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1. 
   The hair is swept or brushed backward, along with a gradual fade. Longer hair on top is styled away from the face for height. The hair on the sides and back tapers down dramatically using clippers, from long hair to skin level. The haircut can be worn with low, mid, or high fades.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type (thicker hair if hair is straight)
   • Pro styling tip: Use a sea salt spray for volume before blow-drying it back while combing to lift the shape; finish by brushing hair back with fingers.
   • A high fade starts high on the head, a mid fade midway up, and a low fade at the lowest point of the head.
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8

Modern Mullet Fade

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1. 
   Tapered sides are worn with a longer, textured top and a fuller, flowing back. Sanderson says the modern mullet is a crowd pleaser. Less harsh than a traditional mullet, the modern mullet includes tapered sides. The top is cut to have longer, messy layers, while the back is worn full and long to satisfy the mullet requirements.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Use texturizing clay or styling powder for hold.

9

Brushed Forward and Swept with Low Taper Fade

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1. 
   This haircut has longer hair on top that is swept forward and to the side. Sanderson says this look, which an also be called a blowout taper, is really popular. The swept hair is usually worn as textured bangs or a fringe. It also features a contrasting short, gradual fade on the sides that start low near the temples.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, straight hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply a pomade or clay when blow-drying the top forward and slightly to the side.
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10

Thick Curly Fringe with Taper Fade

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1. 
   It has a voluminous, curly fringe on top with clean tapered sides and back. The hair is left long on top to show off natural bounce and texture. It falls forward into a soft curtain or defined bangs to frame the face. The taper gradually creates a sharp contrast with the curls on top.

   • Best hair types/textures: Curly; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Defining curls with curl cream or mousse; blow dry using a diffuser.

11

Short Shaggy Layers

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1. 
   It has even jagged layers that are cut using a razor. The layers around the crown provide movement for the style, which is usually blended in with shorter or faded sides. A short, shaggy, layered haircut often includes thinned-out ends so the whole style looks balanced.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly hair
   • Pro styling tip: Air-dry hair with fingers and use a curling iron to add loose waves.
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12

Undercut with Longer Top

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1. 
   It features short or shaved sides and back, and longer hair on top. There is a major contrast in length between the short or shaved bottom and the longer top. The hair at the back is often buzzed or clipped very short, sometimes in a disconnected fade. The undercut with a longer top is often slicked back or messy.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply molding paste or high-hold pomade to damp hair before blow drying; finger-shape the top hair in place.

13

Fluffy Fringe with Low Taper Fade

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1. 
   A textured top with a messy fringe is worn with shorter sides and back. The tousled bangs fall forward due to point cutting and texturizing. This fade hairstyle starts low on the head, just above the ears and neckline, and ends at skin level, but can be customized.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Use sea salt spray or mousse to add texture before blow-drying up and back with a brush.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Frankie Sanderson

   Master Hair Stylist

   Franklin (Frankie) Sanderson is a Makeup Artist and Stylist and the Founder of TheStudeo, a styling business based in Washington DC that specializes in hairstyling, makeup, and personal image consulting services. He specializes in hair extensions, chemical services such as highlighting, Balayage, Japanese straightening, keratin treatments, and designer cuts. He has a BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and has trained at the L'Oreal Soho Academy, TIGI, Vidal Sassoon, Redken, and Wella. His clients include Nicole Kidman, Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Jane Lynch, and Alicia Keys.

   

   Frankie Sanderson
   Master Hair Stylist

   Understand your facial proportions and how they relate to your hair. When looking at your facial structure, figure out how you can create balance, whether you have an oval, square, triangle, or a diamond-shaped face.
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14

Medium Flow with Off-Center Part

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1. 
   The top is kept longer and parted slightly to the side. The slightly off-center part allows the waves to frame the face. The top is kept around 6 inches, along with shorter sides and back (around 3-4 inches). They’re tapered or cut just above the ears.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly hair
   • Pro styling tip: Blow-dry with a nozzle while lifting and directing hair away from the part; scrunch sections with hands for more definition.

15

Textured Short Spiky Hair with Mid Skin Fade

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1. 
   It has short, choppy layers on top and short, skin-faded sides. The top can be worn tousled or spiked thanks to the layers, which gradually fade to skin level at or around the mid-point of the head (at the temples).

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, wavy; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply a clay or paste to create distinct, pointed sections.
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16

Long Side Swept Style with Tapered Sides

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1. 
   This style has long, side-swept hair on top with shorter hair on the back and sides. The longer hair on top is swept across the forehead to one side (or as a side-swept fringe). The hair on the back and sides gradually fades to a taper, making it a good long hairstyle for boys that is still modern and unique.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight or wavy hair
   • Pro styling tip: While blow-drying, lift the roots away from the scalp using a round brush.

17

Messy Short Curls with Low Tapered Sides

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1. 
   The hair on the sides and back is cut progressively shorter. Sanderson says a fade where your hair is longer on top allows your natural texture to really stand out. Instead of a high-contrast fade, this cut starts to fade low, near the ears and neckline, while the top is left longer. Natural curls are emphasized on top, so the top hair has volume and looks messy.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly hair
   • Pro styling tip: Let the hair air dry while scrunching with your hands, or use a diffuser on low heat for added volume.
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18

Buzz Cut Fade

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1. 
   A buzzed top fades from a longer length to near/at skin level at the bottom. The short buzz cut on top is uniform and blends subtly with a fade on the sides and back. The fade transforms this classic, easy haircut into a trendy one with visual style.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Moisturize the scalp with a leave-in conditioner or light oil.

19

Comb Over Fade

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1. 
   It blends a side-swept comb-over with a modern fade on the sides and back. A comb over fade offers contrast between longer hair on top that is combed to one side and short, skin-level hair on the sides and back. The fade starts very short on the bottom and gets progressively longer as it moves up the head.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, wavy; thick or coarse hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply a pre-styler like sea salt spray or hair cream before blow-drying upwards and to the side.
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20

Flowing Slick Back

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1. 
   Longer hair on top is smoothed backward over a faded or tapered cut on the sides. The back and sides are usually faded or tapered so they blend with the longer top. The swept-back top hair provides volume, along with natural flow and movement.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, straight hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply a mousse and blow-dry using a vent brush to direct hair back.

21

Short Curly Hair with Low Burst Fade

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1. 
   It has loose, short curls on top and a rounded fade that creates a burst shape. Sanderson says the low burst fade is a popular way to “highlight natural curls or volume on top.” The top features short to medium-length natural curls, while the fade curves around the ear and goes low at the nape of the neck. The sunburst effect draws attention to the curve of the ear.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly hair
   • Pro styling tip: Scrunch or finger coil the top curls before air drying or blow-drying with a diffuser.
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22

Slicked Back Undercut

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1. 
   Long, slicked-back hair on top is worn with very short or shaved sides and back. Here, the sides and back fade is disconnected from the much longer hair on top. The hair on top is kept long (often 4-6 inches or more) and is swept straight back from the forehead. The hair on top is often 4-6+ inches longer than the buzzed or faded sides and back.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, wavy; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Blow-dry while combing backward with a brush; use hairspray for hold.

23

Modern Quiff with Mid-Low Skin Fade

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1. 
   A quiff is swept up and back on top, along with super short sides. The quiff consists of high-volume, textured hair on top, which blends into short or skin-level shaved sides. The skin fade consists of short hair in the back that stops around the mid-to-low point on the head, which allows the sides and back to stay sharp and neat.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, wavy; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Blow-dry upwards and backwards for volume before applying a matte pomade or clay.
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24

Tousled, Textured Medium Flow

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1. 
   The hair is worn at medium length so it can flow back naturally. The length usually hits around the ears or neck, while the style itself is created by cutting choppy layers to add movement. This haircut sometimes includes a loose, tousled fringe that falls forward or is swept to the side.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply sea salt spray or mousse before using fingers to push the hair back; air dry or use a diffuser with a cool shot.

25

Long Wavy Brush Back

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1. 
   This cut features natural top waves that are brushed back, with faded sides. The medium-to-long top hair is brushed backward away from the face, and cut with point-cutting to keep the hair lightweight. The back and sides can be tapered, faded, or just blended in.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy; medium to thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Use a vent brush or quiff roller while blow-drying to direct hair backward.
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26

Hard Part Comb Over with Taper Fade

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1. 
   This style is known for its defined shaved-in part, longer top, and faded sides. The longer hair on top is combed smoothly to the side. The short, faded sides blend down to skin level at the temples and at the neckline.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: After blow-drying the top, apply a water-based pomade and use a fine-toothed comb to smooth the hair to the side.

27

Tousled Waves

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1. 
   The hair is cut with medium-length layers on top and faded sides. The layers on top add movement, volume, and highlight the hair’s natural texture. The fade on the sides and back is a low taper that starts just above the ears.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, straight hair
   • Pro styling tip: Scrunch and air-dry the hair or use a diffuser; avoid heavy pomades.
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28

Short Spikes with Mid Fade

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1. 
   It has short, textured spikes on top and tapered, faded sides. In addition to the longer hair on top, the sides and back are a very short mid-fade that starts about halfway up the head. They blend smoothly to create a major contrast with the top.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, slightly wavy hair
   • Pro styling tip: Use a pre-styler product like sea salt spray before blow-drying upwards to create volume.
   • A pre-styler product is applied to damp or dry hair before the hair is styled.

29

Cool Brush Forward with Taper Fade

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1. 
   This cut has a longer top styled forward with a fade on the sides and back. The long, textured hair on top is styled by brushing up and forward to look voluminous and messy. The cut gradually shortens from the top down to skin level around the ears and neck

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, slightly wavy hair
   • Pro styling tip: Blow-dry with a round brush while directing hair forward and up, before styling the top hair with your fingers.
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30

Textured French Crop with Mid Fade

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1. 
   A short, choppy top is paired with a gradual fade on the back and sides. The top is textured and often includes a forward-swept fringe that is cut with point cutting. When asking for a French crop, mention hair that shortens from the top down to the sides and back, so it blends smoothly into the skin around the temple and ears.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Use texture spray, volumizing powder, or matte clay, along with your fingers, to style the hair forward.

31

Long Slicked Back Flow with Curtains

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1. 
   This medium to long style has center-parted "curtains" with neatly swept back hair. With a middle or slightly off-part, longer pieces of fringe fall to the sides to frame the face. The rest of the hair behind the ears and through to the back is gently pushed back, so it’s loose but not flat.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, wavy hair
   • Pro styling tip: Blow dry with a nozzle to direct the roots up and shape the front into loose curtains.
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32

Long Straight Hair with Bangs

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1. 
   This longer haircut has a fringe cut across the forehead. It’s usually worn shoulder-length or longer with the bangs to frame the face; the hair that falls forward over the forehead varies in length or thickness. It can also feature textured layers or side-swept bangs.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, wavy hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply sea salt spray or matte pomade before styling bangs side-to-side or forward.

33

Thick Curls with Low Fade

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1. 
   It features voluminous, defined curls on top and short or shaved sides. The curls on top are cut to appear long and thick, while the low taper fade starts very low. It blends into the temples and ears to provide a soft, smooth transition.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Define curls by applying curl creams and blow drying with a diffuser on low heat.
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34

Textured Swept Crew Cut

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1. 
   Short, faded sides blend with a longer, layered, side-swept top. The top is about 1-2 inches longer and has choppy layers achieved through piece cutting. The haircut fades to a skin-level undercut. The top is brushed or finger-styled to one side to give the whole look movement.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Rough dry before using your fingers to sweep the longer top forward and to the side.

35

Long Middle Part

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1. 
   The hair is parted evenly down the center and has longer flowing strands. The hair is long enough on top to be able to create wavy curtains that fall naturally to the sides. It can be worn sleek, messy, or layered, or paired with a fade for a more modern look.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Create the part while the hair is wet; use the bridge of your nose as a guide to train it to air dry correctly.
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36

Faux Hawk Taper Fade

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1. 
   The hair forms a hawk shape from the forehead to the crown, along with tapered sides. Known among cool teenage guy haircuts, this cut features the center strip of longer, styled hair (known as a "faux hawk"), which is slightly softer than a mohawk. The sides and back are gradually blended upwards from a skin-level for a dramatic look.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Apply a matte product on damp hair while directing the top section upward and forward towards the center with your fingers to create the faux hawk.

37

Long Comb Over with Mid Fade

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1. 
   It has longer side-combed hair on top, which blends into tapered sides. The top hair is combed to the side and features a defined side part. The longer hair blends into clean, tapered sides, which start midway up the head, near or at the temples. The fade shortens down and back to skin-level.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Blow-dry with a brush in the direction of your part before defining the top hair with your fingers or a comb.
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38

Trendy Blowout with Clean Mid-Cut Taper

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1. 
   This style features a high-volume top with sharply faded, short sides and back. The top is often worn in a “blown out” style, while the sides and back taper start in the middle of the head. It can be worn with a middle part, swept back, or as a messy fringe, which works on most hair types.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Apply sea salt spray before blow-drying upwards & outwards using your fingers to lift and shape the roots.

39

Messy Curls

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1. 
   This haircut has longer curls on top with shorter, tapered sides. The hair on top is cut in longer layers to remain relaxed, loose, and natural-looking. The sides and back are shorter and cut in a fade, taper, or undercut for modern contrast.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly hair
   • Pro styling tip: Air-dry or use a diffuser on low heat for more volume.
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40

Loose Brush Over with Mid Taper

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1. 
   The longer, flowing hair on top is styled back loosely, along with gradually faded sides. The haircut is typically mid-length and loose, while the "brush over" means brushing the hair back to create volume and flow. The hair slowly shortens to a mid-taper halfway up the head, only to blend smoothly into the neckline, not to skin level.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Style the top with clay or matte pomade while using your fingers to create texture.

41

Tousled Brush Up with Short Sides

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1. 
   It has a textured, swept-up top and tapered sides and back. The longer top hair is swept upward and back (sometimes forward) to create natural movement. The hair on the sides and back gradually shortens to a fade or taper for a dramatic contrast. The top can be styled to look messy or tousled on purpose.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, wavy; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Blow-dry upward before using your fingers to style textured hair and create messy separation in your top hair.
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42

Side Part Fade

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1. 
   Longer hair on top is worn with a short fade and a side part. The longer hair on top gradually fades to the back and sides, but looks unique due to its sharp, defined side part. The fade shortens to skin-level for a blended overall look.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Apply pomade or clay to damp hair while using a comb to create the side part.

43

Natural Parted Flow Style

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1. 
   Medium-long, layered hair is parted down the middle. This haircut, often referred to as “hockey hair,” has lots of natural movement and flow, while still looking neat. It includes soft layers and tapering on the sides, which are styled around a natural center part. The sides and back are gently tapered to blend into the longer top.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, wavy, slightly curly hair
   • Pro styling tip: Use a texture cream before creating a natural middle part with your fingers and scrunching the sides back.
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44

Modern Long Hair Top with Short Sides

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1. 
   It’s known for having longer hair on top with closely cropped or faded sides and back. The longer top hair can be styled upwards, back, or worn messy or textured. The sides and back are short and either blended into a gradual skin fade or tapered. Styles that use this haircut as their base include a pompadour, quiff, undercut, or textured crop fade.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Use pomades, wax, or mousse to wear it messy, slicked back, or in a quiff.

45

Textured Spiky Hair with Classy Low Taper Fade

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1. 
   It features thick, spiky hair on top with short to shaved sides. The hair is cut to encourage upward styling and defined, pointed spikes. It has a low taper fade, where the hair shortens progressively to skin level, starting low on the head around the temple or ears.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type; medium to thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply sea salt spray before blow-drying upward; define the spikes using your fingers to work from the roots to the tip.
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46

Classic and Textured Short Mullet

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1. 
   This classic mullet has a shorter top and sides and longer neck hair. Unlike the modern mullet fade, the longer and shorter hair in this style is blended in while remaining pronounced. The layers are blended from the sides to the top, as the longer hair falls naturally at the nape of the neck.

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly hair
   • Pro styling tip: Use texturizing paste or clay before styling the damp hair using your fingers for most types of mullets.

47

Induction Cut Fade

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1. 
   It features a military-style buzz cut that fades on the sides and back. The super short buzz cut length on top is usually only stubble, and transitions differently than a classic buzz cut might. Instead, it fades as it travels down the sides and back of the head, ending at the skin level. This variation is just as easy to maintain and looks neat as a pin.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type; medium to thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Use light-hold products like wax, paste, or texture spray before styling the top hair with your fingers.
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48

Short Jagged Pompadour

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1. 
   Thick hair is swept up and back in sharp, messy layers, and short sides. The longer top hair is styled into a pompadour, up and back from the hairline. Here, the layers are cut unevenly in a jagged style, for a more messy, textured look. The sides are kept short, sometimes with a fade or taper.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, slightly wavy; thick hair
   • Pro styling tip: Blow-dry the pompadour upwards with a round brush; use your fingers or a comb to create textured, jagged spikes.

49

Crop with a Temple Undershave

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1. 
   It has short, textured hair on top with a sharp skin fade at the temples. The haircut is usually worn at a short to medium length, and layered or textured for volume. It sometimes includes a short forward fringe and has a very short fade/undercut that is concentrated at the temples.

   • Best hair types/textures: Straight, slightly wavy hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply matte clay or paste before tousling the hair using your fingers.
   • An undershave is a disconnected, skin-level shave at the temples.
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50

Broccoli Haircut

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1. 
   The top features full, fluffy curls, while the sides and back are cropped short. The hair on top has either natural or permed curls, which are the main focus of the cut. The sides and back are tapered, faded, or buzzed to create a defined contrast. The broccoli haircut has also been referred to as the “Zoomer perm.”

   • Best hair types/textures: Wavy, curly hair
   • Pro styling tip: Apply curl cream or mousse to define curls while using a diffuser on low heat for volume.

51

Wolf Cut

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1. 
   The wolf cut has short, choppy layers on top and long, tapered ends at the back. Sanderson says this is another cut that’s really popular with teen guys right now. The choppy layers are located around the crown and sides of the head, while the wispy ends taper down naturally. It’s considered a combination of the mullet and shag haircuts, and sometimes includes short bangs that frame the face.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Use products like sea salt spray or texturizing cream before air-drying or blow-drying with a diffuser for waves.
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52

Caesar Cut

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1. 
   This Caesar is short and even all over with a forward-brushed, straight fringe. The hair on top is usually about 1-2 inches long and cut short and layered. The most striking part of the haircut is the short, horizontally cut bangs that are brushed down over the forehead. The sides are tapered into a low ot skin fade for a modern touch.

   • Best hair types/textures: Any hair type
   • Pro styling tip: Apply clay or paste before brushing the top hair forward.

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Tips

• Be clear, simple, and direct when asking your stylist or barber for the haircut. "Just because it looks good on a certain person doesn't mean that it's going to fit you just as well,” notes Carnevale-Russo. Take your “stylist or barber's opinion into consideration as well—they are generally the best."
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• Maintain your haircut by getting it trimmed every 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the style.
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• Use styling products that work with your haircut. Some include texture clay or powder, sea salt spray, molding paste, styling cream, and pomade.
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