The Best Short Haircuts For Men For 2024
Posted on Dec 25, 2023
Thankfully, guys aren’t limited to the standard high-and-tight: there are a ton of good short haircuts out there for men of all ages, face shapes and hair textures. Let’s check them out.
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Very Short Haircuts For Men
Crew Cut
This is one of the good short haircuts for men of all hair types- it looks great with any hair texture. The short fringe can be styled forward or gelled up for a modern twist. It’s a trendy hairstyle with a long history.
High Fade
It’s likely that you’ve seen a high fade before. It’s one of the most common men’s hairstyles, and it’s not likely to become less popular any time soon. A high fade looks best on men with round face shapes, since the short sides and length on top balance out their facial features.
Military Cut
This is a very common way to wear shorter hair- it’s low maintenance, comfortable, and works well with any hair type. The shaved sides are quite short, and not much length is left on top. You won’t have to do much to style this, making it a great option for busy guys.
Semi-Short Hairstyles For Guys
Ivy League Haircut
Also called a “Harvard Clip,” the back and sides are similar to a crew cut, but the length at the top front gives you easy to style short hair. This is a great short textured haircut for men with round faces.
Messy French Crop
We love a textured crop- it’s classic. This is sometimes referred to as a “Ceasar Cut”, it’s one of the most popular medium short haircuts for men looking for something easy to style and maintain. If your hair has some natural texture, this is an easy way to wear it.
Mid Fade
Here’s a fashion forward style that’s both messy and tidy at the same time. The length of the top hair gives you a lot of hair to play with, while the taper fade on the sides look professional and clean.
Cool Short Haircuts For Men
Quiff
This short hairstyle works with almost any face shape, and it looks awesome. If you have a square or round face, you can wear it with (relatively) long hair, but narrow or thin-faced guys should choose a short style quiff.
High-Top Faux Hawk
A faux hawk is an edgy hairstyle, but it’s quickly becoming one of the hottest short haircuts of the year. We love this spiked hair because you can also wear it in professional settings, it’s so versatile.
Pompadour
This is one of those haircuts for men with short hair that’s never going to go out of style. Elvis may have made the pompadour all the rage in the 1950’s, but modern men have adapted it to suit their own personal style.
Fade Short Haircuts For Men
Side Part Fade
Not all short hair styles are as easy to maintain and classic-looking as this one. It works with straight or wavy hair, so don’t be afraid to experiment with your hair’s natural texture. If you want a sharper, more modern look, then pair it with a high fade.
Burst Fade
You can try different hair lengths on top of the head with this style, but its main feature is the way that the hair is tapered around the ears and back of the head. This short haircut flatters oval face shapes.
High Top Fade
The longer hair on the top of the head makes this a great short haircut for shorter guys. It’s a bit more mature-looking than a faux hawk, but you can still gel it into short spiky hair if you want to play with the style.
Best Short Haircuts For Men
Disconnected Undercut With French Crop
Fans of Peaky Blinders will instantly recognize this textured crop- the buzz cut on the sides has zero fading, giving it a “disconnected” look that’s a combination of two dramatic styles. Invest in some pomade to shape the French crop.
Textured Quiff
Textured hair is a great way to highlight natural volume, and we love this variation on a classic quiff. Men with square faces look best with this style, but anyone can wear it- it’s a very versatile one.
Comb-Over Low Fade
This is a stylish, modern and classy way to wear your short hair. It combines the tidiness of a traditional fade haircut with a bit of length on top that you can style. We like it better with a soft part, rather than a hard, surgical line.
Short Haircuts For Men With Straight Hair
Slicked Back Undercut
Men’s short haircuts for straight hair don’t have to be boring.This is a vintage way to wear slightly longer hair. Plus, it’s easy to style- just start with damp hair that you shape with a bit of gel or pomade.
Bowl Cut
When considering haircuts for short hair, men who have super-straight hair shouldn’t overlook this classic style. The even fringe at the front brings your hair forward, and the buzzed sides draw attention to the texture.
Undercut With Skin Fade
This skin fade haircut gives a classic undercut a modern twist.The very short hair on the sides draws attention to the hair on top- we recommend adding a bit of texture to this short haircut. It’s a great style to wear with facial hair, too.
Short Haircuts For Curly Hair Men
Curly Quiff
When it comes to short haircuts for men, curly hair shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the coolest styles. Styling short, curly hair into a quiff requires a bit of practice, but the end result is worth the effort.
Curly Fringe
If you want a short curly haircut for men that draws attention to your eyes and balances out a heavier jawline, then try this fringe. It works best with a mid fade or a low fade on the sides, with layers on top.
Wolfcut
This short hairstyle is a combination of a retro mullet and a shag, and it’s the perfect mens short haircut for curly or wavy hair. It’s very easy to style and maintain, and you’ll always look effortlessly cool.
Short Haircuts For Older Men
Combed Back With Fade
Some men’s haircuts for short hair just look expensive and fancy- this combed back low fade is certainly one of them. It’s perfect for older gentlemen with thicker hair who don’t mind making the effort to style it, and makes salt and pepper hair look very distinguished.
Buzz Cut
A buzz cut looks good on younger and older guys, especially if they have medium or thick hair. It’s easy to style, and doesn’t require a lot of thought. If you have thinning hair, it might not be a good choice.
Raised Front With Flat Sides
Here’s one of those great mens short hairstyles that actually flatters a slightly receding hairline. The raised front styles the hair slightly forward, and the brushed up fringe adds a bit of volume overall.
Short Men's Haircuts For Thick Hair
Textured Crew Cut
Crew cuts are already one of the best short men haircuts for thick hair, and by adding a bit of texture to it, you’ll give this style some character and make it your own. Try asking your stylst in the barber shop for a textured crop with square-cut sides.
Disconnected Pompadour
The pompadour is also one of the best short mens haircuts for round faces, but anyone without a narrow face looks great with one. The dramatic line up the sides of the head, with all of the volume on top is perfect for thick hair.
Side Part
Simple and elegant mens short haircuts with a side part are a great way to manage thicker hair. Add in a few subtle layers to help manage extra volume, especially if you want to style this easily.
Men's Short Haircuts For Thin Hair
Spiky High Fade Haircut
Spikes are among the most popular mens short haircuts for thin hair, because they add texture and conceal how thin or thick your hair actually is. If you have fine hair, try not to overdo it with the gel- you’ll only need a little bit.
Mop Top
Short mens haircuts for thin hair don’t have to be super short. A shaggy mop top style can be very effective at concealing a thin hair texture, especially if it’s pulled down over the forehead. Invest in a sea salt spray to encourage curls.
Skin Fade
The sides and back of this hairstyle are cut way down and faded towards the top, which accentuates the hair and creates the illusion of extra volume. By drawing the eye line up to the top of the head, you’ll also balance a round face.
Men's Short Haircuts For A Round Face
Curtain Hairstyle With Spikes
This one is an edgy haircut for short hair men with round faces will appreciate. It’ll frame the sides of your face, while the spikes on top add volume. It also looks fantastic with a short beard.
High Volume Side Parted Top
Use a thin, hard part with a surgical line to modernize this vintage style. The volume on the top that comes from the hair’s part, along with the tapered sides, will create a balanced look and offset a round face.
Mini Brush-Up
With a rounder face shape, you won’t need a lot of volume to achieve a flattering look- a little bit in enough. Pair this with a high or mid fade on the sides for a military vibe.
Short Haircuts For Black Men
Flat Top
There are so many awesome retro short haircuts for black men’s hair, and we’re thrilled that this one is making a comeback. Your hair’s natural texture will make it easier to shape the flat top and create a crisp line.
Short Braids
This is a great protective hairstyle that also looks very professional. It’s ideal for guys who don’t want to do a lot of upkeep every morning, too. You’ll just need to revisit your stylist to have them tightened every so often.
Buzz Cut With Shaved Designs
Adding some shaved patterns can really personalize a buzz cut and make it look more interesting. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your own sophisticated, edgy or playful style.
Short Haircuts For Men With Beards
Short Quiff
Thanks to David Beckham, more and more guys are getting this haircut. A quiff is a flattering haircut on almost any man, but a shorter style really balances out the length of a beard with that extra bit of volume on the top of your head.
Mid Skin Fade With Fringe
This is a playful, boyish style that will help any man with a beard avoid looking too serious. It looks best with a shorter beard, stubble or a goatee, especially if you have a round or oval-shaped face.
Shaved Head
This is a stylish look that will draw all the attention to a well-groomed beard. Many men love how low-maintenance a clean shaved head is, which can be a real time-saver if you’re focusing on your beard.
Stylish Short Haircuts For Men
Short, Messy Crop
A textured crop is already one of the most popular hairstyles among men of all ages, but we’ve increasingly seen guys wear this style a bit messy by adding a bit of wax or pomade to it. Why not give it a try?
Crop Fade
This style has a perfectly-balanced fade on the sides and back with a short, cropped top. You can experiment with the length- some guys like to pull a bit of fringe over their foreheads, while others wear it short and tidy.
High And Tight
A high and tight is a popular military hairstyle, but it’s also one that’s flattering to most hair textures, and it’s low-maintenance. It is a great hairstyle for professional men who always want to look sharp.
Short Haircuts For Balding Men
Butch Cut
This is a classic hairstyle for men dealing with hair loss. It’s easy to manage, leaves a bit of hair that’s long enough to style, and draws attention away from thinning hair.
Blended High Fade
This type of high fade takes extra care to blend your hairline in with the rest of your hair, which is the perfect choice for balding men. It looks best on guys with oval face shapes, but a good barber can help anyone pull it off.
Textured Brush-Forward
If you still have a lot of hair thickness at your crown and mid-scalp, then brushing it forward and adding some layers will help to create the appearance of more volume and conceal any thinning at the front.
Recommendations
We hope that we’ve been able to help you narrow down your options and decide what hairstyle you’re going to try next.
Short haircuts for men range from edgy and punk to conservative and classic, with a lot of room for individual expression. The best thing about hair is that it grows back, so don’t be afraid to take risks and try something new.
Citations
The well-coiffed man: Class, race, and heterosexual masculinity in the hair salon
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0891243208321168
Do bald men get half-price haircuts?: In search of Americas' great barbershops
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=r2e92prW
Masculinity, consumerism, and appearance: A look at men's hair
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111
Peter
Peter is a barber and writer specializing in men's grooming. He's fascinated by the ever-changing world of men's hairstyles and fashion, and enjoys sharing his insights through writing. Peter has a sharp eye for what looks good and loves keeping men in the know about the latest trends. He's passionate about helping men look and feel their best.