As Hakan, a mens grooming specialist with over a decade advising clients and training barbers, I created this curated guide to eight versatile mens hairstyles. These looks span fades, pompadours, undercuts, crew cuts, textured crops, slick-backs and longer styles—chosen for their adaptability across hair types, ages and lifestyles. Whether you have thick, thin, curly or straight hair, youll find options that suit office settings, active weekends and low-maintenance routines. Each style includes practical tips on face-shape matching, product selection (matte clay, pomade, sea-salt spray) and maintenance frequency so you can reproduce the look at home or communicate precisely with your barber. Expect clear photo examples (8 images), step-by-step styling notes and recommendations for trims and at-home care. Use this guide to narrow choices, save time in the chair and build a dependable daily routine that enhances your features and personal style.
Textured Side‑Part Quiff for Men — Modern Tapered Pompadour
A versatile textured side-part quiff with tapered sides that suits oval, square and heart-shaped faces best; it also lengthens and flatters round faces by adding vertical height. To style: towel-dry hair until damp, apply a light pre-styler (sea-salt spray or volumizing mousse) at the roots, then blow-dry using a round or vent brush while lifting the front and directing hair back and slightly to the side to form the quiff. Create a clean side part with a tail comb if you want a sharper finish. Finish by warming a pea-to-nickel sized amount of matte clay or paste between your palms and working it through the top for hold and separation; use fingers to add texture and a light-hold hairspray to lock shape if needed. Tools needed: blow dryer with nozzle, round or vent brush, tail comb, and a small mirror. Products required: heat protectant or pre-styler, matte clay/paste, light hairspray, and dry shampoo for in-between days. Difficulty: moderate — requires basic blow-drying technique and product control. Maintenance tips: get tapered side trims every 4–6 weeks, refresh top length every 6–8 weeks, shampoo 2–3 times weekly with conditioner, and use dry shampoo to lift roots on day two or three.
Short Tapered Crop with Low Fade — Mens Short Hairstyle
This clean, short tapered crop with a low fade is a modern, professional cut that suits oval, square and heart-shaped faces and helps balance slightly rounder features by adding structure at the hairline. Styling technique: start with towel-dried hair, apply a pea-sized amount of matte paste or clay, then work product through the top with fingers to create subtle texture and a natural finish; use a fine-tooth comb to neaten the hairline if needed. Tools needed: clippers (for regular fades), a trimmer for edges, a comb, and a blow dryer for a quick tidy when necessary. Products required: matte styling clay or paste for hold without shine, light leave-in conditioner for daily moisture, and a weekly clarifying shampoo to prevent buildup. Difficulty level: easy — daily styling takes 2–5 minutes, though upkeep requires regular barber visits. Maintenance tips: book a taper touch-up every 2–4 weeks, keep the neckline and sideburns clean with a trimmer, avoid heavy greasy products that weigh the top down, and condition regularly to keep the scalp healthy and the short texture looking sharp.
Textured Curly Top with Hard Part and Low Skin Fade for Men
This modern cut pairs a textured, curly top with a defined hard part and a low skin fade—great for oval, square and diamond face shapes, and flattering for men who want structure without losing natural movement. Ask your barber for length on top of roughly 2.5–4 inches with point cutting for texture, a clean hard part, and a low fade down to skin at the temples. Styling technique: start with towel-damp hair, apply a sea-salt spray or light volumizing mousse, then blow-dry using a diffuser or round brush while lifting at the roots and directing curls to the side. Finish by working a pea-sized amount of matte paste or light pomade through the top with your fingers for separation and hold; use a fine comb to accentuate the part. Tools needed: clippers with guards, barber shears, comb, blow-dryer with diffuser or round brush. Products: sea-salt spray, lightweight mousse, matte paste or cream pomade, and a light hold hairspray. Difficulty: moderate — daily styling and shaping required. Maintenance: trim the fade and part every 2–4 weeks, shampoo 2–3 times weekly with conditioner, and refresh texture between cuts with a little product or a dampening spray.
Textured Curly Top with Low Fade — Modern Mens Short Crop
This textured curly top with a low skin‑blend fade suits oval, square and heart face shapes best; men with round faces can benefit from added height on top to elongate the profile. To style, towel‑dry hair until slightly damp, apply a sea salt spray or light leave‑in to boost natural wave, then use fingers or a wide‑tooth comb to shape. For more lift, diffuse with a blow dryer on low heat while scrunching the top. Finish by working a pea‑sized amount of matte clay or fiber through the mids and ends for separation and hold; a light pomade can be used for more sheen. Tools needed: hairdryer with diffuser, wide‑tooth comb or styling brush, clippers for the sides, and barber scissors for texturizing. Recommended products: sea salt spray, leave‑in conditioner, matte clay/fiber, occasional light pomade. Difficulty level: easy–moderate — forgiving for natural curls but requires some technique with drying and product. Maintenance tips: refresh the fade every 3–5 weeks, trim top every 6–8 weeks to maintain shape, avoid daily heavy product build‑up, and deep‑condition weekly to keep curls healthy.
Textured Short Top with High Skin Fade — Mens Crop Fade Hairstyle
This modern textured crop with a high skin fade suits oval, square and oblong face shapes particularly well; the short sides sharpen the jawline while the slightly longer, textured top adds height to balance round faces. Styling technique: start with towel‑damp hair, apply a light sea‑salt spray or volumizing mousse, then blow‑dry while using fingers or a vent brush to lift and create separation. Finish by working a pea‑sized amount of matte paste or clay through the top for definition and movement; use a little pomade only if you want added shine. Tools needed: barber clippers for the fade, scissors and a texturizing razor for the top, blow dryer, vent brush or fingers, and a fine comb for finishing. Products required: sea‑salt spray or lightweight mousse, matte paste/clay, optional light hairspray. Difficulty level: easy–medium — straightforward daily routine but requires a skilled barber for the fade lines. Maintenance tips: schedule a barber visit every 3–5 weeks to keep the fade crisp, trim top length every 4–8 weeks, shampoo 2–3 times weekly (condition as needed), and avoid heavy oils that weigh texture down.
Textured Long Side-Swept Undercut for Wavy Hair
This modern textured side-swept undercut pairs long, wavy top hair with a short, faded side for contrast. Suitability: Works best for oval, square and heart-shaped faces — the long side sweep softens angular jaws and the volume adds length to round faces when grown a bit longer. Styling technique: Start with towel-damp hair, work a small amount of leave-in conditioner or sea-salt spray through the top, then blow-dry with a diffuser or fingers while sweeping hair to one side to encourage natural wave and lift. Use a wide-tooth comb or fingers to shape. Tools needed: blow dryer with diffuser, wide-tooth comb or fingers, round brush for extra lift, clips for sectioning. Products required: leave-in conditioner or salt spray, matte paste or clay for texture, light hairspray for hold, and heat protectant. Difficulty level: Moderate — everyday styling is quick but maintaining shape and healthy long hair needs routine care. Maintenance tips: visit the barber every 3–6 weeks to keep the undercut crisp, trim long ends every 8–12 weeks, deep-condition weekly, avoid daily heavy washes, and sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce frizz.
Textured Wavy Fringe with Short Taper — Modern Mens Hairstyle
This textured wavy fringe with short tapered sides works best for oval, square and heart-shaped faces and can visually lengthen round faces when you keep lift at the crown. Styling starts on towel-damped hair: mist a sea-salt or texturizing spray through the top, then diffuse while scrunching with your fingers to encourage natural wave and separation. For added lift, use a vent brush or direct the diffuser at the roots. Finish by working a small amount of matte clay or lightweight paste through mid-lengths and ends for definition and a natural hold; a light-hold hairspray can set the look without stiffness. Tools needed: blow-dryer with diffuser, wide-tooth comb or vent brush, and quality scissors/clippers for the initial cut. Recommended products: texturizing or sea-salt spray, lightweight styling cream or matte clay, optional anti-frizz serum. Difficulty level: medium — forgiving but requires daily shaping. Maintenance: trim sides every 3–5 weeks and tidy the top every 6–10 weeks, deep-condition weekly if hair is dry, and avoid heavy products that flatten the waves.
Mens Curly Textured Crop with High Fade
This modern curly textured crop pairs a longer, tousled top with a tight high fade for contrast and structure. Face-shape suitability: ideal for oval, square, diamond and heart-shaped faces — the extra height and fringe help elongate round faces and balance a strong jawline. Styling technique: towel-dry hair until damp, work a small amount of curl cream or sea-salt spray through the top, then scrunch with your fingers to encourage curl formation. Use a diffuser on low heat to set shape and add volume or allow to air-dry for softer texture. Once dry, define pieces with a matte clay or light paste and finger-style for separation; finish with a light hold hairspray or texture spray. Tools needed: blow dryer with diffuser, wide-tooth comb, microfiber towel and barber clippers for touch-ups. Products required: sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner, leave-in curl cream or mousse, sea-salt spray, matte clay/paste, light hairspray. Difficulty level: moderate — easy to maintain day-to-day after learning the routine. Maintenance tips: get fades every 2–4 weeks, trim the top every 6–8 weeks, avoid overwashing (2–3×/week), deep-condition weekly, and refresh morning texture with water plus a pea-sized product.
As a final note, choose a mens hairstyle that balances your hair type, lifestyle and face shape — not a trend that demands constant fuss. Start by picking one or two images from the eight shown and share them with your barber; good communication (length, parting, fade height, texture) halves salon time and improves results. Invest in two core products: a daytime matte clay or paste for texture and a finishing pomade or light oil for polished occasions. Schedule trims every 3–8 weeks depending on the cut, and add a weekly deep-condition for dry or chemically treated hair. If you’re unsure, book a consult with a trusted barber and request a small test cut rather than a dramatic overhaul. Styling is a skill — practice five minutes daily, tweak product amounts, and youll gain confidence. I’m Hakan — reach out with questions or send a photo for tailored guidance.
