12 Hairstyles for Men in 2026 (Short, Medium & Long)
This is a broader men’s hairstyle guide covering short, medium, and long cuts in one place. If you already know you want something short, our 15 best short haircuts for men guide goes deeper on that category specifically — the 12 styles below cover the full range, including several medium and long options not in that list.
In This Guide
12 Hairstyles for Men Across All Lengths
1. Quiff
Length: short to medium. Hair on top is cut longer and styled up and back with volume at the front, tapering into short or faded sides. Works for both formal and casual settings depending on how much height is styled in.
2. Pompadour
Length: medium. A more dramatic, taller version of the quiff — hair is swept fully up and back off the forehead, usually with a comb and a stronger-hold product than a quiff needs. A classic style that’s cycled back into mainstream popularity repeatedly over the decades.
3. Undercut
Length: medium to long on top. Sides and back cut very short or shaved with a hard line, top left long enough to style up, back, or to the side. The sharp contrast between lengths is what defines it, more than any specific top style.
4. Slicked Back
Length: medium to long. All hair combed straight back off the face using gel, pomade, or a wet-look product, with no part. Reads as more formal and polished than a quiff or pompadour.
5. Textured Crop
Length: short. Heavier texture and a slightly messy, piece-y fringe on top with short sides, usually finished with a light matte product. One of the most-requested cuts for a current, low-effort look.
6. Man Bun
Length: long. Hair grown out and gathered into a bun at the crown or back of the head, with or without an undercut on the sides. Needs roughly shoulder-length hair to tie comfortably.
7. Long Layered Cut
Length: long. Hair worn at full length with layers cut throughout to remove bulk and add movement, rather than one heavy, blunt length. Works well straight or with natural wave.
8. Side Part
Length: short to medium. A defined part combed to one side, kept neat throughout. The most classic, universally appropriate cut on this list and rarely looks dated.
9. Curly Fringe
Length: short to medium. A longer curly or wavy section on top swept forward, with short or faded sides. See our full curly haircuts for men guide for more curl-specific cuts.
10. Mullet
Length: short at the front and sides, long at the back. Deliberately unconventional and currently back in mainstream rotation after decades out of fashion — works best with some texture or layering to avoid looking dated in the wrong way.
11. Faux Hawk
Length: short to medium. Hair on top is styled up into a raised strip resembling a Mohawk, without shaving the sides completely — usually faded or closely cropped instead. A less permanent, more office-friendly take on the Mohawk shape.
12. Buzz Cut
Length: shortest option on this list. A uniform clipper length across the whole head, typically a #1 to #4 guard. The lowest-maintenance cut here — see our short haircuts guide for more low-maintenance options like it.
Frequently Asked Questions
A quiff has moderate height and volume at the front with a softer sweep. A pompadour is styled with more dramatic height, fully swept back off the forehead, and generally needs a stronger-hold product to maintain the shape.
The buzz cut and side part need the least — a buzz cut needs no styling at all, and a side part only needs a comb and a small amount of product to hold the line.
Roughly shoulder-length (about 5-6 inches) is the minimum for a comfortable, secure man bun. Shorter hair can be styled into a very small bun but tends to slip out more easily.
Yes — the mullet has returned to mainstream rotation after being out of fashion for decades, though modern versions usually add texture and layering rather than the sharply blunt cut of earlier versions.
Shorter, even-length cuts like a buzz cut, textured crop, or Caesar-style short fringe tend to work better than styles requiring a lot of length on top, since they minimize the visual contrast between thinning and full areas.
Final Thoughts
Length is the first real decision — everything else (fade, texture, part, styling product) builds on top of it. Start with how much daily styling time you actually want to spend: buzz cuts and side parts need almost none, while a pompadour or man bun need consistent effort to look intentional rather than undone. For deeper dives into specific categories, see our guides to short haircuts for men and curly haircuts for men.
