Men’s hair in the 90s created several new trends. Iconic and modern, 90s hairstyles were heavily influenced by the cool fashion and pop culture creations of the decade. From Hollywood celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt to the rise of hip-hop music to the famous sitcom Friends, the 1990s brought about many trendy short and long hairstyles for guys. With 90s fashion making a comeback, it might be time for young men and little boys to start exploring ways to style these classic looks. To inspire your next haircut, check out the best 90s hairstyles for men that will show off your unique style.
90s Hairstyles For Men
Curtains Haircut
Made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp, the curtains hairstyle is trendy and handsome with boyish charm. Textured and neatly styled, the curtain haircut can be paired nicely with a fade or undercut on the sides. Popular with the biggest Hollywood celebrities, curtains were one of the hottest 90s men’s hair trends.
Bowl Cut
Bowl cuts were popular among children, so you may remember rocking it back in the day when your hairdresser cut your hair to a uniform length. Although it sounds childish, it became a favorite of rock bands and is a fantastic style for music-lovers who love to mosh out to air guitar and want something different-yet-low-maintenance. Straighten your fringe and fade in the sides for a modern version of a bowl cut.
Caesar Haircut
Named after Julius Caesar, George Clooney was the man to bring the Caesar haircut style to Hollywood in the 90s. Traditionally an even length all over, the hair on top was a tiny bit longer to give it contrast. Today low fades on the back and the sides add more volume without leaving it too long on top. To try the modern Caesar haircut, get a fade or undercut with a crew cut on top and a slightly longer bangs.
The Heartthrob
The heartthrob was named after the movie stars who made it prominent in the 90s, namely Brad Pitt. Cut into a bob and pushed back, the messy fringe gave it definition and a natural style. Today, it’s a lot more rugged and low-maintenance, so it’s perfect for fashionable men with wavy locks. You can have it shorter on the sides and long and swept back on top for a more eye-catching effect.
Blonde Highlights
Zach from Saved By The Bell, David Beckham and Brad Pitt helped make blonde highlights a major 90s trend. It was popular, and still is to this day, because it suited a variety of styles. Whether your hair is short, medium or long, a blonde buzz cut, crop top, or quiff will define your look and help you stand out.
Spiky Hair
Spiky hair was big in the 90s because it gave the Backstreet Boys and other guys a multidimensional appearance. Spikes were usually combined with blonde dye or frosted tips to cement the style. Modern men find spiky hairstyles ideal as these styles suit most hair textures and types, especially if you style your fringe forward for greater volume.
Afro Hairstyle
Although the Afro started in the 60s, Kobe brought it back in the 90s. It’s mostly associated with black men because it goes well with long, kinky hair or curls. Your barber will extend your hair from the scalp to get the famous round shape, and you can keep it in place with grease and hairspray.
Hip Hop Hairstyles
Hip hop hairstyles changed depending on the artist. Rapper Pusha T had, and still has, long cornrows, Snoop Dogg made the Afro more mainstream, and Jay-Z spent most of the 90s with a low-profile shaved head. However, one of the best hip hop haircuts was the low fade with 360 waves styled by Nas. He still has it to this day, and you can get waves with plenty of brushing, wave grease and another 90s favorite, the do-rag.
Grunge Hairstyles
Kurt Cobain encapsulates grunge hair. Long hair with front curtains was a mixture of cool and graceful without the hassle. Grunge hairstyles flowed in a classy way, yet the hair was messy and tousled, similar to bed head. Men with curly or tight locks will need to relax their hair to get it to grow down towards the shoulders.
Frosted Tips
Justin Timberlake made frosted tips a thing during his days as a member of *NSYNC. Back then, tips were bold and edgy and transformed most hairstyles effortlessly. Their comeback is due to men’s styles becoming boring and predictable, so frosted tips are great for any guy who wants a vibrant look.
Cornrows
Athletes with wavy or kinky hair in the 90s preferred cornrows due to the minimal upkeep. Aside from being effortless, cornrows are making a comeback because you can braid your hair at the back for a contrasting mane that’s reliable. Or, you can try the Kriss Kross style with braids on the top of your head.
Tram Lines
Tram lines were shaved into the side or back of the hair to switch up otherwise boring hair styles. MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice wore tram lines throughout the 90s. For a modern twist, you can use a tram line as a permanent parting that adds different dimensions by separating your hair.
Slicked Back Hair
Slicked back hair was a style from the 80s that carried into the 90s. While bankers and Wall Street types still wore the hairstyle, actors such as Clooney and Pitt made it more accessible and less aggressive. All you need is short sides with long hair on top, and a comb to brush it back. Strong wax or pomade will keep your slicked back haircut in place all day.
Mullet
Best described as short hair in the front and long hair in the back, the mullet was so trendy in the 1990s that there was a song named after it. Beastie Boys championed the style in their track “Mullet Head”, catapulting it to fame. Modern mullets aren’t as drastic, yet a drop fade on the sides and blonde bleach combo will offer an extra layer of attitude.
Flat Top
The flat top came in several shapes and sizes in the 90s. Similar to the high top, the two main ones were the flat top afro for black men and flat top straight for white guys, and both were buzzed short on the back and sides and stretched upwards on top.
Mohawk
The 90s mohawk involved shaving off the hair on the sides completely to leave a long strand of hair in the middle. The mohawk is drastic but noticeable and hard to ignore, and that made the hairstyle perfect for punk rockers. Current versions of the mohawk aren’t as close cut and are incredibly versatile. If you’re not a fan of the shaved sides mohawk, the best alternative is a tapered fade with a faux hawk as it lets you play around with the length and switch from long to short, depending on your preference.
Best Styling Products For 90’s Hair
Luckily, you don’t have to go that far back and get classic men’s hair products like Brylcreem and grease to style a cool 90s hairstyle. The best styling hair products for your 90s hair are the same ones you would use today. While hair gel and hairspray can get you that authentic look and there are some high-quality options on the market, we highly recommend you use a good pomade, wax, clay or cream.
With the same hold but ingredients that won’t dry your hair out, modern products for men are just made better.