51 Best Short Hairstyles For Men To Try in 2021

Short haircuts for men continue to be popular and stylish. Because the best men’s short hairstyles are easy to cut, simple to style, and low-maintenance to keep, guys love short haircut styles. From the buzz cut and crew cut fade to the slicked back undercut and comb over taper, there are a number of trendy short hairstyles to choose from.

In fact, every year, barbers around the world try to outdo each other by coming up with cool new hairstyles for short hair men. While the fade and undercut remain the top haircuts for the sides and back, the textured crop and messy look have become major hair trends in barbershops. If you want the latest short hairstyle trends, ideas, and cuts, here are the most popular short haircuts to get in 2021.

Check out these classic and modern short men’s cuts to get inspired and try a new look.

Contents

1 Best Short Haircuts For Men

Best Short Haircuts For Men

Whether you want a taper fade or undercut on the sides and a French crop, high and tight, fringe, side part, Ivy League, or quiff haircut on top, here are the best short haircut styles for men.

Crew Cut

The crew cut is a practical yet stylish short hairstyle for guys. With a taper fade on the sides and very short hair on top, the crew cut haircut is low-maintenance and easy to style. Use a good men’s hair product like a matte pomade or low shine wax for a textured, messy style that always looks good.

Buzz Cut

This buzz cut with a fade on the sides is very short and classy. Guys can always ask their barbers for a line up to clean up the hairline or a hair design to tailor the tapered sides. Ultimately, the buzz cut fade is perfect for men with thick hair who want a cool but simple short hairstyle.

Ivy League Haircut

The Ivy League haircut has always been trendy and timeless. As one of the best men’s short haircuts, the Ivy League is generally cut with short sides and longer hair on top. This variation of the crew cut is often styled with a side swept front for a sophisticated, classic look.

French Crop

The French crop has quickly become one of the most popular short hairstyles for men. With faded or undercut sides and 2 to 3 inches of longer hair on top of the head, cropped haircuts work for all hair types. The best way to style a crop top is textured and messy.

Just apply some light-hold pomade, wax, or cream and brush the hair forward and tousled. With good volume and flow, this is certainly one of the top haircuts for guys who want short hair.

Short Hair + Skin Fade

This very short haircut is styled messy and spiked up for a textured, natural finish. With a skin fade on the sides, the hair is blended nicely into the hairstyle. Add in a unique look with a shaved line.

High and Tight Haircut

The high and tight is a military hairstyle with a modern twist. With a high bald fade or disconnected undercut on the sides and a very short hair on top, the high and tight haircut is sleek and masculine. If you want a trimmed summer look that is clean cut, fresh and easy to get, try a high and tight fade.

Comb Over Taper

This comb over hairstyle is modern, elegant, and versatile. With a low taper haircut on the sides and thick combed over hair, this comb over taper emphasizes the texture and flow on top. The comb over fade haircut works great with all types of hair and lengths, and looks good as a professional style.

Short Curly Hair Fade

This short curly hair fade features clean cut sides, a perfect shape up, and tight curls. With a high bald fade to maximize contrast, this cool hairstyle for men with curly hair styles beautifully. The beard fade is a nice touch. Use a curl-enhancing cream to control frizz and style this curly cut.

Crop Top Fade

The crop top fade has been a trending haircut style for guys. The short fade focuses the eyes on the thick hair on top. With 2 to 3 inches of length, the short cropped cut is brushed forward to create a fringe. Styled messy and textured, the hair looks full and natural.

Short Spiky Hair Fade

This short spiky hair fade is a cool haircut to get. Spiked up all over with a low taper fade one the sides and line up along the hairline, it’s handsome for men and young boys.

Undercut Fringe

The undercut fringe has evolved into a very cool new hairstyle. Here, the thick hair on to is short and layered, with just enough length to be side swept for an angular fringe. The undercut on the sides draws your attention to the volume and texture in the styling.

To style your short hair, use clay or cream and run your hands through to tousle and brush your hair to one side. The goal is to not weigh down your locks with a lot of product and to keep the final look light and effortless.

Messy Short Hair

This messy short hairstyle features a low taper fade with a longer textured top. Guys can get this haircut whether they have thick, wavy, curly or thin hair. With just enough length on top, it’s important to let your hair’s natural texture direct the flow.

Slicked Back Undercut

This modern slicked back undercut is styled with volume as opposed to the classic greaser style. Guys can brush it back with a shiny pomade or blow dry it up with a matte styling product for more flow. If you ever want to change your look, the short hair is versatile enough to style a quiff, comb over, or pompadour.

Short Pompadour Fade

This short pompadour fade blends between classic and modern. A fresh mid fade is coupled with a small pomp that is brushed up and back. To get the style, ask your barber for short hair in the back with slightly longer length in the front.

Side Part Fade

The side part fade is a gentleman’s hairstyle good for business professionals and hipsters alike. Short men’s cuts like the side part can be made edgy with a hard part or line shaved into the hair.

Guys also don’t have to neatly part the hair to one side. This example shows a trendy low fade with a side swept fringe that is combed to the side and back.

Textured Short Quiff + Taper Fade

The short quiff has been a great men’s haircut idea for many years now. With a taper fade on the sides to highlight the styling on top, this textured modern quiff is fashionable yet casual.

Short Hairstyle For Thick Hair

This hot men’s hairstyle features a nicely blended low skin fade on the sides and an edge up around the hairline and temples. Short textured hair on top with a spiky front and a full beard make this a good haircut for any guy.

Messy Spiked Up Hair + High Fade + Beard

This high bald fade with spiky hair is a cool hairstyle for guys to get. To add some detail and tailor the look, try a surgical part on the sides by asking your barber to shave in a line. Apply a strong pomade or wax with matte finish for a natural look.

Textured Crew Cut Fade + Line Up

The textured crew cut fade remains a barbershop favorite because guys with all hair types can make the style work. Pictured is a crew cut with a mid fade, line up, and hair that is pushed and spiked towards the middle of the head. It’s easy to style and looks much like a very short faux hawk.

Side Swept Undercut

For guys with short to medium-length hair, this side swept undercut hairstyle offers a sexy modern look that’s hard to beat. The short sides are clean and conservative for the modern gentleman, but the combed over hair is left flowing and playful. Good men’s medium short hairstyles like this can be styled easily with a light styling cream or moderate hold pomade.

Run the product through your hair, work it in evenly, and use your hands to brush the strands to one side for a stylish finish. Consider growing out and trimming your facial hair for a heavy stubble or short beard.

Short Burst Fade Mohawk

The burst fade mohawk makes for an awesome hairstyle. If you want an edgy short haircut but don’t want to shave your sides, this mohawk fade blends the best of both worlds. The burst taper fade curves around the ears and down the neck, while the line up cleans up the hairline along the temples and beard. The textured messy mohawk on top gives personality and natural flow to the look.

Faux Hawk Fade

The faux hawk fade is a more tamed version of the mohawk. Fortunately, the fohawk is still super stylish. These thick spikes on top are concentrated in the middle of the head. Paired with a sharp high skin fade on the sides, this faux hawk is badass.

Very Short Haircut Styles

Very short hairstyles for men are always easy to get and style. Featuring a high fade, shape up, and buzz cut, this trendy yet simple haircut is effortless. If you want to cut your own hair at home, all you need is good hair clippers. Just make sure you have the right face shape for really short hair.

Short Wavy Hair Fade

This short wavy hairstyle is one way to tame and control your waves. Waves can add volume and texture to any style. The wavy hair fade cuts your hair short enough to minimize frizz for a low-maintenance look, but allows men to leverage their natural hair type.

Short Textured Crop Fade

This short textured crop creates a unique pattern on top for a sweet look. The fade tapers very high on the sides and back for plenty of contrast compared to the short hair above. If you’re looking for cool haircut ideas that require minimal upkeep or effort, the messy crop top hairstyle is the way to go.

Brush Cut

The brush cut is a military haircut that you can do yourself at home. With a pair of professional barber clippers and number 1, 2 or 3 guard sizes, you can buzz your hair all around. To blend the sides and back into the hair on top, use different length clipper guards.

Check out our guide to haircut numbers to figure out how short or long to cut your hair.

Short Comb Over Fade + Hard Part

The short comb over fade is a great example of a cool new hairstyle for young men. With a razor fade, thick hard part line shaved in, and gelled hair combed over, this look is super modern and edgy.

Blowout Taper

The blowout taper styles beautifully with good hair products, a brush, and blow dryer. Start with a short tapered cut on the sides and ask your barber for the desired length on top. Use hair cream or mousse to comb the hair back all over, and finish with low heat to keep the style in place all day. Overall, the blowout haircut offers a sweet bro flow.

Messy Textured Spikes + High Fade

Messy spikes are fun and easy-going. The high fade haircut is cool and fresh, while the short spiky hair can be styled with some product and pulling the spikes in different directions. As one of the hottest hairstyles for short hair, we highly recommend you ask your barber for this cut.

Short Undercut Hairstyle

The short undercut is on-trend and certainly one of the best hairstyles for men. The undercut is versatile, sexy, and always a barbershop favorite. With so many different types of undercuts, guys can choose from a disconnected undercut or undercut fade.

Pictured is an example of short to medium length hair parted in the middle and styled with lots of textured and layers. The shape up outlines the hairline perfectly and the groomed beard delivers a masculine quality to a pretty boy haircut.

Modern Flat Top

While the flat top has traditionally been a military hairstyle, this stylish variation gives the haircut a modern update. The faded sides and shaved hard part line give the style a youthful look. The horizontal cut that creates the flat top is distinct, making you stand out in any crowd.

Short Mohawk Fade

This mohawk fade offers a rebellious hairstyle without the need for shaved sides. The burst fade tapers the hair around the ears and down the neck, and the line up shapes the hairline and beard. The beard fade is an especially well-groomed addition, while the short spiky hair that comprises the mohawk is sleek and badass. This short mohawk fade is an awesome look that will cement your status as a bad boy.

Messy Textured Hairstyle + Bald Fade + Designs

Hair designs are a cool way to tailor any fade haircut. Combine shaved lines etched into a skin fade with a men’s textured short haircut and you’ll have a fresh style.

Short Thin Hair + Mid Taper Fade

The best short hairstyles for men with thin hair start with short sides and messy styling on top. The taper fade haircut and messy, natural styling lessen the focus on this guy’s thin hair. Good hair products for thin hair include wax or clay because ingredients like beeswax and kaolin clay give hair a thicker, fuller appearance.

Buzzed Fade + Line Up

Short and simple, this buzz cut fade is trimmed one length all over. The line up shapes the hairline and the bald faded sides contrast the short buzzed hair.

Short Hair + Shaved Sides

The shortest haircut styles often feature shaved sides. Paired with messy styling that is textured, spiked, and tousled in all different directions, this bedhead look is handsome and rugged. Try cool beard styles to find facial hair ideas that will complement your hairstyle and face shape.

Regular Short Haircut

If you just want a normal haircut for a traditional barbershop, this regular short hairstyle is clean cut and classy. With a classic taper and a crew cut with side swept bangs, just apply your favorite styling gel or pomade for a neat finish.