Short sides with a long top is a versatile and stylish haircut choice for men. This combination offers a perfect balance between a clean, professional look and a bold, fashion-forward statement.
Whether you’re looking for a classic style or something more edgy, there’s a short sides, long top haircut that’s perfect for you. Let’s explore 20 amazing variations of this popular men’s hairstyle.
1. The Classic Pompadour
The pompadour is a timeless hairstyle that never goes out of fashion. This style features short, tapered sides with a long, voluminous top swept back and up. The key to a great pompadour is the contrast between the sleek sides and the height on top.
To style a pompadour, start with damp hair and apply a strong-hold mousse or gel. Use a round brush to blow-dry your hair upwards and backwards, creating volume and shape. Finish with a matte or high-shine pomade, depending on your preferred look.
The classic pompadour works well for most face shapes and hair types, but it’s particularly flattering for those with oval or square faces.
2. Textured Quiff
The textured quiff is a modern take on the classic quiff, offering a more relaxed and effortless look. This style features short sides, often with a fade, and a longer top styled forward and up with plenty of texture.
To achieve this look, apply a sea salt spray to damp hair and blow-dry while tousling with your fingers. Once dry, use a small amount of matte clay or paste to enhance the texture and hold the style in place.
The textured quiff is great for men with fine to medium hair who want to add volume and movement to their style.
3. Slicked Back Undercut
The slicked back undercut combines the edginess of an undercut with the sophistication of a slicked-back style. This haircut features very short sides, often buzzed or faded, with a longer top that’s smoothly styled back.
To style, apply a strong-hold gel or pomade to damp hair and comb it straight back. For a sleeker look, use a fine-toothed comb; for more texture, use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb.
This style works well for men with straight to slightly wavy hair and adds a touch of retro cool to any look.
4. Messy Fringe
The messy fringe is perfect for those who prefer a more casual, bed-head look. This style features short sides with a longer top that’s styled forward into a textured fringe.
To achieve this look, apply a texturizing product to damp hair and blow-dry while tousling with your fingers. Once dry, use a small amount of matte paste or clay to piece out the fringe and create a messy, lived-in look.
This style is ideal for men with straight to wavy hair and works particularly well for those with round or square face shapes.
5. Faux Hawk
The faux hawk, or fohawk, is a more wearable version of the punk-inspired mohawk. This style features short sides that gradually get longer towards the center of the head, creating a strip of longer hair from the forehead to the nape.
To style a faux hawk, apply a strong-hold product to damp hair and blow-dry while using your fingers to push the hair up and towards the center. Use additional product to define and spike the longer strip of hair.
This edgy style is great for men who want to make a statement without going for a full mohawk.
6. Side Part with Fade
The side part with fade is a classic look that combines vintage charm with modern styling. This cut features a high or low fade on the sides, with longer hair on top styled into a neat side part.
To achieve this look, apply a small amount of pomade to damp hair and comb it to the side, creating a clean, defined part. Use a blow-dryer and brush to add volume and shape to the longer side.
This versatile style works for most hair types and face shapes, making it a popular choice for both casual and formal settings.
7. Brushed Up Style
The brushed up style is all about height and texture. This cut features short sides, often with a fade, and longer hair on top that’s styled upwards and slightly back.
To style, apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair and blow-dry while brushing the hair up and back. Once dry, use a matte paste or clay to enhance texture and hold the style in place.
This bold look is great for adding height to round face shapes and works well with straight to wavy hair types.
8. Disconnected Undercut
The disconnected undercut creates a stark contrast between the short sides and long top. Unlike a gradual fade, there’s a clear “disconnect” between the two lengths.
To style, apply a styling product to the longer top section and style as desired – slicked back, messy, or swept to the side. The short sides require little to no styling.
This edgy look works best for those with thick, straight hair and confident personalities.
9. Textured Crop
The textured crop is a low-maintenance style that’s perfect for men who want a stylish look without much fuss. It features short sides with a slightly longer top that’s cut in a way to enhance natural texture.
To style, apply a small amount of texture paste to damp hair and either air dry or blow-dry while tousling with your fingers. The result is a casual, effortless look.
This style works well for most hair types and is particularly flattering for those with receding hairlines.
10. Modern Caesar Cut
The modern Caesar cut is an updated version of the classic Roman style. It features short sides and back with a slightly longer top that’s styled forward to create a short fringe.
To style, apply a light hold product to damp hair and blow-dry while brushing the hair forward. Use your fingers to create subtle texture in the fringe.
This style is great for men with straight to slightly wavy hair and works well for those with square or oval face shapes.
11. Asymmetrical Fringe
The asymmetrical fringe adds an edgy twist to the short sides, long top combination. This cut features one side longer than the other, often styled into a dramatic sweep across the forehead.
To style, apply a medium-hold product to damp hair and blow-dry while brushing the longer side across the forehead. Use additional product to define and hold the fringe in place.
This bold style is perfect for those who want to make a statement and works well with straight to slightly wavy hair.
12. Textured Spikes
Textured spikes offer a modern, softer version of the punk-inspired spiked look. This style features short sides with a longer top that’s styled into piece-y, textured spikes.
To achieve this look, apply a strong-hold product to damp hair and blow-dry while using your fingers to create spikes. Once dry, use a texturizing paste to enhance definition and hold.
This style works well for men with straight to slightly wavy hair and adds height to round or oval face shapes.
13. Slick Side Sweep
The slick side sweep is a polished, professional look that’s perfect for the office or formal events. It features short sides, often with a fade, and longer hair on top that’s smoothly swept to one side.
To style, apply a high-shine pomade to damp hair and comb it to the side, creating a smooth, sleek look. Use a blow-dryer for extra hold and shine.
This sophisticated style works well for most hair types and face shapes, adding a touch of classic elegance to any look.
14. Curly Top Fade
The curly top fade is perfect for men with naturally curly hair. This style features faded sides with longer curls on top, celebrating natural texture.
To style, apply a curl-enhancing cream to damp hair and either air dry or diffuse-dry to enhance curl definition. Once dry, use your fingers to shape and style the curls as desired.
This style is ideal for men with curly hair who want a low-maintenance yet stylish look.
15. Textured Pompadour
The textured pompadour is a modern twist on the classic style. It features short sides with a longer top styled up and back, but with added texture for a more casual, contemporary look.
To style, apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair and blow-dry while brushing the hair up and back. Once dry, use a texturizing paste to create piece-y definition and hold.
This style works well for most hair types and adds height to round or oval face shapes.
16. Faded Comb Over
The faded comb over combines the sleekness of a comb over with the modern edge of a fade. This style features faded sides with longer hair on top combed neatly to one side.
To style, apply a medium-hold pomade to damp hair and comb it to the side. Use a blow-dryer and brush to add volume and shape to the longer side.
This versatile style works for most hair types and face shapes, offering a perfect balance between classic and contemporary.
17. Brush Back with Temple Fade
The brush back with temple fade is a stylish, low-maintenance look. It features a temple fade on the sides with longer hair on top brushed back for a sleek finish.
To style, apply a light hold product to damp hair and brush it back while blow-drying. Finish with a light mist of hairspray for extra hold.
This style is great for men with straight to wavy hair and works particularly well for those with oval or oblong face shapes.
18. Textured French Crop
The textured French crop is a modern take on the classic Caesar cut. It features very short sides, often with a fade, and a slightly longer top cut bluntly with a short, textured fringe.
To style, apply a matte paste or clay to damp hair and either air dry or blow-dry while using your fingers to create texture. Style the fringe forward and piece it out for added definition.
This low-maintenance style works well for most hair types and is particularly flattering for those with receding hairlines or oval face shapes.
19. High and Tight Recon
The high and tight recon is a military-inspired cut that’s gained popularity in civilian fashion. It features very short sides and back with a slightly longer strip of hair on top, usually no more than 1-2 inches long.
To style, simply apply a small amount of matte paste or wax to enhance texture and definition. This cut requires minimal styling and maintenance.
This bold style works best for men with straight hair and strong facial features.
20. Long Fringe with Undercut
The long fringe with undercut is a dramatic, eye-catching style. It features an undercut or fade on the sides with a long top styled into a sweeping fringe.
To style, apply a volumizing product to damp hair and blow-dry while brushing the fringe forward and to the side. Use a flat iron if needed to smooth the fringe, and finish with a light hold hairspray.
This edgy style works best for those with straight to slightly wavy hair and is particularly flattering for oval or heart-shaped faces.
In conclusion, the short sides long top haircut offers endless possibilities for men to express their personal style. Whether you prefer a classic, polished look or something more edgy and modern, there’s a variation of this versatile cut that’s perfect for you. Remember, the key to pulling off any of these styles is confidence – choose the one that makes you feel your best!