Men's Haircut Names: A List of 30Popular Styles

The men’s haircut names most barbers know are the buzz cut, crew cut, taper, fade, side part, textured crop, quiff, pompadour, undercut, slick back, and mullet. Below is a list of 30 styles grouped by length, each with a short description of the look. Names vary a bit from shop to shop, so use this list to find the right word, then bring a photo too.

Very short

1. Buzz cut. One clipper length all over, or close to it. See our buzz cut guide.
2. Induction cut. The shortest buzz, right down to a very low guard.
3. Butch cut. A buzz with slightly more on top than the sides.
4. Crew cut. Short tapered sides and a slightly longer top. See buzz cut vs. crew cut.
5. High and tight. Military-style, with very short sides that go high up the head and a short patch on top.
6. Ivy League. A longer crew cut that can be side parted. See crew cut vs. Ivy League.
7. Caesar cut. Short all over with a short straight fringe. See French crop vs. Caesar cut.

Short, with shape

8. Textured crop. Short, choppy top with a fringe and tapered or faded sides.
9. French crop. A crop with a heavier, straighter fringe. See our French crop guide.
10. Edgar cut. A sharp straight fringe with tight sides. See our Edgar cut guide.
11. Side part. A defined parting, with a shorter side and a longer top. See side part vs. comb over.
12. Comb over. Top hair combed across, often with a fade underneath.
13. Quiff. Longer front hair lifted up and back. See our quiff guide for 2027.
14. Pompadour. Bigger and more sculpted than a quiff, swept up and back. See pompadour vs. quiff.
15. Slick back. All top hair combed straight back, usually with shine. See slick back vs. pompadour.

Fades and side treatments

These describe how the sides are cut and can be paired with almost any top.

16. Taper. Sides that get shorter gradually near the neckline and ears. See our taper fade guide.
17. Low, mid, and high fade. Named for where the shortening starts. See low vs. mid vs. high fade.
18. Skin fade. A fade going all the way to bare skin. See skin fade vs. taper fade.
19. Drop fade. The fade line curves down behind the ear.
20. Burst fade. A fade that curves around the ear in a half-circle. See drop fade vs. burst fade.
21. Undercut. Long top with short sides and a disconnected line between. See our undercut guide for 2027.

Medium and long

22. Two block. A Korean style with short underneath and a longer layer falling over it. See our two block guide.
23. Middle part. Hair parted at the center, falling to each side. See our middle part guide.
24. Bro flow. Medium length, pushed back, and left to flow behind the ears.
25. Mullet. Short front and sides, longer back. See mullet haircut trends for 2027.
26. Wolf cut. A shaggy, layered cross between a mullet and a shag. See mullet vs. wolf cut.
27. Shag. Choppy layers all over, with lots of movement.
28. Man bun. Long hair tied up at the crown or back of the head. See man bun vs. top knot.

Texture-driven cuts

29. Blowout taper. A taper with a fuller, blown-out top. See our blowout taper guide.
30. Broccoli haircut. Tight sides with a big, curly, rounded top. See our broccoli haircut guide.

Hair with a strong pattern has other options. 360 waves and a curly taper are two good places to start.

Cut versus style

Many of these names aren’t really separate haircuts. A “side part,” “quiff,” and “slick back” can all come from the same base: tapered sides and a few inches on top. If you like more than one of these, ask for that base and try each at home. That gives you several looks from a single haircut.

How to use these names at the barber

A name is a starting point. Add these details:

• Sides: guard number, or “scissors only.” Our clipper guard chart explains the numbers.
• Top: a length in inches.
• Neckline: tapered, rounded, or squared.
• Finish: how you’ll style it and what product you’ll use, if any.

You’ll get more phrasing tips in what to tell your barber, and the haircut terms glossary explains the rest.

Which one is right for you?

A list can tell you what a cut is called but not what suits you. Start with your hair type and how much styling you’ll really do, then consider your face shape. Our guide on how to choose a haircut walks through it.

Related guides

• Flat Top Haircut: Who It Suits and How to Ask Your Barber
• Short Back and Sides: The Classic Cut and How to Ask for It

Try the names you like

Hairover has a library of 100+ hairstyles for men and women. Browse, save what you like, and try it on your own photo in Style Studio to see which of these names you want to say to your barber.

Try these haircuts on your own photo with Hairover.