Surfer Hair for Men: How to Get the Look and GrowIt Out

Surfer hair is medium-length, wavy, slightly messy hair, usually around the ears or the jaw, with natural texture and a matte finish. The look comes from a layered cut, a little sea salt spray, and letting it air-dry. It works best on wavy hair, but straight hair can get close with the right cut. It’s a popular look for men who want longer hair that doesn’t need much styling.

The cut to ask for

The secret is layers. Without them, medium-length hair hangs in a heavy, flat shape.

Ask for: “Medium-length layers, about ear to jaw length, cut with texture so it moves. Keep the weight out of the ends. No clippers, just a soft scissor cut around the ears and neck.”

If you want it a bit neater for work, ask for a soft taper at the neckline.

Related looks:

• The flow: longer hair swept back, usually past the ears. See the flow haircut.
• Middle part with curtains: surfer hair parted in the middle. See middle part for men.
• Longer surfer hair: past the jaw. See long hairstyles for men.

Who it suits

• Wavy hair: the perfect match. See wavy hairstyles for men in 2027.
• Thick straight hair: works with lots of texturizing.
• Fine straight hair: possible but can look thin. Keep it shorter, around ear length.
• Curly hair: gives a bigger, rounder version. See curly haircuts for men in 2027.
• Long or oval faces: suit it well.
• Round faces: keep some height on top and avoid too much width at the sides.

How to style it

1. Wash, then towel-dry gently until damp.
2. Spray sea salt spray from roots to ends.
3. Scrunch with your hands for a minute.
4. Let it air-dry, or use a diffuser on low.
5. If it’s frizzy, rub a tiny amount of light cream between your palms and smooth the surface.

Don’t brush it once it’s dry, or the waves turn into frizz. More ideas are in how to air-dry hair and how to use a diffuser.

Growing it out

The awkward stage usually hits when the sides cover your ears but the back is still short. To get through it:

• Get a trim every eight to ten weeks to shape the back and stop it from looking like a mullet you didn’t ask for.
• Tell your barber you’re growing it out. They’ll only clean up the edges.
• Use texture. Messy, piecey hair hides uneven lengths.
• Try a headband, cap, or tucking it behind your ears on bad days.

How fast you get there depends on how fast your hair grows. See how fast does hair grow and our guide to growing out short hair.

Related guides

• Medium Haircuts for Men in 2027
• Men’s Haircut Trends for 2027
• Man Bun vs. Top Knot

See it before you grow it

Growing hair out takes months, so it’s worth knowing whether you’ll like the result. Hairover lets you upload a clear photo, get a hair analysis, and try hairstyles on your own face in Style Studio, including longer and wavier looks.

Try surfer hair on your own photo with Hairover.