The Best Short Hairstyles & Haircuts For Men

You’ve become tangled up in length and forgotten how effective a short haircut can be for your summer appearance. As the warmer seasons draw near, it’s time to do away with that rugged caveman look. Time to fix up and look sharp, with a fresh short haircut. 

Finding the right hairdresser is essential when evolving our hairstyle season-to-season. A good one won’t focus solely on trends – preferring instead to keep you feeling fresh, original and in control of your look – even if we’re scared to admit that this is what we want.

What To Ask Your Hairdresser

The first question when heading to more of a salon than a barber when you want to go for a short hairstyle should always be – do you specialise in men’s hair? There are a lot of women’s salons around these days that are looking to jump on the expanding male grooming market bandwagon but don’t actually specialise in men’s hair. If there’s a token barber chair in the corner without anyone sitting in it, chances are you’re better off somewhere else.    

We would of course strongly recommend you visit a dedicated barber shop instead. With male grooming becoming ever more popular, barbers are popping up left right and centre, so finding a good one in your area should be easy.

Once you have found a talented, knowledgeable and above all honest hairdresser or barber, you should be asking what short haircuts and hairstyles best suit your hair type. It’s useful to have several examples stored on your phone. Remember, something a little more unique to you is better than any celebrity hairdo – it’s better to get people talking about your look in a positive way than how you’re a wannabe.

As any good hairdresser will tell you, we’re not all made for the same style of a short cut – no matter how good it may look on someone else. Like it or not, there are several different hair types from straight and curly to afro and Asian, so you’ll want to choose a cut that is manageable on a daily basis. 

A good barber or hairdresser will also ask you questions about what you wear – daytime, work time, and party time. They’ll approach your overall cut with this in mind to keep you looking good in your threads.  

Maintaining Short Hair

If, like many of use, you find a barber who has you leaving the house every day feeling like a million dollars, get back and see them once a month. Would you go for more than four weeks without cutting your fingernails? Hair should be considered in the same way, and to stay on top of your short haircut’s length – it will need regular, monthly professional care.  

Tips & Tricks

Adam Walmsley – Friends & Family 

• Keep the contrast in length to a minimum!
• Having a short hairstyle that blends gradually from the back and sides into a slightly longer length on top will increase the longevity and the versatility. Using this as a guide frees you up to wear a cropped cut, skin-tight or suede soft.
• Don’t be tied to one type of product, although a decent product can be pricey, having 3 or 4 variations in both hold and texture will help you dress for any occasion.
• Stronger hold products such as Davines ‘This Is A Strong Hold Wax, is a must for creating definition in tightly cropped lengths.
• For a more relaxed, “who gives a f*ck?”, texture try drying a medium hold paste into your short hair from wet. The key is experimenting and don’t always do what it tells you to do on the tin.
• It’s a given that a short haircut needs more upkeep so you’ll need regular trips to your hairdresser but there is a way of squeezing out an extra week of looking sharp.
• Make sure your hairdresser graduates your hairline around the back and sides as close to a natural finish as is possible. This means no hard lines on the neck! So if you guy asks you if you want a square or V-shapes hairline at the back, run for the hills because he’s not your guy anymore.

Anthony Nader – RAW Hair Salon Sydney

• Texture, texture, and more texture is the secret to keep your short precision hair cut looking fantastic and in shape for longer. Ask your hairstylist to cut more texture into your next haircut, then you can get more leverage and create even more cool hair shapes on top.
• For the days you want to go that choppy dishevelled look, get yourself a tub a moulding paste and this will make you look campaign-worthy.
• For the days you want to go on the smoother route, go get yourself a bottle of Kiehl’s Silk Groom.

Phoenix Thomson – American Crew 

• Keeping your hair short can often become less than exciting if you don’t keep a little length to work with. My advice for this season is keeping a look versatile, with added length on top.
• Being able to morph your short hairstyle into a more groomed and dapper shape can be as easy as using a product with a high shine and shaping with a comb to create a smoother finish. Try drying American Crew Firm Hold Gel into the hair to give support and finish off with a small amount of American Crew Pomade wiped over the surface to keep the hair in place, and create a high shine result.
• Short hair does mean more visits to the salon to keep the hairline in shape and any unwanted neck hair at bay. Keeping your appointments to a four-weekly routine will ensure your look is always fresh.

Short Haircut FAQ

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