Although short hair may seem the same to some people, there are many short haircuts for men.
One of the most popular ideas is to leave the sides short and the hair longer on top. This cut
was born, in the United Kingdom, when working-class men could not afford to pay barbers to
show off a balanced haircut. Thus, they began to cut only the sides of the head, leaving the top
longer. This ended up attracting the attention of younger people until it became a trend that still
works today. Some types of cuts with this shape are the fade, the military, the undercut, the
Mohawk style, the midi fade, or the fade with lines.
Fade cut
Talking about cutting the sides and leaving the hair on top longer is talking about a fade. This is
one of the most popular short-on-sides and long-on-top haircuts for men and it accepts multiple
varieties. The classic fade cut consists of leaving the sides and nape shorter and then, starting
from the occipital bone, gradually leaving the hair longer as we go up the skull. The classic and
traditional fade is soft and not too marked, so it can be easily done with scissors to create this
effect. More modern varieties allow for more daring and contrast in the side shave. In short,
sporting a classic fade cut will be synonymous with naturalness and freshness, since it is a cut
that usually suits any man.
Military court
Between the Mohawk and the 100% shaved head is the crew cut. While this is an ultra-short
men’s haircut option, you can play with the length of the sides and top to create greater contrast.
The idea of the military cut is to shave your head to a very low number (between 0 and 0.5) and
leave a small portion of the top unshaven, which you can cut with the clippers between 1 and 5,
depending on your tastes and preferences. In this cut, the gradient is optional, but what is
essential is the height of the sides, since to achieve the military characteristic you must raise the
lines of the temples a lot, which is responsible for separating and creating the contrast between
the two areas of the cut.
Undercut cut
The undercut is a trend that has become popular in recent years. Do the characters from Peaky
Blinders or Baby Driver ring a bell? If you have them in mind, you will surely easily identify this
type of cut. The basis is the same as for the previous ones: you have to leave the nape of the
neck and the sides short or very short while keeping medium or long hair on top. The undercut
is different from the military cut because the first is more moderate and the second is more
radical, but in both, you can decide whether or not to carry out the lateral gradient. To style it,
you can add volume to the front and thus create a greater effect between the two lengths. It also
works very well if you combine it with a well-groomed beard. Do you dare to try it?
Mohawk cut
Do you like mohawks? If the answer is yes, you can keep them by opting for a Mohawk style,
one of the men’s haircuts that are short on the sides and long on top with a side fade. This is a
version of the traditional cut that you can use to give a modern and avant-garde touch in the
purest Mohawk style. The idea is to create a gradient on the sides, leaving the hair shorter and
more volume on top, which will help you style your crest. If you are a daring person, this option
is for you.
Skin fade cut with pompadour.
Another variation of the classic fade is the skin fade with a quiff, and it is one of the most radical
styles of this men’s haircut. It involves shaving the sides closely, even leaving the skin visible,
while the top should be left at a medium or long height, enough to create a quiff that you can
comb backward, upwards, or to one side. This is a high-maintenance cut since you will
constantly have to go over your sides to let the pompadour take center stage and create that
bold contrast that looks so good.
High fade cut
Among the faded men’s haircuts is the high fade, also known as bald fade. It is one of the
versions that aims to mark the difference between the top and the sides. Whatever the top
length, the idea is to mark the difference by cutting the sides almost to zero at the bottom. The
high fade is one of the most visually powerful hairstyles because it creates a contrast of volume
between the top and sides. At the crown you will keep the hair quite long, while it fades as it
reaches the top of the skull and down to the nape of the neck, creating that contrast with the
very short sides. Ideal to combine with a pompadour or a mohawk.
Gradient cut with lines
Many actors, footballers, and other celebrities have opted for this hairstyle with a marked
character within the shaved haircuts on the sides for men with a side fade. The idea is to leave
the top longer while cutting the hair on both sides and making a line that, in many cases, is done
freehand by the barber or. If you trust your hairdresser, this is the perfect option to show off this
type of drawing on the sides. Are you up for it?
Buzz cut
The buzz cut is a men’s haircut style that can be applied to any head, regardless of hair texture
or length. The idea is to cut the hair very short with a clipper, keeping it a little longer on top and
making a gradient on the sides. Of course, although at first glance you can see two sizes, one
on the sides and one on the top, the idea is to show off practically shaved hair.
Hipster cut
If you want a modern men’s haircut with a retro or vintage feel, the hipster style cut is ideal for
you. It involves creating a gradient on the sides, leaving a large volume of hair on top. Then,
when it comes to combing it, you should comb it backward, even using gel or pomade to hold it
in place. The perfect combination for this type of cut is adding a thick, long beard to your face.
You’ll look like a real hipster! You can find more ideas in our post about The best hipster haircuts
for men.
Midi fade cut
The midi fade is the perfect option for those who want a medium fade. If you are one of those
who tend towards classicism, this is a good option for you. The idea is to cut the sides in a
rather conservative midi cut, while the top is kept longer. You can comb it to one side and leave
the opening on one of the sides, to create a more classic effect. It works great for those who
have curly or straggly hair. Give it a try!
Side cut and bun
And if you are one of those who want to grow long hair to be able to make ponytails or buns, the
last of the short on the sides and long on top haircuts for men is the side cut and bun, which will
give you a more modern and avant-garde touch. The idea is to shave the sides so that the
volume of the hair is focused on the upper and central part and this length should be enough so
that you can gather it in a bun or ponytail. This is one of the most fashionable options in terms of
men’s hairstyles and haircuts that you can also combine with a well-groomed but seemingly
unkempt beard. If you liked this selection of the 11 best haircuts for men that are short on the
sides and long on top, we recommend you take a look at our post Hairstyles for Men with short
hair, where you will find more alternatives.
