25 Best Men’s Undercut Hairstyles (2023)

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Undercut Haircut Styles

It’s no surprise, men’s hairstyles are constantly evolving and becoming more stylish. The undercut has become one of the most popular hairstyles for men. It’s a style that’s shared between David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Adam Levine, and Tom Hardy. This youthful and adaptable hairstyle works well for almost any hair type as well, even if you have a receding hairline.

The undercut is a versatile hairstyle with a buzzed cut underneath with long hair on top. The shorter hair creates a hard edged line know as the undercut. With the traditional undercut, there are many style variations, including slicked back, combed over curls and fades.

From Instagram barbers who love men’s haircuts with an undercut to high fashion style, editorial undercut looks – we’ve collected the best undercut hairstyles for men.

1. The Traditional Undercut

This look dates back to an early 1900s America, when it was popular to not blend the sides, resulting in shorter or shaved sides with very long strands on top. These were typically slicked back or tousled and became the style’s standard.

Below, Tom Hardy sports a sublime undercut that’s gently pulled back and pair with a heavy scruff beard.

Undercut Hairstyle - Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy – traditional undercut.

The trend died out but popped up again with the punk revolution in the 1980s.

It’s here to stay now, as more stylish undercut looks have appeared in the past few years, thanks to the bald fade haircut trend. The “new traditional” typically includes a high and tight fade with long, smooth locks on top.

2. Slicked Back Undercut

The traditional undercut gets a stylish and professional upgrade with a little pomade or another styling cream.

Slick Back Undercut
Professional look with a slicked back undercut. Image courtesy of Men’s Hairstyles Today.

These are typically buzzed or faded on the sides, stopping just an inch or more above the tip of the ear. The hair on top is typically much longer and slicked all the way back with just a comb to precision, giving it its stylish edge.

3. Side Swept Undercut

This side swept undercut is a unique deviation from the tradition style and good for long-haired men. It’s hip and bold, but not for everybody with its flair for the dramatic.

Side Swept Undercut
Dramatic side swept style. Image courtesy of Men’s Hairstyles World

This variation sports short sides like a regular undercut. Then the long hair sweeps from one side to the other (similar to a comb over but much longer) and a much less defined undercut. This look is especially stylish, being paired with a full boxed beard.

4. Side Part Undercut

If you don’t want to cut any length on top but still, like the comb-over, you may opt for a side parted undercut. For those with tons of confidence, it’s bold and trendy and features side cut hair.

Asymmetrical Comb Over and Undercut with side cut
Undercut parted to the side. Image courtesy of Men’s Hairstyles Now.

This look utilizes the longer hair on top and side cut hair. But it also features a part on one side with a defined line for added dimension.

Typically, pomade is used to push hair back and keep the part in place, or you can tousle using your fingers and a blow dryer with styling mousse.

5. Faded Undercut Haircut

The faded undercut typically starts with a clean-shaven neck and a #3 on the sides that gradually tapers to a skin fade. Then the transition is made at the part with a quiff cut and fade (YouTube).

Like other styles here, this one is unique from the direction of the waves to low fade pair with the beard fade.

Faded Undercut
Big sweep with an undercut fade.

Also, the quiff is very unique. The longer style of hair just before getting to the top where you have long strands swept over, but also bend forward to form this look.

Other undercut fades are quite edgy and may spike the hair on top or style with a pompadour (see #10).

6. Side Cut Hair

Stark lines and sharp contrast are key to pulling off this look side cut hairstyle. There’s a clear separation between your hairline and the length of hair on top with this look and creates the illusion of an undercut.

Side cut hair
Side cut hairstyle with an extended goatee

This look is so easy to achieve. Tell your barber to uniform cut the sides and back with a high taper. Leave the top long and tousled while pulling the back of the hair forward slightly.

For added style, connect your beard with the same length for a complete look. For additional variations, the back of the neck, sides, and even higher can be completely clean-shaven or a skin fade swapped for the taper.

7. Curly Undercut

For those with curly hair, an unique style can be used to vary your style. Curls go very well with an undercut, and they can be styled a number of ways to combat the ordinary.

Curls paired with an undercut.
Amazing curly undercut hairstyle. Image courtesy of Men’s Hairstyle Trends.

Some looks call for clean-shaven neck and sides with curls styled upwards and then tousled, while other looks leave the curls messy.

8. Blow Dry Men’s Undercut

Using a blow dryer, you can create more volume and lift with the top length.

Blowout undercut
Blowout undercut

9. Temple Fade Undercut

Undercuts typically have a high and tight fade or buzzed sides. However, this look opts for a longer length, starting closer to the ear with a tapered haircut at the back. The result is a super edgy, youthful look.

This style is so versatile, it can be paired with a comb-over or quiff to shake things up.

Temple Fade Undercut Taper
See more Temple Fade Haircut Styles.

10. Pompadour Undercut

If you like a lot of volume and style, the pompadour is just what you’ve been looking for. The undercut version of this hairstyle typically incorporates a fade on both sides.

Pompadour Undercut with a trendy Bald Fade
Pompadour Undercut with a Skin Fade – Image courtesy of Ray-Ban.

The pompadour is typically created using a roller brush and blow dryer, as well as some styling cream. The heat gives the front pieces of your hair some lift.

11. Fringe Undercut

We recommend having a barber show you how to achieve this look, as you must layer and texture the longer pieces of your hair on top to push forward while keeping it short and tapered in the back. The key to this style is that’s a messy look that’s posh and trendy.

The style works well with any hair texture but really pops with wave hair. The waves make the style look messy, so it’s actually easy to keep the style in check.

A Fringe Undercut that's Messy Looking
Messy Fringe Undercut

The fringe look can work quite well whether you have thick or thinning hair, just using mousse to volumize your locks.

12. Short Undercut

You don’t need to keep all of your length on top, especially if you want a no-fuss style in the morning. The short undercut is easy to cut, style and maintain. Depending on your hair’s texture, hair product may be optional.

The style below is kept really short on the sides, with a coarse taper cut down to a beard fade. It’s a versatile style that’s also good for those with thinning hair or a receding hairline.

Short Undercut (blonde hair)
Blonde and short undercut.

These looks still have faded sides, but the length is cropped and then styled as a comb over or with spikes. This can also look like a longer crew cut hairstyle.

13. Hard Part Undercut

To create hard parts, your wavy hair is clean-shaven at the part. When combined with an undercut, the barber typically fades the sides, gradually building up to the length.

Undercut with Quiff and a Hard Part
Hard Part Undercut with Stylish Quiff – Image courtesy of NextLuxury.com

A quiff with a hard part is created at the front, leaving length to style on both sides.

14. Caesar Undercut

For those with thick hair who like hair products, the Caesar undercut is an edgy look that is reminiscent of a longer crew cut or 90s hairstyle. This look is faded on the sides and length is textured on top, creating layers that can be slicked back or pushed forward.

Caesar undercut with fade
Caesar undercut with fade

This look can go wrong in a number of ways, so we suggest bringing a picture for reference when you visit a barber.

15. Long and Tousled Undercut

You don’t have to use any styling cream or have any length trimmed from an undercut to get the perfect style.

Long Tousled Undercut
Undercut featuring long tousled hair.

Simply buzzing the sides with a #1 or #2 guard, then leaving your hair long achieves the same look. Using a basic styling product with a little hold can help the look as you work through with just your fingers. This leaves your hair looking slightly imperfect.

16. Ponytail Undercut

Pull all the mess away with a quick ponytail. This look was common in Norse culture back in the days of the Vikings. It now lives on in TV shows, pop culture and today’s trends.

With a simple buzz of the sides with a #2 or #3 guard, you can take down the length. Then leaving the longer hair on top to pull back into a ponytail. Note, the ponytail is gathered high atop the crown for form this unique look.

Undercut with Ponytail
Viking Undercut with Ponytail – Image courtesy of History.com Vikings. See more Viking beards.

17. Spiked Undercut

If you want more style and the ability to push your hair upwards, the layered, spiked look can streamline your undercut. Use wax or pomade to create more texture and separate hair sections for spikier styles.

Spiked Undercut
Forward styled spikes on this undercut.

These looks also tend to have several hair lengths on top that may be tapered down to the back of your head and faded to the sides. Simply altering the direction of the spikes can produce an entirely different look.

18. Faux Hawk Undercut

For those not looking to go for a full mohawk, a less risky style is the faux hawk paired with an undercut. This look has a strip of longer hair at the center of your head with a taper down the back and middle resembling the mohawk.

The look can easily be modified with even higher buzzed sides or a very high fade to push the style’s limits.

Faux Hawk undercut into a skin fade
Trendy Undercut Faux Hawk transitioned into a skin fade

19. Top Knot Undercut

When you need to get all of your hair out of your face quickly, you can change your undercut up with a man-bun at the back.

This is another Viking Style, this one with a Top Knot Undercut and paired with a ducktail beard. The undercut runs a very high line, which accentuates the hair on top. Afterwards, it’s easy to pull back and knot high on the crown.

Top Knot Undercut
Top Knot Undercut in a Viking Style – Image courtesy of BespokeUnit.com

20. Tapered Back Undercut

These looks typically have a clean fade on the sides with a low taper in the back so that hair length looks seamless on the sides and back. It’s easy to accomplish, especially with straight textured hair.

With just a little mousse, the hair can be combed back to reveal the taper and undercut.

Tapered Back Undercut
Undercut Fully Tapered in the Back

21. Undercut with Beard

The undercut goes famously well with all kinds of beards, but we particularly like it with a faded beard. The hairstyle easily boasts an extra dimension with a fuller style beard. However, any facial hair, even a stubble beard, would look great.

Undercut with Beard
Simple undercut paired with a full beard.

22. Bleached Faded Undercut

This look has remained a trend since 2019 when Zac Efron revealed this look. With ice blonde locks on top, the beard is kept a naturally dark color. Fades with a taper in the back are typical for this edgy look.

Then paired with a dark faded beard creates a unique two-tone look that’s just wild looking. It may not be everyone’s style, but demonstrates what’s possible.

Bleached Faded Undercut
Bleached Blonde Hairstyle

23. Comb Over Undercut

The traditional comb over haircut gets a stylish upgrade with an undercut, making it slightly edgier. Still a clean-cut style, it can be used in any social setting.

Faded or short sides are styled with longer locks on top. However, these may be trimmed to achieve the traditional comb over hairstyle.

Short Comb Over Undercut
Classic Short Comb Over with a subtle Undercut – Image courtesy of Men’s Hairstyles Today.

24. Long Hair Undercut

The comb-over look gets a stylish upgrade when paired with a long undercut. The long hair has a stark contrast to the undercut and is the hallmark of this style.

The wild look is left slightly unkept with a coarse shave on the side and large sweeps to the side and the front. It also gets extra points for being paired with a scruff beard.

Long hair undercut
Highlighted Long undercut – Source

25. Disconnected Undercut

This style is disconnected from the sides and where it gets its name. There’s a hard transition from the longer hair on top to the sides, creating a clear definition.

Typically created with a taper fade, this look is a trendy look with a break from the ordinary and easily created by any skilled barber.

Disconnected undercut
Undercut with a disconnected look – image courtesy of Men’s Hairstyles Now.
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AUTHOR

I'm the founder of Bald & Beards, an amateur barber and I've been obsessed with men's grooming, styles, and trends for over 20 years.