45 Popular Haircuts For Black Men

If you want to embrace your natural texture, these haircuts for black men are fresh styles that will complement your look and boost your sex appeal. The coolest and most popular black men’s hairstyles often include a fade on the sides and back for contrast with longer hair on top, creating looks to suit any texture, length or face shape.

Whether you want a mohawk, high top or afro fade, a new haircut can enhance your look, give you confidence and make the right impression.

From modern to retro, check out these visual examples of the best haircuts for black men.

Black Men’s Haircut Styles

Short Curls with Mid Skin Fade and Shape Up

Short curls can give black men the chance to embrace their natural textures and complement the style with a mid skin fade and shape up. The texture from the curl balances nicely with the skin fade, and a shape up along the forehead balances the look. A beard gives this cut even more sex appeal.

Mid Temp Fade

The mid temp fade is a popular haircut that pairs well with various styles such as short twisted curls. With a high-shine product, your hair texture can stand out. While this cut does require some styling, it’s an easier look than most men think. This fresh and playful hairstyle combines well with a clean edge up, creating a cool and daring vibe.

Mushroom Afro with Low Drop Fade

The mushroom afro with a low drop fade can be a real head-turner and will make you the center of attention. The unique mushroom shape offers exceptional volume, especially when worn with a low drop fade. Pair it with a fun shaved line that follows the natural curve of the hair for even more pizzazz.

Man Bun with Dreads

If you want dreadlocks, a dreaded man bun can create a controlled look for professional black men in more formal settings. You can style a messy bun with personality but combine the style with a sleek temp fade and line up for contrast. Chiseled facial hair finishes this young and carefree style.

Mid Drop Fade with Messy Afro

A messy afro with a mid drop fade can be an edgy hairstyle that emphasizes height and volume for extra attitude. With a messy shape, this cut offers visual appeal while the drop fade creates dimension and intrigue.

Short Curly Hair with Low Fade and Line Up

Short curly hair with a low fade and line up is the perfect everyday style. It’s functional and attractive, and aside from keeping up with the sharp edges, it doesn’t require much maintenance or styling. The short beard lends a rugged look to this iconic cut.

Light Waves with Mid Fade

Light waves can exude manly sex appeal and look effortlessly stylish with a clean mid fade on the sides. The classy wave texture complements the expert taper and the full beard pulls this look together. This cut will amplify your masculine jawline and draw attention to your eyes.

Cool Hair Design

A hair design is a trendy and bold look for guys who want to add extra personality to their haircut with shaved patterns and lines. As an example, use a shaved curved line as the transition point between a thick ‘fro on top and a skin fade on the sides, but carry that curve through the eyebrow. When paired with a sharp line up, it’s incredibly stylish and youthful.

Short Blonde Hair with Low Drop Fade

Short blonde hair with a low drop fade is the perfect everyday cut for guys who want a unique look that isn’t over the top. Black men look great with dyed blonde hair, and there’s a whole range of shades to choose from. Honey, dirty blonde and platinum blonde are fantastic options for this cut.

Short Hair with Taper and Line Design

Short hair with a taper and line design balances the disheveled look of natural curls with the structure of a hard line and edge up. The top section features twisted curls that fade into the skin at the nape while the thick line shaved from front to back at the temple lends another element of interest.

Cornrows with Faded Sides

With several cool styles, stylish cornrows come with interesting geometric patterns and faded sides to achieve a stunning finish. This protective style can be worn while growing your hair out. A line up at the forehead and temple contrast nicely with the curved braid pattern.

Short Hair Twists with Temp Fade

Short hair twists with a temp fade are an alternative to classic dreads and braids. They are much quicker to put in and easier to maintain, and they can also be used as a protective style to facilitate growth. The unique texture of the skinny twist pairs well with the sharp lines around the temple and the rounded edge at the cheek.

Flat Top Fade

As a popular 80s hairstyle for black men, the flat top fade is making a major comeback but with a modern twist emphasizing clean, sharp lines. While the top blends flawlessly into the bald fade, the edges along the forehead, temples, cheeks and even below the ears elevate this cut to a whole new level.

Buzz Cut Fade with Edge Up and Short Beard

The buzz cut fade with an edge up and short beard is the perfect cut for men who don’t have much time to spend in front of the mirror every day. From working students to single dads, this is a clean and fresh look that requires almost zero effort to maintain.

Medium Dreadlocks

These textured medium dreadlocks combine the thickness and movement of the classic loc with the simplicity of a two-strand braid. This cut is perfect for guys who’ve been considering dreads, but who aren’t sure they want to commit to the felted or matted effect just yet. The texture is interesting and fun, and guys who change their minds can easily take the style down.

Thick Short Afro with Temp Fade

The short afro with a temp fade is a cool style that incorporates height and volume to create a stylish modern look with a retro vibe. Versatile and always on-trend, this versatile look can offer you a more mature haircut. For black men seeking a manly touch, a trimmed goatee will complement the cut.

Short Locs with Undercut

Short locs are a sophisticated style for black men who want a functional and classy look that still feels attractive. The undercut will complement the side swept dreads while the groomed goatee adds a touch of masculinity.

Dyed High Top with Hard Shaved Line

The dyed top with a hard shaved line look is another excellent example of how black men are using color for self-expression. While blonde is a common choice, silver and gray hair can highlight beautiful brown eyes and draw attention to your features. The hard shaved line balances the look and serves as a delineation point between the height on top and the skin fade on the sides.

Braided Top with Shaved Sides

A braided top with shaved sides is an excellent choice for busy men who want to look sharp at a moment’s notice. The thin classic braids provide some visual interest that contrasts nicely with the shaved sides. This versatile cut looks great out on the football field or basketball court, it’s cool enough for a night out at the club, and it’s classy enough to wear to a wedding.

Big Afro with Drop Fade

The big afro with a drop fade is a real head-turner that is sure to make any guy the life of the party. The round shape of the afro harmonizes with the geometric lines of the facial hair to create a one-of-a-kind cut. It’s customizable, so guys who want a slightly subtler cut can ease back on the volume or alter the shape. Be prepared to spend some time styling every day and sleep with your hair protected at night.

Shaved Undercut with Twists

A shaved undercut with twists is a fun, youthful and charming look that takes the classic look to another level. As a standard two-strand twist, but the style features strands wound tightly to create a crimped look. The shaved undercut reduces the volume of the hair and gives it structure.

High Top Fade

The classic high top haircut is a timeless style that has come back in all its 90’s glory. Also known as the box cut, the high top fade can be a sharp and structured choice for black men who want manageable but voluminous hair. The style involves a fade down to the base of the neck, with short sides and about 3 inches of hair on top.

The top section of the hair is cut into a rectangular shape that gives the box fade its name. You can go for longer hair on top or keep the cut short and tight. For a creative touch, some black men prefer to feature a part or add a temple fade with a hair design.

Afro Fade

The afro fade is a stylish haircut for black men who want a retro style with a twist. The style features short sides with a longer round top, creating a cool visual with dimension. You can ask your barber for a high, mid or low taper fade to complement the look and suit your style. The afro on top can be long or short with curls, twists or kinky black hair for a big finish.

Short Part with Fade

A short part line can be a fashionable addition to your haircut that adds an edgy aesthetic. If you have thick black hair, ask your barber to shave in a hard part and the line will naturally complement your short style. As a popular hair design, the part will create disconnected asymmetry to your cut and accentuate the fade.

Line Up

The line up is a modern haircut that trims the hairline to create a straight and clean edge. Also known as a shape up, this cut is an iconic and classy addition to any black men’s hairstyle such as the flat top, buzz cut, afro and braided cornrows. You can pair your style with a contrasting hair design to draw attention to your high cheek bones or or just add some visual interest to the look. Keep in mind that the hairline will grow back fast, so having trimmers at home for regular maintenance can be practical.

Waves

The wave haircut is a cool look for black men who want a short style with personality and texture. Your attractive waves can be combined with different fades, including the temp, high skin and low drop. Whether you want the 180 or 360 variation, you’ll need special tools like a wave brush and pomade to achieve this style.

Curly Hair Fade

A curly fade haircut is a fresh and trendy look that will focus attention on your beautiful texture. A skin fade on the sides and back provide contrast that highlights the high-volume curls on top. Whether you prefer loose and messy, tight and cropped or parted to the side, a fade with curls will elevate your look at school, work and home.

Buzz Cut

The buzz cut is a practical and short haircut style for black men who  a minimalist yet masculine aesthetic. Whether you’re a business professional or an athlete, the buzz cut fade offers a functional and effortlessly stylish option that any barber should be able to pull off with style. Sleek and always neat, the cut requires minimal maintenance and no styling. You can add a hard part or hair design for an elevated finish. With your own clippers, you can maintain this style at home by regularly buzzing your head with the same guard size.

Mohawk Fade

The mohawk fade, also known as a frohawk, is classic haircut for guys that works well with tight curls or thick ringlets. ringlets. Bold and fashionable, the mohawk hairstyle generally comes with a drop or burst fade on the sides and longer thick hair on top. If you want a style that will stand out, a mohawk with a taper fade can be a universally-flattering look.

Twists with Fade

The hair twist is a handsome look for a black man who chooses to embrace his natural texture for a sexy style. A clean fade can create cool contrast while bringing some modern relevance.Before you get the cut, you’ll need at least 2 to 4 inches of hair on top of your head.

Twisted Curls with Drop Fade

High Skin Fade with Flat Top

Faux Hawk Fade with Hair Design

Half Moon Part with High Skin Fade

Short Afro Fade with Edge Up

Buzz Cut with Low Skin Fade and Shape Up

Low Afro Taper Fade

Popular Haircuts For Black Men

The most popular haircuts for black men are the buzz cut, afro fade, frohawk, dreads, twists, high top, line up, box braids, cornrows and shaved part. When visiting the barbershop, talk to your barber about the latest haircut styles to explore a fresh look.