If you need an office-ready hairstyle, we’ve got you covered. Here are nine of our favorite business hairstyles for men.
Even if you have the perfect outfit picked out for the office, you still need to think about your hair. Unless you work from home, you’ll need a more formal haircut that’s appropriate for the workplace.
You might think you’re limited to some basic side part styles, but there are loads of great options. We’ve selected 9 of our favorite business hairstyles for men and compiled them into this handy list. Whether you’ve got straight, fine hair or tough, coiled hair, we’ve got something for you.
Let’s get started!
We’ll kick off the list with some shorter hairstyles and then move on to longer hairstyles later on. (Otherwise, these haircuts aren’t in any particular order.)
Short Business Casual Hairstyles for Men
Short hair is a safe bet when it comes to business hairstyles. If you’re new to professional hairstyles or just want something that works, then scope out these short styles.
#1: Clean Fade
A clean fade is a great choice for almost all hair types. It works just as well with thin, straight hair as it does with thick, coiled hair, making it one of the most versatile corporate hairstyles.
Generally, a fade works best with a shorter top. You can opt for a close-cropped style (as shown here) if you want something low maintenance that doesn’t require much prep time in the morning.
You can also pair a fade with many of the styles featured on this list. As a rule of thumb, haircuts with a fade will look more contemporary, while haircuts with longer sides will look more traditional. Make sure you consider that before going with a fade.
#2: Side Part
It would be remiss to not mention the side part in an article about business hairstyles for men. The side part is perhaps the quintessential professional haircut, and it’s just as popular today as it was in the fifties.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of the side part is that it’s appropriate for virtually any workplace. Whether you work at a traditional office with a two-piece suit dress code or a hip startup where every day is Casual Friday, the side part will serve you well.
There’s some room for styling, too. If you want to channel Don Draper, use a pomade with some shine to it and slick your hair back. If you want something a little more on the casual end, use a matte finish product and brush your hair more loosely.
#3: Wavy & Formal
Here’s one for all the guys with wavy or curly hair. These hair types can be harder to tame at shorter lengths, so this wavy side part is a clever way to manage otherwise unruly locks.
At its core, this style is a longer side part, so it has a lot of the same advantages. This cut is a little less versatile, but you can curb that by using a product with a bit of shine to give it a more classic look.
Your hair doesn’t need to be super curly for this to work. If your hair has just even a little waviness to it, this style will work for you.
#4: Textured Coils
When it comes to business hairstyles for black men, there are a lot of great texture-rich options that show off the natural kinkiness of the hair. One example is this short style that evokes the afro while keeping things tidy.
The hair is long enough to create a fair amount of texture, but it’s sculpted into shape to prevent messiness. This type of hairstyle also works for extremely curly hair that will go everywhere if it’s not wrangled into place.
Depending on your hair type, you may want to use some product to help you contain and define your hair. If you have thicker, tougher hair, then a medium to strong pomade, wax, or clay will help you here. Start with a tiny amount and add more as needed.
#5: The Business Pompadour
The pompadour is not a style you’d normally associate with the workplace, but with a bit of finessing, this traditionally rock-and-roll hairstyle can fit in at the office, too.
The key is to tone down the style by keeping the sides clean and strategically altering the pompadour itself. The pomp shouldn’t be too tall, and it should be neatly brushed.
As with the side part, you can use a high shine product for a more retro business look, or you can go with a matte finish for something more modern.
Men’s Business Hairstyles for Long Hair
Although none of these hairstyles are particularly long, they are considered long for formal situations. However, they’re still good options if you prefer to grow your hair out a bit.
#6: Brush Up
The brush up is one of the more distinctly contemporary hairstyles on this list, which makes it ideal for the fashion-forward fellow who still wants to show a bit of his style.
It has more volume than most professional business hairstyles for men, but it’s not ostentatious. The subtle side part and neat sides keep this haircut workplace-appropriate. Much like the basic side part, the brush up is an all-around versatile haircut, and there are many options for styling it.
#7: Brushed Up Undercut
If your workplace has a bit of flexibility, you can consider a slightly trendier style like this brushed up undercut.
This style takes the essence of the brush up and adds the faded sides commonly seen in undercuts. Another little touch here is that the hair is actually a bit shorter but brushed straight up instead of to the side.
Because this style works well with thick hair, it’s one of our top picks for business hairstyles for Asian men. Asian hair can be thick and coarse, and this hairstyle leverages that texture instead of trying to fight it.
#8: Side Swept
For a suave, professional hairstyle that has a lot of texture, try out this side swept cut.
This hairstyle evokes the businessmen of yesteryear, but it’s definitely a modern look. Basically, it has the best of both worlds. It has the slickness of a classic style, but the quiff is undoubtedly a contemporary addition.
Even though this is a slightly trendier hairstyle, it’s still suitable for more formal workplaces. Of course, it can also be dressed down if your office has a more business casual dress code.
#9: Thick Pompadour
Rounding out our list of business hairstyles is this pompadour that’s perfect for men with thick hair.
Like the business pompadour shown above, this pomp isn’t a skyscraper on the top of your head. Instead, it’s a shorter, slicked back style that allows you to get some volume while still remaining presentable. If you’re after business hairstyles for long hair for men, this is a good choice.
The longer sides provide evenness to the hair and add a touch of tradition as well. However, since this is a longer cut, you’ll need to visit your barber more often to keep everything nice and tidy. (You probably don’t want to be rocking a mini-mullet during meetings with your bosses.)
Conclusion
Getting a haircut that’s fit for the workplace doesn’t mean giving up style. Almost all of these hairstyles are classics, but that’s because they’ve never stopped looking good.
So whether you’re working hard or off the clock, you can’t go wrong with any of these business hairstyles for men.
What hairstyle do you sport for the office? Did I miss any good ones? Let me know in the comments!
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