20 Awesome Short Hairstyles for Men in 2021

Looking to rock a shorter hairstyle for a while? We’ve compiled 20 of our favorite short hairstyles for men in this guide.

It’s no secret that many guys prefer to have shorter haircuts that require less maintenance, even if you cut your own hair. But often, those guys still want their hair to look stylish.

Thankfully, there are tons of stylish short haircuts out there. To help you find the one that’s right for you, we’ve handpicked 20 of our favorite short hairstyles for men for your perusing pleasure.

Our Favorite Short Hairstyles for Men

Here we go, in no particular order…

1. The Modern Short Cut

This type of haircut has arguably redefined the men’s short haircut.

It’s not as short as, say, a military cut, but it’s still short by today’s standards. Still, it gives you just enough length to play with. It’s a happy medium for the man who wants a shorter, no-fuss style that’s still fashion-forward.

It’s also versatile when it comes to styling. You could make this into anything from a standard side part to a pompadour. This ability to shape the hair into a variety of looks is a big reason why this cut is so popular.

2. Classic Taper

When you look at celebrity hairstyles, you’ll often see this kind of classic taper.

Here, Ryan Gosling is sporting this taper with a subtle side part up top. This is a much more traditional cut, with less room to style.

However, there’s a reason this cut stands the test of time. If you want something really short, you can’t go wrong with a taper.

3. Short and Spiky

Lots of guys think that short hair always looks plastered down. However, there are lots of styles that prove you can go short and still have a lot of dimension.

This short, gently spiked style is a great example. The hair here is actually pretty short, but since the front is spiked straight up, it seems longer than it really is. You can also adapt this hair hack to other short styles to get more volume.

4. Tidy Gentleman Cut

After something slick and refined? This slick and tidy cut might be your new style of choice.

It borrows from many classic hairstyles, keeping the hair roughly the same length on the top of the head, but it adds a contemporary twist with a medium fade on the sides.

5. The Reimagined Buzz Cut

The buzz cut has long been the cut of choice for many men outside of the military.

It’s gained popularity as a style for young boys, but it’s recently come back into the fold thanks to some style upgrades. The most popular option is to combine a buzzed top with faded sides to keep everything short and extremely tidy.

6. The Hard Part

While the hard part (the term for shaving in a part line) is technically a technique and not a style of its own, it’s often used as the centerpoint for shorter styles in order to add definition and a little bit of flair.

Here, a hard part is used with a short, even cut to separate the sides from the top.

7. The Slick Comb

This Cary Grant-inspired style is an absolute classic and for good reason.

It has that slick fifties look but doesn’t look dated at all. This is a testament to how stylish some of these old looks can be, and it’s a great choice for any guy who’s after a suave look.

8. The Dyed Spike

If you’re the kind of guy who likes to dye his hair, then this is an excellent option.

Shown here is the popular two-tone approach––only the top of the hair is dyed, while the rest remains its natural color for a ton of contrast.

9. High Side Part

The side part has always been a men’s haircut staple.

It’s especially useful to use side parts with short hairstyles because of the depth they add to any cut. Adding the side part to a short haircut is like adding spices to a meal––it can take something basic to the next level.

10. Messy Layers

For a more casual style, consider something like this layered haircut.

While it’s still short, there’s a lot of dimensionality thanks to the hair being tousled and carefully layered. Evenly trimmed bangs and neat sides serve to add a touch of neatness to the look.

11. Short Fade

Many short haircuts are also based around fades.

A fade is another secret weapon that can take a short hairstyle from 0 to 60, as you can see here. This particular fade is pretty high up, but you could opt for a more medium fade if you want a little more body to your hair.

12. High Bowl Fade

The bowl cut has made a resurgence in the fashion world thanks to stylish upgrades like this one.

The top and front resemble the old school bowl cut, but the faded sides add a modern twist, making it more of a bowl cut-inspired style than a direct variation.

13. Stylized Waves

This haircut is almost a medium length cut, but like the spiked style, the hair here is shorter than it seems.

The defined waves, created by finger combing the hair, add a lot of depth. The result is a clean look that’s great for almost every situation.

14. The Elephant Trunk

The elephant trunk style, so named for the lock of hair that drapes forward, has garnered a lot of popularity recently.

Similar to the side part, you can use it with almost any hairstyle. It’s also a nice way of implementing asymmetry into an otherwise symmetrical cut for something a little different.

15. The Mini Pompadour

The pompadour is best known as the style of choice for greasers and Elvis, but it’s come a long way in the last several years.

Like the buzz cut, it’s been reimagined and updated in various ways. This variation takes the pompadour and shrinks it, pairing it with a hard part and medium fade for maximum style points.

16. Stylishly Scruffy

Here’s a messier style that’s more suited to informal situations.

If you’re going out for the evening or attending a social event, this take on the “just rolled out of bed look” will perfectly match a casual vibe.

17. Fringe + Fade

This haircut takes two basic elements––a side-swept fringe and a fade––and combines them for a neat and versatile cut.

What’s unique about this particular cut is the fade, which curves along the contour of the ear, tying together the style and giving it a more natural look.

18. Fluffy Texture

Short hair can easily be fluffed up, and this hairstyle leverages that.

The hair has a great full-bodied texture despite being short, and the hair is brushed in one direction for a uniform appearance that makes this great for both formal and casual situations.

19. Close Cropped

If you’re after a more understated style, keeping the hair cropped close to the head is a nice style choice that pairs well with a minimalist aesthetic.

We like how it pairs with a beard as shown here.

20. Caesar Fade

Wrapping up the list is this take on the Caesar cut.

With a traditional Caesar cut, the hair is trimmed to the same length all over the head. This style takes that same basic concept but fades the sides for a little more variation while still retaining the uniformity of the original style.

So there you have it–– our top 20 short hairstyles for men. Let us know what your favorite is in the comments below!