The Short on Sides Long on Top Haircuts is some of the most classic Hairstyles to date. Easy to cut and simple to style, the side looks perfect for men, and this hairstyle is versatile, elegant, modern, and works well whether you have thick, straight, curly, or wavy hair. With a discoloration or side cut and long, medium, or short hair on top, men’s side haircuts will continue to be popular with hairdressers worldwide.
Below you will find images with the best shorts on the sides and long-on, top haircuts. We will also show you some of the products you should use to get the best look.
Finally, if you are looking for the hottest hairstyles for men, check out this guide for examples and inspiration before the next cut.
What Exactly is Short on Sides, Long on Top Hairstyle?
The short on the sides and long on top is a timeless, elegant hairstyles for both boys and men. As the name suggests, a haircut assumes the hair needs to be parted on one side of the head. Also known as gentleman’s cut, hairstyles with side parts generally require medium length and even long hair on top.
Although the classic side part has been associated with a conical cut, the modern variation is often combined with bleach or a cut to accentuate the longer hair above.
I.Textured Short Sides Long Top Haircuts for Men
1. French Crop Long Textured Top Haircuts for Men
What to ask your barber?
With or without a mustache, this hairstyle is a classic. For the top, a textured French Crop scissor cut, with the fringe at a slight angle. The sides and back can be cut either with a #2 (shorter, 1/4 inch) or #3 (longer, 3/8 inch) clipper-size guard through a taper fade.
2. Line Up Angular French Crop Haircut with Short Sides Long Top Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Use point cutting for a short, textured, angular fringe about 1/2 inch over the natural hairline, with a 1-inch textured top. Arched line up for sides of the forehead and drop fade for the sideburns. The back and upper sides should be tapered progressively, starting from a #5 (5/8 inch) guard along with the crown to a #3 towards the ears and neckline.
3. Short Sides with Piecey Long Top Haircuts for Men
What to ask your barber?
Begin with a deep side to form an angular fringe quiff top with long pieces layers. Leave 1/2 inch hair under the part and transition to a bald fade for the rest of the sides and back.
4. Messy Textured Top with Short Sides for Men with Widow’s Peak
What to ask your barber?
If you have decided to give up your long hair, that hairstyle may be the one for you! Request a #6 (3/4 inch) haircut for the sides and back. Use layering for a textured top of either 1 1/2 inches or 2 inches in length. Carve the strands along the widow’s peak to form a short angular fringe.
5. Piecey Quiff Hairstyle with Short Mid-Fade Sides and Long Top Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Scissor-cut the top with a longer fringe to the side for subsequent styling as a quiff. Describe the desired texture as piecey layers. Use #6 for a V-shape taper on the back and guards #6 to #0 for a drop taper fade on the sides.
II. Tapered Short on Sides Long on Top Haircuts for Men
6. Slick Back Long Top with Short Tapered Sides Hairstyles for Men
What to ask your barber?
Retain between 2 and 4 inches of length on top for a side part and slick back combover. Taper fade the sides and back using a range of clipper-size guards – #5 to #1.
7. Pompadour with Angled Tapered Short Sides Long Top Haircuts for Men
What to ask your barber?
The frontal area of your crown should remain at least 3 inches long for high pompadour styling. Gradually reduce length towards the back of the crown and taper towards the neckline. The sides can be faded with #4 and #3 guards.
8. Piecey Pompadour with Disconnected Tapered Undercut
What to ask your barber?
Starting from the upper sides of the crown, a disconnected undercut with a #5 or #6 guard. The top must be 3-5 inches, with long, piecey layers, to style as an angular pompadour.
9. Taper Bald Fade Short Sides with Long Sweeping Quiff Top Hairstyles for Men
What to ask your barber?
Request a medium taper bald fade for the sides and back, with guards #7 to #0 as you go down the head. For the sweeping quiff top, ensure at least 2-3 inches of length.
10. Piecey Long Top Quiff with Hard Part and Tapered Undercut
What to ask your barber?
Maintain a 4-5 inch long top for pieces combover styling. Touch up the hairline with a shape that connects the hair and the temples, sideburns, and beard. Shave in a hard part starting ¾ inch away from the corner of your hairline. Complete with a drop bald fade haircut for the back and halfway through the sides.
III. High Long on Top Short on Sides Fade Haircuts for Men
11. Quiff with High Skin Fade Short Sides Long Top Hairstyles for Men
What to ask your barber?
This haircut is a really great choice for short hair. Ask for a high and tight skin fade undercut with a 1-inch side-swept top. Tell your barber to start the tapering at the upper sides of the head and move to scalp level, shaving one inch down.
12. High Taper Fade Pompadour Short Sides Long Top Haircuts
What to ask your barber?
Keep a 3-4 inch frontal top for styling as a high pompadour that gets shorter towards the back of the crown. Blend out with tapering in the back, with closer tapering along the sides for a high skin fade. Clean up the hairline with a temp fade.
13. Textured Angular Fringe High Fade Cut Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
A high taper bald fade undercut for the sides and back. The top should be around 1 inch long with textured pieces layers, while the bangs should come to a point on the side as an angular fringe.
14. High and Tight Bald Fade with Textured Faux Hawk
What to ask your barber?
Temp fade for the hairline with a high and tight taper skin fade for the foundation. Maintain a 1-inch textured top for a faux hawk crew cut hairstyle. However, this hairstyle looks great on redheads!
15. Spiky Piecey Temp Fade with High Fade Undercut
What to ask your barber?
Angled and arched temp fade with a drop bald fade for the sides and progressive taper fade for the back. The top should be 2-3 inches long, with point cutting for a piece and spiky quiff.
IV. Medium Fade Long on Top Short on Sides Men’s Haircuts
16. Mid Taper Short Sides with Long Top Fringe Cut Hairstyles for Men
What to ask your barber?
Ask for a top of 1-2 inches in length with a medium-side fringe. Full-back taper with #5 or #6 clippers guard, shape up for the hairline, and medium taper bald fade sides.
17. Arched Shape Up Mid Fade Short Sides with Long Textured Top Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Short, thick, textured top with V-shape #7 tapered back. An arched line for the temples, medium taper skin fade for the sides, and drop fade beard with the extended line towards the arches.
18. Long Combover Hard Part Top with Medium Fade Undercut
What to ask your barber?
Classy all the way! Medium bald fade undercut with #6 tapering along with the crown. A shape-up hairline with a hard side part starting from the upper corner. Retain a 2-inch top for a comb-over hairstyle.
19. Short on Sides Medium Taper Fade with Long Curly Top Haircuts for Men
What to ask your barber?
This curly hairstyle fits perfectly for men with a beautifully shaped beards! Carve and slice the top to cut curls individually for a total length of about 2 inches. Work in a taper fade undercut that drop fades at the sideburns and connects to the beard. Use #7 clippers for 2 inches on the upper sides and blend out to #0 around the ears.
20. Surgical Line Short Sides Undercut Haircuts with Long Textured Top
What to ask your barber?
A medium taper fade undercut that blends drop fade sideburns into a short beard. Leave the top 2-3 inches long for textured styling. Add a thick surgical line halfway down one side before the skin’s fade transition.
V. Low Fade Short on Sides Long on Top Haircuts
21. Burst Low Fade Ducktail in a Pompadour Haircut for Men
What to ask your barber?
Start with a long, 3-4 inch top with gradual tapering from the upper sides of the crown—a burst fade for the sides, with a tight bald fade above and around the ears. The back should be slightly longer than the rest of the tapering for vintage ducktail styling. For the neckline, use a double-arched approach with a slight V shape at the center of the nape.
22. Textured Combover Low Taper Fade Long Top Short Sides Haircut
What to ask your barber?
A short textured top with quiff-styled fringe. Progressive tapering along the sides with a low fade haircut towards the bottom. However, tapering in the back should be a bit longer than the sides, using a higher clipper guard (#7).
23. Short Sides Low Fade Undercut with Long Piecey Textured Quiff Top
What to ask your barber?
A cool hairstyle with a low taper fade undercut. For added definition, transform the side part into a hard part. A 3-4 inch top with messy textured layers should be swept upwards and to the side for a subtle quiff.
24. Low Taper Fade Short Sides with Swept Back Long Top Haircuts for Men
What to ask your barber?
Low fade for the back and sides and shape up for the hairline. A longer, 1-2 inch top for slick back styling, with gradual tapering at the back of the crown.
25. Low Taper Fade Undercut with Jagged Piecey Textured Top Hairstyles for Men
What to ask your barber?
Textured French crop haircut with shattered tips fringe with point cutting for the jagged effect at the ends. A low and subtle taper fade for the sides and back, with a #4 guard right above the ear.
VI. Top Knot Short on Sides Long on Top Hairstyles
26. High Bald Fade Short Sides with Line Up Long Top Hairstyles for Men
What to ask your barber?
Don’t touch the hair on top to retain the original length for the top knot, and add a high and tight undercut. Request a temp fade for the hairline and a high taper skin fade for the back and sides.
27. Shape Up Mid-Taper Fade Short Sides with Long Top Knot Curly Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Taper 1 inch of hair on the upper part of the hairline to reduce the appearance of a high forehead. Box the hair around the temples and continue with drop fade strip sideburns. Taper fade the undercut from #2 to #0 at the nape.
28. Tapered Back Burst Fade Short Sides with Long Line Up Top Knot Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Ask for a longer and lower top knot that would rest at the back of the crown of your head. Use a lineup for the temples, a low taper fade for the sides, and a longer #7 taper for the back. Finish with a rounded neckline.
29. Surgical Line Undercut Short Sides with Long Ponytail Top Knot Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Mention you want a ponytail top knot and do not cut any hair on top. Taper starting from the upper sides and add a surgical line with an arched end 1 inch after your undercut. Fade the rest out as a skin fade undercut.
30. Taper Low Fade Short Sides with Long Top Knot Shape Up Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Request a high and tight top knot hairstyle with a medium taper skin fade along the sides. An arches line up the hairline for the front, and no fading in the back (only tapering).
VII. Braided Hairstyles Short on Sides Long on Top
31. High Fade Undercut and Shape Up with Short Braids for Men
What to ask your barber?
Ask for short diamond box braids with dark copper ombre for the two-tone color combination. Taper 1/4 inch along the hairline for a clean shape up. Use drop skin fade for the sides and back.
32. Feed-In Braids and Cornrows Top Knot Tapered Undercut
What to ask your barber?
High and tight undercut with braided cornrows on top and a small knot at the crown. Ask for two jumbo feed-in braids along the upper sides of your crown and two cornrows down the middle. Request #6 tapering for the undercut.
33. Single Braids with Clear Beads and Tapered Undercut Line Up
What to ask your barber?
Long, chin-length single box braids with natural shadow roots and medium warm brown for the main color. Use clear beads to secure the braids, shape up for the hairline, and a high skin fade undercut for the back and sides.
34. Long Mohawk Feed-In Braids Top with Short Taper Undercut Sides Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Back-swept feed-in braids for the top, retaining natural length for the relaxed mohawk in the back. A temp fade undercut that boxes the hairlines and blends out to a medium skin fade all around.
35. Green Feed In Cornrows Top Knot Short Sides Long Top Hairstyle
What to ask your barber?
For the color, ask for sea green turquoise with a balayage coloring technique. The top is a top braided knot with feed-in braids and cornrows, with overlapping braids in the center.
VIII. Curly Short on Sides Long on Top Hairstyles
36. Sculpted Long Top Afro with Taper Fade Undercut and Hard Part
What to ask your barber?
Wide, rounded, flat top sculpted afro for the top portion. A hard part along the upper left side of the head for transitioning into the taper skin fade undercut. Short temp fade for the hairline.
37. Short Sides Taper Bald Fade with a Long Curly Top Haircut
What to ask your barber?
Cropped curly top with high skin fade along the sides and medium skin fade in the back. Polish the hairline with a temp fade shapes.
38. Short Shape Up Taper Fade Sides with Caesar Cut and a Long Deep Wavy Top
What to ask your barber?
Ask for a Caesar cut with a square temp fade. Taper the sides and back with a #6 and blend to a drop fade along with the bottom parts of the arches and at the back of the neck. Style the top in waves.
39. Curly Angular Long Top Fringe Cut with Medium Skin Fade Short Sides Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Curly hair is a blessing for both women and men. To get this done, carve and slice curls to form an angular fringe haircut on top and in the front. Create an undercut starting with a #7 taper and transition to a medium bald fade for the sides and back.
40. Long Flat Top Shape Up with Short Sides Mid Fade Haircuts for Men
What to ask your barber?
This hairstyle is about geometry and an admirable hair texture! For this classic 90s flat top sculpted afro with a temp fade, you should ask for a 3-4 inch high top, a square hairline, and a medium skin fade for the lower part of the hairstyle.
IX. Mohawk Long on Top Short on Sides Men’s Haircut
41. Soccer Player Textured Long Top Mohawk with Bald Fade Short Sides Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Request a footballer or soccer player mohawk with arched high to medium skin fade sides. However, maintain the same length on top and down the middle of the back, with short, choppy, textured layers.
42. Two-Tone Punk Fanned Mohawk with Tapered Short Sides and Long Top Haircuts
What to ask your barber?
You will need at least medium hair to get this hairstyle done. If this condition is met, ask your barber for a thick and wide punk mohawk with #6 or #7 tapered sides. Add a blocked neckline that comes to a point on each side. Dye 3/4 of the top candy red and leave a 3-inch wide section black at the nape.
43. Vintage Pompadour Ducktail Mohawk with Short Tapered Sides Haircuts for Men
What to ask your barber?
A 90-degree Mohawk with the corner at the back top of the crown of your head. Use #6 tapering for both sides and an inch are wide along the back. Allow the hair to be longer on top, about 3 inches, to style towards the center for a ducktail Mohawk.
44. Textured Long Top Mohawk with Taper Fade Shaved Design Short Sides Hairstyle
What to ask your barber?
A textured, messy, short European soccer player mohawk with an arched taper skin fade on the sides. Cut the hair 1/2 inch more straightforwardly in the back and add a hair tattoo shaved design on the side. Bring the neckline to a V-shaped point with the help of the side design and enjoy this amazing and original look!
45. Piecey Mullet Mohawk Short Sides Long Top for Men
What to ask your barber?
Wide mohawk mullet with 1 inch on top and 2-4 inches long in the back. Use point cutting for a piece, textured, layered top and fringe with shattered tips. Don’t forget to incorporate a low taper fade for the arches, right over the ear!
X. Short on Sides Long on Top Hairstyles With Dreadlocks
46. Long Top Messy High Thorns with Short Tapered Sides Haircuts for Men
What to ask your barber?
If there is a specific hairstyle for young and wild punkers, that’s the one! Choose this bold hairstyle if you want to make your dreadlocks remarkable. With these short sides and the long top, you will always be able to style your dreadlocks in a knot or tail.
47. Long Top Dreadlocks Hairstyles With Short Sides Haircuts for Men
What to ask your barber?
In case full-head dreadlocks are not fulfilling your style tastes, this haircut with dreadlocks on top and short sides will be just perfect! Go for long dreadlocks to obtain the entire visual effect of this hairstyle.
48. High Dreadlocks Nest With Short Sides and Long Top Haircuts
What to ask your barber?
Yes, the volume is not only for feminine hairstyles! This huge manly nest of dreadlocks makes a great hairstyle, and the short sides fit perfectly in the whole picture. Moreover, a beard would be an ideal accessory for this look.
49. Slicked Back Dreadlocks Short Sides Long Top Cut
What to ask your barber?
Although some people find it hard to style dreadlocks, the possibilities are endless. This medium-length hairstyle with short sides is a great option for those who are not big fans of extra-long hairstyles. Moreover, you can change this hairstyle whenever you want by simply knotting your dreadlocks or shaping them into a man bun.
50. Extra Long Dreadlocks Braided Tail Top with Short Sides Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Even though a long braided tail is much more suitable for women’s hairstyles, the dreadlocks are here to emphasize the masculine features of this hairstyle. However, the short sides outline an amazing high-contrast style!
XI. Creative Long on Top Short on Sides Men’s Haircut
51. Frosted Shadow Roots Mid-Skin Fade French Crop Haircut
What to ask your barber?
Short French crop bowl cut with textured top and medium bald taper fade undercut. For the coloring, ask for black shadow roots and platinum-white frosted tips. Ask to retain the black roots for the tapered section to get an ombre effect from top to bottom.
52. Intricate Striped Undercut Design with Piecey Pompadour
What to ask your barber?
The top is a piece of faux hawk pompadour quiff with pastel peach balayage highlights and dark shadow roots. Crop the hair shorter along with the crown and create a disconnected undercut 1 inch below the hairline. From there, add a wrap-around surgical line and go from ombre skin fade strips to thicker tapered ones interchangeably.
53. Pastel Ombre Pompadour Shape Up Mid Fade Haircut for Boys
What to ask your barber?
A long to short high pompadour top, with 3-4 inches in the front and 1 inch towards the top of the crown in the back. A high and tight taper bald fade for the undercut, from #4 to #0 at the bottom. Complete with square temp fade hairline and pastel pink ombre dyeing for the top to get this haircut for boys. That’s cool.
54. Silver Textured French Crop with Skin Fade Ombre Design
What to ask your barber?
Ask for a piecey textured French crop with an asymmetrical, angular fringe on one side. Transition to a taper burst fade undercut in the back and on the sides, starting with a #5 clippers guard. Add a medium surgical line along with the upper side transition and create a fanned shaved line design in the back on one side. Ask for an ombre effect towards the bottom of the shaved design.
55. Multicolored Piecey Frosted Tips with 3D Taper Design Short Sides Hairstyles
What to ask your barber?
Request a thick, piecey, faux hawk pompadour top with a high and tight undercut. Use #5 tapering for the upper section and create an abrupt transition on the side with an abstract shaved design. Add a 3D ombre effect at the bottom of the design and directly move to a shaved scalp below. For colors, combine neon green and purple frosted tips and faded pink, orange, and yellow for the hair tattoo area.
The Most Suitable Products for Short Sides Long Top Haircuts for Men
The best product for this hairstyle depends a lot on how you want to style it and the type of finish you want. There are a number of high-quality styling products for men, ranging from different types to different brands.
Pomade
We recommend using a pomade for strong resistance with a shiny finish. The best pomade for men will keep your hair in place all day but will be easy to wash at night. And because most pomades are water-based, they won’t make your hair look greasy.
Wax
We recommend applying hair wax for medium to strong resistance, with a low shine to a natural finish. Because most hairstyles with modern sides are textured with volume for a casual, relaxed look, styling wax is the ideal product.
Conclusion
To wrap up, any of these short on sides long on top haircut ideas would be a great addition to your personal style. It’s all in choosing the silhouette that mirrors your personality best and works with your hair type.
Before you go, I want to stress the importance of showing your barber a photo reference. Indeed, most barbers share a similar haircutting vocabulary. However, terms like “textured,” “piecey,” or “choppy” are subjective and can mean very different things from one professional to the other. Therefore, make sure you have a clear picture at hand to go with your verbal instructions.
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