How to Get a Fresh Look and Rock the Top 14 Mens Hairstyles 2016
David Beckham’s hair has garnered nearly as much attention and as the man himself. No one has had as much influence on men’s hairstyles as Beckham. Over the years his hair has run the gamut from shorn to shaggy, bleached to mohawked. There’s no question the man is absolutely fearless. These days the soccer star keeps his hair in a high, slicked back pompadour that looks effortless, yet polished.
It’s no secret that the perfect haircut can immediately get you props from friends and admirers, or quite simply wreck your game. Ask any man and you’ll find most men have a style icon, celebrity or athlete they aspire to look like. To help you upgrade your look and keep your hair game strong we’ve rounded up a fresh crop of the best styles to rock this season. In our style guide “The Cut Makes the Man,” we give you the skinny on all the styles to rock this season. However, before taking the plunge, you owe it to yourself to have an honest-to-God conversation with your stylist to make sure the cut you want is going to enhance your looks, and not ruin them.
Even some of the coolest guys on the planet are not immune to bad haircuts. Kanye West rocked a black mullet in 2009 during his 808s & Heartbreak period. More recently, West has gone to opposite extremes spending upwards of $500 a day on his hair according to Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, “he loves the fresh look.” This goes to show that when it comes to style and personal expression in the music world, where hair often makes a statement, things can go wrong. Very wrong. So don’t go there.
“The true test of a man’s style is the haircut. There are some men who look good no matter how their hair is styled, whether it’s trendy or not. A man can change his haircut many times, but to pull off any haircut, you have to be very chic ” Carine Roitfeld.”
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1. Slicked Back (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
This retro slicked-back style inspired by Wall Street will never be off trend. For 2016, you can update this sleek, classic look with a slightly more tousled hair. Wear this versatile style ultra slicked back sharp, or slightly messy with damp hair. This sophisticated style and cut suits most face shapes and all ages. To get the look, use your fingers, not a comb, to apply a water-based pomade with a high shine for a soft finish. The goal is to appear as though you stepped in from a slight drizzle and not a raging downpour, so less product is ideal for this style.
2. Not-so-High Top Fade (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
The high top fade aka the style rocked by Will Smith in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is now shorter, but still keeps the classic fade for balance. The look which was popular in the late 80s and early 90s is back in style today thanks in part to Kendrick Lamar, Bryshere Y. Gray, and Jaden Smith. In the new version the hair can be squared off for an edgier look or softly rounded for a more casual effect. To get the look, the front, sides, and back should be picked out and cut freehand to achieve a strong, geometric look. and the top of the hair should be completely even. Next add some oil sheen spray to give it a slight shine. Overall, this style should be a breeze for any respectable barber.
3. Rainbow Colored Hair (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
The new rainbow colored hair trend requires applying all seven colors of the rainbow, violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red to bleached hair. The trend is not for the meek and requires deep pockets. It is not for those without a lot of money to spend as it requires a high degree of maintenance. The torch for this trend has been led by Joe Jonas, who broke solo success with his new band all while sporting flying hair colors. Several other celebs have jumped on the bandwagon too by adding pastel pink highlights to already bleach blonde locks. Alternatively, brightly colored punk hair is for standout stars who aren’t afraid to make a bold fashion statement with technicolor tresses. It is one of the boldest hair fashion statements you can make and is all the rage on women’s blogs, so it only makes sense that men would take up the trend too and boost their instagram status.
4. Hang Long and Loose (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
Shaggy tousled layers make a comeback for 2016. The rackish look has men growing out their hair in an effort to emulate their favorite rock musicians. A new found nostalgia for rock bands from the 1970s and 1990s has led to this trend’s popularity. This look is not for amateurs and requires slightly finer hair and the time to grow it out to a good shoulder length. No styling is the best advice for longer, naturally straight hair, but you can use sea salt spray to add texture. If you have naturally wavy or curly hair make sure you have a good anti-frizz creme on hand to smooth out your locks.
5. Bulletproof Undercut (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
For guys who crave style and want to look on on-point everyday, the “bulletproof undercut” provides an edgy, on trend look. The disconnected undercut sharply contrasts with the longer hair on top and the buzzed sides. Alternatively, a faded undercut naturally blends the cropped sides into the longer hair. The great thing about the undercut hairstyle is it can be styled and cut in so many different ways! You can pick and choose what undercut hairstyle you like best. This transformative haircut is for men who want to stay ahead of the style game and aren’t afraid of a big change.
6. The Blonde Colored Shock on Top (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
Adding a single bold stroke of color on top can make a big difference and bleached blonde hair and other bright colors are making a major statement this summer. The take over is especially evident in the athletic world. Athletes like Gyasi Zardes, used a bold shock of blond in his afro to make himself easier to spot. Similarly, Celtics players, Marcus Smart and Jared Sullinger have rocked a blond tops as well to edge up the competition on the court, and stand out among their peers. A bleached blonde shock on top with dark roots showing through is perfect for summer and creates a striking visual on or off the court with its casual, imperfect nonchalance.
7. High and Tight (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
The classic high and tight remains a constant favorite among men for its sharp, clean, no-frills look. Formerly a favorite among military men, the look has branched out to stylish men looking for a no-nonsense do. With little fuss, this haircut is generally a guaranteed success at the barber and is super easy to maintain on your own. The hair should be skin tight at the neckline and tapered up slightly, until just above the temple with a blunt shift between the shorter and longer hair above the temple.
8. Deep Side Part (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
The modern side part has deepened significantly while ditching the slicked back dated look for a more tousled, comb over effect. This old-school classic has remained a polished standby throughout the years as a sleek, ultra-professional look. Obey your hair’s natural tendency to part and adjust appropriately. This cut looks exceptionally good with hair that is naturally curly or wavy. Just let it fall naturally to the side. Men with straight hair can add a texturizing mousse or spray to modernized the look.
9. Pompadour Done Right (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
If you want to sport longer hair than a typical fade, a modern tricked out pompadour is just the look for you and will give you more volume to work with. These days, a disconnected pompadour just means it’s bigger, but with less hair on the sides and edgier texture. The disconnected aspect comes from the lack of blending at the sides and the top. Instead of blunt ends that blend back into each other, focus more on pointed ends that only comb back to a slightly shorter length and are more tousled. Ask to keep the bottom “no shorter than 2” with a slight fade, but with the top kept much longer.
10. Professional Grade Mohawk Fade (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
The mohawk fade is inspiring countless men to opt for a more refined take on the notorious punk style. To rock this style make sure not to venture too far into the gelled up, high maintenance territory of the Sex Pistols. The sides and top should be blended without a disconnect to give it a modern spin. Avoid a long spiky crest and keep your mohawk 3” inches or shorter in length in order to wear it to the office and beyond.
11. Summer Buzz Cut (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
Channel your inner bad-boy with an updated buzzcut that takes the fade and undercut to a new extreme. This haircut is professional and business appropriate while also achieving that rebellious, super cool look for the summer. To avoid the terror of displaying a questionably shaped head, keep the buzz to a “low skin fade.” This will keep the hair slightly longer on top, while gradually fading and showing some skin towards the bottom hairline (back of the neck.) Style and texture remains the key with this cut, but maintenance stays minimal with the rest of the fade.
12. Short and Choppy (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
The ultimate low-maintenance cut. This style consists of short and choppy layers that add texture without a lot of hassle. This cut looks great with very little product or maintenance. The cut evolved from last year’s version of a long, loosely textured style. The key to this cut is to ask for pointed cut ends to help create a “I woke up like this” bedhead effect. This good-guy classic cut will help you look as low maintenance and effortless as your hair. Styling this look couldn’t be easier, apply a water-based grooming product through damp hair with your fingers and let your hair dry naturally to appear undone.
13. Classic Fade (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
Stylish gents on both sides of the Atlantic are rocking a fade haircut this season. Those without it envy this flattering cut. A fade can be customized to an individual head shape, hair texture, and personal preference. The classic fade is a favorite among military men or any man who wants a short, maintenance-free haircut.
14. Top Knot Revamp (see all the looks)
Cut Makes the Man 2016
The new version of the top knot combines the best of two worlds, the undercut and the top knot. The undercut top knot keeps the hair long enough on the top to pull back into a bun at the back of the head where the sharp undercut begins. This style is the ideal cut for anyone growing out an undercut or a fade. Make sure your hair is long enough to get the right effect, so you don’t end up with a tiny samurai bun on top of your head. You can take the look more casual with the hair pulled back and out of your face. Once your hair grows out you can rock a proper man bun, which is practical and relatively timeless.
