What is a cool haircut for men? It all depends on what you mean by “cool”. We don’t think “cool” means what Hollywood’s top-tier celebrities are wearing. It goes deeper than that.

Cool is all about being in the moment. It’s all about nonchalance. It’s all about confidence.

These are the coolest haircuts for men. They have stood the test, have remained fashionable throughout the years, and they have not made a big deal about it. These trims will never lose their cool, and not just for one season.

These are seven different haircuts that you can try, and what you should know to do them.

Fade High-Top

It is also known as the “Cameo cut”, which was popularised by the funk/early-hip-hop group of the same name. It involves a fade to the sides and hair on the top that is much longer and flattened. It is a symbol for hip-hop’s golden era and 1980s.

Notable wearers:

• Cameo
• Will Smith
• Iman Shumpert

Who is it for:

This trim is being avoided by square and rectangular faces. The abrupt, angular shape of this trim and the added height will only emphasize squareness and length.

How to Get It:

It’s a good idea reduce the height of the top to get this trim ready for modern times. Your barber can trim it in stages until you achieve the length that you are comfortable with.

You’ll need an afro pick and some pomade to style your hair. Then, simply tap the hair into shape. If you want your overall look to be sharp, it is a must to visit the barber every week.

Buzzcut

Simply put, a buzzcut is any haircut where the hair is cut to the same length using scissors. This is a low-maintenance, easy-to-use, and stylish option that can make you look a little more sophisticated.

Notable wearers:

• Tom Hardy
• Idris Elba
• Justin Timberlake

Who is it for:

Everybody. Oval and square faces will reap the greatest benefits.

How to Get It:

It will be difficult to find a barber that doesn’t know what buzzcuts are. Most likely, you’ll be asked what “grade” do you want. This refers to the length of the guard used on the clippers as well as the amount of hair that is left behind. It is safest to start at grade 6. If you find it too lengthy, ask for more.

French Crop

The French crop is a true classic and was a cornerstone of mod culture. It has a tapered, shorter side and a longer top with noticeable fringe. It is best worn loosely and with texture.

Notable wearers:

• Cillian Murphy
• George Clooney
• Dermot O’Leary

Who is it for:

This is good news for round faces. A textured top and short sides will balance your bone structure. This will slim the sides of your head without increasing the height.

How to Get It:

Ask your barber for a modern twist on this timeless cut. He may suggest a disconnected undercut. This style was popularized by TV’s Peaky Blinders, and is a timeless classic. To be safe, it’s always a good idea to bring a photo of what you want with you.

Twisted Afro

It does exactly what the name suggests. This is an afro with the hair twisted into dreadlocks. You can choose to keep it the same length, have a taper at the back and sides, or add some contrast with a fade.

Notable wearers:

• Donald Glover
• The Weeknd
• Jay Z

Who it suits:

This cut is best for whom it is worn. It will balance round faces and add height by having a taper or fade to the sides and back. It’s also a great choice for people with rectangular or square bone structures, as it can be worn at a uniform length throughout.

How to Get It:

First, you will need to cut your hair a bit. It’s then easy to explain to your barber that you desire a twisted hairstyle or to show him a photo to avoid awkward post-trim moments.

Pompadour

The pompadour seems like something that would have lasted for a few seasons before people started to laugh at it. It’s been around for over 100 years and has remained cool through many tweaks and improvements. The style is combed back and has a longer top. It is styled up at the back to add dramatic volume.

Notable wearers:

• Elvis Presley
• Bruno Mars
• David Beckham

Who it suits:

This cut is not recommended for people with rectangular or long faces due to the extreme height that it creates. You can have square, oval, and round faces.

How to Get It:

The pompadour’s popularity means that you can be sure that your barber has probably served a few. You can ask for a pompadour, or even show them a photo.

For styling, you should blow-dry freshly-washed hair with a vented brush. If you need extra volume or hold, apply a root booster powder before this. Apply a generous amount of pomade to the hair and comb it into place.

Slicked-Back undercut

The modern cut with a slicked-back bottomcut is a trend and a staple for hipsters. It’s a timeless style that will last. It looks amazing, too. It has tightly clipped hair at the sides and back that creates a ‘disconnect’ with the longer hair on the top. The hair is almost flattened against the head.

Notable wearers

• Nick Wooster
• Brad Pitt
• Arthur Shelby (Peaky Blinders)

Who is it for:

Although it has some similarities to the pompadour style, the higher top allows for longer faces. It works well for almost all types of faces.

How to Get It:

Before you can go near the barber’s table, you will need to grow your hair very long. After that, you can take a photo and allow your barber to get to work.

For styling, simply grab the desired hair product and run it through your hair before putting it back.

High and tight

The classic military haircut, the tight and high hair is not always what you would call cool. Yes. Conservative. A bad-natured cop might probably wear it. This is not cool. But times have changed. Thanks to some tweaks and a long list of celebrities, this sensible trim is now a household name.

Notable wearers:

• Ryan Reynolds
• Conor McGregor
• Drake

Who is it for?

Everyone

How to Get It:

Ask your barber to give you a modern version of this classic cut. He may suggest a skin fade to the sides and back. It’s easy to style. If your hair is long enough at the top, you don’t need to do much other than to get it trimmed once a fortnight.