When I dress a groom, the hair is the last piece of the outfit and the one people forget to plan. A tuxedo in a five-star ballroom and a linen suit on a beach call for very different heads of hair, and the wrong pairing is obvious in photos even when both halves look good on their own. Below are 25 groom hairstyles for men, short, medium, long, curly and faded, with notes on which collars, lapels and settings each one sits best with. Take the ones you like to your barber, and bring a photo of the suit too.
The Collar Decides More Than the Face Shape
Face shape gets all the attention, but in wedding photos the line between your hair and your collar is what people actually see. When I fit a groom, I look at three things together.
Where the nape ends
With a standard shirt and jacket, hair at the back should clear the collar or just touch it. Longer hair resting on the collar bunches up when you turn your head. A tapered neckline looks cleaner with a tuxedo, while a squared, blocked neckline makes the neck look wider, which suits slimmer builds.
Lapel width and hair volume
Big hair and big lapels compete. A pompadour or high top looks balanced with a slim notch lapel; a wide peak lapel or shawl collar looks better with a flatter cut like a side part or slick back.
High and band collars
Sherwanis, Nehru jackets and dress uniforms sit high on the neck. Long hair worn down catches on them, so a bun or half-up style, or a short cut at the nape, works better with these outfits.
1. Classic Side Part Groom Haircut
Shorter sides, a longer top combed to one side and a clean parting line: the side part is the haircut equivalent of a well-cut navy suit. It sits naturally with a tuxedo or a tailored three-piece and suits almost every face shape. Pomade gives shine for black tie, and a matte cream softens it for a daytime wedding. What I check is the part’s depth against the lapel. A deep, high part pairs with wide peak lapels, while a lower, softer part looks better with slim notch lapels and a narrow tie.
2. Pompadour Wedding Hairstyle for Grooms
The pompadour sweeps the top up and back into real height, with short tapered or faded sides. It’s the obvious choice for a retro or rockabilly wedding, and it looks right with a slim suit, a skinny tie and a pocket square. Getting the lift takes a blow-dryer and some product, and medium to thick hair holds it best. Keep proportion in mind: a tall pompadour on a slight build in a boxy jacket can look top-heavy, so the suit needs to be sharply fitted at the shoulders to balance it.
3. Slicked Back Groom Hairstyle
Hair brushed straight back with a glossy finish is the black-tie look, full stop. It needs medium to long hair that combs away from the face cleanly, and a high-shine pomade or gel to hold through dancing. It shows off a strong jawline. With a shawl-collar tuxedo it looks properly old Hollywood. One thing I warn about: shiny product on a velvet or silk lapel leaves marks if the hair touches the collar at the back, so keep the nape short or use a little less product there.
4. Textured Crop Haircut for Grooms
Short sides and tousled, choppy layers on top, often pushed forward into a fringe, make the textured crop easy to wear and quick to style. A matte clay defines the pieces without weight. It suits casual outdoor weddings and city celebrations, and it’s the haircut I see sit most naturally with an unstructured jacket or an open collar. With a formal tuxedo it can read slightly too casual, so I’d tidy the texture down a little for black tie.
5. High and Tight Groom Haircut
Very short sides and back with a slightly longer patch on top make the high and tight, a military cut that needs almost no styling and stays put all day. It flatters angular faces. For grooms marrying in dress uniform it’s often the expected cut, and it sits cleanly above a high, stiff uniform collar where longer hair would rest on the fabric. In a civilian suit it gives a very crisp, disciplined line. The short sides do make ears more prominent, which some men are self-conscious about, so look at side-profile photos first.
6. Temple Fade Slickback for Grooms
A temple fade starts at the temples and tapers down, while the top stays long and combed back. The fade keeps the outline neat, and the slicked top adds polish, making it a contemporary take on the classic slick back. A good pomade gives the top its gloss. It works for formal and semi-formal weddings, and looks particularly sharp with a slim black or midnight suit. The fade will soften within days, so time the cut close to the wedding.
7. French Crop Wedding Haircut
Short tapered sides, slightly longer hair on top and a textured fringe pushed forward make the French crop understated and very easy to look after. The blunt fringe frames the forehead. Straight to slightly wavy hair suits it best. I like it with a fitted, minimal suit and no tie, because the clean lines of the hair match the clean lines of the tailoring. The French crop shows how far a very simple cut can go when the clothes are equally pared back.
8. Undercut Hairstyle for Grooms
The undercut shaves or trims the sides close and leaves plenty of length on top to wear slicked back, swept or textured. That flexibility means the same cut can go formal for the ceremony and looser later in the evening. The disconnect between the sides and top is the point, so ask for clean edges. I’d style it slicked for a tuxedo and textured for a lounge suit. Make sure the long top doesn’t fall into your eyes when you look down, which happens a lot during ring exchanges and first dances.
9. Short Taper Haircut for Grooms
The short taper shortens the hair gradually down the sides and back and keeps a manageable length on top. It’s the neutral foundation of men’s haircuts: formal, approachable and easy, and it works with every collar style I can think of. It suits all face shapes and most hair types and needs very little styling on a busy morning. It’s also the cut that ages best in photos, which matters more than people think when the album is still on the shelf in twenty years.
10. High Top Fade for Grooms
Thick or curly hair piled high on top with a sharp fade carved down the sides gives the high top fade its height. It’s a bold cut with real personality, and it needs the shape-up done by a barber who knows it well, because uneven sides show immediately. Proportion is the styling question. The height adds to your overall silhouette, so I’d keep the suit lean and avoid a very wide tie or lapel, which can make the whole look feel crowded.
11. Curly Top Haircut for Grooms
Full, defined curls on top with tapered or faded sides keep a curly groom looking like himself. A curl-enhancing cream keeps them bouncy and controls frizz through the day. It suits relaxed outdoor and boho weddings, and with a soft-shouldered suit or a linen jacket it looks right. For a formal wedding, a shorter taper at the sides and neckline makes the curls read as deliberate next to a crisp shirt collar.
12. Long Waves Hairstyle for Grooms
Long hair worn loose in waves frames the face and suits beach weddings, garden ceremonies and boho celebrations. A light sea-salt spray brings out the wave without stiffness. It pairs well with a linen suit and an open-collared shirt. The practical question is the collar: loose hair rubs on the back of a jacket all day and can look stringy by evening. A good conditioner and a few minutes in front of the mirror before photos make a real difference, and outdoors, be ready for wind.
13. Man Bun Hairstyle for Grooms
The man bun gathers long hair into a secured knot, keeping it neat and off your face. A tight, polished bun suits formal events; a looser one suits a relaxed setting. It’s comfortable through a long day and pairs well with a clean beard. From the side, where many photos are taken, a high bun at the crown changes your silhouette, so a lower bun usually looks more balanced with a formal suit and tie.
14. Quiff Hairstyle for Grooms
The quiff lifts the front up and back for height without the full height of a pompadour, with tapered or faded sides. It looks youthful and suits formal and casual weddings alike. A little product gives the lift. I find it the most adaptable volume cut for wedding photos because it looks good both from the front and in profile. It flatters most face shapes and pairs well with either a navy suit or a grey morning coat.
15. Comb Over Fade for Grooms
The comb over fade combs the top to one side while the sides fade down cleanly underneath, giving a structured look with a modern twist. A little pomade gives a smooth finish. It works with straight to wavy hair. This is a cut I’d pair with formal tailoring and a crisp white shirt, because it echoes the sharp lines of a well-pressed collar. If your hair is fine, a matte finish keeps the top from separating and showing the scalp.
16. Buzz Cut for Grooms
A buzz cut keeps the hair uniformly short and needs no styling at all. It never frizzes, never falls flat and stays the same from the ceremony through the last dance. It’s very practical for a hot-weather wedding. The outfit has to work harder, though, since there’s no hair to soften the look; a strong-fitting suit, a textured tie or a well-shaped beard adds the dimension the haircut doesn’t. It flatters strong facial features.
17. Textured Quiff with Fade for Grooms
This one lifts and tousles the top for natural volume while fading the sides cleanly. The texture gives a relaxed finish that still looks put together. A matte product defines the pieces and holds the shape. It suits medium-length hair across various textures, and it sits best with modern and semi-formal weddings. With a three-piece suit it gives a nice contrast between sharp tailoring and slightly undone hair.
18. Side Swept Hairstyle for Grooms
Sweeping the top across the forehead in one smooth motion softens angular features and makes a groom look more approachable. A light product keeps the sweep in place without stiffness. It suits straight to wavy hair and many face shapes, and it sits comfortably between casual and formal. I’d make sure the sweep doesn’t fall over the eyes once you start moving, since it’s distracting in candid photos, and a light hairspray at the root usually solves that.
19. Crew Cut for Grooms
Short sides with a slightly longer, tapered top make the crew cut neat, structured and very easy to maintain. It suits most face shapes and holds up through long ceremonies and receptions. A touch of product adds texture. It works with formal and casual weddings alike, and in my experience it’s the haircut that suits the widest range of outfits, from a tuxedo to a short-sleeved shirt at a summer garden wedding.
20. Disconnected Undercut for Grooms
Unlike a blended fade, the disconnected undercut creates an abrupt difference between short sides and a long top. You can style the top slicked back, swept over or textured. It suits a modern groom at a trendy celebration. It needs straight to wavy hair with real length on top. With a sharp outfit, the disconnected undercut lets you show some personality while still looking refined, though I’d steer away from it with very traditional formalwear like a morning coat, where the contrast can look out of place.
21. Curly Undercut for Grooms
A full, defined curly top with short shaved or faded sides makes the curly undercut sharp and modern. A curl cream keeps the top defined. It suits naturally curly or coily hair, and shaping decides how formal it reads. A tight, rounded top looks polished with a tuxedo, while a looser shape suits a relaxed wedding. The short sides need refreshing every couple of weeks, so book your final trim close to the date.
22. Medium Length Brushed Back Hairstyle
Medium-length hair brushed back from the face keeps softness and movement without the full shine of a slick back. A light pomade or cream gives gentle hold and a subtle sheen. It works with straight to wavy hair and suits formal and outdoor weddings. I like this with a shawl-collar dinner jacket or a soft-shouldered suit. The ends at the back should sit above the shirt collar; if they rest on it, the look starts to read untidy as the day goes on.
23. Faux Hawk Hairstyle for Grooms
Want an edge without going too far? The faux hawk tapers the sides and leaves a longer strip down the center, styled up for height. It stays wearable and suits a modern celebration. A strong-hold product keeps the peak defined. It flatters thick or textured hair. For a wedding, I’d keep the peak low and soft; next to formal tailoring, a high, spiky ridge pulls more focus than the outfit and dates quickly in photos.
24. Classic Taper Fade for Grooms
The classic taper fade gradually shortens the sides and back while keeping length on top, giving a smooth gradient and a sharp finish. You can wear the top slicked, textured or side-parted, so it adapts to the outfit rather than dictating it. It suits all face shapes and hair types. It needs a trim every few weeks to stay crisp, but it pairs equally well with a tuxedo or a casual suit.
25. Long Hair Half Up Style for Grooms
Pulling the top half back into a small knot or tie and letting the rest fall loose keeps hair off your face while showing off length and texture. It suits beach and garden weddings and boho themes. A light product tames flyaways. With an open collar and a linen suit it looks natural. For a more formal wedding, I’d smooth the lengths and keep the knot small and low, so it reads as deliberate rather than casual.
Styling Your Own Hair on the Morning, With No One to Help
Brides usually have a stylist in the room; grooms usually don’t. If you’re doing it yourself, practice the full routine at least twice before the wedding, using the same product and blow-dryer you’ll have on the day.
- Wash the night before or early that morning, so hair isn’t greasy or too soft and flyaway.
- Blow-dry into shape first. Product sets a style; it doesn’t create one on wet, flat hair.
- Work product through in small amounts, more at the roots for lift and less on the ends.
- Get dressed, then check the back and the side in a second mirror or have a groomsman take a quick photo.
- Put a small comb and a travel-size product in your inside pocket for touch-ups before portraits.
For an outdoor or beach wedding, expect wind and humidity to undo some of it. Short, matte styles cope best; slick backs and long hair need a firmer hold, and I’d tie long hair back for the ceremony if the forecast says breeze.
Hair That Belongs With the Suit You’re Actually Wearing
The right groom hairstyle depends on your hair type, your face shape and the outfit you’re marrying in. Side parts and slick backs suit black tie, textured crops and quiffs suit modern suits, and long waves, buns and half-up styles suit linen and open collars. Buzz cuts and crew cuts need the least upkeep, while fades and undercuts need a fresh trim close to the date. Take your favorite looks and a photo of your suit to your barber, and do a trial run a few weeks before so there are no surprises on the morning.
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