When I dress a groom, the haircut is the last thing we fix and one of the first things people notice in the photos. A good cut makes a suit look tailored; a rushed one makes an expensive tuxedo look borrowed. Here are 25 wedding hairstyles for men, from slicked-back classics to textured crops and longer styles, with notes on the hair each one needs, the product that holds it and how it copes with a long day of hugs, heat and dancing.
When to Sit in the Barber’s Chair Before the Wedding
Most groom hair problems are timing problems. Cut too early and a fade has visibly grown out by the photos. Cut the morning of and you risk a nick, a red neckline or a style you’ve never worn before.
- Six to eight weeks out: if you want a new style, try it now, so you can live with it and adjust.
- Two to four weeks out: a maintenance cut to keep the shape on track.
- Two to four days out: the final cut. Close enough that fades and lines are crisp, far enough that any razor irritation has calmed down.
- The morning of: wash, style, and nothing more. Shave the neck the day before if you’re prone to bumps.
If you have a beard, trim it at the same final appointment so the two are blended, and ask your barber which product they used. Buying the same one means your wedding morning looks like the barber’s chair, not a guess.
1. Classic Slicked Back Hair
Slicked-back hair is clean and formal, and it asks for some length on top, usually at least a few inches, so it can lie flat without sticking up at the crown. Comb it straight back with pomade or gel. I prefer a medium-shine product here, because a very glossy one can read as wet under a camera flash. It belongs with a tuxedo or tailored suit, and a low fade on the sides makes it feel current. Once it’s set, it barely moves all day.
2. Textured Side Part
A textured side part is the relaxed cousin of the old-fashioned stiff part. The parting is clean, but the crown has volume and some movement, so it looks styled without looking lacquered. Tapered or scissor-cut sides give it balance. It’s my default suggestion for a groom who wants to look polished but not formal, and it works on straight and slightly wavy hair. Blow-dry the top with a little volume product before styling; trying to build lift with paste alone tends to collapse by evening.
3. Modern Pompadour
The pompadour sweeps hair high and back over short sides, and it’s a style with real presence. It needs length on top and patience: you blow-dry the front upward with a round brush before any pomade goes in, otherwise the height won’t last. Black-tie and vintage-themed weddings suit it. Sleek and glossy reads more retro, a textured finish more modern. I’d only recommend it if you already wear it, because a first attempt on the wedding morning rarely goes to plan.
4. Textured Crop
A textured crop is short, choppy on top and usually faded at the sides, and it’s about as low-maintenance as wedding hair gets. A small amount of matte clay worked through with fingertips brings out the texture. It holds its shape all day without touch-ups. Outdoor and casual weddings suit it well, and it looks especially sharp with an open collar. Straight and wavy hair both take it; very fine hair can look thin when cut this short.
5. Low Skin Fade With Textured Top
A low skin fade with a textured top is one of the most requested groom cuts right now. The sides fade down to skin while the top carries the volume. Timing matters more here than with any other cut: a skin fade shows regrowth within a week, so book the final cut a few days before the wedding, not the day of, in case of razor irritation. Style the top forward, up or to the side. It pairs well with modern tailoring at both traditional and contemporary weddings.
6. Classic Quiff
The quiff lifts the front upward and back, with shorter sides. The classic quiff is softer than a pompadour, without the same precise sculpting. I’d suggest a blow-dryer and a light cream or paste rather than a heavy wax, which weighs the front down by the reception. It adds height that flatters rounder faces, and it works with straight to wavy hair. It reads as stylish and approachable rather than formal.
7. Undercut With Slicked Top
An undercut shaves the sides short and leaves the top long, slicked back for a striking contrast. It’s sharp and modern, and it suits thick, straight hair that holds a slicked finish without separating. Pomade keeps it neat. One practical note: the shaved sides grow out fast, so plan the cut for the week of the wedding. It works best with a sleek, contemporary suit.
8. Messy Quiff
The messy quiff has lift at the front but none of the crisp lines of the classic version. Its finish is tousled and lived-in. Wavy hair does it best, since the natural movement provides most of the texture. A matte clay or a sea salt spray on damp hair, then a quick rough dry, gets the look. Outdoor and beach weddings suit it. Make sure the texture looks deliberate; on very straight hair it can look like you skipped styling.
9. Comb Over Fade
Hair on top combed neatly to one side over a clean faded taper: the comb over fade is about as reliable as groom hair gets. It suits formal and semi-formal weddings and nearly every face shape. A little pomade keeps the part defined. If your hair has a strong natural part, comb it to that side; fighting a cowlick for a whole day is a losing battle. It looks right with a tailored suit and needs almost no attention once it’s done.
10. Curly Hair With Taper Fade
Pairing curly hair with a taper fade keeps the sides clean and lets the curls do the work on top. I’d always rather a groom wear his natural texture than straighten it for one day. A curl cream applied to damp hair and left to air-dry keeps the curls defined and hydrated; brushing dry curls only creates frizz. It suits thick, coily and wavy hair. Ask your barber to shape the curls on top as well as fading the sides, so the outline stays neat.
11. Slick Back Undercut
The slick back undercut combines disconnected short sides with a long top slicked straight back. It’s bold and suits formal weddings. Straight to wavy hair holds it best, and pomade keeps it smooth. I’d watch the shine level for photos: a matte or medium hold looks more refined than a very glossy finish. It’s for a groom who wants a fashion-forward cut and is comfortable with the edge it brings.
12. Side Swept Fringe
A side swept fringe brushes the hair forward and across the forehead. It’s soft and youthful, and it suits straight or wavy hair at daytime and outdoor weddings. A subtle fade or natural sides keep it balanced. It softens angular features. Use a light product, because heavy ones make a fringe clump. In heat, sweat can make a fringe stick to the forehead, so a little blotting powder from your partner’s makeup kit is worth borrowing.
13. Crew Cut
The crew cut, short with tapered sides and slightly longer on top, needs almost no styling. It suits nearly every face shape and hair type and looks sharp with a formal suit. Because it’s so short, the timing of the cut is visible: get it trimmed within the week before the wedding so the neckline is clean. A touch of matte product adds texture if you want it. It’s the cut I’d suggest to a groom who doesn’t want to think about hair at all.
14. Long Hair Man Bun
For longer hair, a man bun keeps everything off your face while still showing the length. A sleek low bun reads formal; a textured one feels relaxed. Use a soft elastic that won’t snag, and smooth flyaways with a light pomade. Position it low enough that it doesn’t press against the back of a chair through dinner. It suits formal and bohemian weddings alike.
15. Brushed Up Hair
Brushed up hair sweeps upward and back for height and a fuller look. It needs medium-length hair on top and a blow-dryer for the lift; product alone can’t create it. A matte styling product keeps the volume without looking greasy. Faded or tapered sides give structure. It’s fresh and youthful, and it works at formal and relaxed weddings.
16. Classic Taper Haircut
A classic taper gradually shortens the hair around the sides and back while keeping length on top. It’s understated and flexible, suiting every face shape and straight, wavy or curly hair. Style the top however you normally do. Unlike a skin fade, a taper grows out gently, so it still looks neat two weeks after the cut, which takes pressure off the timing. It’s the safest cut on this list.
17. Wavy Hair With Side Part
Natural waves with a side part give structure and softness at once. The parting keeps it refined, while the waves add movement. A light cream rather than a strong pomade lets the waves stay soft and keeps the part defined. It suits naturally wavy or slightly curly hair and works at formal and outdoor weddings. I prefer this to straightening wavy hair, which tends to frizz back up within hours anyway.
18. Faux Hawk
A faux hawk styles the center section upward into a peak while the sides stay shorter. It’s edgy without the commitment of a real mohawk. Thick, textured hair supports the lift best, and a matte product with strong hold keeps it defined. Contemporary or casual weddings suit it. With a formal tuxedo, I’d keep the peak modest so the hair doesn’t compete with the clothes.
19. Short Curly Top With Faded Sides
Short curls on top with faded sides look clean and modern. The fade keeps the outline sharp while the curls add character. A curl cream keeps the top defined and frizz-free through the day. It works for naturally curly or coily hair and at formal and relaxed weddings. If you’re worried about frizz in humidity, a light gel layered over the cream holds the curl shape longer.
20. Ivy League Haircut
The Ivy League haircut, also called a Princeton, is essentially a longer crew cut with enough length on top to part neatly. It’s preppy and refined. Style it with a side part and a touch of pomade. It suits straight and slightly wavy hair and most face shapes, and it looks right with tailored suits at traditional weddings. If you already wear a crew cut, growing it out for a few extra weeks gives you this.
21. Textured Fringe Down
A textured fringe brushed forward toward the forehead gives a relaxed, modern look. Matte product enhances the choppy texture and keeps the fringe in place. Faded or natural sides balance it. It softens the face and suits straight or wavy hair at casual and outdoor weddings. Get the fringe trimmed a few days before so it isn’t falling in your eyes during the vows.
22. Sleek Low Ponytail
For longer hair, a sleek low ponytail keeps everything controlled while showing the length. Pull it back smoothly and secure it at the nape, then smooth flyaways with pomade. A low position sits comfortably above a shirt collar instead of rubbing against it. It suits formal and modern weddings and sharp tailoring. Use a black or hair-colored elastic rather than anything that catches the eye.
23. Spiky Textured Hair
Spiky textured hair styles the top upward into defined points. It’s playful and modern, best for short to medium hair at casual and contemporary weddings. A strong-hold matte product keeps the spikes defined without looking stiff, which is where many spiky styles go wrong. Faded or tapered sides keep the silhouette clean. Keep the spikes softer than you might for a night out; formal wear looks better with restraint.
24. Hard Part Comb Over
A hard part comb over adds a shaved line that separates the comb over from the faded sides. That line gives a crisp, tailored finish. It suits formal weddings and sleek suits, on straight hair that holds a clean comb over shape. Pomade keeps the part defined all day. The shaved line is the first thing to blur as hair grows, so book the cut within a few days of the wedding.
25. Long Hair Half Up Style
For long hair, pulling the top section back and leaving the rest loose keeps hair off your face while showing its length. Smooth the pulled-back section with a light product. It suits wavy or straight long hair and outdoor, beach and rustic weddings. It’s relaxed and romantic. In wind, the loose lengths will move, so it’s worth having a spare elastic in your pocket if you’d prefer to tie it all back later.
Camera Flash, Summer Heat and a Stiff Collar
The finish of your product matters as much as the cut. High-shine pomades look sharp in the mirror but can read as wet or greasy under a photographer’s flash, so for most grooms I recommend a matte or medium-shine product. Under hot lights or summer sun, heavy products also soften and slide, while a clay or paste holds its shape longer. If you’re unsure, style your hair with it and take a phone photo with the flash on; any greasy shine shows immediately.
Collars are the second detail. A stiff tuxedo collar or a wing collar rubs against long hair at the nape, which frizzes it and marks the shirt with product. Long hair should be tied above the collar or kept clean of product at the ends.
What goes in your jacket pocket
- A small comb
- A travel tin of the same styling product
- A few blotting papers for forehead shine
- A spare elastic if your hair is long
Your groomsmen don’t need matching haircuts, by the way. Matching suits already pull the group together, and each man looks better in the cut that suits his own hair.
A Cut You Already Know How to Style
The right groom hairstyle suits your face shape, your hair type and the formality of the wedding, and you should feel like yourself in it. Book a test cut with your barber several weeks before, then a final cut in the days leading up to the wedding. Keep your hair healthy in the meantime, and don’t try anything new that week. Then walk down that aisle looking like the best version of you.
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