You walk into the barbershop and the guy in the chair is getting the same skin fade you’ve seen since 2016. It looks fine. Good, even. But let’s be real—it’s starting to feel a bit like a uniform. Men are finally moving away from the "high and tight" obsession that dominated the last decade. It’s about texture now. It’s about flow. Honestly, the most in style haircuts men are asking for in 2026 are the ones that look like you didn’t try too hard, even if you spent twenty minutes with a blow dryer to get it right.
Barbers like Josh Lamonaca and the crew over at Menspire have been pushing this shift toward "tailored length." We aren't just talking about long hair. We’re talking about silhouettes that actually follow the shape of your head instead of just shaving the sides down to the bone because it's the easiest thing to do. If you're still rocking the disconnected undercut, it might be time for a change.
The Return of the Taper (And Why Fades Are Changing)
For a long time, the skin fade was the gold standard. If you didn't have white skin showing above your ears, did you even get a haircut? But things are shifting. We're seeing a massive move toward the "low taper."
A low taper keeps the weight around the temples and the back but cleans up the edges. It’s subtle. It’s sophisticated. It makes your hair look thicker. When you blast the sides off with a 0-guard, you lose the ability to shape the face. A taper allows for a bit of sideburn, a bit of neck hair, and a lot more personality.
The Modern Mullet Isn't a Joke Anymore
Seriously.
Check out any professional soccer league or indie music festival. The "Euro Mullet" or the "Burst Fade Mullet" is everywhere. It’s not the Billy Ray Cyrus version. It’s tight on the sides—usually a burst fade around the ear—and left long and textured through the back. It’s aggressive but works surprisingly well for guys with wavy or curly hair. The key is the transition; it shouldn't look like two different haircuts glued together. It needs to flow.
💡 You might also like: The Recipe Marble Pound Cake Secrets Professional Bakers Don't Usually Share
Texture is King: Moving Away from Pomade
If your hair looks wet, you’re probably doing it wrong. Unless you’re going for a very specific 1950s greaser vibe, high-shine pomades are out. The current trend is matte. Dead matte.
We are seeing a huge influx of sea salt sprays and styling powders. Products like Slick Gorilla or Kevin Murphy’s Night.Rider have become staples because they provide "grip." People want their hair to move. They want to be able to run their hands through it without getting a palm full of grease. This is especially true for the "Textured Crop," which remains one of the most popular in style haircuts men with thinning hair or high foreheads can choose. It pushes everything forward, uses blunt fringe to hide a receding hairline, and relies entirely on messy, jagged layers on top.
The "Bro Flow" and Mid-Length Renaissance
Blame it on the actors. From Austin Butler to the endless waves of Timothée Chalamet clones, mid-length hair is having a massive moment.
This isn't just "not getting a haircut for six months." This is intentional. It requires a stylist—not just a barber—who understands how to remove bulk without sacrificing length. You need layers. Without them, you end up with "triangle head" where the bottom flares out.
If you’re growing your hair out, ask for a "perimeter cleanup." Keep the length on top and through the back, but have the hair around the ears tucked or thinned. It’s a versatile look. You can slick it back for a meeting or let it fall naturally for a date. It’s peak "quiet luxury" for your head.
📖 Related: Why the Man Black Hair Blue Eyes Combo is So Rare (and the Genetics Behind It)
Don't Ignore the Buzz Cut (With a Twist)
Sometimes, the most stylish thing you can do is get rid of it all. But even the buzz cut has evolved.
The "Dyed Buzz" or the "Patterned Buzz" is still clinging on in creative circles. Even if you stay natural, the 2026 buzz isn't a DIY job in the bathroom. It’s about the "line up." A sharp, laser-accurate hairline and a subtle taper at the nape of the neck turn a "lazy" haircut into a statement. It’s low maintenance, sure, but it requires a trip to the barber every two weeks to keep that crispness. If you let it grow for three weeks, it just looks like you’re tired.
Face Shape Matters More Than the Trend
I see guys walk in with a photo of Jeremy Allen White and expect to walk out looking like a Calvin Klein ad. It doesn't work like that.
- Round Faces: You need height. A quiff or a pompadour with short sides will elongate your face.
- Square Faces: You’re the lucky ones. Almost anything works, but a classic side part or a short, messy crop highlights that jawline.
- Oval Faces: Avoid anything that adds too much height on top, or you'll look like a vertical rectangle. Stick to balanced lengths.
- Heart/Triangular Faces: Grow some stubble. You need weight at the bottom of your face to balance out a wider forehead.
Maintenance and the "Barber Relationship"
The best in style haircuts men are wearing today aren't "one and done." They are systems.
You need to talk to your barber about your cowlicks. Everyone has them. A good barber will cut with the growth pattern, not against it. If you have a swirl at the crown that pops up every morning, cutting it too short will just make it stand up like a literal antenna. Leaving a bit more weight there lets gravity do the work for you.
👉 See also: Chuck E. Cheese in Boca Raton: Why This Location Still Wins Over Parents
Also, stop washing your hair every single day.
Natural oils are your friend, especially for the textured looks that are popular right now. Over-shampooing strips the hair, making it poofy and unmanageable. Switch to a high-quality conditioner and maybe shampoo twice a week. Your hair will have more "weight" and stay where you put it.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit
Don't just sit in the chair and say "the usual." That’s how you end up in a style rut.
- Bring a photo. Barbers are visual people. Saying "short on the sides" means ten different things to ten different barbers. Show them exactly what you mean.
- Ask for a taper, not a fade. If you want to look more "2026" and less "2018," ask for a low taper. It’s more grown-up.
- Invest in a matte product. Get a sea salt spray for volume and a clay or paste for hold. Avoid the gels.
- Consider your lifestyle. If you work in a corporate law firm, maybe skip the mullet. Go for the "Executive Contour"—a classic side part but with scissor-cut sides instead of clippers. It looks more expensive.
- Schedule your next appointment before you leave. The best haircuts look bad when they're overgrown. Five weeks is usually the limit for short styles; eight weeks for longer "flows."
Style isn't about following every TikTok trend. It's about finding the version of "current" that doesn't make you look like you're wearing a costume. Whether it's the textured crop or a swept-back mid-length look, the goal is effortless cool. Less product, more shape, and a lot more personality.