Hairstyles for Men With Thick Hair: A Barber’s Guide

Thick hair is a gift, until it’s time to actually style it. On some days it looks full, strong, and stylish, while on others, it feels bulky, heavy, and hard to control. The right haircut makes all the difference. With the proper shape, length, and texture, thick hair becomes one of your best assets instead of something you fight every morning.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best hairstyles for men with thick hair and what to ask your barber.

Best Short Hairstyles for Men With Thick Hair

Short hair is perfect if you want something clean, easy, and quick to style while still taking advantage of your density.

1. Textured Crop

A textured crop uses short, layered hair on top to lighten the thickness. The fringe can be styled forward or slightly sideways.

2. Crew Cut Fade

The crew cut is a classic for a reason. The top is left slightly longer, while the sides are faded tight. Thick hair gives this simple cut a strong, athletic look.

3. High and Tight

Inspired by military cuts, the high and tight uses very short or faded sides with a compact top. Thick hair on top creates texture even at a short length, so it never looks thin.

4. Short Curls With a Low Fade

If your thick hair is also curly, a short top with a low burst or taper fade keeps everything under control while showing off your natural curl pattern.

Best Medium-Length Hairstyles for Men With Thick Hair

Medium length is the sweet spot for many men with thick hair. It gives you enough length to style, but not so much that it becomes heavy or hot.

5. Textured Pompadour

A pompadour uses thick hair’s natural volume to build height. The sides are tapered or faded, and the longer top is brushed back with a more textured, modern look.

6. Modern Quiff

A quiff is a relaxed version of a pompadour. The front is lifted and pushed back or to the side, and thick hair gives it a naturally full look.

7. Messy Ivy League

The Ivy League is a slightly longer version of a crew cut with a side part. For thick hair, a messy Ivy League with scissor-cut layers and a soft part looks relaxed but still clean.

8. Comb-Over Taper

Forget the old stereotype of the comb-over. Modern comb-overs look sharp with a taper or fade on the sides. Thick hair on top is brushed to the side and slightly back for a clean, professional look.

Best Long Hairstyles for Men With Thick Hair

If you like your hair long, thick hair gives you the weight and presence that a lot of men try to fake with products. The key is to remove bulk in the right places so it moves and sits well.

9. Medium Flow

The “flow” is a popular style where the hair is medium to long and pushed back away from the face, often with a slight wave. Thick hair gives this style natural movement and fullness.

10. Long Layers

Long layered cuts work very well on thick hair because they take weight out while keeping length. The hair looks intentional instead of like it just grew out from a short cut.

11. Man Bun or Low Tie-Back

If your thick hair is shoulder length or longer, a clean man bun or low tie-back keeps it out of your face while still showing off the length when worn down.

How to Talk to Your Barber 

When you go to your barber, bring a couple of reference photos and think about:

• How short you want the sides

• How much length you want to keep on top

• How much time you are willing to spend styling in the morning

• Whether you prefer a clean, professional style or something more relaxed

Tell your barber things like:

• “My hair is very thick and gets puffy on the sides.”

• “I like low maintenance, but I am ok using a little product.”

• “I want to keep some length, but I do not want it to feel heavy.”

From there, your barber can recommend styles that match your face shape, hair type, and lifestyle.

Let Our Pro Barber Shape Your Thick Hair

With the right style and a good barber, your thick hair stops being hard to manage and starts being one of the best parts of your look. At Rusty Blade Barber in San Diego, we work with all hair types, and thick hair is one of our favorites to cut. Call us at (619) 885-2150 or reach out to us via our contact page.