These low maintenance haircuts are easy to get and require little to no product to style. Inspired by the latest trends, a simple men’s hairstyle can be a great option that looks stylish and works well with different lengths and textures.
Whether you want a basic cut for school or a clean business professional style for work, these easy haircut styles will help you achieve a stand-out look. Some men will want medium length styles like the comb over and slick back for a trendy look, while others may prefer shorter hair like the buzz cut and crew cut for a timeless masculine vibe.
To inspire you with ideas, we’ve compiled examples of the best low maintenance hairstyles for men. From the buzz cut to the taper fade, explore these simple haircuts to find cool and classy styles for guys.
Low-Maintenance Hairstyles
Short Haircuts
Short men’s haircuts are typically masculine and low maintenance, providing simple styles that are timeless and universally flattering. From a crop top fade to a comb over undercut, short hairstyles start with shorter hair on the sides and back paired with a slightly longer length on top. To start, you’ll want to ask your barber for a fade or undercut. Great with thick, straight, wavy and curly hair, these modern haircuts are easy to manage and look sleek for a fashionable clean cut.
With short to medium length hair on the head, you can keep your look simple by just leaving the top shaggy or messy. For minimal upkeep and styling, just brush the hair forward to create a trendy fringe or comb it all back for a retro slicked back hairstyle.
Medium Length Hairstyles
Medium length men’s hairstyles are versatile and stylish, giving guys plenty of styling options during the week. Medium hair is the perfect length to achieve all the most popular styles, making it easy to look effortlessly chic with minimal effort. With a fade or undercut on the sides, the longer hair can be parted to the side, spiked up, left messy, slicked back, or brushed forward. Most medium haircuts will require some amount of maintenance and styling to create a sexy look.
If you want to minimize your styling process, there are some low-maintenance styles for medium length hair that just look naturally classy and cool. Keep your look simple with a casual quiff, longer fringe, side swept Ivy League, or messy textured hairstyle. Use a light hold hair product with a matte finish for a natural and textured look that maximizes volume and flow.
Long Hairstyles
Long hairstyles can be mostly low maintenance and styled in many different ways for a stylish look. While long hair can seem hard to manage, there are several styles that can make the process easy and simple. After growing out your hair, longer styles can be trimmed shoulder length and pulled behind the ears or tied up in a man bun.
With proper care, you can also let your hair flow without any styling for a natural look. Some guys may also want to style a middle part, which requires very little work to style and maintain. Ideal for guys with straight, thick and wavy hair, these simple hairstyles will need regular use of high-quality shampoo and conditioner.
Buzz Cut
A buzz cut is a popular haircut that always looks sleek and masculine with no product or styling. As a traditional style reserved for the military, the buzz cut is a men’s haircut with short hair on the sides, back and top. Ideal for guys with strong facial features, this buzzed haircut is defined by sharp edges and a very short cut for an easy look. You can pair the short hair on top with a fade or undercut to create a modern style.
To get a buzz cut, you’ll need quality hair clippers with a complete set of guards. You can get this haircut at home with clippers by cutting the same length all over. Typically, this hairstyle rarely exceeds lengths of around 3/8 inch on top and a tapered 1/2 inch on the sides. You’ll want to run the clippers all over the head using a number 3 or 4 guard on top, while attaching a number 1 or 2 on the sides and back. The cut does not require any styling, but you can use a matte hair product for a textured finish. The buzz cut fade is a great option for men who want a clean and rugged look.
Crew Cut
The crew cut is a short hairstyle that’s easy to maintain and simple to style, allowing you to use no hair product for a natural look. This classic choice should be cut short on the sides with longer hair on top, giving you a versatile look that can be styled clean and neat or messy and lazy. The modern variation should include a taper fade or undercut for a blended look, and the hair length should not exceed two inches.
When compared to the buzz cut, the crew cut offers a fuller, more voluminous look. As a shorter haircut that originated at Yale University in the 1920s, this Ivy League hairstyle has a preppy reputation. With minimal effort, the crew cut can also look edgy and playfully disheveled. To achieve this, grab some pomade or gel and work the hair upwards. While you don’t need to style your hair, the cut does require regular trimming. You can get this haircut at home with quality clippers to save money and time.
Taper Fade Haircut
The taper fade haircut is a clean-cut hairstyle that is both iconic and easy to style. This haircut is a great choice for those with thicker hair, as it leaves an impressive level of hair on top while keeping the sides extremely short. True to its name, the taper fade should get shorter as it moves down to the neck. Depending on your style, you can get a low, mid, or high fade. A low taper fade looks great with a side part, comb over and quiff while a high fade haircut will complement a faux hawk, mohawk and slick back.
Guys wanting to rock a more subtle look may prefer a gradual fade with less volume on the top. Daring types can take the plunge with an extreme mohawk. Regardless of which option you choose, the taper fade doesn’t require much maintenance and only high volume styles like the curly taper fade and mohawk will require a strong holding gel. The taper fade is a cool haircut idea for stylish men who want a polished cut that is both timeless and versatile.
Side Part
The side part haircut is an effortless style that looks appropriate in casual and formal settings. True to its name, it requires a deep side part. Although the top and the sides of this cut tend to be relatively short, there should be enough volume left on the top to style it adequately. This style is ideal for thick hair, as the side part works best with some bulk for styling.
Barbers tend to be familiar with the side part, as it has been around since the early 1900s. However, to avoid any critical errors, ask for no less than two inches to be left on the top. The sides can be cut short based on your preference. Longer sides require more maintenance, so keep this in mind. Bold men may wish to add a shaved hard part to the style for depth. This looks particularly effective on dark hair, as it adds stark levels of contrast to the look. All you’ll need to style a side part is a decent gel or pomade. Simply comb your hair into place and tame any flyaways for a sleek finish.
French Crop
The French crop is ideal for men who want a stylish cut that comes with minimal styling. Also known as a crop top, this short haircut typically features a fade or undercut on the sides and back with a long fringe. After the initial cut, this style will require few trips to the barber for upkeep. With pronounced bangs, this hairstyle looks good on most guys and can be perfect if you want to cover your forehead. Hair being pushed further forward also helps to balance angular features, making you look more masculine.
When visiting your barber, you may wish to ask for a traditional Caesar cut with a fringe. As the length of the fringe and sides are up to you, be sure to describe your desired look in detail. Clipped or faded sides are easy to manage and provide a decent contrast if you ask for more volume on top. Men who need a polished look for the office should opt for a blunt cut as it keeps thick and unruly hair in place. Those constantly on the move should consider a short French crop for practicality. The length of the fringe means that most can avoid using styling products altogether.
Ivy League Haircut
The Ivy League haircut is a modern take on the traditional crew cut, featuring longer hair on all sides and a side-swept fringe. This style is both sophisticated and polished, making it a top choice for men working in professional sectors. For a classy look, taper the back and sides of your head. For an edgy vibe, get a skin fade haircut that blends the cut into your scalp, creating a bald look.
Due to longer hair lengths on the crown and top, the Ivy League haircut can be styled neatly into place with pomade, wax or gel. Although a side part is a key characteristic of this style, hair can be brushed and fixed upwards for a more tousled appearance. Whether you brush the hair forward naturally or sweep the front to the side, the Ivy League is a charming hairstyle for men who want to exude confidence and sophistication.
Short Slicked Back Hair
Slicked back hair is a popular retro men’s hairstyle that has made a comeback with a modern update. Requiring only a wide-tooth comb and a pomade or gel for a sleek look, the slick back style is ideal for guys who have little time to spare in the mornings. Sleek wet hair looks smart when styled but can easily look casual with light tousling and less product.
As a sexy and classy haircut suitable for all face shapes, some guys will want a short slicked back hairstyle while others may prefer longer styles. Just comb back to style, you can’t go wrong with this easy look.
Clean Shaven Bald Head
A clean-shaven blad shave requires absolutely no maintenance and looks striking on men who thick beard or cool neck tattoos and minimal imperfections on the scalp. If you like this style, be aware that you will need to own a pair of clippers. To maintain a perfectly smooth head, you’ll need to shave your head once a week. If you’re happy with some length, let the hair grow out evenly on all sides before buzzing it off.
Men with strong facial structures look incredible with a shaved head, as the lack of hair draws attention to sharp lines and shadows. If you’re struggling with a receding hairline, a clean-shaven bald head also allows you to take matters into your own hands. If you want to make a statement, consider growing a full beard. It acts as the perfect contrast to a bald head and will frame your masculine features.
Butch Cut
The butch cut is a very short men’s haircut that is similar to the buzz cut. Also known as the burr cut, this short style is longer than a traditional buzz cut but still offers a simple haircut. The butch cut usually features a natural or tapered nape and high sideburns and can be made unique with shaved lines and patterns. Trendy and stylish fades look incredible with a butch cut, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
Although there are several options available, men wishing to make a statement will appreciate the boldness of a high bald fade. You’ll want to keep things simple and uniform by asking your barber for the same length all over. To achieve this cut, take your hair clippers and use a guard number between 3 and 5. If you’re cutting your hair at home without assistance, be sure to cover all parts of your head to avoid leaving patches and missed spots. To ensure even coverage, run your hands through your hair before finishing.
