Menu
Choosing a new look for your hair and beard can be a challenge. After all, depending on your hair type and current length, the options can feel endless. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with too many choices, especially if you’re not sure what will suit you. It can be challenging to find the barbershop haircut that fits your lifestyle. Picking something that will look dope on a night out might not serve you well in the boardroom.
We have compiled a list of go-to styles that make a great starting point for anyone looking to refresh their style. These styles are more than just day-to-night looks – each has been chosen because it is flexible enough to make anyone look good. These styles have become standards because of their adaptability and effortless cool, which never go out of fashion.
While function is important, your average men’s haircut is chosen for its aesthetic appeal. Unless you’re getting a military buzzcut, you want your hair to help highlight your best features, play down the less-good bits, and attract the right kind of attention.
When determining which styles are the most attractive, trying to find one magic style that will suit every face, hair type, and hair length is a fool’s errand – and that’s before we even get to generational or cultural preferences. There are plenty of theories to be found around the internet, but it’s all anecdotal – very little actual scientific study has been done in this area. That said, there are a few things that are almost universally offputting.
Whether your hair is long or short, make sure that it’s clean. Dirty hair is a basic no-no, whether it manifests in oiliness, visible buildup, or dry scalp flakes. Even the best style will be let down if you don’t take care of your hair. This includes regular trips to your favorite barbershop to take care of those split ends before they become a visible problem. Your barber can take the opportunity to give you some advice for tackling conditions like dandruff.
For those seeking a style that works everywhere they go, there are plenty of barbershop haircuts to choose from. In our modern hyper-online world, trends can change on a dime, so picking something classic is a good way to go.
Rather than getting caught up in whether you want a high fade, an undercut fade, or a shadow fade, focus on the overall look you want based on classic silhouettes. Your barber can advise you on the details, even if it’s just helping you match the trendy vocabulary to your chosen reference.
From the crew cut to the slicked-back look, these are the men’s haircuts that any good barber will always have in their back pocket. This is good to know if you’re trying out a new barber or have to get your cut while out of town. Some trendy, of-the-moment looks require specialist techniques that not everyone has mastered, so picking a tried-and-trusted standard goes a long way to ensuring that you’ll walk out of your appointment looking good.
For most guys, a medium-length haircut is the safest route. Very short hair leaves very little room to hide, especially if you don’t have strongly masculine features, and very long hair can put a damper on the masculine traits that are usually determiners of attractiveness. Done right, both can make an impact, but they’re also easy to do wrong. If you aren’t sure, a mid-length look could be your best friend, at least while you figure out whether a “bolder” style is right for you.
If you like the long-haired look, think carefully about your whole life when deciding on a style. While the modern businessman might get away with a bit of a shaggier cut, short hair remains synonymous with professionalism. If you work for yourself or in a more alternative-friendly environment, though, having long hair at work might not be a problem – just make sure you keep your mane well-maintained.
On the other end of the spectrum, rocking a short haircut is the essence of low-maintenance style. Your choice of short haircut can even help you suggest thicker hair – crew cuts are often recommended to men with thinning hair for this reason. Lots of height on top and close-cropped sides will make your face look longer and leaner; a buzz cut can be a hypermasculine choice and helps to hide the encroaching gray hairs.
Keep in mind that going bald is always an option, especially if you’re experiencing premature balding or a receding hairline. For some, sidestepping the hair debate entirely can make an eye-catching statement that sets them apart from the crowd.
There isn’t one. But if you decide on a length, we have some failsafe starting points for you to try out. At the end of the day, a haircut is a very personal thing, and even if everyone else says something looks great on you, you’re the one who has to like how you look. When you feel good about how you look, you carry your style with confidence, and that’s usually enough to get most other people on board. All of our recommendations can be paired with a beard or mustache if that’s your preference.
If you want a short haircut, then we recommend a textured quiff as your starting point. Longer on top without being too pretentious about it, it’s a great way to go short and maintain some personality up top. This style looks great regardless of age, and you can work with your barber to make the adjustments needed to adapt it to your face shape and general vibe.
Blessed with the genetic jackpot of thick hair? Then keeping things long might be your style of choice. Exactly how long you grow your hair out depends on your hair and your face shape. If you’ve already got a luxuriant mane to work with, keep things on the shorter side if your face tends towards the rounder shapes to keep things balanced.
For the medium-length guys, you have your pick of styles, whether you prefer short-back-and-sides with all your length on top or to keep things more in the Adam Driver ballpark. Medium-length hair is usually defined as two to four inches long, which is particularly versatile for styling. Layering adds texture and leaves room to experiment with a fringe if your face shape lends itself.
A versatile haircut is a man’s best friend, ensuring that you always look fresh no matter where you are in your day. There’s a reason why the classics have become classics – they’re reliable cuts that travel well, whatever situation you might find yourself in.
When you’re looking for a great men’s haircut in NYC, look no further than Premium Barbershop. Our team of master barbers is here to advise you on the right look for you, whether a timeless classic or a trendy style that’s hot off the press. Visit any of our Midtown locations for a range of expert hair services.