Best Haircuts for Teen Boys Right Now

The cuts that keep showing up in this year’s style guides and in high-school hallways — what each one is, who it suits, and exactly what to say to your barber.

Teen haircuts move fast, and most of what’s online is either a listicle of 50 near-identical photos or a trend piece that was out of date before it was published. This is the short version: the handful of styles that keep showing up in 2026 trend guides and that grow out well, with the words that get you the cut you want. Updated as things change.

1. Low taper with a textured top

If there is one default teen haircut right now, this is it. The sides are tapered low — short and clean around the ears and neckline without going to skin high up — and the top is left with enough length to push up or forward with a bit of texture. It works on straight, wavy and thick hair, looks fine at school and grows out without a hard line.

Ask for: “a low taper on the sides, and leave the top long enough to style with texture.” Say how much length you want to keep on top — two inches is a good starting point.

Related serviceElite Haircut – Taper FadeTeens 13+ book from the adult menu: $36 · 35 min. Ages 12 and under: Kids Taper Fade, $29.See the service →

2. Textured crop and curtain crop

The textured crop is short on top with choppy, forward-falling layers and a short fringe. The curtain version keeps the top longer and parts it in the middle or slightly off-centre so it falls to both sides. Both are low-effort in the morning: a little product, push it forward or apart, done.

Best on straight or slightly wavy hair. Very curly hair tends to want the curly-top version below instead.

Ask for: “a textured crop with a short fringe” or, for the longer look, “a curtain crop — middle part, layers on top, tapered sides.”

3. Mid fade with a longer fringe

Clean mid fade on the sides, with the fringe left long enough to fall naturally over the forehead. The contrast between the tight sides and the soft front is the whole point. It suits oval and longer face shapes and gives fine hair the appearance of more volume at the front.

Ask for: “a mid fade, keep the fringe long and soft, and blend the top into it.”

4. Burst fade

A burst fade curves around the ear instead of running straight up the side of the head. It leaves more hair at the back and neckline, which is why it pairs with mullets, mohawks and longer-back styles. It photographs well and it is a bit different from what everyone else in the class has.

Ask for: “a burst fade around the ears, keep the back and top.” Bring a photo — burst fades vary a lot in how high they go.

5. Modern mullet

Short and textured on top, faded or tapered on the sides, longer at the back. The modern version is tidier than the 80s one — the back is layered and blends into the sides rather than hanging in a straight line. It is a commitment: it looks intentional or it looks like a grow-out, so keep it trimmed.

Ask for: “a modern mullet — textured on top, a low fade or taper on the sides, and length kept at the back.” Decide together how long the back should be.

6. Flow / medium-length hair

Longer hair that is worn swept back or to the side with natural movement. Some pair it with an undercut or a low taper so the sides stay tidy while the top grows; others keep it one length. It is the easiest style to maintain between visits because it is meant to look a bit undone.

Ask for: “I’m growing it out — tidy the ends and add some layers so it flows back,” and mention whether you want the sides tapered.

7. Curly top with a fade

For curly and coily hair, this is the one: curls kept on top, a low or mid fade on the sides so the shape stays sharp. The key is length — curls need enough of it to form, so tell the barber you want to keep the curl and let them cut it dry or with the curl pattern in mind.

Ask for: “keep my curls on top, a low fade on the sides, and shape the top so it’s rounded, not boxy.”

8. Buzz cut with a high fade

Short, sharp and zero maintenance. A uniform buzz on top with a high fade on the sides gives it more shape than an all-over clipper cut, and a clean line-up at the hairline finishes it. Good for sport, summer and anyone who doesn’t want to think about hair before 8am.

Ask for: “a number 2 (or 3) on top, high fade on the sides, and a line-up.”

How to ask for it

Barbers are not mind readers, and the same word means different things in different shops. Three things get you the right cut every time:

1. Bring a photo. One or two, of someone with hair like yours. A photo of a celebrity with completely different hair sets everyone up to be disappointed.
2. Say what you liked and didn’t like about your last cut. “The sides were good but the top was too short” tells the barber more than any style name.
3. Talk about the sides and the top separately. Sides: taper, low fade, mid fade, high fade, skin fade — and how high. Top: how much length to keep, and whether you want it textured, blunt or layered.

Keeping it sharp between cuts

• Fades and buzz cuts: back in the chair every 3–4 weeks. A quick line-up in between keeps the hairline crisp.
• Textured tops and crops: 4–6 weeks. Use a matte clay or paste, not gel — gel flattens the texture you paid for.
• Flow and longer styles: 6–8 weeks. Ask for the ends tidied rather than length taken off, and use a light cream to control frizz.
• Curls: a leave-in conditioner or curl cream on damp hair, scrunch, and don’t brush it dry.

Teens 13 and up book from the adult menu; ages 12 and under use the kids menu, which has the same cuts at kids prices.

Trend notes drawn from 2026 style guides including VAGA (Jan 2026), Latest-Hairstyles (Jan 2026) and Daimon Barber (Feb 2026). Styles and popularity change; this article is reviewed and updated.