25 Incredible Examples of Short Sides, Long Top Hairstyles for Men

Cindy Marcus
Cindy Marcus Hairstylist, Editor-in-Chief

Haircuts featuring short sides and a long top are what every contemporary man is showcasing today, mainly due to their advantage in providing men’s hair incredible lift and plenty of versatility in styling choices. Brush your hair back, opt for a polished pomp, or sport a trendy undercut – it’s all possible! With just a touch of wax or gel, you can easily manage and highlight your straight, wavy, or curly locks.

Shaved or faded sides allow you to introduce a striking contrast and a modern, relaxed vibe to your look while your top hair flows freely. A clean-side hairstyle not only emphasizes your strong facial features for a stylish masculine appeal but also reduces the upkeep and barber visits required.

If you’re seeking a hairstyle centered around volume, length, and superiority, you should keep scrolling down.

Before your upcoming haircut, take a look at these trending images of haircuts with short sides and a long top that men adore.

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An Undercut with Fade

#1 Undercut Featuring Shaved Sides

Short sides and a long top create hairstyles reminiscent of this undercut, blending traditional and contemporary styles. That’s precisely what drew me to barbering—the harmonious mix of classic techniques with a modern twist on the pompadour.

A Quiff with Low Skin Fade

#2 Quiff with Subtle Low Skin Fade

Getting a low skin fade with a quiff will draw the attention you desire. This brushed-back thick, attractive hair creates a stylish look for those with longer hair they wish to manage. Incorporating light facial hair would also enhance the overall style.

A Long Top Edgar Cut with a Bald Fade Short Sides

#3 Edgar Cut Featuring a Bald Fade

An Edgar cut is stylish, with a bald fade on the sides. This look merges into a short, textured, or point-cut length and includes a fringe. You should select your new style’s care product based on your hair type. Consider Johnny B’s MODE hair gel if you prefer a shiny, smooth appearance. Conversely, a matte, spiked texture can be realized using matte clay.

A Spiky Hair with High Fade

#4 Textured Spiky Hair with High Fade

Keep your hair voluminous on top with striking upward spikes. When opting for a textured top and high fade haircut like this, apply your favorite stylist-approved hair gel or wax for optimal hold!

A Messy Side Part with Low Temp Fade

#5 Trimmed Sides Long Top Fade

Balance is essential for mastering this sleek and stylish short sides and long top hairstyle. A touch of mess and texture on top, along with a sharp disconnection, creates a polished, gentlemanly appearance.

A Disconnected Undercut with Mid Bald Fade

#6 Disconnected Undercut with Mid Bald Fade Variation

This men’s haircut is what you would call a disconnected undercut. This hairstyle exhibits a striking contrast between the shorter sides and the longer hair on top. It’s clean-cut, but the length on top provides total versatility! You can style the hair forward for an air of mystery, slick it back for a suave a-la-Johnny Depp look, or experiment freely with texture.

 A Long on top with short sides for older men

#7 Stylish Long Top with Short Sides for Mature Men

The stylish long top with short sides for mature men is trendy and complements various hair and face shapes. The style has been tapered down closely at the sides, allowing room for creativity on top. This cut can produce multiple looks, ensuring men appear fashionable at every occasion.

A Surgical Line with High Bald Fade

#8 Bold Surgical Line with Elevated Bald Fade

Stand out from the crowd with a striking short on sides long on top haircut like this. Its shorter hair boasts a high textured top, separated by a hard part and smoothly transitioned to the skin with a bald fade cut.

A Long Pomp with High Skin Fade

#9 Extended Pomp with High Skin Fade

A rugged appearance features an extended pompadour with curly hair ends and high skin fades.  I recommend men wishing to try this style to have enough length to achieve the desired look. I would use matte clay to maintain the intended style for hair products. I applied powder to add some volume as the hair was lacking fullness. To complete the look, I used hairspray to keep it in place.

A Mens curly mess on top with tapered sides

#10 Textured Curls with Shortened Sides

Choose a look featuring textured curls on top paired with shortened sides if you are fortunate to have curls and want to retain some length. The sides are closely tapered to the scalp, creating a pronounced blend line into the top, enhancing the voluminous curls above. Regular upkeep will be required for this style. A scrunch-dry technique along with a volumizing spray and pomade will keep the curls lively throughout the day.

A Slicked Back Hairstyle with Mid Drop Fade

#11 Sleek Back Hair with Mid Drop Fade

A stylish and refined look – this sleek back hair with tidy, shaved sides is one of the most timeless styles! Clean each side of the head and slick back your hair so that the top will appear dimensional.

A High Pompadour with Bald Fade

#12 Stylish Pompadour with Bald Fade and Defined Hairline

The interplay of texture in this stunning pompadour with faded sides is setting trends! The defined hairline plus the long beard and sleek top creates a long on top short on sides haircut that will elevate your look.

A Guys tapered mohawk and side designs

#13 Stylish Tapered Mohawk with Side Designs

The stylish tapered mohawk and side designs offer a creative twist on the traditional mohawk. Skin tapering around the ears while maintaining a darker top blend into the mohawk creates an ideal transition. Incorporating a few elegant lines into this hairstyle makes a significant impact, elevating this cut to a striking statement piece.

A Long Man Bun with Dreads and Mid Temp Fade

#14 Stylish Man Bun Featuring Dreads and a Mid Temp Fade

An on-trend style with dreads is among the top haircuts delivering the ultimate hipster vibe. Men’s short sides complemented by a long top hairstyle can be paired with a beard for a rugged, sophisticated appearance.

A Wavy Hair with Low Taper Fade

#15 Men’s Haircut Featuring Long Front Strands

Choose a men’s haircut that is longer on top. This timeless style showcases textured wavy hair exceptionally well, providing a stylish and polished appearance.

A Messy textured french crop with mid fade haircut for guys

#16 Stylish Textured French Crop with Mid-Fade Haircut

A stylish textured French crop and mid-fade suit men with thin hair and a high hairline as it draws attention away from it. This mid fade haircut transitions seamlessly into the layered length on top to highlight the look. A bit of effort will be needed on the top. For optimal results, dry in some sea salt spray and finish with texture dust.

A Mid-Length Haircut and Beard with Mid Taper Fade

#17 Stylish Mid-Length Haircut and Beard with Mid Taper Fade

Men’s hairstyles featuring a stylish mid-length cut with taper fade and beard offer a trendy cool look! Incorporate a slight wave at the front for a fuller hair illusion that can be highlighted further with a sleek mid-fade.

A Thick Hair with Burst Fade

#18 Lush Hair with Burst Fade

A stylish burst fade, medium crop and thick surgical lines can create a contemporary brushed-up style! This line style appears polished, especially for boys with voluminous hair.

A Side Swept Hair with Temp Fade

#19 Long Top with Side-Swept Hair

One style you can create with an undercut is a combover to one side, resulting in a polished side-swept top with shorter sides. This undercut hairstyle especially suits long hair on top and short on the sides, regardless of texture.

A Longer Haircut with High Drop Fade

#20 Extended Haircut with Elevated Drop Fade

A well-textured, trendy short sides long on top hairstyle like this will take you places. It’s a blend of a drop fade and wavy top that creates a polished and edgy finish while providing ample flexibility for styling.

A Hard part with high taper fade

#21 Classic Hard Part with High Taper Fade

A typically low-maintenance hairstyle, this taper fade paired with a hard side part remains a timeless choice for its retro appeal. Such a short style is ideal for gentlemen seeking a polished and professional appearance!

A Faux Hawk with Drop Fade

#22 Stylish Medium-Length Faux Hawk with Drop Fade

Transform your hairstyle with a fresh take on a short sides medium top cut, and achieve this chic medium-length faux hawk look! Use your favorite styling product for a striking and standout finish.

A Medium Length Hair with Low Drop Fade

#23 Classic Pompadour with Short Sides and Low Drop Fade

Look like a star with this timeless pompadour that shines effortlessly! A men’s short sides long top style like this is great for mid to long hair for men.

A Shoulder Length Cut with High Temp Fade

#24 Stylish Man Bun for Medium-Length Hair with High Temp Fade

Draw attention to a perfectly sleek and trendy man bun fade or top knot placed on top of the head, with a strong high fade. You would surely be the life of the party with long hairstyles like this!

A Textured Hair with Taper Fades

#25 Stylish Textured Hair with Taper Fade

Revamp your long top short sides haircut with this trendy textured top featuring a taper. This short hairstyle enhances your longer hair on top and gives you the freedom to style it however you choose!