31 Coolest Wavy Hairstyles For Men To Try Right Now
If you’ve spent years brushing your waves flat or hiding them under a buzz cut, it might be time to let your hair texture take the lead. The right wavy hairstyles for men give you built-in volume and movement, so you get a haircut that looks great with a lot less styling. Short waves, jaw-length layers, and a few bold looks all made the list, so you’ll find something that suits your hair type and how much time you want to spend styling it.
1. Short Wavy Shag
This cut keeps things short enough to stay manageable but leaves plenty of room for your natural waves to do their thing. The layers sit loose around the ears and forehead, so it looks lived-in from the moment you roll out of bed. If you’re tired of fighting your texture with heavy products every morning, this is the style that lets you quit.
2. Wavy Fringe
A wavy fringe gives you a soft curtain of texture across the forehead that frames the eyes and softens a strong brow line. The top stays full and a little messy, while the sides are trimmed close enough to keep the shape neat. Ask your barber to point-cut the fringe instead of trimming it straight across, since that lets each wave fall at its own length and keeps you from ending up with a blunt, helmet-like edge.
3. Tapered Waves with Volume
Here’s proof that a little longer hair length and grown-up style can go together. The waves fall to the jawline with lift. The volume comes from layers cut into the mid-lengths rather than too much product piled on top. Have your barber taper the length slightly shorter at the back than the front, which keeps the waves from bunching up against your collar and lets them swing forward around your face instead.
4. Wavy Bowl Cut
The bowl cut gets a fresh update when you add texture, and the waves here break up that blunt, rounded shape in the best way. Bangs sit right at the brow, and the sides are cleaned up underneath, so it reads modern instead of retro. Ask your barber to point-cut the top so the waves have room to move.
5. Wavy Ivy League Cut
The Ivy League started as a longer version of the crew cut, and leaving extra length on top is what lets your waves show up here. The sides are clipped short around the ears, while two to three inches up front sweep back and to the side, with one loose wave dropping toward the temple. Gray hair may get a bit dry, so a leave-in conditioner before styling keeps the waves soft instead of frizzy at the ends.
6. Medium Waves
Growing your hair to the shoulders takes patience, but these loose, medium-length beachy waves show why it pays off. The roots lie flat and smooth along the center part, then the waves start to kick in around the cheekbones and get tighter toward the ends. That smooth top and fuller bottom gives your face a longer, leaner frame, which is especially flattering if you have a round or square jaw.
7. Cropped Waves
If you like texture but want something you can style in under a minute, the cropped wavy look is your answer. The sides are tapered tight, and the top is left just long enough for the waves to curl forward. Ask your barber to keep about two inches on top, since any shorter and the waves lose their shape and start to look like frizz.
8. Flipped-Up Waves
This wavy look has a laid-back 70s feel, with waves that sweep back from the face and flip out at the ends. The layers around the sides give it that airy, feathered movement, and caramel tones through the brown add depth without looking dyed. Blow-dry it with a round brush on the days you want extra lift, or let it air-dry for a softer finish.
9. Cropped Highlighted Waves
Chunky blonde highlights through a dark wavy base make hair texture stand out in a way plain color can’t. The front pieces fall loose over the forehead while the back stays a little longer at the neck. Since the lighter strands show off every wave, you’ll want a lightweight cream rather than a stiff gel to keep them defined.
10. Wavy Mullet with Fade
The modern mullet is here to stay, and pairing it with a fade keeps it from looking too much like a throwback. The wavy sides are cut down close to the skin, the fringe is choppy and textured, and the back flows down past the collar in loose waves. It’s a bold look that grows out well, so you can let the back get longer between visits and just touch up the fade.
11. Grown-Out Loose Waves with Middle Part
Letting your hair grow past the awkward stage pays off with a cut like this one. The center part splits the waves evenly so they fall down both sides of your face and land just above the chin. To keep that shape as it grows, ask your barber/stylist for long layers starting at the chin so the ends don’t get heavy and drag the waves down.
12. Feathered Shaggy Waves
Feathered layers keep this wavy hairstyle for men light and airy, which is exactly what thick wavy hair needs to avoid looking wild. The top is cut in choppy pieces that fall forward over the brow, while the back tapers down to the neckline. It’s a good option if your hair tends to get heavy and triangular as it grows.
13. Short Waves with Taper Fade
This men’s short wavy haircut proves you don’t need longer hair to show off your waves. The sides fade down tight and clean. The top keeps enough length for soft silver waves to sweep back from the forehead.
14. Waves with Long Highlighted Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs are the easiest way to frame the face with longer waves, and the blonde highlights here make that frame impossible to miss. The front pieces split down the middle and sweep outward past the cheekbones, while the rest of the hair falls in loose, flipped-out waves near the collar. Placing the lighter color only on the front sections gives you that cool sun-bleached look.
15. Shaggy Waves with Bangs
Think of this as your low-maintenance weekend haircut that happens to look great every day of the week. Loose waves pile up on top and tumble forward into a set of messy bangs that brush the eyebrows. The sides stay full around the ears, giving you a rounded shape that softens a square jaw. Skip the heavy gel and let a texturizing spray do the work.
16. Textured Wavy Crop with Beard
Short, textured waves and a trimmed beard make a combo that’s hard to beat for guys in their 40s and beyond. The top is cut just long enough to push up and back with your fingers, and the sides are kept neat without going into too tight a fade. The beard balances the shape of the cut and gives your face more structure.
17. Shoulder-Length Waves
Long waves with highlights give you that relaxed, just-back-from-the-beach look. The hair falls past the chin and rests right on the shoulders, with face-framing strands that fall naturally around the cheekbones. Guys with thick, coarse hair do especially well here, since the length weighs the waves down a little.
18. Piecey Jaw-Length Waves
This wavy hairstyle sits right at the jawline, which is the sweet spot for showing off waves without dealing with the upkeep of long hair. The ends are cut in separated, piecey sections so each wave stands out on its own. A loose center part lets the front pieces curve away from the face. Use a pea-sized amount of styling cream and twist a few pieces of hair with your fingers for definition.
19. Wavy Quiff with Beard
A wavy quiff gives you height and shape up front, and the natural texture keeps it from looking stiff. The top is brushed up and back into soft ridges, while the sides are trimmed shorter to let the volume stand out. A full, groomed beard grounds the look and adds a rugged edge.
20. Wavy Pompadour
The classic pompadour gets a relaxed finish here, with one loose wave falling forward over the forehead. Tight sides and a longer top create strong contrast, so the waves become the star of the show. Use a light pomade with a medium hold and let a few pieces break free for a more natural look.
21. Mid-Length Waves
Mid-length waves hit that sweet spot where you get plenty of movement. The layers are cut to fall around the jaw and nape, and the front pieces tumble loose over the forehead and eyes. Let it air-dry after a shower with a little curl cream worked through the ends, and you’re done.
22. Short Gray Waves with Taper
Going gray looks sharp when you give your hair texture a clean frame like this. The sides are tapered short, while the top keeps a couple of inches of length. A purple shampoo once a week will keep the gray bright instead of dull or yellow.
23. Medium Wet-Look Waves
The wet look gives your waves a glossy, just-out-of-the-ocean finish that stays defined all day. Loose strands fall around the face and down past the ears, with a rough center part keeping things relaxed. You’ll want a light gel or a styling oil applied to damp hair, then just leave it alone as it sets.
24. Long Wavy Hair
It takes a couple of years to grow hair this long, and those loose, sun-streaked waves make the wait worth it. The hair falls well past the shoulders with a soft middle part, and the lighter ends give it natural dimension. Keep it healthy with a trim every two to three months and a weekly deep conditioner.
25. Tousled Side-Swept Waves
Dark, thick waves get a lot of personality when you sweep them to one side like this. The top is left long and piles over in loose loops, while the sides fill out around the ears for a full, rounded shape. A few pieces fall across the forehead, which soften your features.
26. Textured Waves with Voluminous Side Part
This short haircut gives you lift and shape without looking overdone. A deep side part lets the front wave curve up and over, while the rest of the hair is brushed back with natural texture. The gray threading through the brown adds character, especially for guys in their late 40s and 50s.
27. Tousled Waves with Bangs
Bouncy waves with a fringe that falls into the eyes is about as laid-back as a haircut gets. The layers are cut all over to build volume, so the shape looks full from every angle. Guys with a longer face will like how the bangs shorten it and put the focus on the eyes.
28. Wavy Slick Back
A slick back on wavy hair has way more character than the flat, glossy version you might picture. The waves are combed back from the forehead but still curve and ripple on their way to the crown. Short sides and a full gray beard give the look a sharp edge that works with glasses, too.
29. Ear-Length Waves with Side-Swept Bangs
This cut stops right around the ears, so it’s long enough to show waves but short enough to stay easy. The fringe sweeps across the forehead to one side, and the ends curl softly around the ears and neck. It’s a great in-between length if you’re growing your hair out and want it to look styled the whole time. Ask for light layering through the back so it doesn’t puff out as it grows.
30. Wavy Textured Brush-Up
The brush-up gives waves height and direction while keeping everything neat around the edges. The top is pushed up and slightly back so the texture stands tall, and the sides are cut short to highlight the contrast. It’s an easy daily style for busy mornings since a quick blast with the dryer and a touch of styling paste gets you out the door.
31. Wavy Bob
A wavy bob gives you the look of longer hair with a cleaner, more deliberate shape. The hair is cut to one length just below the jaw, so the waves stack up evenly and create a full, rounded shape around the face. The ends curl outward in soft loops that look great with a full beard.
