The best wedding hairstyles for men are the ones you already wear well, cleaned up and timed right. A tidy taper fade, a classic scissor cut or a slicked, textured top all photograph well, and none of them needs a stylist on the day.
The short answer: book your cut four to seven days before the wedding, choose a style you can sit through eight hours of without touching, and add a beard trim or shave if you have facial hair. Below are the styles we cut most often for grooms, groomsmen and guests, plus what is popular right now.
Which wedding hairstyles for men work best?
Choose a style that fits your hair type and keeps its shape through a long day. Clean sides and a controlled top handle photos, heat, dancing and a few hours of wear better than anything trendy or high maintenance.
| Style | Best for | How to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Taper fade with a side part | Straight or wavy hair, formal ceremonies | Low or mid taper, scissor cut top, hard part |
| Classic scissor cut | Any hair type, conservative looks | Short sides with scissors, longer top, natural neckline |
| Textured crop | Thick or coarse hair, relaxed venues | Short crop, choppy top, mid taper |
| Slick back | Straight, medium to long hair | Longer top, tapered sides, slight length at the back |
| Short fade | Curly or very thick hair, outdoor weddings | Skin or mid fade, tidy top |
Our classic men’s haircut post covers the old money styles that work for any dress code. If the wedding is relaxed, a textured crop or fade is fine. For a black tie evening, go with a classic scissor cut or a clean tapered side part.
When should you get a wedding haircut?
Get it four to seven days before the wedding. A same day or day before cut can look too fresh, with raw edges and a visible neckline in photos, while a week gives the edges time to settle.
How long a cut lasts depends on the style. Skin fades start to blur in two weeks, so a cut a week out still looks sharp on the day. For a longer lead, such as a destination wedding, see our timeline for how long a haircut lasts.
If you want the edges perfect for the ceremony, book a $18 line up and edge up two days before. It takes minutes and gives you a crisp outline without changing the cut itself. If you are traveling to the wedding, book it for the day you arrive or the day before, not the morning of.
What should a groom do in the week before?
Run a simple grooming plan that finishes two days before the ceremony. Anything extra on the morning of is risk with no payoff.
- Seven days out: book the haircut and, if you have a beard, the trim or shave.
- Five days out: get the cut. Let the edges settle.
- Three days out: skip trying new products. Stick to what your skin and hair know.
- Two days out: line up and edge up, or a hot towel shave if you want a clean face.
- Morning of: wash, towel dry and style with a matte product.
For a beard, a trim at $18 keeps it neat. For a clean shaved look, our hot towel shave is $35 and takes about 30 minutes, with warm towels, lather and a straight razor. See the hot towel shaves for the full process. The Full Refresh package covers a fade, a hot towel shave and a beard for $75, so you leave done in one visit.
What are today’s men’s hairstyles?
Today’s men’s hairstyles lean short, textured and low maintenance. The leaders in Manhattan are tapers, textured crops, soft fades with longer tops and a growing interest in flow and mullet shapes.
Most of what you see in midtown offices is one of five things: a mid taper with a textured top, a low taper with a swept fringe, a classic scissor cut, a crop with a skin fade and a longer, flowing cut worn with a beard. They share one rule. The hair has a clear shape, but it does not look overworked.
For a closer look at what is rising, our are undercuts out of style post explains why the hard disconnected undercut has softened into tapers and blends. A wedding is a good moment to try the softer version of a trend, because it ages well in the photos.
What are men’s current hairstyles in 2026?
In 2026, the most requested men’s hairstyles are textured crops, tapers with longer tops, soft mullets and flow cuts, alongside timeless classic scissor cuts. Nothing too extreme is winning at weddings.
Taper fades with texture
Still the most requested cut. The sides blend down, the top has movement, and the whole thing looks neat in a suit.
Longer top, softer sides
Hair that grows past the ears is back, shaped with scissors and worn with a clean taper. If you want to try it, our guide to the men’s flow haircut shows how to grow it out without the awkward phase.
Mullet inspired cuts
A soft, mini version of the mullet fits fashion forward weddings. See the mini mullet haircut and the burst fade mullet to see how the shapes differ. For a traditional venue, keep the back clean and the length modest.
Classic scissor cuts
The safe pick that never reads as dated. A well cut scissor style is $35 at Deja Vu and suits almost every face.
How do you pick a style for your hair and face?
Start with your hair type and the shape of your face, then choose the length that suits both. Straight hair holds a part and a slick back well. Wavy hair works with a textured crop. Curly or coarse hair looks best with a taper and a bit of length on top.
Face shape matters for the top. A round face looks longer with height at the front and tight sides. A long face wants less height and a heavier fringe. A square face carries almost any style, including a short fade. If you are unsure, our face shape guide for men walks you through the options before the barber picks up the clippers.
Bring a photo of a cut you like, but tell your barber about your wedding schedule, collar type and any beard plans too. That context changes the advice.
Should you style your hair differently for a wedding?
Keep the styling simple and the product matte. A flat, tidy top and clean sides photograph better than a lot of shine, and they survive a long afternoon indoors and outdoors.
Use a light cream or matte paste on damp hair, comb it through in the direction you want, and press the top down gently. A small amount of hairspray helps if the ceremony is outside. Do not overdo it. A pompadour built an inch too high wilts by the first dance.
For a slick back, use a pomade you already know, and comb it back from the forehead. For a side part, ask your barber to cut the part line in with a razor so you can recreate it without effort.
Book your wedding cut at Deja Vu in Murray Hill
Deja Vu Barbershop is at 101 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016, between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Murray Hill. We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm, closed Saturday. Walk ins are always welcome, and you can book online through the contact and booking details. Call (212) 576-1062 with questions.
For a groom or a group, the Classic Combo is $48 for a fade and a beard, with a hot towel neck finish on every haircut. If you are growing it out for the big day, the men’s flow haircut guide is where to start, and our barber packages list every bundle.
Questions readers ask
How do you comb men’s hairstyles?
Comb damp hair in the direction it naturally grows, then set the part or the sweep with a fine tooth comb. Finish with a small amount of matte product and use your fingers for texture.
What men’s hairstyles are in for 2026?
Textured crops, tapers with longer tops, soft mullet shapes, flow cuts and classic scissor cuts lead the list. The common thread is a clear shape without a hard, over styled finish.
Are men’s hairstyles from 2012 or 2015 coming back?
Parts of them are. The high contrast undercut and the slick back have softened into tapers and blends, so you see the same ideas with less contrast.
Should a groomsman match the groom’s haircut?
No, but a similar level of neatness helps the group photo. Agree on beard or no beard and keep everyone’s cut fresh within the same week.
Can I walk in for a wedding haircut?
Yes. Walk ins are always welcome at Deja Vu, but booking online guarantees a set time when you have a tight schedule on the day.