5 Forgotten Men’s Hairstyles We Want to See Come Back
Men’s hairstyles come, go, and come back again.
In recent years, we’ve seen previously retired styles like undercuts, mullets, and mustaches re-emerge and gain popularity. It got us thinking — if the mullet could make a comeback, what other dismissed hairstyles could return to the mainstream soon?
Below are 5 outdated or less popular hairstyles that we think would be pretty cool to see make a comeback.
NATURAL SCISSOR CUTS
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Listen — mustaches have come back in a big way, particularly the chevron mustache style. Seriously, stepping into a bar in East Austin feels like stepping into a time machine that takes you directly to 1986. Now, if the mustache can come back, so can the natural flowing scissor cuts of the 1980s, like the one Tom Selleck rocked in Magnum P.I.
Natural scissor cuts are best for guys with a thick head of hair, and it definitely helps if you have some waviness or curls to work with. The real beauty of this cut is that it can (and should) be shaped to frame your face. Your barber or stylist can help you achieve that. This style says, “I’m a little wild and devilish, but in a good way.” It’s a masculine cut but with the right touch of softness.
As for maintenance, just hit it with a few sprays of Sea Salt Spray to enhance those waves and let it air dry (ideally with the top down in a 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS).
THE FLATTOP
There are three lasting impressions of the flattop haircut:
- George Jones
- Me, Myself & Irene
- Kid N Play
These three impressions are at odds with each other — one representing a long-gone era of country music, one achieving a level of coolness most of us will never remotely touch, and one landing somewhere in the middle. We’ll let you determine which is which.
Like the mullet, the flattop haircut has lent itself to meaning different things to different people, making it a prime candidate for a comeback hairstyle.
If you like the feel of a fade but are tired of the same side parts and quiffs, give the flattop a shot.
We like seeing the flattop paired with a full beard instead a smooth face. Adding the beard reframes this style and makes it feel modern. Or, even better, make it a flattop mullet like Greg (pictured in the header image).
THE DUCKTAIL
The ducktail hairstyle requires all the hair on the sides to be long enough to be slicked back around the ears and parted centrally down the back of the head. It’s synonymous with oily pompadours, greasers, and rockabilly music and pairs perfectly with a carefully sculpted pompadour.
These days, the pompadour is generally paired with a skin fade, so nobody really wears the ducktail anymore.
But that doesn’t mean it can’t come back to style. After all, we’ve seen the ability of Hollywood to render old, outdated hair relevant again. The perfect example is Brad Pitt in Fury. That Fury haircut caused an explosion of undercuts, and that style was suddenly everywhere despite not being worn since the 30s and 40s. And hey, Austin Butler recently played Elvis in the Elvis biopic, meaning don’t be surprised if you start seeing more ducktails around.
The ducktail probably works best with a stubble beard or sideburns, but that’s not to say you can’t rock it with a mustache or full beard. After all, this style is all about going against the grain, so have fun with it.
Oh yeah, what’s the best part about having a ducktail? It’s an excuse to pull a sweet Beardbrand Pocket Comb out of your pocket to touch up your quaff throughout the day.
THE SHAG
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Jim Morrison, Mick Jagger, and Rod Stewart made the shag one of the most popular haircuts of the 1960s and 1970s. Then it gave way to the mullet in the 1980s. Now, we’re going in reverse, with the popularity of mullets giving rise to a little bit of a shag resurgence.
Break away from the clean lines and straight-edge styles and let your hair get some flow and movement.
Layers and texture are critical for the shag, so you’ll want to leave this in the hand of someone who is a whizz with shears. Check out Instagram to find barbers and stylists near you who are familiar with the shag.
As for facial hair, we like the shag paired with a mustache for a vintage look, but a shorter beard also works well.
THE VICTORIAN MIDDLE PART
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Before side parts, dudes in the 19th century often opted to part their hair down the center (or slightly off-center). They used heavy oil pomades that matted their hair to their heads and made the waves in their hair look like the sea after an oil spill. It feels like nobody has worn their hair in this way in close to 100 years.
Recently, we’ve seen the 1990s middle-part curtains style come surging back. So, who’s to say that a shorter, heavy-pomaded middle part can’t come back either?
The challenge is that this type of middle part is so tied to a specific era — when even men's casual attire was formal. It’s so much so that the middle part looks out of place when you aren’t wearing a suit. But maybe that is what also makes it so appealing — well, that and the fact that the victorian middle part pairs so well with any facial hair.
If you find yourself a little on the eclectic side and prefer to dress up more than you dress down, maybe you can help bring the middle part back.
THE WRAP-UP
Need help finding the perfect hairstyle for you? Text "STYLE" to 512-879-3297 for free, ongoing personalized style consultations.
Keep on Growing.
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