19 Pompadour Hairstyles for Men to Elevate Their Style
The Pompadour hairstyle for men has long been a symbol of timeless style and confidence, made famous by icons like Elvis Presley. Over the years, this classic haircut has evolved into a versatile trend that blends vintage charm with modern flair.
Whether you prefer a sleek traditional pompadour or a bold, contemporary variation, mastering the art of styling it can completely redefine your look. In this guide, we’ll cover everything about the men’s pompadour hairstyle—from its history and types to expert styling tips—so you can achieve and maintain this iconic haircut with ease.
What’s a Modern Pompadour Fade Hairstyle?
The pompadour fade hairstyle for men is one of the most stylish and timeless haircuts, defined by hair that’s brushed upward and backward to create a high, voluminous “pomp” on top. This classic men’s hairstyle has been admired for centuries and continues to stay relevant thanks to its versatility—it can be sleek and formal or casual and textured, depending on your personal style.
From Elvis Presley to Brad Pitt and Justin Timberlake, many trendsetting celebrities have embraced the pompadour, giving it a modern twist while keeping its vintage charm alive.
What makes the men’s pompadour fade haircut even better is that almost anyone can pull it off. With the right hair products and a bit of technique, you can achieve a salon-worthy finish at home. In this guide, you’ll discover 19 trending pompadour styles, tips on how to ask your barber for the perfect cut, and expert advice on maintaining a long-lasting, polished look.
Types of Pompadour Hairstyle
The pompadour hairstyle comes in many stylish variations, each offering a unique way to express your personality and grooming style. The classic pompadour is inspired by the vintage look of the 1950s, featuring slicked-back hair with high volume and a glossy finish. The modern pompadour, on the other hand, incorporates more texture and natural movement for a contemporary, effortless vibe.
The textured pompadour is great for men who prefer a casual yet fashionable look, while the short pompadour offers easy maintenance without sacrificing style. For those who love a bold statement, the long pompadour delivers maximum height and drama.
Whether you go for a clean professional cut or a relaxed tousled version, these types of pompadour hairstyles ensure there’s a perfect fit for every face shape and occasion.
Classic Pompadour
If you’ve ever admired Elvis Presley’s iconic look, the classic pompadour hairstyle is the perfect way to channel that timeless charm. This version remains true to its roots, defined by its high volume, smooth texture, and signature shine. In the traditional pompadour, the hair on top is styled upward and backward, while the sides and back are kept shorter—but not too short, unlike modern variations that often use clippers for a tighter fade.
This creates a balanced, fuller silhouette that radiates vintage sophistication.
While the classic pompadour offers unmatched style and elegance, it does require consistent maintenance to keep its polished shape. Regular trimming, proper grooming, and the right styling products—such as pomade or strong-hold wax—are essential to achieve that sleek, Elvis-inspired finish.
Classic Pompadour with Beard
The classic pompadour looks even more stylish when paired with a beard. A full beard perfectly complements this hairstyle, adding a unique and balanced finish to the overall look.
Traditional Pompadour for Curly or Permed Hair
The classic pompadour isn’t limited to straight hair—it also works beautifully with curly or permed hair. While the styling technique may differ slightly, the overall look remains just as refined. This hairstyle is especially flattering for black hair, giving it a stylish and distinctive appearance.
Modern Pompadour
The modern pompadour is a hairstyle fit for Hollywood royalty. Unlike the classic version, it features shorter hair on the back and sides while keeping the top longer for added volume. The top is styled into a wavy, masculine pomp that exudes confidence and elegance. There are also several variations of the modern pompadour to suit different preferences and personal styles.
The Modern Undercut Pompadour
The undercut pompadour offers a distinct twist compared to the traditional modern style. In this version, the hair on the sides is trimmed or buzzed shorter, creating a sharp contrast with the longer hair on top. This clear difference between the sides and the top gives the hairstyle a bold and edgy appearance.
The Pompadour vs. Other Popular Men’s Hairstyles
The Quiff vs. The Pompadour
The pompadour and the quiff may look quite similar since both involve brushing the front of the hair upward to add volume. However, these classic styles have distinct differences that are important to know before visiting your barber. The key variation lies in the brushing direction and the type of volume created. With a quiff, the hair is brushed to form a light, airy volume that can be styled to the side. In contrast, a pompadour is brushed backward to create a denser, more structured volume at the front, giving it a sleek and polished appearance.
The Slicked Back vs. The Pompadour
The slicked-back hairstyle is exactly what its name suggests. In this look, the hair on top is pulled tightly backward without forming a visible parting line. To achieve the signature finish, the style should have a sleek, wet appearance, which can be easily created using pomade. The slicked-back style gives a heavier, more commanding look that enhances confidence and charisma. While pompadours also use pomade, they typically feature more volume on top, whereas pulling the hair straight back is optional for this style.
Modern Comb-Over vs. Pomp
The contemporary comb-over hairstyle shares many similarities with the pompadour, and both are equally stylish and trendy. The main difference lies in the styling technique — in a comb-over, the hair is neatly combed, and the top section features evenly sized and spaced bundles for a clean and polished appearance.
Best Matching Face Shapes for the Pompadour
Simply getting a trendy pompadour isn’t enough to stand out. A skilled barber will always emphasize that your hairstyle should complement your face shape. Men with round faces can generally pull off any pompadour variation, but the square face shape pairs best with the classic, timeless pomp. For those with a thinner face, a short pompadour hairstyle is the ideal choice, offering a balanced and flattering look.
Wearing the Pomp Hairstyle Like a Pro
While the pompadour hairstyle is undeniably a classic, it looks even better when styled to suit your features and personality. Here are three useful tips to help you perfect and confidently wear your pompadour.
The Best Scene for a Pompadour
The pompadour is a versatile hairstyle that fits well in almost any setting—it’s all about finding the right balance. It’s important to consider the style preferences of your social or professional group when choosing how to wear it. The pompadour is best suited for moments when you want to make a statement, show confidence, and truly stand out.
Clothes that Complement the Pompadour
The pompadour hairstyle pairs perfectly with a stylish wardrobe. It complements formal outfits like suits, but also looks great with casual attire such as jackets, jeans, and denim shirts. While some clothing choices enhance the look more than others, there are no strict rules—this versatile haircut can adapt to almost any fashion style.
Attracting Romance with the Pompadour
This hairstyle radiates confidence and showcases a strong sense of style and fashion awareness. It reflects a personality that values sophistication and keeps up with trends, making the pompadour especially attractive to those who admire confidence and success.
Pompadour Hairstyles by Hair Length
While most pompadour hairstyles fall under either the classic or modern category, they can also be classified based on hair length, offering even more variety and styling options.
Short Pompadour
The short pompadour is exactly what its name suggests—short in length. Despite being trimmed down, it still follows the same fundamental styling principles that define a pompadour hairstyle.
Short Curly or Permed Pompadour
The short curly pompadour, also known as the permed pompadour, is quite similar to the short top fade. The difference is that this style is specifically suited for curly hair, whether the curls are natural or achieved through perming.
Mid Pompadour
The medium-length pompadour is slightly longer than the short version and offers more styling versatility. This mid pompadour is often paired with other styles, such as the mid fade haircut, for a balanced and modern look.
Pompadour with Extra Volume
This pompadour features enhanced volume, with the top section significantly larger than that of the short or medium versions. It can be styled into two main variations — the full-volume pompadour and the mountain-high pompadour — both offering a bold and striking appearance.
The Best Pompadour Hairstyle Combinations
The pompadour hairstyle offers plenty of variety, allowing you to easily mix and match different styles and lengths to create a look that suits your personality and preferences.
Pompadour Fade
The pomp fade is a modern variation of the classic pompadour, combining the sleek taper fade with the traditional pomp style. It features very short sides and a longer top for added contrast. The pomp fade hairstyle also comes in several variations, allowing for different levels of sharpness and texture.
Pompadour with Low Fade
The low fade pompadour delivers a clean and polished look. With shorter sides, it enhances the volume on top, creating a noticeable contrast that highlights the hairstyle’s signature shape and style.
Pompadour with Mid Fade
This version of the undercut pompadour fade is similar to the low fade but slightly bolder. As the name suggests, the fade begins higher on the sides, giving the style a sharper and more defined contrast. It offers plenty of versatility, though short to medium hair lengths work best for achieving this look.
Short Pompadour with High Fade
This hairstyle is often considered the ultimate choice for barbers. With the fade positioned much higher on the sides, it pairs perfectly with a short pompadour. For those who prefer styling shorter hair, the high fade pompadour is an excellent option.
Skin Fade with Textured Pomp
The skin fade, also known as a bald fade, pairs perfectly with the pompadour to emphasize the volume and style of the hair on top. When combined with a textured pompadour, it creates a sleek, eye-catching look that stands out effortlessly.
Disconnected Pompadour
The disconnected pompadour is defined by a distinct separation between the sides and the top. This sharp contrast draws more attention to the height and length of the pomp, giving the hairstyle a bold, stylish, and effortlessly edgy appearance.
Side Part Pompadour
The side part pompadour blends the classic pompadour with a distinct side part for a refined, stylish appearance. This versatile hairstyle pairs well with different looks, whether clean-shaven, complemented by a neatly trimmed beard, or matched with a full, sculpted beard — creating a bold and distinguished impression.
Slicked Back Pompadour
This hairstyle blends the slicked-back look with the pompadour, creating a style that’s both sleek and precisely defined. It offers a polished finish while maintaining a stylish and modern appeal.
Wavy Pompadour
The wavy pompadour gives a fresh and youthful appearance. It allows you to maintain your natural waves while styling the top into a pompadour, creating a look that radiates both calmness and charm.
Loose Pompadour with Shaved Sides
This style features a large volume of hair on top, but with a slightly looser pompadour that adds a relaxed touch. When paired with completely shaved sides, it creates a bold and striking look full of character.
Textured Relaxed Pompadour
This style features a large volume of hair on top, but with a slightly looser pompadour that adds a relaxed touch. When paired with completely shaved sides, it creates a bold and striking look full of character.
How to Get a Pompadour
This variation is often described as the “just woke up” look, featuring a full-volume pompadour with a slightly messy finish. The textured relaxed pompadour achieves its best shape with a small amount of pomade, giving it a natural yet stylish appearance.
Communicating with Barbers and Stylists
Interested in trying out a undercut pompadour fade? You definitely should be! If it’s your first time, start by asking your barber or stylist for a pompadour. It’s always helpful to bring a picture of the specific variation you want, but keep in mind that the person in the photo may have a different face shape, head structure, or hair type. To get the best results, be sure to clearly explain the details of how you’d like your pompadour styled so your barber can tailor it perfectly to suit you.
The DIY Pompadour Styling Process
Your hair might look perfect when you leave the barbershop, but recreating that pompadour style at home takes the right steps. Start by applying a small amount of styling product, focusing on the bangs and top section. Lift the hair upward, then brush it back to shape the pomp. Next, grab the bangs and add extra volume for definition. Once you’re satisfied with the look, apply a light layer of hairspray to keep everything in place.
Tip: Before styling, use a blow dryer to form the base shape of your pompadour. Brush your hair back from the temples while drying, and if you have a roller brush, use it to curl the bangs upward and backward. This helps create a fuller, more voluminous foundation for your hairstyle.
Products for Your Pompadour Hairstyle
A key element of the undercut pompadour fade hairstyle is using the right products to shape and hold it. Without them, your pompadour won’t achieve its signature look. Luckily, there are various products available to help create it. The choice of product depends on your hair type and the specific pompadour style you want.
Pomade – Recommended by GATSBY
An important aspect of the pompadour hairstyle is using the right products to create it. Without them, your pompadour won’t have the proper shape or style. Fortunately, there are different products available to achieve the look. The right choice depends on your hair type and the kind of pompadour you want.
Styling Wax
Styling wax is a popular choice for achieving a pompadour. It provides a firm hold while keeping your hair flexible and easy to restyle throughout the day.
Hair Gel
Hair gel helps create a structured and shiny pompadour fade. It gives your hair a stronger hold and firmer finish, keeping everything in place without stickiness and can be easily washed out.
Styling Clay
For those with fine hair looking for a natural finish, styling clay is ideal. Rub it between your palms and apply evenly from roots to ends for a textured and long-lasting hold.
Hair Spray
To lock your pompadour fade in place, finish with hair spray. It keeps your hairstyle firm and lasting longer, making it a timeless choice for a polished look.
Modern Origins of the Pompadour Hairstyle
From 1950 to 1969
The pompadour hairstyle was originally popular among women until the 1950s, when it became a trend for men. Elvis Presley was the first major icon to popularize it, followed by stars like Little Richard and James Dean, who made the style a timeless symbol of confidence and rebellion. Its rise in popularity is often credited to its distinctive uneven shape, which gives the pompadour its signature bold and stylish appeal.
From 1970 to 1979
During the 1970s, men favored natural, full hairstyles, often keeping their hair long and minimally styled. This trend led to a decline in the popularity of the pompadour, as the era’s laid-back grooming habits shifted focus away from structured, polished looks.
From 1980 to Today
The pompadour made a strong comeback in the 1980s, coinciding with the rise of rock and psychobilly culture. The era’s music and youth trends greatly influenced hairstyles, reviving the pomp’s bold and stylish appeal. Even after the ’80s, the pompadour has stayed popular, embraced by modern icons like David Beckham and Zayn Malik, keeping its timeless charm alive.
Complete Your Look with the Perfect Pompadour
The pompadour hairstyle remains timeless and shows no signs of fading away. With countless modern variations available, you can easily find a style that suits your personality. Using the right hair products ensures you achieve and maintain the perfect pompadour look with lasting volume and shine.
