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Men's hairstyles changed a lot more across the 2010s than people often give the decade credit for. From tapered cuts and pompadours to disconnected undercuts, here's a year-by-year look back at how the trends evolved — plus a look at the waves, durag styling and fade culture that shaped the same decade for textured and Afro hair.
Year-by-Year: 2010s Men's Hairstyle Trends
2009: Tapered Cut
A combination of a crew cut with slightly longer hair around the temples, giving a more angular shape to the face.
2010: Slicked-Back Undercut
Sides cut close to the head with a longer top styled into a rolled quiff — similar in silhouette to a low Mohawk, and popular for adding height.
2011: Brit Rock Indie Haircut
A deliberately messy, grown-out fringe pushed to one side, paired with a bed-head texture on top — a look that takes more product and effort than it appears to.
2012: Modern Pompadour
A side-parted take on the classic pompadour, with the sides sleeked back for a cleaner, less exaggerated finish than earlier pompadour trends.
2013: Short Back and Sides
A neat, classic cut — top point-cut with scissors, sides and back trimmed close.
2014: Blunt Cut
A structured, scissor-cut style styled without gel or pomade, giving a cleaner, more natural finish.
2015: Rockabilly
An Elvis- and Travolta-inspired style: hair pulled forward and curled with pomade or a strong-hold gel, sides kept short or slicked back.
2016: Short Crop
A low-maintenance, close-cropped cut for anyone who'd rather skip daily styling altogether.
2017: Choppy Fringe
Short hair with a deliberately choppy, textured fringe — casual but still put-together.
2018: Fade Haircut
Fades have never really gone away, but 2018 paired the fade with a spiked top for a sharper finish.
2019: Disconnected Undercut
A step further than a standard fade — a hard, visible line between very short sides and a longer top, often styled into a Mohawk shape or slicked straight back.
Waves, Durags and Fades: Textured Hair Trends of the 2010s
The same decade saw a major resurgence in waves and durag culture within Black and textured hair communities — a style history that's just as much a part of 2010s men's hair as any of the cuts above.
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360 waves, built up over weeks of brushing and durag compression, became one of the most recognisable textured hairstyles of the decade.
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High-top and skin fades were a constant throughout the 2010s, frequently paired with intricate line-ups and hair designs.
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Durags and wave caps moved from a purely functional tool into a visible style statement in their own right — see our Durags 101 guide for how to choose between them.
Are 2010s Hairstyles Coming Back?
Several of these styles — the fade, the pompadour, and various undercut styles in particular — have simply never really left and continue to show up in current men's grooming trends. If you want to recreate any of these looks today, the tools haven't changed much: a good pomade, wax or gel, a reliable trimmer, and the right technique for your hair type.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the most popular men's haircut of the 2010s?
There wasn't a single dominant style across the whole decade — trends moved from tapered cuts and pompadours early on toward fades and disconnected undercuts by the end. The fade in particular remained popular throughout.
Are 2010s hairstyles coming back in style?
Many of them, like fades and pompadours, never really disappeared. Others are seeing renewed interest as part of broader 2000s/2010s style nostalgia.
What's the difference between a fade and an undercut?
A fade gradually blends shorter hair into longer hair with no hard line, while an undercut typically has a more distinct, visible line between the short sides and the longer top.
How do I maintain 360 waves?
Consistent brushing, a good wave-friendly pomade, and durag compression between brushing sessions are the core of most wave routines — see our durag guide above for the right cap or durag for your goals.
Shop Men's Hair Styling Products
Explore our range of pomades, waxes and gels, clippers and trimmers, and durags and wave caps to recreate any of these looks today.
