10 Best Quiff Hairstyles and Haircuts for Men (2027)

The quiff hairstyle is one of those hairstyles every guy should know about. Think short sides with longer hair on top, styled up and back to create height, volume, and personality.

The best quiff hairstyles for men are all about finding that sweet spot between classic structure and modern texture. You can keep it clean and polished for work or go messy and textured for a night out.

The magic is in the lift, so make sure you use a good pomade or wax and spend a few minutes shaping it. Quiffs work for most hair types, from straight to wavy, and they instantly add confidence and style without looking overdone.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best quiff hairstyles and haircuts for men, showing how small tweaks in length, texture, and styling can completely change your look while keeping it effortlessly sharp.

Jump To:

• Best Quiff Hairstyles For Men
• The Timeless Appeal of the Quiff Hairstyle
• How to Style a Quiff (Step-by-Step)
• Quiff Maintenance Guide
• Quiff Hairstyles for Different Face Shapes
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Conclusion

Best Quiff Hairstyles For Men

• Side Parted Quiff
• Quiff Hairstyle With Scissor Fade Sides
• Thick Hair Textured Quiff
• Quiff With Fade
• Textured Quiff Hairstyle With Short Sides
• Curly Quiff Hairstyle
• Textured Quiff
• Sweep Back Quiff
• Long Hair Quiff
• Modern Quiff

1. Side Parted Quiff

One of the best ways to style your quiff is to go for a side part along with it. A lot of people do not go for this because the volume of the quiff itself is distributed unequally on either side of the parting.

But we would argue that it is the unequal distribution that affords this hairstyle its effortless, messy charm. See, the quiff is intrinsically a very structured hairstyle. It may not be as stiff as a pompadour, but it is still undeniably structured.

Adding a hint of an asymmetry to it might be a really good step, especially if you are the kind of person who wants to introduce a variation to the look without changing it altogether.

To get the side parting right, first separate your hair with your fingertips, and then go in with a hairbrush. Make sure the side of the quiff with the lesser volume isn’t matted down too much.

Related: 25+ Best Short Haircuts For Guys

2. Quiff Hairstyle With Scissor Fade Sides

You can also venture a scissor fade for your quiff. A scissor fade, which is also referred to as a scissor cut fade, involves tapering the hair with using scissors instead of clippers.

Unlike clipper fades, which use guards to create a more stark transition between the separate lengths of your hair, scissor fades are typically softer and more blended.

This means that the transition will be seamless. If you are going for this kind of quiff, we would recommend getting some conditioning treatment for your hair first.

This will make your stylist’s job much easier, and you would find that the quiff holds better when the hair is soft but grease-free.

You can style the quiff itself with pomade to give it a good hold.

Related: What is a fade haircut? The Ultimate Guide

3. Thick Hair Textured Quiff

A textured quiff works best with a few highlights, because it allows for the light to bounce off the very texture of your hair, making it look very glossy and elegant.

This is one of the most popular quiff hairstyles out there, and it is widely popular with those who like to keep their a little messy.

However, this hairstyle can get tangled very easily, so you would need some practice when it comes to detangling it without taking away from the texture of your hair itself.

One of the best ways to make sure that your hair remains detangled in this case is to principally style with your fingertips.

You will have to experiment with different amounts of product to find the right balance of hold and texture for your hair type.

Also, consider investing a volumizing shampoo and conditioner to enhance natural thickness and texture.

Related: Best New Men's Hairstyles

4. Quiff With Fade

This is one of the best ways to style your quiff if you want to incorporate more edge into your hairstyle. This balances the volume of your hair on the top with a clean, tapered finish on the sides and back.

The first step to getting this right is consulting your stylist about the length of the fade itself. If you want the quiff to not look as pronounced, make sure that you go for a low fade.

The thing with fades is that they can make the hairstyle at the centre look more prominent than they are, especially if you are going for a high fade or a skin fade. If you want to avoid that, go for a mid-fade like the one here, so that fade itself is still visible.

You will have to style you quiff with a really lightweight product if you want it to look as seamlessly styled as the one here.

Related: 16 Best Short Haircuts For Men

5. Textured Quiff Hairstyle With Short Sides

You can also take your texture quiff and add shorter sides to it. Most people opt for a fade, but shorter sides require lesser maintenance compared to fades, which can be a huge advantage.

Fades often require regular trips to the stylist to maintain the sharp transition. Shorter sides still give you a gradient, but they are not as prominent. Also, depending on your hair texture and thickness, shorter sides can help give a cleaner, more professional look that complements the volume and texture of the quiff.

Plus, you can ease out the scalp treatments this way. Shorter sides allow for more versatility in styling. They can easily blend into various other hairstyles, and if they look for a casual look, whereas fades often define the hairstyle more distinctly.

You can give your quiff more texture by adding some gentle highlights to. But if you want the look to be more professional, we would advise staying clear of starkly contrasting colours.

Related: Best professional hairstyles for men

6. Curly Quiff Hairstyle

For those of you who have curly hair, the quiff might be much easier to achieve than what you have been led to believe. Most people are conditioned to treat curly hair as inherently unmanageable, which can be the case if you do not learn to define and treat your curls.

But with a quiff hairstyle, you will discover that your curls take to it quite naturally. This is because both the quiff hairstyle and your curls function on their volume, so you will discover that there is greater harmony between.

You can either use your fingers or a comb to lift certain sections of your hair upwards, and gently set them slightly back to form the quiff shape.

When styling this, let your natural curls shape the quiff. If you try to use too much product you will find that you can end up flattening them out.

Related: 11 Best Curly Hairstyles For Men

7. Textured Quiff

The textured quiff has been mentioned quite a few times in this list, so it goes without saying that it is one of your favourites – both because of how well it can gel with other forms of styling, and how it can help you embrace the natural texture of your hair.

One of the easy hacks to get your quiff quickly is to go in with a round brush at the bottom of your hair to give it that volume across the lengths. This style is fairly versatile, and it works well with various hair types, including straight, wavy, or curly hair.

If you have straight hair, like in the look here, you will need to add some product to give the quiff its hold.

To enhance the textured look, you can also use your fingers to tousle and separate the hair strands. This will create a naturally messy appearance adding even more volume.

Here's a great video where an expert barber is cutting a perfect textured quiff hairstyle

8. Sweep Back Quiff

Quiff hairstyles look really great even when they are swept back. See what we meant when we spoke about the versatility of the quiff? Sweeping your quiff backwards will also make it more manageable and functional.

All you need to do here is to learn how to sweep your hair back without weighing it down – because then the volume of the quiff, which is the best thing about it, will be compromised.

To make sure that that does not happen, start with a small amount of pomade or wax, and subsequently add more as needed to achieve the desired hold and texture.

Make sure that you do not put too much product at the bottom. Also, you do not want the quiff to look messy, so try and control the fly-aways.

9. Long Hair Quiff

Long hair quiffs can be pretty easy to style once you learn to manage the ends of your hair. With long hair quiffs, as you can notice here, the volume of the hair will be concentrated at the centre of its length, keeping both the root and the edge of the hair closer to your scalp.

You can use a round brush to lift the hair upwards and back, while directing the sides slightly back as well.

This creates a bounce in your hair. One really great advantage of this, is that if you add highlights of a slightly lighter colour like in the case of the hairstyle here, you will find that the light bounces off of your hair making it appear even more glossy.

With this hairstyle, try and concentrate the product at only the ends of your hair to keep them towards your scalp. This is a really classy hairstyle, so you can style it in both professional and casual settings.

Related: Trendy Long Hairstyles For Men

10. Modern Quiff

A modern quiff like this one distributes the volume around the scalp, while keeping the sides edgy and minimalistic with a very low fade. The best thing about this particular kind of quiff is that it can give your face more symmetry because of the equal distribution of the volume.

Bear in mind, modern quiffs can vary in height, so you can go ahead and adjust the volume and lift according to your preference and face shape.

You can also add facial hair to this look, but make sure you do not go overboard with the beard because this is the kind of hairstyle that draws a lot of attention by itself.

If you have naturally wavy hair, make sure that you try and incorporate that into the structure of your quiff, so that the texture of it looks more organic.

The Timeless Appeal of the Quiff Hairstyle

Few men’s hairstyles have stood the test of time quite like the quiff. It started as a hybrid of the pompadour and the 1950s flat top, and that mixed heritage is part of why it still works today, structured enough to look intentional, loose enough to never feel stiff.

What makes the quiff so appealing is that rare mix of polished and effortless. Whether you’re dressing for a boardroom, a night out, or just want to look put together day to day, a well-styled quiff works across nearly every setting. It adds height, structure, and personality without going over the top.

The versatility also makes it ideal for a wide range of hair types and face shapes. Thick, coarse hair works. Thin or fine hair still works. Whether your face is round, square, oval, or diamond-shaped, there’s a quiff haircut for men that will suit your features, and it pairs just as easily with a fade, an undercut, a side part, or a longer, messier top.

This guide covers everything you need: how to style and maintain a quiff, which face shapes and hair types it suits best, and the product tips that keep it looking sharp instead of stiff or greasy. Here’s how to get the look right.

Related: 16 Best short fade haircuts for men

Here's an easy to understand graphic explaining what a classic quiff hairstyle is!

Source

How to Style a Quiff (Step-by-Step)

1. Start with Damp, Towel-Dried Hair

Quiffs are best styled when your hair is slightly damp, not dripping wet. Pat your hair dry with a towel, leaving it around 70% dry.

2. Apply a Pre-Styler (Optional but Powerful)

A volumizing mousse, sea salt spray, or heat protectant adds structure and helps the quiff hold better. Spray it evenly, focusing on the roots.

3. Blow-Dry Upwards with a Round Brush

This is *key*. Using a round brush, lift the front section of your hair while blow-drying. Aim the dryer at the roots to build volume and shape. For extra hold, finish with cold air.

4. Work in Your Styling Product

Depending on the finish you want:

Matte pomade or clay** for a natural, modern look

Glossy pomade for a classic, slicker vibe

Rub a small amount between your palms and apply from root to tip, focusing on the quiff area. Use your fingers for a textured style or a comb for a clean sweep.

5. Lock It in Place

If needed, use a light mist of hairspray to hold the quiff in place—especially if you’ll be outdoors or need all-day hold.

Since the trend of the quiff hairstyles doesn't seem likely to end any soon and if you're someone looking for a haircut that would be appreciated by others. You should go out now and get yourself a smooth quiff haircut.

Here's a video showcasing how to style a quiff hairstyle

Quiff Maintenance Guide

To keep your quiff looking sharp daily (and not like a deflated puffball by mid-week), you need the right routine. Here’s how to maintain your quiff without spending hours every morning:

1. Trim Regularly

Every 3–4 weeks, visit your barber to keep the sides tidy and the top in shape. A grown-out quiff loses structure fast.

2. Wash Smart

Avoid overwashing. Shampoo 2–3 times a week to prevent drying out your hair, and always follow with a conditioner to keep it soft and manageable.

3. Use Dry Shampoo Between Washes

It absorbs excess oil at the roots and adds texture—perfect for reviving second-day hair.

4. Blow-Dry to Restore Volume

Quickly restyle your quiff by dampening the front slightly and using a blow dryer with a round brush to lift it again.

5. Refresh Styling Product

Don’t keep piling on product. Instead, rinse lightly, towel-dry, and reapply a small amount of your preferred wax, pomade, or clay.

6. Protect While Sleeping

Sleeping on cotton pillows flattens your quiff. Use a silk or satin pillowcase to reduce friction—or wear a soft head wrap if you're committed to preserving the shape.

Related: Looking for some low-maintenance hairstyles inspiration? Check out our new guide here.

Quiff Hairstyles for Different Face Shapes

1. Oval Face Shape

You're in luck—this face shape suits almost every quiff variation. A classic voluminous quiff or a modern textured quiff works well. Avoid extreme height; balance is key.

2. Round Face Shape

Opt for height and structure. A high, brushed-up quiff with short sides can elongate the face and create a sharper appearance. Avoid wide, fluffy styles that add bulk to the sides.

3. Square Face Shape

Square faces have strong jawlines—lean into that. Go for a soft, tousled quiff to contrast the angular features or a slick quiff with a low fade for a clean-cut vibe.

4. Rectangular / Oblong Face Shape

Stick to shorter quiffs with less height to avoid making your face look longer. A layered or side-swept quiff works well. Avoid ultra-high or exaggerated volume.

5. Heart-Shaped Face

Focus on balancing a narrower chin and wider forehead. A textured quiff with medium length helps soften the top, especially when paired with a taper fade or soft sideburns.

6. Diamond Face Shape

Use a wider quiff with some side volume to balance sharp cheekbones. Avoid tight fades—keep some fullness on the sides for harmony.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is a quiff hairstyle?

A quiff hairstyle for men is a haircut with short, tapered or faded sides and longer hair left on top, combed or brushed up and back to create height and volume. It’s technically a hybrid of the 1950s pompadour and the flat top, which is part of why it reads as both structured and a little rebellious at the same time. The defining feature of any quiff haircut is that lift at the front, everything else, the fade height, the texture, the length, is just variation on that core shape.

2. What’s the difference between a quiff and a pompadour?

Both styles rely on volume at the front of the head, which is why people mix them up, but the proportions and finish are different. A pompadour is swept fully back and tends to sit higher and smoother, often with a glossy, more formal finish. A men’s quiff hairstyle usually keeps more texture, sits slightly forward rather than fully back, and reads as more casual even when it’s done for a dressed-up look. If you want something sleek and old-school, go pompadour. If you want something versatile that moves between casual and smart, the quiff hairstyle is the safer pick.

3. What’s the difference between a quiff and an undercut?

These two get confused because they’re often worn together, but they describe different parts of the haircut. An undercut refers specifically to the sides, shaved or clipped very short with a hard, visible line where the length changes. A quiff refers to the top, hair left long and styled upward and back. You can have an undercut without a quiff on top, and you can have a quiff haircut for men with a taper or fade instead of an undercut. When people say “undercut quiff,” they mean both elements combined, hard-shaved sides paired with the classic lifted top.

4. Is the quiff suitable for all hair types?

Most hair types can wear some version of a quiff hairstyle, but the ease of styling changes a lot depending on what you’re working with. Straight to wavy hair with medium to thick density holds a quiff shape most naturally and needs the least product to look finished. Fine or thin hair can still pull off a modern quiff hairstyle, but usually needs a lightweight volumizing product at the root rather than a heavy pomade, which can weigh it down. Very curly hair can work too, though it behaves more like a curly quiff than a classic one, since the curl pattern does a lot of the shaping instead of a comb or brush.

5. Does a quiff work with Indian or thick, coarse hair textures?

Yes, and in some ways thick, coarse hair is actually easier to style into a quiff than fine hair is. Thicker strands hold height and structure on their own, so a guys quiff hairstyle on coarse hair often needs less product than the same style would on finer hair to get the same lift. The main adjustment is usually in the sides, a mid or high fade helps keep thick, dense hair from looking bulky overall, letting the volume on top read as intentional rather than heavy.

6. How long does my hair need to be for a quiff?

You’ll generally need at least 3 to 4 inches of hair on top to get a proper men’s quiff hairstyle with real height and movement. Shorter than that, and you’re closer to a textured crop or a short quiff variation that sits lower and needs less active styling. The sides can be kept much shorter regardless of your top length, whether that’s a skin fade, a taper, or a full undercut, since the sides and the top are essentially styled as two separate decisions.

7. Can I get a quiff with a receding hairline or thinning hair?

Yes, and a quiff haircut can actually work in your favor here rather than against you. Concentrating the height and volume slightly further back from the hairline, rather than piling it right at the front, helps draw the eye away from a receding area instead of highlighting it. A slightly messier, more textured quiff style tends to look more natural on thinning hair than an ultra-polished, high-shine version, since texture hides gaps better than a slicked, uniform finish does.

8. Can I style a quiff without using heat tools?

Yes, though a blow dryer with a round brush is genuinely the fastest way to get consistent lift and hold for most quiff hairstyles. If you’d rather skip heat entirely, a volumizing mousse or sea salt spray applied to damp hair, combined with a strong-hold pomade or clay once it’s dry, can get you a similar result, it just takes a bit more hand-styling and patience to shape by hand instead of letting the dryer do the lifting.

9. How do I make my quiff last all day?

Start with a pre-styler, like a sea salt spray or volumizing mousse, applied to damp hair before you do anything else. Blow-dry upward with a round brush to build the actual lift at the root, since that’s where most all-day quiffs lose their shape first. Finish with a strong-hold pomade or clay rather than a lighter product, and a light mist of hairspray on top if you know you’ll be outdoors or somewhere humid, which is usually what causes a quiff hairstyle to fall flat by the afternoon.

10. Is a quiff high maintenance?

It sits in the moderate range rather than low or high. A quiff haircut for men isn’t something you can just towel dry and walk out the door with, it generally needs a few minutes of daily styling with product and either a brush or your fingers. On the upkeep side, regular trims every 3 to 4 weeks keep the shape from growing out and losing its structure, which is a bit more frequent than a low-maintenance cut but far less demanding than something like a daily-styled pompadour.

11. Does a quiff make my face look longer?

A high, voluminous quiff style can add visual length to your face, since you’re adding height directly above your features. If you already have a long or oblong face shape, a flatter, lower-volume quiff or a side-swept variation keeps the proportions more balanced instead of exaggerating the length further. Round or square face shapes, on the other hand, often benefit from that extra height, since it’s doing the opposite job, elongating a face that’s otherwise fairly wide.

12. Is the quiff still in style in 2027?

Yes, the quiff hairstyle remains one of the most requested cuts at barbershops, and it’s held that position for years rather than being a passing trend. Part of its staying power is how adaptable it is, a modern quiff hairstyle can be worn clean and polished for the office, or textured and slightly undone for anything more casual, which means it doesn’t go out of style the way more specific, single-use cuts tend to. Expect it to keep showing up in barbershop references well past this year.

Conclusion

The quiff isn’t just a hairstyle—it’s a timeless statement. Whether you prefer a classic shape or a modern textured twist, the quiff offers unmatched versatility for every face shape, hair type, and occasion. With the right cut, tools, and styling routine, you can make this iconic look your own. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find the version that suits your personality best. Remember: a great quiff doesn’t just elevate your hair—it sharpens your entire style game.

All images via Pinterest

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