13 Teen Boy Haircuts
Finding a haircut a teenage boy will actually wear is its own sport: it has to look right at school, survive practice, and pass his own mirror test every morning. These 13 teen boy haircuts are all built for ages 13–17 — textured crops, messy fringes, longer skater and surfer styles, curly tops and neat classics — and each one lists who it suits, the length it needs in inches first, honest upkeep, and the exact sentence to use at the barber.
One rule before the photos: a teen’s cut has to be maintainable by the teen. If the style needs a blow-dryer, three products and ten minutes every morning, he will stop doing it by Thursday and wear a cap instead. The best cuts below ask for a quick towel-dry, a fingertip of product at most, and a trim every few weeks — and every photo is a real teenager.
Quick picks — the shortlist
- The textured crop — the low-effort favorite: short sides, choppy top, done in a minute.
- The messy fringe — the school-hallway classic, longer on top and worn forward.
- The curly top — for natural curls: length on top, short tidy sides.
- The skater cut — the grow-out pick: medium length that looks better messy.
13 teen boy haircuts to try
1. The textured crop
Short sides with a choppy, piecey top worn forward — this black-and-white portrait shows the shape cleanly: the top is cut with lots of texture so it separates instead of sitting flat. It suits ages 13–17 with straight to wavy hair, 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) on top. About a minute with a little matte product; trim every 3–4 weeks. Ask for: a textured crop with short faded sides and the top long enough to push forward.
2. The messy fringe
The fringe falls forward over the forehead in loose, uneven pieces while the sides stay shorter — this teen in the red plaid jacket wears it exactly as meant: a little windblown, nothing gelled. It suits ages 13–17 with wavy to straight hair, 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) on top. A fingertip of matte paste, scrunched in; trim every 4–6 weeks. Ask for: a messy fringe with texture through the top and the fringe left long enough to fall forward.
3. Curtain fringe
A center part lets the fringe split into two face-framing curtains — this blond teen against the graffiti wall shows the length doing the work, the pieces curving around the temples instead of hanging straight. It suits ages 13–17 with straight to wavy hair, 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) on top with the fringe at 3–4 inches. Part it wet and let it fall; trim every 5–6 weeks. Ask for: curtains with a center part, the front pieces kept soft and face-framing, sides tidy.
4. The skater cut
Grown out all over and worn loose: this beach shot shows the classic skater shape, hair brushing the collar and falling where it wants. It suits ages 13–17 with straight to wavy hair, 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) all over. Maintenance is the selling point — a wash, a towel-dry, and it looks better slightly messy; trim every 6–8 weeks to keep the ends healthy. Ask for: medium length all over with light layering, kept natural, no hard parting.
5. Bro flow
Longer hair swept back off the face with natural wave doing the styling — this teen in the red sweater wears it at the sweet spot, long enough to flow but short enough to stay out of his eyes. It suits ages 13–17 with wavy to curly hair, 5–7 inches (13–18 cm) on top and 3–4 inches at the sides. It grows out gracefully; trim every 6–8 weeks. Ask for: longer layers on top swept back, sides kept full rather than faded.
6. The wavy quiff
Lift at the front with waves falling back over it — this teen in the hoodie, glancing sideways, shows the height sitting just at the hairline, not a stiff wall of hair. It suits ages 13–17 with wavy hair, 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) at the front. Blow-dry forward and up, then a small amount of matte clay; trim every 4–6 weeks. Ask for: a wavy quiff with texture through the front, sides short but not skin-tight.
7. The two-block top
Neat, short sides with a distinctly longer, textured top that sits like a cap over them — this studio profile shows the two lengths clearly, the top full and piecey against tidy sides. It suits ages 13–17 with straight to wavy hair, 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) on top — the teen-friendly version of the Korean two-block; for the full men’s take, see our Korean two block haircuts. Trim the sides every 3–4 weeks, let the top keep growing. Ask for: a two-block with the top disconnected enough to show the two lengths, texture cut into it.
8. Low taper with texture
A subtle, scissor-cut taper at the sides and back with a natural textured top — this teen in the classroom wears the quiet version of the trend: a clean neckline and a top that looks like his own hair, only better. It suits ages 13–17 with any hair type, 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) on top. Low to medium maintenance, tidy-up every 3–4 weeks. Ask for: a low taper (scissor-tapered, not a skin fade) with texture through the top.
9. The curly top
Natural curls left long on top with shorter, tidy sides — this close-up shows the curls doing all the work, defined and full, the sides kept close so the shape stays balanced. It suits ages 13–17 with curly to coily hair, curls 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) stretched. Curl cream on damp hair and a diffuser for definition; trim every 5–6 weeks. Ask for: length kept on top for the curls, sides shortened gradually, layers cut to let the curls sit, not stack.
10. The Edgar
A blunt, straight fringe cut hard across the forehead with short sides — this smiling teen in the park wears the classic version: the fringe is the whole statement, sitting in one straight line. It suits ages 13–17 with straight hair, 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) on top. It needs a line-up every 2–3 weeks to keep the fringe edge crisp; between visits, a comb keeps it flat. Ask for: an Edgar with a straight blunt fringe and short faded sides, the fringe cut dry so the length is exact.
11. The surfer shag
Long layers with a windswept, just-off-the-beach finish — this teen with the yellow scarf wears it at its best, layers moving in every direction with no product in sight. It suits ages 13–17 with wavy to straight hair, 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) with layers throughout. Genuinely low maintenance — wash, shake, go — with a trim every 6–8 weeks. Ask for: a layered shag with the front pieces left long, cut to move, not to sit.
12. The classic side part
A neat parting with the top swept to one side — this teen in the suit shows the dressed-up version: longer on top, combed with a soft side part, sides tidy but not shaved. It suits ages 13–17 with straight to wavy hair, 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) on top. Two minutes with a comb and a little light product, from school photos to family events. Ask for: a classic side part with the top long enough to comb over, sides scissor-cut.
13. The tousled middle part
A soft center part with tousled length falling on both sides of the face — this studio portrait shows the shape at its cleanest: the part sits just off-center enough to look natural, and the texture keeps it from looking stiff. It suits ages 13–17 with straight to wavy hair, 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) on top. It grows out better than almost any cut here — the safe bet if he is between haircuts. Ask for: a middle part with texture through the top and the front pieces left to frame the face.
How to choose the right cut for your teen
Start with the morning routine he will actually follow. If he will not touch a product, pick the skater cut, the surfer shag, or the bro flow — all three are cut to look right air-dried. If he will spend two minutes, the textured crop and the classic side part open up; if he will style it properly, the wavy quiff and the messy fringe reward the effort. For school-proof options that keep hair off the face all day, our school hairstyles page collects more morning-friendly ideas.
Then match the cut to the hair he actually has. Curls belong in the curly top — fighting them into an Edgar is a losing battle. Fine, straight hair takes the textured crop, the two-block, and the side part best, because texture cutting gives it the body it lacks. Thick hair can carry the longer styles: skater, surfer shag, and bro flow all need density to look right. When in doubt, bring the photo to the barber and ask what the same cut would do on his hair type.
Finally, think in trims, not just cuts. The Edgar and the two-block look sharp but ask for the chair every 3–4 weeks; the skater cut, surfer shag, and tousled middle part forgive a skipped appointment. If he wants something with real edge, the faux hawk haircuts for boys sit one step bolder than anything here — the mohawk look without the shaved sides.
What to ask your stylist
One clear sentence saves the appointment: “He is [age], he wants [the cut name from this list], he will spend [zero / two / five] minutes on it in the morning, and his hair is [straight / wavy / curly].” Show the photo from the front and the side — for teen cuts, the side view tells the barber how the sides and neckline should sit. Ask how it grows out and when the first tidy-up should be; a good barber will tell you honestly if a cut needs more upkeep than your teen will give it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a teen boy’s hair need to be for these cuts?
Most of the shorter cuts — the textured crop, the Edgar, the low taper — work from about 2 inches (5 cm) on top. The fringe, curtain, quiff, and middle-part styles need 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) so the hair has something to fall or sweep with. The skater cut, surfer shag, and bro flow need 4–7 inches (10–18 cm); shorter than that, pick a short cut now and grow into the long ones.
How often does a teen boy need a trim?
Short, structured cuts — the textured crop, the two-block, the Edgar, the low taper — look best with a trim every 3–4 weeks. The Edgar’s blunt fringe may want a quick line-up in between. Longer styles like the skater cut, surfer shag, bro flow, and tousled middle part can go 6–8 weeks and still look intentional.
What hair product should a teenage boy use?
Less than he thinks: a fingertip of matte clay or paste is the whole routine for most of these cuts — it gives the textured crop, messy fringe, and quiff their separation without shine. Long styles mostly need nothing. Avoid heavy gels and shiny waxes; they make teen hair look wet and weighed down, and they are hard to wash out.
Will these haircuts work for school?
Yes — every cut on this list keeps hair off the face when styled as described, which is what matters for class. The textured crop, classic side part, and low taper are the safest for strict dress codes. If his school is particular, show the photo before the cut, and keep the fringe trims regular so it never drifts over his eyes.
The right teen cut is the one he stops thinking about: quick in the morning, fine after practice, and good enough that he sends the photo to his friends. Shortlist two or three from this list, save the front and side photos, and let him pick — a cut he chose is a cut he will maintain.
Keep exploring
- 9 Faux Hawk Haircuts for Boys — one step bolder: the mohawk look without shaved sides.
- 11 Cute Toddler Girl Haircuts — for younger siblings: gentle first cuts, comfort first.
- Kids’ Haircuts — the full kids’ hub, with styles for boys and girls of every age.
Save your favourite styles and follow DreamyTrims on Pinterest for new haircut ideas every week.
