17 Hottest '90s Boy Haircuts (& How to Style Them)

Master hair stylist Frankie Sanderson breaks down the most popular 90s boy haircuts

Co-authored by Frankie Sanderson and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: February 4, 2026 Fact Checked

Have you always wanted to try out a '90s boy haircut, but aren’t sure which is right for you? We’ve made it easy for you to find the best cuts that hark back to the days of young Leonardo DiCaprio, Keanu Reeves, and Aaron Carter. Read on for 17 popular 1990s boys’ haircuts, along with how to ask for each one at the salon or barber. We’ve also interviewed master hairstylists and a barber for top tips to keep your style game strong.

What are some popular 90s boy haircuts?

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An illustration of popular boys' haircuts from the 90s.

Master hair stylist Frankie Sanderson says some of the most popular 90s cuts include the curtain cut, heartthrob, bowl cut, shag, mullet, fade cornrows, and messy, grunge styles. The decade took inspiration from boy bands, grunge, rock ‘n’ roll, and hip-hop culture.

1

Curtains Haircut

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This cut features a middle part with a long fringe split down the center. The middle part style causes the fringe hair to fall like curtains framing either side of the face. It’s often accompanied by shorter sides and a back that sometimes has a fade or taper. Ask for heavy face-framing layers that start around the chin or cheekbones, which blend into a middle part. Wear the curtains haircut smooth and neat, or as messy surfer curtains.^{[1]
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- Made famous by: Leonardo DiCaprio, Nick Carter^{[2]
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- Styling tip: Apply sea salt spray or foam for texture; scrunch to define the curtains around your face while air-drying or blow-drying.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Frankie Sanderson is a master hair stylist and the founder of TheStudeo, a styling business based in Washington DC that specializes in hairstyling, makeup, and personal image consulting services.

Craig Whitely, professionally known as Craig the Barber®, is a master barber and men’s grooming consultant based in West Palm Beach, Florida. He has over 15 years of industry experience.

Martin Nepton is a professional hair stylist and colorist at Bang Bang LA in Los Angeles, California. He specializes in helping clients express their Queer identity through hair, with over 11 years of experience.

2

Bowl Cut

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A bowl cut is trimmed to an even length all around the head. In addition to a blunt fringe, the back is typically as short as the top, or sometimes tapered or faded. Ask for a textured, layered cut with shorter, choppy front pieces and the sides trimmed to earlobe length. The bowl cut can be worn sleek and straight, or tousled.^{[3]
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- Made famous by: Nick Carter, Jonathan Taylor Thomas
- Styling tip: Blow-dry downwards using a round brush, while lifting at the roots and curling the ends slightly under to achieve the bowl shape.
- The mushroom cut is a modern version of the bowl cut, which includes more texture, layers, and often an undercut or fade, which provides movement and flow.^{[4]
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- The bowl cut can include a curtain variation when the hair is parted in the middle, which adds curtains to the look.

3

Flat Top

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This cut is known for its flat top and short buzzed sides. The flat top is considered a geometric haircut with hair on top of the head that’s longer than the often tapered back and sides. Ask for a short, level top with very short sides (Grade 1 or a fade). This style was very popular among African-American men and within 90s hip-hop culture.
- Made famous by: Will Smith, Bobby Brown
- Styling tip: Apply sea salt spray or texturizing powder while blow-drying the hair with a round brush to lift the top hair up and back.
- Master barber Craig Whitely says “flat tops and flat top fades” were among the most popular for African-American men in the 90s.^{[5]
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4

The Caesar

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The Caesar includes short, horizontal bangs brushed forward. Beyond the short bangs, the rest of the hair is cut to a uniform, short length (about 1 to 2 inches or 2.5 to 5 cm); some variations are longer at the back and sides. Ask for a Caesar cut with short, straight-across bangs and an even, short length all over, which focuses on sharp lines and/or a low fade on the sides. The Caesar is one of the '90s styles that is again a popular men's haircut for 2025.
- Made famous by: George Clooney, Richard Gere
- Styling tip: Brush your hair forward with a boar bristle brush; use a matte pomade or sea salt spray for texture and hold.
- Whitely notes that the Caesar works for both African-American hair and for people with straight hair, since it’s a “rounded and subtle fade that's almost tapered” underneath.^{[6]
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5

The Heartthrob

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The heartthrob has a center part, curtain bangs, and lots of layers. “It’s a slightly longer version of the curtain cut,” says Sanderson.^{[7]
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Frankie Sanderson
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Expert Interview} However, it has more layers throughout the hair that add movement and volume, creating an overall softer look. Ask for heavy face-framing layers starting around the chin, a middle part, and curtain bangs. The heartthrob is messy and casual on purpose, and is sometimes referred to as the hero cut.^{[8]
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- Made famous by: Keanu Reeves, Joey Lawrence
- Styling tip: Apply mousse or styling cream before using your fingers to sweep the hair back or into loose curls; air dry or gently blow-dry with a nozzle.

6

Blonde Highlights/Frosted Tips

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This cut has short, spiky (gelled) hair with bleached or frosted tips. The blonde or platinum tips offer a dramatic contrast with the darker color of the natural hair. Ask for cap or pull-through highlights, using a bleach and toner (depending on the level of blond you’re going for). This style was a “boy band trend” in which the ends of the hair were frosted or bleached, according to Sanderson.^{[9]
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Frankie Sanderson
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- Made famous by: Justin Timberlake, Mark McGrath
- Styling tip: Apply pomades, styling wax, or texturizing powder before blow-drying with a round brush.

7

Hi Top Fade

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This flat top offshoot highlights the tall, square “box” shape even more. This look features tall, voluminous hair on top, along with extremely short sides. Ask for a high fade starting around the temples/ears, with a defined, high-volume style on top in a slightly squared off shape. The hi-top fade can have a rounded top with tapered or shaved sides and back, as well as sharp lines, designs, S-curls, or braids.
- Made famous by: Kid ‘N Play, Big Daddy Kane
- Styling tip: Use an afro pick to achieve lift, along with pomade or mousse; blow-dry up and back.

8

Textured Grunge

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This style features choppy layers and a messy middle part or floppy fringe. It highlights a more natural, textured, intentionally messy hairstyle, inspired by grunge groups like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. According to Sanderson, grunge hair featured long, messy, unkempt, and greasy hair.^{[10]
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Frankie Sanderson
Master Hair Stylist

Expert Interview} Ask for shaggy, defined, choppy layers you can describe as "textured layers," "choppy," or "piecey.”^{[11]
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- Made famous by: Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder
- Styling tip: Apply a sea salt spray or matte pomade/clay before scrunching your hair with your fingers to separate the pieces.

9

Tram Lines

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Tram lines are sharp, straight, shaved lines cut into the hair. They often appear as a single line down the middle or multiple parallel lines that are often worn with a curtained or bowl haircut style on top. Ask for a middle part undercut with a taper fade on the back and sides—be specific about guard length. Clearly describe the lines you want; for example, "2 parallel lines shaved in” or a “razor part design” while indicating the exact location on your head.
- Made famous by: MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice^{[12]
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- Styling tip: Use pomade or gel for hold; get regular trims for the tram lines.
- Tram lines are also known as a “hair design” or a “razor part.”
- Guard length refers to the numbered attachment on hair clippers that controls how short the hair is cut; higher numbers, like 4, leave the hair longer, while lower numbers, like 1, leave it shorter.^{[13]
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10

Fade Cornrows

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This style blends traditional cornrows with a modern fade on the sides and back. This was a popular “urban and hip-hop style” in the 90s, according to Sanderson.^{[14]
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Frankie Sanderson
Master Hair Stylist

Expert Interview} To get the look, ask for tightly braided rows close to the scalp, extending from the forehead back. Then, request a fade on the sides and back, gradually decreasing in length from top to bottom. Have your barber blend the fade into your skin for a clean, fresh look.
- Made famous by: Allen Iverson, Snoop Dogg
- Styling tip: Apply hair oil or serum for shine and to moisturize the braids.

11

Buzz Cut

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This cut has short, buzzed sides with longer hair on top. Buzz cut variations include a distinct middle part or spiky or winged bangs for a combination sporty/preppy/skater look. Ask for a short clipper cut on top (#3 or #4 guard), tapered down to a shorter (#1 or #2) length on the sides and back, with a slight taper or "flick out" on the neckline for definition.^{[15]
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- Made famous by: David Beckham, Dennis Rodman
- Styling tip: Apply styling cream or sea salt spray for a more rugged buzz cut look.

12

The Mod

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The mod is known for long, choppy bangs and shorter, rounded sides. The overall choppy, uneven layers include bangs that are parted and hang over the forehead, as well as a messy, feathery silhouette. Ask for longer, layered hair on top with face-framing curtain bangs, and tapered sides and back. This variation of the mod haircut was most associated with Britpop bands of the 90s, like Oasis and the Stone Roses.
- Made famous by: Liam/Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn
- Styling tip: Apply sea salt spray or texturizing powder, and scrunch your hair with your hands; use a diffuser to blow-dry downwards.

13

Faux Hawk

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A faux hawk has a longer strip along the center and shorter, faded sides. The 90s faux hawk is usually styled spiky or slicked up using gel and runs from the forehead to the nape of the neck. The sides are tapered or faded, which offers a smoother look than traditional mohawks. Ask for short, faded sides with a longer, textured top (disconnected from the sides), with extra length for bangs/fringe.
- Made famous by: Elijah Wood, P. Diddy
- Styling tip: Apply texturizing spray or mousse and blow-dry upwards with your fingers; brush the sides down or back.

14

Slicked Back

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This style includes medium-length hair that's swept back from the forehead. It often features a defined middle part, with a few messy, floppy strands left in the front. Ask for thick, layered curtain bangs, along with about 4 inches (10 cm) of length on top to comb back; mention whether you want a low, mid, or drop fade on the sides. This style was known as a "pretty boy" or "bad boy" look among celebs and others in 90s pop culture.^{[16]
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- Made famous by: Nick Carter, Hugh Grant
- Styling tip: Blow-dry with a diffuser at the roots before combing your hair back using a brush or comb; use a high-hold gel or pomade.

15

Spiky Boy Band Cut

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This cut has textured, longer, choppy hair on top that’s styled upwards. The layered style is known for its spikes, making it similar to a broccoli or mushroom cut, along with shorter, blended sides and defined sideburns. Ask for a textured, layered cut with more length on top, and shorter, faded, or tapered sides, similar to a mid-fade.
- Made famous by: Nick Lachey, Lance Bass
- Styling tip: Apply mousse or volumizer on damp hair and blow-dry the top section up and forward with a round brush for lift; use gel to create the spiky bits with your fingers.

16

Long & Flowing

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This cut has layered, medium-to-long hair swept back from the face. Ask for a longer "flow" cut with lots of texture, layers, and length on top; the sides can be blended, but shorter. Also called "the flow" or "hockey hair," this style is known for its flow and movement, as well as its natural feel. It is sometimes paired with curtain bangs or subtle mullets.
- Made famous by: Brendan Fraser, Johnny Depp
- Styling tip: Air dry or blow dry your hair using a round brush; apply lightweight cream and sea salt spray for more definition.

17

The Mullet

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A mullet has short hair at the front, top, and sides, with long hair in the back. The mullet was still popular in the early 90s, with “updated [versions] that were even permed,” says Sanderson.^{[17]
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Expert Source

Frankie Sanderson
Master Hair Stylist

Expert Interview} To get the look, “decide how long [you want] the shortest part of the haircut and how long [you want] the longest part of the haircut,” recommends professional hair stylist Martin Nepton.^{[18]
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Martin Nepton
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview} Then, ask for a soft, gradual transition in the layers from front to back, have the sides faded for more contrast, keep them longer for a shaggier style, or add a step (which is a cross between the two).
- Made famous by: Billy Ray Cyrus, Andre Agassi
- Styling tip: Visit your barber every 6 to 8 weeks to trim your mullet.

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Style your hair with a 90s look that fits your hair type and texture, as well as your face shape.

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Bring a photo for reference when you go to the barber or salon for your 90s haircut. Visual examples can help the stylist know exactly what you’re looking for.

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If you’re a mom who wants to give your son a '90s boy haircut, learn how to cut a boy’s hair the right way!

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