20 Popular Long Haircuts for Men with Thick Hair

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Barber Michael DiGregorio shares his top haircut for longer, thicker hair

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Shag

2 Surfer Waves

3 Wolf Cut

4 Long Ringlets

5 Curly Mullet

6 Man Bun

7 Ponytail

8 Half-Up

9 Braids

10 Middle Part

11 Side Part

12 Locs

13 Two-Strand Twists

14 Micro-Dreads

15 Afro

16 Slicked Back

17 Long Top with Undercut

18 Bob

19 Textured Quiff

20 Pompadour

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Co-authored by Michael DiGregorio and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: February 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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Long hair can look extremely masculine and sexy, especially on men with naturally thick locks! In case you're on the hunt for that perfect long haircut, we've got lots of options for men with wavy, curly, straight, and natural hair. We'll also cover popular medium-long hairstyles, as well as provide you with long hair maintenance tips from barbers and professional hairstylists. Let's go!

What long hairstyles look good on men with thick hair?

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Barber Michael DiGregorio says a slicked-back style looks good on men with thick hair who want a longer hairstyle. Other long hairstyles for men with thick hair are a shag and surfer waves for wavy hair, long ringlets and a curly mullet for curly hair, and locs and micro-dreads for natural hair.

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1

Shag

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1. 
   If you're a fan of Stranger Things or the 1980s, get a shag haircut! This vintage throwback features choppy layers, fringe, and textured ends. It's bold and edgy, and perfect for guys with thick hair. Style it by running a flat iron through the ends after your hair is dry from the shower and tousling it with a texture product.

   • Best for: Wavy hair

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Michael DiGregorio is a barber and men’s grooming expert based in New York City. He specializes in barbering, men’s hair and style, fine fragrance, and styling tips.

   Jacob Joseph is a professional barber. His mission is to provide entertaining, educational knowledge to men who want to master their beard and hair grooming abilities.

   Yan Kandkhorov is a hair stylist with over 20 years of experience in the hair industry. He's best known for paving the way for iconic hair trends.

   Patrick Evan is the owner of Patrick Evan Salon and has been a hairstylist for over 25 years. He specializes in thermal reconditioning.

   Courtney Foster is a professional hairstylist who’d been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, and more.
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2

Surfer Waves

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1. 
   Surfer waves require almost no effort to style. Simply spritz sea salt spray into your long hair when damp, scrunch your hair with your fingers, then let it air dry. You'll look like you just walked off the beach!

   • Best for: Wavy hair
   • Pro Tip: Shampoo your hair every 2-3 days, says professional hair stylist Patrick Evan. This will help you retain just enough oil to moisturize and protect your hair, but not too much so it doesn't become greasy.

3

Wolf Cut

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1. 
   The wolf cut combines the best parts of a shag and a mullet. It features shorter layers of hair on top of the head and longer layers on the bottom, along with an eyebrow-skimming fringe. You can also skip the fringe and opt for long side pieces.

   • Best for: Wavy hair
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4

Long Ringlets

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1. 
   Embrace your natural curls by growing them out. The key to this look is in the styling. After you get out of the shower, work mousse or curl cream throughout your hair, then blow-dry it with a diffuser attachment. This routine takes some time, but it reduces frizz and enhances your curls, so you can wear them long and proudly.

   • Best for: Curly hair

5

Curly Mullet

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1. 
   A curly mullet is short on top of your head and longer in the back. This style lets you keep some length while reducing your hair's volume, so your curls don't halo your face. And don't worry about looking out of date—the mullet has made an epic comeback in the last couple of years!

   • Best for: Curly hair
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6

Man Bun

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1. 
   Keep your hair out of your face and off your neck. To style it, apply hair gel or wax to the hair on your crown and comb it back away from your face, so it lies flat and smooth. Then tie the length of your hair into a man bun with a hair tie.

   • Best for: Straight hair

7

Ponytail

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1. 
   Ponytails look stylish on men as well as women. They're perfect for when you need to tie all of your hair back and out of your way! Style it just like a man bun, only instead of tucking the hair into a bun, let the bulk of it dangle out of the hair tie and past your neck. Position the hairtie high or mid-level on the back of your scalp, or low at the nape of your neck.

   • Best for: Straight hair
   • Pro Tip: Professional hair stylist Danielle Chiz says you don't need to put conditioner in your hair every time you shower. Instead, most hair types should apply it only every 2-3 showers, after shampoo.
     • Work the conditioner in your hair from mid-shaft to end, not on top of your head, says Chiz.
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8

Half-Up

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1. 
   A half-up, half-down style opens up your face. Gather the top layers of your hair into a small tail or bun at the back of your head with a hair tie. Leave the bottom layers loose, so they sweep your shoulders.

   • Best for: Straight hair

9

Braids

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1. 
   Embrace intricate hairstyles inspired by Vikings and Native Americans. Braids are an extremely versatile style that encourages creativity. For example, you can make a single braid or split your hair into two braids. You can also braid just the sides of your hair, or even your beard hair (if you grow it long enough)! Try a 3-strand braid, a fish tail braid, or something more complicated. It's completely up to you how you want to customize this look!

   • Best for: Straight hair
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10

Middle Part

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1. 
   Part your long, straight hair in the middle to frame your face. This hairstyle will highlight your best facial features and soften a square or diamond face shape. Run a comb front to back along the center of your scalp to create the part, and trim the ends of the hair on either side so they're even.

   • Best for: Straight hair
   • Pro Tip: Hair stylist Yan Kandkhorov says trimming the ends of your hair once every 3 months will help your hair grow and stay thicker. If you don't, she adds, and you let the ends split and grow, then when you brush your hair, the split ends will "act as a hook and pull the other hairs out."

11

Side Part

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1. 
   Part your hair on the side to cut across your forehead. A side part isn't quite as face-framing as a middle part, so it might work better for men with large foreheads or wide faces. Use a comb to make the part on the side you want it (or just follow your natural side part, if you have one). Trim your hair while it's parted on the side, so the ends are even all around your head.

   • Best for: Straight hair
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12

Locs

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1. 
   Locs are rope-like sections of hair. They're formed by repeatedly coiling, twisting, or braiding strands of hair together. They're made to last longer by looping and tightening the hair at the roots where it attaches to the scalp, in a process called interlocking (as shown in this TikTok by @theloc_pod). Locs are best done by an experienced barber or hairstylist.

   • Best for: Natural hair
   • Tip: To keep your locs clean and hydrated, shampoo them once a week and apply moisturizing hair gel or cream daily or whenever your hair feels dry.

13

Two-Strand Twists

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1. 
   The two-strand twist hairstyle takes time, but the results are worth it! It not only looks intricate and stylish, but it also protects your hair and keeps it out of your way. If you choose to do this yourself at home, tie your hair off into large sections. Choose any large section to work on first, and separate a smaller section of hair about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide from it. Split the smaller section into 3 parts, and braid it with 7 plaits. After the 7th plait, switch to twisting the hair all the way to the ends of the hair. Repeat this meticulous process with the rest of the hair on your head. You can also ask your barber or hairstylist to create these twists for you.

   • Best for: Natural hair
   • Tip: Apply extra-hold conditioning gel to the smaller sections of hair before braiding and twisting them. This product will help the strands bond together better.
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14

Micro-Dreads

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1. 
   Micro-dreads or micro-locs are simply smaller versions of locs. They're made from smaller sections of hair, weigh less, and offer more volume and texture than traditional locs. Talk to your barber or hairstylist about arranging your natural hair in this fun style, and remember to clean, moisturize, and retwist your micro-dreads regularly to avoid frizz and breakage.

   • Best for: Natural hair

15

Afro

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1. 
   Use a hair pick to comb, tease, and shape your hair into an afro. This style is bold and free-spirited, as well as an homage to black artists and activists from the 60s and 70s. Keep in mind that the curlier your hair is, the longer it will take to grow it out so it halos around your face.

   • Best for: Natural hair
   • Pro Tip: Professional hair stylist Courtney Foster recommends washing your hair only once or twice a week if you have natural, African-style hair. This schedule will help you maintain a healthy amount of oil.
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16

Slicked Back

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1. 
   Opt for a sleek, brushed-back look that's easy to style. In this hairstyle, the hair on top of the head is grown out medium-length to long, and is brushed back away from the forehead with a dime-sized amount of pomade to help hold it in place. DiGregorio says this timeless, classy cut is his top pick for thick hair. “It’s packed with class and confidence,” he says. He recommends slicking all the hair back so it’s a little wet-looking and letting it flip out at the bottom of the back of the neck.

   • “The hair will do its thing, especially if it’s thick,” DiGregorio adds. “It’ll have character, perhaps it’ll have wave, maybe it’ll curl the bottom of the neck in the back, but it’s going to look...good.”
   • This is one of the best styles for long, thick hair, agrees Joseph, because it lies back naturally.
   • Best for: Straight or wavy hair

17

Long Top with Undercut

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1. 
   Pair medium-length to long hair on your crown with an undercut. An undercut is a close shave on the back and sides of your head, all the way up to your crown. Tie up your long hair in a bun, tease it up in a faux-hawk, or comb it back to lie sleek and smooth on the back of your head.

   • Best for: Wavy or curly hair
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18

Bob

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1. 
   A bob goes just past your chin to graze your jaw or your Adam's apple. This style gives you enough length to play with but not enough to require a lot of maintenance. This style looks great on guys with thick, wavy hair, and it's super easy to pull off. Just work a tiny amount of texture product into your hair, tousle it a little, and voila: your hairstyle looks completely effortless and sexy at the same time.

   • Best for: Straight or wavy hair

19

Textured Quiff

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1. 
   A quiff features medium-length hair on top and shorter hair on the sides. The hair on top is pushed up and back using a flat brush and texturizing spray, giving it lift and movement. It's a great option if you like the idea of a pompadour, but want something a little less dramatic and easier to style.

   • Best for: Straight or wavy hair
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20

Pompadour

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1. 
   A pompadour is similar to a quiff, but longer and more lifted. The sides are also generally grown out longer, particularly the sideburns. Use a rounded brush to shape your hair while blow-drying it. Afterwards, work copious amounts of pomade through your hair to push and sweep it as high as you dare!

   • Best for: Straight or wavy hair

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