Having invested plenty of time and effort into the research on barbershop tendencies, growth times and authentic styling processes, I am going to share all the experience I have in the field of long hairstyles for men. So you would get actual tips rather than inspirational pictures.
So, what does a long hairstyle for men look like? Long hairstyles for men are usually defined by hair length at shoulder length and beyond, offering sufficient length for tying, braiding, and buns, while being cut and maintained in order not to look accidental and messy.
Stay tuned, as here I am going to cover all 15 styles, the hair types and face shapes suitable for them, as well as actual maintenance period that goes with each of the looks.
Growing Long Hair Is Only Half the Battle
Here’s something a lot of guides skip: growing your hair out is the easy part. The real challenge is the awkward in-between stage, plus figuring out how to style it once it’s actually long enough to work with. Long hair on men needs more than just letting it grow — it needs regular trims to avoid split ends, the right products to manage volume and frizz, and usually a specific cut underneath, like layers or an undercut, to give it real shape instead of one heavy mass. I’ll walk through 15 specific long hairstyles below, along with what each one demands in terms of length, hair type, and daily upkeep.
15 Long Hairstyles for Men to Try
1. Classic Man Bun
The man bun remains one of the most practical long hairstyles out there, gathering all the hair up and back into a secured bun at the crown or nape. It works on straight to wavy hair best, since very curly textures can be trickier to smooth into a tight bun shape. This flatters nearly every face shape since the style itself doesn’t add width or length to the face.
Practical tip: use a strong, fabric-covered hair tie rather than a standard rubber elastic to avoid breakage from daily use. This style suits casual, athletic, or creative professional settings and works well through workouts or hot weather.
2. Top Knot with Undercut
Combining a high, structured bun with a shaved or closely cropped undercut on the sides creates dramatic contrast between the long top section and the short sides. This works on straight to wavy hair types.
Tip: keep the undercut length between a size 1 and 3 guard depending on how much contrast you want, and get it touched up every two to three weeks. This bold style suits streetwear, modern, or fashion-forward personal styles and photographs especially well from behind.
3. Loose Shoulder-Length Waves
Letting hair fall naturally to shoulder length with soft waves creates a relaxed, effortless look that doesn’t require pulling hair back at all. This works best on naturally wavy hair, though a sea salt spray can help fake texture on straighter strands.
Practical tip: apply a leave-in conditioner to damp hair before air-drying to reduce frizz while keeping the natural wave pattern intact. This laid-back style suits vacation, weekend, or casual everyday wardrobes and flatters oval and square face shapes especially well.
4. Slicked-Back Ponytail
Pulling long hair completely smooth and back into a low or mid ponytail, using gel or pomade to eliminate flyaways, creates a polished, put-together version of a simple ponytail. This works best on straight to slightly wavy hair. Tip: apply product to damp hair and comb straight back before it fully dries for the smoothest, longest-lasting finish. This professional style suits business settings, formal events, or job interviews where longer hair still needs to look intentional and controlled.
5. Long Hair with Skin Fade Sides
Pairing long, flowing length on top with a skin fade on the sides creates one of the most striking contrasts in men’s long hairstyling. This works on nearly any hair type, though the top section needs enough density to look substantial against the bare-skin sides. Practical tip: this style needs fade touch-ups every one to two weeks even though the top itself barely needs cutting, so factor that into your barbershop schedule. This eye-catching style suits streetwear, modern, or statement-making personal styles.
6. Single Braid Down the Back
A simple, classic braid running from the crown to the ends keeps long hair fully contained and out of the way, making it one of the most practical options on this list. This works especially well on straight to wavy hair, since very curly textures shrink significantly once braided. Tip: braid slightly damp hair for a tighter, longer-lasting hold that survives an entire workday or workout session. This low-maintenance style suits sports, travel, or physically active routines and rarely needs re-styling throughout the day.
7. Viking-Style Braided Hair
Multiple thin braids woven through the top and sides of long hair, often combined with an undercut or shaved pattern, create a bold, historically inspired look that’s gained real popularity recently. This works on thick, coarse hair especially well, since fine hair can struggle to hold multiple small braids. Practical tip: this style typically requires a barber or braider experienced specifically in this technique, so look for portfolio examples before booking. This dramatic style suits alternative, historical-inspired, or festival aesthetics.
8. Half-Up Top Knot
Rather than pulling all the hair back, this style gathers just the top section into a small knot while leaving the rest down, offering a middle ground between a full bun and completely loose hair. This works on straight to wavy hair of nearly any length past the chin. Tip: tease the crown section slightly before securing the knot for a bit of extra volume and lift. This versatile style suits everyday wear, casual dates, or work-from-home days and takes under two minutes to put together.
9. Natural Long Curly Hair
Letting natural curls grow long and worn loose, without heavy styling, showcases curl pattern and volume in a way that shorter cuts simply can’t. This works for all curl types, though very tight coils may need extra length before the curl pattern becomes fully visible. Practical tip: use the “praying hands” method, smoothing curl cream through hair with flat palms rather than rubbing, to avoid disrupting curl definition. This natural style suits everyday, celebratory, or culturally significant personal styles and requires minimal heat styling.
10. Long Straight Hair with Center Part
A completely straight, center-parted style lets long hair fall evenly on both sides, creating a symmetrical, low-maintenance everyday look. This works best on naturally straight hair or hair that’s been flat-ironed smooth. Tip: apply a lightweight shine serum to the ends only, avoiding the roots, to prevent a flat, greasy-looking finish. This minimalist style suits modern, understated, or editorial-inspired personal styles.
11. Man Bun with Beard Pairing
Combining a man bun with a well-groomed, full beard creates a cohesive, intentional look that reads as deliberate styling rather than simply not getting a haircut. This works with nearly any hair type. Practical tip: ask your barber to shape the beard’s cheek line and length to complement the bun’s overall silhouette during the same appointment. This rugged style suits outdoorsy, lumberjack-inspired, or classic gentleman aesthetics.
12. Long Layered Hair with Face-Framing Pieces
Adding layers throughout long hair, particularly shorter pieces around the face, prevents the heavy, one-length look that can happen when hair grows out without any shaping. This works on medium to thick hair especially well. Tip: request layers starting around the cheekbone rather than the chin, so the face-framing effect happens exactly where it’s most flattering. This versatile style suits nearly any face shape and works for both professional and casual settings.
13. Dreadlocks or Locs
A long-term, low-daily-maintenance style, locs form through a specific process of sectioning and encouraging hair to mat and coil into rope-like strands over time. This works particularly well for coily and very curly hair types. Practical tip: work with a loctician experienced in your specific hair texture from the very beginning, since the starting technique affects how the locs mature over months and years. This significant style suits cultural, spiritual, or long-term personal commitments to a specific look.
14. Long Hair with Cornrows
Cornrowing long hair close to the scalp in defined rows creates a protective, long-lasting style that can stay in for one to two weeks with proper care. This works especially well for coily and curly hair types, though it can be done on any texture with enough length. Tip: ask your braider to keep tension moderate rather than very tight, particularly near the hairline, to avoid unnecessary strain over repeated styling sessions. This practical style suits protective styling routines, vacations, or extended periods without daily styling access.
15. Long Hair with Undercut and Design
For a highly personalized look, pairing long top length with an undercut that includes a shaved design, line, or pattern adds a completely custom element to the style. This works on any hair type, though designs show most clearly on darker hair against lighter skin. Practical tip: start with a simple design before committing to anything intricate, since designs need re-shaving every one to two weeks to stay sharp. This creative style suits youthful, expressive, or streetwear-inspired personal styles.
Long Hairstyles for Men by Hair Type and Face Shape
| Hairstyle | Best Hair Type | Best Face Shape | Maintenance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Man Bun | Straight, Wavy | Any | Low |
| Top Knot with Undercut | Straight, Wavy | Oval, Square | Medium |
| Shoulder-Length Waves | Wavy | Oval, Square | Low |
| Slicked-Back Ponytail | Straight, Wavy | Any | Medium |
| Skin Fade Sides | Any | Any | High |
| Single Braid | Straight, Wavy | Any | Low |
| Viking-Style Braids | Thick, Coarse | Oval, Square | High |
| Half-Up Top Knot | Straight, Wavy | Any | Low |
| Natural Long Curly | Curly, Coily | Any | Low |
| Straight Center Part | Straight | Oval, Long | Medium |
| Man Bun + Beard | Any | Strong jawline | Medium |
| Layered with Face Framing | Medium, Thick | Any | Medium |
| Dreadlocks / Locs | Coily, Curly | Any | Low |
| Cornrows | Coily, Curly | Any | Low |
| Undercut with Design | Any | Any | High |
Grow-Out Timeline: What to Expect at Each Length
| Length Stage | Approximate Time from Short Cut | Styling Options Available |
|---|---|---|
| Ear-length | 3–4 months | Slicked-back, textured crop |
| Chin-length | 6–8 months | Half-up top knot, small bun |
| Shoulder-length | 12–18 months | Full man bun, braids, ponytail |
| Past shoulders | 18+ months | Viking braids, locs, long layered styles |
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Skipping trims during the grow-out phase: Many guys avoid the barbershop entirely while growing hair out, but regular trims every 8 to 10 weeks prevent split ends without sacrificing length.
- Using the wrong hair tie: Standard rubber elastics cause breakage over time. Switch to fabric-covered or spiral ties, especially for daily bun or ponytail wear.
- Ignoring the undercut while focusing on top length: A great long top style can look unfinished without a properly maintained undercut or fade underneath it.
- Ignoring hair type when choosing braids or locs: Braiding or locking straight hair requires very different techniques and expectations than curly or coily hair. Work with someone experienced in your specific texture.
- Overwashing: Long hair often looks and behaves better with a day or two of natural oil buildup. Washing daily can leave it dry, frizzy, and harder to style.
- Not planning for the awkward stage: Growing hair out involves an in-between length that can look unstructured. Half-up styles and buns help bridge that transition period.
Similar Variations Worth Knowing
Man bun: a long hairstyle gathered and secured into a bun at the crown or nape of the neck. Top knot: a higher, more structured version of the bun, typically positioned right at the crown. Undercut: a technique of shaving or closely cropping the sides and back while leaving length on top. Man braid: any braided variation of long hair, ranging from a single braid to multiple smaller ones. Long layered cut: a haircut technique that adds movement and shape to long hair through varied lengths, rather than one heavy, blunt line.
Hair Care Tips for Long Hairstyles on Men
- Get trims every 8 to 10 weeks, even while growing hair out, since this prevents split ends from traveling further up the hair shaft.
- Use a leave-in conditioner regularly, particularly for wavy, curly, or coily textures that tend toward dryness at longer lengths.
- Invest in a quality wide-tooth comb for detangling, since long hair tangles more easily than short hair and rough brushing causes breakage.
- Rotate your part and tie placement if you wear buns or ponytails daily, since consistent tension in the same spot can lead to thinning over time.
- Protect hair while sleeping with a silk or satin pillowcase, or loosely braid it overnight, to reduce friction and breakage while you sleep.
Final Thoughts
With 15 long hairstyles for men to choose from, the real decision comes down to how much length you’re working with right now, your hair type, and how much daily maintenance you’re realistically willing to commit to. From a simple man bun to a fully committed set of locs, there’s a long hairstyle here for nearly every stage of the growing-out journey.
Talk to your barber about your specific hair type and growth timeline, be patient through the awkward in-between stages, and you’ll likely land on a long hairstyle for men that feels both low-effort and genuinely well put together.
