21 Teen Boy Haircuts Ideas

It’s simple to get a haircut you like until you start questioning if it will really work with your hair. 

Thick sides can bulge out, straight hair can lay flat, curls can affect the whole form and certain trendy cuts take more morning styling than you’d imagine. 

Something that works for school, something that goes out well, something that makes sense for how often you go to the barber. 

This article will provide practical tips to help you narrow down those selections, as well as haircut ideas you may save for your next barber appointment.

How Much Length Should You Keep on Top for the Style You Want?

The length you keep on top should match how you want your hair to move, not just how short you want the haircut. 

Around 1-2 inches can handle textured crops and short forward styles, while roughly 2.5-4 inches gives you enough hair to lift and shape a quiff.  

If you want curtains, you generally need around 3-5 inches so the front has enough weight to separate and fall naturally. 

Pompadours usually need about 3-6 inches, especially when you want noticeable height and sweep.

It is good to have a little extra weight through the crown when you are prone to sticking out straight hair after a cut too short.

Request a delicate low taper around the ears and neckline, but keep lengthier layers all across the top.

For naturally straight hair, a light cream can tame flyaways without weighing the hair down and a little style goes a long way. 

You can add so much more character to flat hair with longer hair on top, creating separation and forward movement.

Leave around two to three inches on top, then blend the textured fringe into a clean low fade underneath.

Work matte paste into dry hair with your fingers. This is the way to go if you want texture that can endure a school day. 

Natural curls already give this cut the volume it requires, but cutting the top too short can ruin its shape.

Leave the curls longer on the top and back, thinning them out carefully near the ears for a neater look.

Curl cream can define individual curls without flattening them, making it much easier to style in the morning when your texture is naturally cooperating. 

The shorter curly crop makes busy school mornings easier, while allowing for natural movement without leaving too much length above.

Ask your barber to leave enough curl through the front and taper the sides gradually to get a balanced shape.

Instead of scrunching, put a little bit of curl cream on damp hair and let it dry naturally. 

Extra bulk can be a plus for you if you keep the round shape and not thin thick hair too much.

Ask your barber to taper under the weight, leaving the crown and back larger for that lovely flowing silhoutte.

A light texture spray separates the longer strands while maintaining the relaxed volume that makes this cut feel current. 

It is easier to handle if you work with the natural direction of your straight hair, which is always falling forward.

Keep the top fairly short and textured, then go for a low fade to get rid of the heaviness around the sides.

Put some matte paste on top for separation so you don’t have to fuss about an easy school haircut every day. 

If you desire texture but don’t want to commit to longer hair, growing the fringe out a little longer provides you more styling versatility.

Request soft layers through the top and tapered around the ears so there’s no unsightly side bulge.

Dry your hair and push the front forward freely. Use texture powder only when your hair needs the extra lift and separation. 

The curls are considerably easier to style if you leave enough length at the front so that the natural curls form.

Keep the sides a softer taper, not a really short taper, so the transition to the curly top is right.

Scrunch curl cream into damp hair and prevent excessive brushing that can split the curls and provide unwanted volume. 

If you want virtually no styling in the morning, a blunt fringe keeps straight hair in place, but yet gives it definition.

Have enough weight on the front for a clean line and then taper the sides slowly down to the skin.

Regular edge cleanups are important with this cut. The crisp fringe and smooth fade generate most of the effect. 

Well-defined curls need room to form, so don’t cut too much length off the top of your haircut.

Request a modest taper around the temples and ears, and allow the natural curl pattern to add structure on top.

Apply curl cream to damp hair and scrunch softly, rather than comb through and destroy the definition. 

When your thick hair feels heavy around the ears, a low fade cuts away the thickness without sacrificing the fullness through the top.

Keep the top pretty uniform so straighter hair can fall into place naturally rather than requiring elaborate styling every morning.

A low fade also allows for a softer grow out than if you take the short part too high around your head. 

Leaving some length on your ears can dramatically transform the hairstyle without going into a very dramatic mullet.

Ask for a slight taper around the temples but maintain the layered length on the crown, sides and back.

This works well for hair with a little natural movement, as the looser texture prevents the longer pieces from seeming heavy. 

Longer straight hair moves about much better if you take internal layers to minimize heaviness but yet have that larger shape you desire.

Leave the bangs long enough to brush through naturally with a light taper close to the ears for a cleaner everyday look.

add your fingers to blow-dry for a relaxed volume. If individual strands continue to fall into your eyes, add a lightweight cream. 

A refractory front section can be put to good use if you encourage its natural expansion to the side rather than trying to force everything straight ahead.

Leave a few inches over the top for sweeping movement, while fading the sides to keep the shape nicely balanced.

After drying, use a small bit of style cream, giving the lengthier fringe flexible support without making it stiff. 

“Here, you don’t have to have hair perfectly placed, because controlled messiness actually helps thick hair look lighter and more naturally textured.

Ask for choppy layers all through the top and a low taper underneath, with plenty of weight around the crown.

Then rough-dry forward with your fingers and pinch off chunks with a tiny bit of matte style paste. 

The sides can easily get overwhelmed with dense curls, so directing the volume higher up will help you regulate their natural fullness more easily.

A burst fade around the ears gives a crisper edge, while still leaving enough of curl length through the crown and back.

Instead of shampooing every time the style gets a little messy, just spritz the curls with water and leave-in product in between washes. 

If you have a naturally side-swept fringe, leave yourself a little more length at the front and work with it rather than against it.

Ask for textured layers on top with a gentle fade that gradually removes weight around your ears.

A fast blow-dry to one side gives lift, and matte paste keeps the finish loose enough for regular wear. 

Want something bolder, without making every part long? Instead, keep that extra length concentrated through the crown and back.

A close fade around the ears adds to the contrast, and choppy layers keep thicker hair from laying too flat.

Work the texture paste between your fingers, lifting out some selected pieces to maintain the result purposely chaotic rather than too spiky. 

If you like to style your hair forward and want extra coverage on your forehead, a heavier fringe makes sense.

Ask your barber for a modest taper to take away bulk underneath, but leave enough length on top to allow for natural separation.

Don’t flatten everything down with wax, but rough-dry the fringe forward and allow individual pieces to relax into the natural texture. 

Natural waves can look great with a longer haircut, especially if you want movement without the look of tightly fading sides.

Maintain layered length through the crown and back so your waves can bend easily and not form one bulky shape.

Try a light-weight curl cream or leave-in conditioner, and air-dry as much as possible to keep the softer, divided wave pattern. 

Fine straight hair looks larger with short jagged layers that add separation rather than a flat uniform look on top.

Keep the fringe a little bit irregular and couple it with a delicate taper so the main attention is the lengthier texture.

If necessary, use a little texture powder close to the roots and then finger-shape for volume without the addition of heavy product.

FAQs

How Often Should You Get a Teen Boy Haircut?

Tight fades and clean tapers tend to show growth sooner, but textured crops and longer layered styles can wear more length more naturally.

Instead of following one fixed schedule, arrange your next trim when the sides lose their form or the top gets harder to style. 

What Should You Show Your Barber Before Getting a New Haircut?

Choose a style that is inspired by hair similar to your natural texture, because the same cut can look different on straight, wavy and curly hair.

Let the barber know how you generally wear your hair and how much length you want to leave on before you start to cut.