Comb Over Hairstyles for Men

52 Most Popular Types of Combover Hairstyles

Most Popular Types of Combover Hairstyles

Comb Over Low Fade

The fade begins almost under the ears and gets thicker as it goes upwards. It is a good choice for fun and work. It works best for medium or long hair since you will have options for styling.

Comb Over Low Fad

Photo @alan_beak

Comb Over With Mid Fade

This is a balance between the low fade and the high fade (next). It leaves a gradient look from under the ears to the top while the length increases since it’s still a fade. It is low maintenance and can be styled differently depending on the occasion.

Comb Over With Mid Fade

Photo @alan_beak

Comb Over High Fade

This is perfect for those who have short hair. A high fade combined with short hair on top is a great look. Once you comb the hair over, you have to tame the rogue parts since the hair length is short. But on the bright side, you can do quite a bit of styling if you use the right hair products.

Comb Over High Fade

Photo @barberhdm3

Short Comb Over

This is for men with less than 2 to 3 inches on top. You can still do a comb-over and style it the usual way. The difference between this and a classic comb-over is the length of the hair. You can fade or taper the sides for fun. It’s very comfy for the summer months.

Short Comb Over

Photo @alan_beak

High and Low Fade Comb Over

This is a mix of high fade with a short or long comb-over. Younger men prefer this because of the smooth razor fade down the head. You can style it with a matte pomade, a gentle hair tonic or a low shine since the hair on top is short.

If you go for the long comb-over, you will still get a high fade trimmed perfectly at the sides. The combed-over hair goes with matted hair and the top is left loose for movement and volume.

High and Low Fade Comb Over

Photo @alan_beak

Undercut Comb Over

This is a style for those who have strong hair. It’s a combination of undercut and comb-over styles and it’s pretty popular among hipsters with a beard. The top of the head is combed over and the sides are trimmed to be shorter than the hair on top. The sides must be of the same length as an undercut and there’s no limitation on length.

Undercut Comb Over

Photo @enzo_m3

Long Comb Over

This is also called side-swept because your hair will look longer than it did before the cut. You’ll need to have about 4 to 5 inches of hair on the top which will be combed to one side. And the sides will be modern and short.

Long Comb Over

Photo @pier.vietto

Comb Over Skin Fade

In this style, the hair on top will be long and the sides will be shorted to the skin. You could say they will be shaved. It’s a classic look and you won’t need a lot of product to style it. A powerful hair oil for men might do the trick.

Comb Over Skin Fade

Photo @ashxlauren

Modern Comb Over

This style is a mix of modern and classic looks. You will need to have thick hair on top and the sides will have a high fade. If you don’t have thick hair, look into hair supplements. And then you can style it any way you want. There are lots of options.

Modern Comb Over

Photo @enzo_m3

Comb Over Pompadour

A pompadour is more vertical than tall when compared to a comb-over because it is combed backward. Comb it to the side and it will look a bit flatter and you have a comb-over pompadour.

Comb Over Pompadour

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Curly Comb Over

If you have curly hair, this is the one for you. And if your hair is wavy too, it will give you that straight-out-of-bed look with a strong partition.

There’s a lot of room for creativity if you have some amount of length, but the curls and the waves might restrict you. So, use your imagination. The sides will be short and trimmed as usual. If you don’t want it to be curly anymore, try a hair relaxer for men before the cut.

Curly Comb Over

Photo @ashxlauren

Slick Back Comb Over

This is for those who want to keep it charismatic but also neat. The hair on top is long and must be styled with hair pomades or gels of some kind. And the sides will be tapered, so you don’t have to worry.

Slick Back Comb Over

Photo @kingsbarbershop604

Beard and Comb Over

If you are going for a goatee or a full beard, you want to pick a comb-over. The trick is to match the classic comb-over with a beard to figure out the final shape of your head and then experiment with the sides.

Beard and Comb Over

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Comb Over With a Line

This style involves sweeping the hair on top to the side slickly and giving the sides a mid fade. You will need to keep the partition hard and add a little gel to the top.

Comb Over With a Line

Photo @ashxlauren

Spiky Comb Over

If you want spiky hair, you want to part the hair to the side as usual, but you must keep the partition hard and the sides must be faded. It just takes adding some seriously strong hair product to create the spikes on top.

Spiky Comb Over

Photo @alan_beak

Classic Comb Over

This is the definition of a comb-over hairstyle. It starts with the length of the hair on the top and sides being the same height. But then, the hair on top is combed to the side and the sides are tapered or faded with a clipper. If you’re doing this at home, check out Oster clippers.

The transition between the top and the sides is smooth, making it all look very connected. Depending on how much length you have kept, you can use pomade to style the top and even the sides.

Classic Comb Over

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Textured Comb Over

This is a recent favorite and great if you want to use matted hair products like premium hair wax or pomade.

And if you have a dry scalp, you want to try applying some Vaseline hair tonic to replenish your roots before you go through the cut and treatment.

Textured Comb Over

Photo @alan_beak

Short Faux Hawk

Photo @alan_beak

Comb Over Pomp And Part

Photo @alan_beak

Hard Fade Comb Over

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Slick Side

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Low Pompadour

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Little Swirl

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Mid Fade Side Part

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Swirl Pompadour

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Taper Fade Low Pomp

Photo @scammellsbarbershop

Swirl Bangs

Photo @mugshotbarberbristol

Brushed Top

Photo @mugshotbarberbristol

Comb Over Hairstyle

Photo @barberhdm3

Sideline And Undercut

Photo @barberhdm3

High Fade Pompadour

Photo @boomtownbarbers

Wavy Blow Back

Photo @ashxlauren

Blow On The Side

Photo @ashxlauren

Crew Cut

Photo @ashxlauren

Brush Up

Photo @ashxlauren

Two Side High Fade

Photo @ashxlauren

Two Part

Photo @ashxlauren

Brush Back

Photo @ashxlauren

Medium Hair Slick Back

Photo @ashxlauren

Blow Back

Photo @ashxlauren

Side Textured Comb Over

Photo @ashxlauren

Mid Fade Comb Over

Photo @ashxlauren

Two Side Comb Over

Photo @ashxlauren

Blow Back Comb Over

Photo @alan_beak

Undercut Longer Hair

Photo @ashxlauren

Skin Fade Side Slick

Photo @ashxlauren

Mid Taper Fade With Hard Part Comb Over

Photo @alan_beak

Classic Pompadour

Photo @alan_beak

Section To The Middle

Photo @alan_beak

Wavy Pompadour

Photo @alan_beak

Casual Blow Back

Photo @alan_beak

Long Bangs Comb Over

Photo @alan_beak

What Is a Comb Over Hairstyle for Men

It is essentially what it sounds like. You create a partition on one side of the head and the hair is combed over. It used to be a classic choice back in the day because it gave volume to the hair on the top. The comb-over hairstyle needs the hair to be shorter than the classic and the sides are usually trimmed short or faded.

It’s a cool look and has become quite trendy because it fits all hair lengths, textures and types.

What Do You Need for a Comb Over Hairstyle

This was a popular look when our friends in Hollywood called the industry’s golden age. It’s not just a clean-cut look, but it’s also easy to achieve. All it takes is a good haircut and a hard partition. You can use hair sprays and gels to sharpen the look, but it can be achieved without that.

Your haircut should give you tapered sides and the partition should be deep. The top should be smooth so that it adds volume. If you want to make it edgy, you can brush the partition diagonally too.

How to Do a Comb over Hairstyle

Step 1 – Wash your hair and find the partition

Make sure you dry your hair with a towel just enough so that the hair is damp and not wet. You want to find a partition now because it’s a lot easier. Once you do, comb the hair and brush the hair on the top of the head forward.

If you have a single parting line, you can pick left or right partition and the rest will be inclined to fall that way since it is still damp. If you have more than one, you will have to comb your hair with a little more effort.

Step 2 – Locate the back

This means you will hold the crown part of the head with your hands and move your hair to the left or right side of the upper back part of the head. Then you locate the partition at the back. For this, you might need a helper or a mirror.

Step 3 – Shape the hair

Now that you have a partition and the back, you need to run your fingers to help the hair swirl. If you don’t have curly hair, this will happen relatively quickly. Move your hands from the backside to the front along with the partition.

This will help the hair find its place on either side of the partition. Once you are near the forehead, you will see how your hair falls.

The partition might be crooked since you have been doing this with your hands. So, it’s time to pick up a comb and define the partition strongly. Comb it over and apply the product if that’s the look you are going for. And you’re done.

Don’t bother getting into the age-old battle of pomade vs wax vs gel vs clay. Most of them get you the same result unless your hair is a special circumstance case. If you want, you can try a dye. And it doesn’t have to be the world’s best hair dye for men. Most of them will get the job done.

FAQ About Comb Over Hairstyles

What length do I need to get the comb-over hairstyle?

Typically, you will need to have 3-4 inches on the top and it doesn’t matter what you do with the sides as long as they are shorter than the top. But you might want to consider styling all of it for a slick look.

How do I ask for a comb-over hairstyle?

It’s pretty easy. You tell them you want to keep the hair on top long and voluminous while the sides must be faded or tapered. You can also ask for the hair on top to be trimmed to be a clean cut.

Who is the comb-over hairstyle best for?

It works for every face shape, which is the best thing about this haircut.

How do you make a modern comb over hairstyle?

FAQ About Comb Over Hairstyles

You wash your hair and dry it with a towel to make it damp enough to make shaping and styling easy. Add some product and get control over the hair. Then you comb the hair forward with a regular brush.

Find the partition near the edge of your eyebrow on one side and create a hard partition. Comb the hair on either side and brush it to the front if you want a wave or to the back if you’re going to be unbothered.

What celebrities wear comb-over hairstyles?

That’s a list too long. But it does have many A-listers like George Clooney, Zac Efron, Chris Evans, Zachary Quinto and even James Corden.

Is a comb-over attractive?

Attraction is subjective, but it does look classy and styles when you comb it well. It works with all textures and lengths of hair which makes it popular. And there are many ways to style the top of your head with this cut which makes it coveted.

Does a fade look better than a taper?

The battle of taper vs fade comes down to what you are trying to project. If you want to play it safe, go with a taper and if you’re going to be edgy, go with fade.

Conclusion

Comb overs are very popular these days and everyone from movie stars to the man on the street is opting for it. They also benefit from being easy to manage and cool without trying too hard. And isn’t that what most of us are trying to do anyway?

About the author: Jay - Barber

Jay is one of the members of the Beardoholic writers team and NFL, celebrity barber. As a master barber with years of experience, Jay can make your beard look any way you envision. Jay’s specialty is black men’s hair and beard styles, but he also has deep knowledge on how to create a perfect neck and cheek line, short or long beard and virtually any beard and hair shape and style.

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