Like films and overpriced quasi-religious yoga sessions, the best male celebrity haircuts in the world tend to come from Hollywood. Makes sense. With so many big names stuffed into one space, it's inevitable that Los Angeles is a smoothie (chia and flax seed, and absolutely NO dairy) of grooming heroes.
For every classic short back and sides (which is a solid cut, by the way, and we won't be taking any further questions on the matter), there's a nice outré bit. Mullets, for one, are back on party boys. (And very famous boys, too.) Hair dye is no longer an outlier. Curls are nurtured, not cut away. Here's our pick of the best male celebrity haircuts: introducing GQ's Hollywood haircut power ranking (and how to get each cut, as told by expert barbers Joe Mills, founder of Woolf, and Tariq Howes).
The Normal People breakout has done a lot of shapeshifting. From a single, quietly horny chain to big flares, Gucci blazers and party fits, it makes sense that Paul Mescal has elected for a mullet. It says IDGAF. It gets people hot. It breaks all the rules – as an ascendant Oscar nominee should in 2023.
How to get it:
“Paul's mini mullet has been making waves all awards season,” says Mills. "You need a little length at the back and the top needs to be around three inches long and texturised.
“The key is the sides, as this is what creates the shape on this cut, so lightly clipper cut. Style with a texture spray to add texture (Bumble and Bumble Full Potential Booster Spray is good). Apply four to five pumps then using your hair dryer and your fingers, style the top forward and to the side and finish with Bumble and Bumble Sumotech Paste.”
The man with the Gucci logo braided into his hair is a man we love.
A$AP Rocky has long gone for braids that sit just at the nape of the neck, mixing it up with subtle touches. Yes, like brand logos. But also with varying thicknesses and plaits.
How to get it:
“These aren’t your usual corn rows – these have an amazing pattern to them and take a little more skill than just having your usual straight rows,” Howes explains. "Your hair, especially textured hair, needs do be blown out and straightened, and then you and your stylist can discuss what type of pattern you desire.
“The stylist would section out the design bit by bit as they braid the hair using Cantu Pomade or S Curl Twist and Lick Gel. When the braids are finished apply a wrap mousse (or alternatively olive oil) and then slowly dry your hair with a diffuser or cap to secure a long-lasting life for your braids."
The curls that broke a thousand hearts, a big share of Chalamet's star power is wrapped up in his hair. That, and the fact he's very, very good at acting.
A lid like this takes a natural wave, a little bit of maintenance. But it's worth it for the fan mail if nothing else.
How to get it:
“For Timothy's style look you will need to already have medium to thick curly or wavy hair with some length all around and at least five inches on top,” Mills says.
“Apply five or six pumps of a sea salt spray (Alott Sea Salt Spray is a good one) and using a diffuser on your hair dryer, dry your hair on a low speed and low heat to encourage your curl. Using your fingers style the front up and back.”
Mullet-ish, Will Sharpe moved from the lover boy mop of The White Lotus to his own version of the enduring lid du jour.
It's good when you're front row at Loewe. But it's also more versatile than the more committed mullet; you can mess this up, and turn the volume up or down as you see fit.
How to get it:
“This is a soft textured mid-length crop which works best with hair with a slight wave,” says Mills. “To style, use Kevin Murphy's Killer Curls on damp hair. Using a diffuser hair dryer slowly dry your hair on low heat and once it's nearly dry apply a small amount of Bumble Bumble Semisumo and style.”
Tighter curls can do all sorts of things. And Bad Bunny's done most of them.
For 2023, the man behind 'Tití Me Preguntó' has gone long and, sometimes, beaded, which is always a fun touch.
How to get it:
“For this type of hair you either need to have naturally curly hair or alternatively get your hair permed,” says Howes. "Then grow it out so you have a lot of length and maintaining it with conditioning treatments and oils such as Charlotte Mensah Conditioner and Manketti oil.
“Keep the neckline clean and soften the edges into the beard creating a slight taper effect, working down from a grade two through to a grade one and then finally a zero. Shape and define the beard into the desired shape.”
The Heartstopper star knows good fits (JW Anderson, for one, at the most recent London show) and likes to experiment with his style. But the haircut has stayed consistent: short back and sides, push back quiff.
It's classic for a reason, and it refuses to quit. Plus, it's a good balance up top if you like your clothes wavy down south.
How to get it:
“Connor has the classic short back and sides with length on top with a slight side part," says Mills. “You want the top around four to five inches maximum in length and the sides and back lightly tapered down.
"To style use Oway Seasalt Spray on clean damp hair and using a hair dryer and vent brush blow dry your hair back from your face. This will help you to find your natural parting. Once dry you need a little paste to help hold the shape – try Barber Barber Beach Comber Paste.”
Reason #19828471823 to embrace grey hair, Oscar Isaac puts a few silver streaks to good use in a classic, not-too-neat cut.
It'll look tidy and nice and all that when you're fresh out the barber. But the beauty of a chopped in short back and sider is that, like that Swiss cheese plant you've been neglecting, it'll look even better with a little growth.
How to get it:
“Oscar’s soft textured natural quiff needs a little length around the back and sides with a little more on top,” Mills advises. “You need wavy, thick hair for this look.
"On clean and damp hair apply some Bumble and Bumble Curl Mousse and, using a hair dryer with a diffuser, dry the top of your hair up off of your face and then bring the sides slightly forward. Once dry, it shouldn't need any more product as this style has a far more natural finish.”
NCT's Taeyong changes his hair a lot. And the big risks always pay off; few stars can move from bright green to two-tone to bleach blonde to ash grey with ease. If you've got the confidence, chances are you'll pull it off.
Look, the man has range!
How to get it:
“'90s-inspired curtains work well on straight hair and you need around four to five inches of length on the top,” Mills says. “On clean, damp hair apply some Kevin Murphy anti-gravity spray and, using a hair dryer and vent, brush blow dry your hair back off of your face. Once dry apply a small amount of Oway Water Resin and style.”
The Woman King's prince of good lids, John Boyega's style has been pretty consistent. Length on top, fade to the sides, a cut that just works.
And while it isn't as left-field as other fellow power rankers, it's proof of the power that comes with finding your own style.
How to get it:
“This cut is a classic medium to high skin fade with length left on top to curl or twist,” says Howes. "To achieve this keep some length or grow out the top and maintain it by having it cut to keep the hair healthy.
“When asking for this type of fade ask for a medium to high skin fade. This will keep it short and tight on the sides and give your hair a nice gradient from the sides to the top.
"Finally style by leaving hair natural and applying some moisturising conditioner such as Charlotte Mensah Conditioner or even Cantu Conditioner. Then apply a curl sponge and work in a circular motion to create the textured and separated curls finish.”
Oh come on, like you haven't dreamt about your own Presley lite up top. It's Austin Butler's year. For awards, yes. But for hair, too.
How to get it:
“Austin's signature '50s-inspired quiff needs a little length around the back and sides to give it that pushed-back look. You also need a few inches on top to create the height and quiff,” says Mills.
“On clean and damp hair, apply Barber Barber 6 Inches Hair Mousse and using a hair dryer and vent brush blow dry your hair up and back from your face. Once dry, apply some pomade to give it the shine and hold you need.”
Never change, Momoa. Because that mane not only encouraged dozens of men to try a post-Covid longer cut, but it's also a personal signature thing that doesn't try too hard.
Finer (or thinning hair) should steer clear. But if you've got the volume, and also want to feel like one of the most thirsted after men in Hollywood, start growing your style out, stat.
How to get it:
“You need to have grown your hair out so it's long for this look – it works really well with thicker and slightly wavy hair types,” Mills says. “Make sure you invest in a decent shampoo and conditioner (Kevin Murphy Hydrate Me Wash and Rinse) to keep your locks looking on point. Pull your hair back into a mid ponytail and secure it with a hair band that isn't too tight.”
Yet another sign you should embrace your natural curls (or grow them with perm-assisted tech), Omar Apollo's a man of the ‘cherubim’: the sort of tousled, all-classic cut you see on very old chapel ceilings in Venice.
And that's why Apollo's a Grooming God.
How to get it:
“You need thick and curly hair for Omar's look, which has been cut shorter around the back and sides and to leave around four inches on top," says Mills. “Apply some Kevin Murphy Motion Lotion to encourage clean curls. Then, use a hair dryer and diffuser on low heat and low speed to gently dry the top of the hair to encourage the curl. Don't brush or comb it as this will make it frizzy. Once dry, gently pat a small amount of the Motion Lotion onto your hair to add shine.”
