13 Short Layered Haircuts for Men with Wavy Hair

Unlock the full potential of your natural texture! Wavy hair offers a unique blend of volume and movement that, when shaped correctly, creates effortlessly cool styles. These13 short layered haircuts for men with wavy hair are designed to enhance your waves, reduce bulk, and give you a polished yet low-maintenance look. Get ready to find your next signature style.

1. The Textured Crop

The textured crop is a modern classic, perfect for men who want a low-fuss but high-impact style. By keeping the hair short overall but adding strategic point-cutting throughout the top, this cut encourages your natural waves to form a playful, piecey texture. It works exceptionally well with the inherent body of wavy hair, creating a look that is both structured and soft. The beauty of this cut lies in its simplicity; a quick application of a texturizing cream or sea salt spray is all you need to define the layers and go.

For styling, towel-dry your hair after a wash and apply a matte product to enhance separation. Use your fingers to tousle the roots and lift the layers for maximum volume. The sides can be kept slightly longer and blended into the top for a seamless look or faded down for a sharper contrast. This cut is ideal for fine to medium wavy hair, as the layers remove weight and prevent the waves from looking flat or helmet-like. It’s the ultimate go-to for a stylish, everyday look that requires minimal effort.

2. The Layered Pompadour

Channel timeless rock-and-roll vibes with a layered pompadour that’s tailored for wavy hair. This style features shorter sides that sharply contrast with a voluminous, swept-back top. The key difference for wavy textures is the incorporation of layers, which prevents the quiff from becoming a solid, heavy block. Instead, the waves create natural volume and a dynamic, textured silhouette that has incredible height and movement, making a bold statement.

To achieve this look, you’ll need a blow dryer and a strong-hold pomade or clay. Blow-dry the hair up and back, using a round brush to encourage lift at the roots. Once dry, work your product through the lengths, focusing on defining the wavy layers without completely slicking them down. The goal is a controlled yet textured finish. This style is a commitment but pays off with a head-turning, confident aesthetic that perfectly balances classic and contemporary elements.

3. The Soft Fringe with Layered Back and Sides

This cut offers a versatile and approachable style by combining a soft, textured fringe with expertly layered back and sides. The fringe falls casually across the forehead, utilizing the wave pattern to create a gentle, broken texture that isn’t too heavy. Meanwhile, the layers throughout the rest of the hair remove excess bulk, allowing for a clean shape that frames the face beautifully. It’s a relaxed, European-inspired look that feels both modern and effortless.

Styling is incredibly straightforward. After applying a volumizing mousse to damp hair, blow-dry the fringe forward and slightly to the side while using your fingers to scrunch the layers at the back. Finish with a light texturizing paste to separate the waves and add definition. This cut is perfect for guys who want a stylish look without appearing like they tried too hard. It grows out gracefully and adapts well to both casual and smart-casual settings.

4. The Tousled Shag

Embrace a carefree, rock-star aesthetic with the tousled shag. This cut is all about embracing maximum texture with its signature disconnected, choppy layers. Designed specifically for wavy hair, it allows your natural curls and waves to fall into a perfectly imperfect, piecey arrangement. The shag creates movement and volume from all angles, making it an excellent choice for those with thick wavy hair that needs significant weight removal.

The styling philosophy for the shag is “the messier, the better.” Start with damp hair and scrunch in a sea salt spray or a texturizing cream to enhance your wave pattern. Then, simply air-dry or use a diffuser to encourage volume and separation. Avoid over-brushing; instead, use your fingers to arrange the layers. This cut celebrates the natural, untamed beauty of wavy hair, offering a bold, artistic, and undeniably cool look that’s full of personality.

5. The Modern Mullet

The mullet has made a triumphant return, and the modern version is a masterclass in texture. This “business in the front, party in the back” cut features short, textured layers on the top and sides that gradually transition into longer, more pronounced waves at the back. The layers are crucial, as they shape the wavy hair in the rear, creating a dynamic, tail-like effect that is stylish rather than dated. It’s a bold, fashion-forward choice.

Styling this cut involves focusing on texture at the crown and length at the back. Use a texturizing spray on the top layers for a piecey finish and a strong-hold gel or cream to define the waves in the back without making them crunchy. This cut is for the confident individual looking to make a statement. It works exceptionally well with wavy hair because the texture gives the style its signature edge and movement, ensuring it looks intentional and modern.

6. The Wavy Faux Hawk

Get the edgy appeal of a mohawk without the extreme commitment. The wavy faux hawk keeps the hair longer through the center strip of the head while fading or tapering the sides short. The magic for wavy hair is in the layers cut into the mohawk section, which allow the waves to stack and create natural, organic height. This results in a textured crest that is both bold and wearable for everyday life.

To style, apply a strong-hold styling cream or pomade to towel-dried hair. Push the hair in the center strip upwards with your fingers, scrunching as you go to encourage the wave pattern. You don’t want a spiky, uniform look; the goal is a textured, flowing mohawk that showcases your hair’s natural movement. This cut is perfect for adding a dose of rebellion to your look while still working with your hair’s inherent texture, making it easier to maintain than you might think.

7. The Layered Comb-Over

A sophisticated choice, the layered comb-over is a step up from the classic version. It features a deep side part and hair that is swept over to one side, but with the addition of soft, texturizing layers throughout the top. These layers are essential for wavy hair, as they break up the bulk and allow the waves to create a fluid, dimensional sweep rather than a flat, solid one. It’s a polished look that doesn’t sacrifice texture or personality.

Achieving this style requires a blow dryer and a medium-hold pomade or fiber. Blow-dry the hair following the direction of the part, using a brush to create volume at the roots. Then, apply your product, focusing on running it through the ends to define the separated, wavy layers. This cut is incredibly versatile, suitable for the office, a wedding, or a date night. It proves that you can have a professional, clean-cut style while still showcasing your fantastic wavy texture.

8. The Curly Ivy League

The Ivy League is a timeless, preppy cut that gets a modern update when adapted for wavy hair. It features short, scissor-cut sides and back with more length and plenty of texture on top. The layers on top are cut to allow the waves to form a neat, compact, and curly texture that can be styled with a part or simply brushed forward. It’s a clean, intelligent look that is perfectly suited for academic, professional, or casual environments.

Styling is refreshingly simple. Apply a light control product like a grooming cream to damp hair, then comb it into your preferred position—either with a side part or brushed forward over the forehead. The layers will ensure the hair doesn’t look helmet-like, instead offering a soft, textured finish. This cut is ideal for gentlemen with wavy hair who want a classic, respectable style that is easy to manage daily but still has plenty of character and charm.

9. The Textured Caesar with Waves

Put a fresh spin on the ancient Roman classic. The traditional Caesar is known for its straight, chopped bangs, but the textured Caesar for wavy hair embraces a fringe with movement. The top is kept short but is layered to allow the natural wave pattern to create a bumpy, textured effect across the forehead. Paired with a low fade or taper on the sides, this cut offers a sharp, urban, and incredibly cool aesthetic.

To style, work a small amount of matte paste or wax through damp hair. Use your fingers to push the fringe forward, encouraging the waves to create a textured, broken line rather than a solid, heavy one. The short length and layers make this an exceptionally low-maintenance cut that still looks meticulously styled. It’s a fantastic option for men with dense, wavy hair who want a clean, contemporary look that stands out from the crowd.

10. The Short Shag with Curtain Bangs

This is the ultimate romantic, retro-inspired cut for wavy hair. It features curtain bangs—longer, face-framing layers that are parted in the middle—combined with a shaggy, layered body. The layers work harmoniously with your waves to create a soft, voluminous shape that elegantly frames the face. This style has a 70s-inspired, effortless coolness that is both flattering and incredibly stylish.

Styling involves enhancing the natural wave pattern with a curl-defining cream or mousse. After applying to damp hair, you can air-dry or use a diffuser to maintain volume. Use your fingers to shape the curtain bangs, parting them down the middle and allowing them to fall naturally on either side of your forehead. This cut is perfect for those who want a longer short style that is full of movement, personality, and a touch of poetic flair.

11. The Disconnected Undercut

For a high-impact, modern look, the disconnected undercut is a top contender. This style features very short, often faded sides that sharply contrast with a longer, layered top. The dramatic disconnect draws all the attention upward to your wavy texture. The layers on top are essential, as they give structure and shape to the waves, preventing them from appearing like a heavy, amorphous blob and instead creating a dynamic, textured crown.

Styling this cut is all about playing with the top section. You can wear it sleeked back for a sharp look, tousled for a messy finish, or even pushed forward for more volume. A strong-hold clay or pomade will help you define the wavy layers and maintain their shape all day. This cut is a bold expression of contrast and texture, ideal for the fashion-forward man who isn’t afraid to make a strong style statement.

12. The Layered Bowl Cut Revival

The bowl cut has been reinvented for the modern era, and it’s a surprisingly great match for wavy hair. The contemporary version features a rounded silhouette, but with soft, textured layers cut into the ends to remove weight and add movement. This allows the wavy hair to form a full, mushroom-like shape that is cool and artistic rather than blunt and childish. It’s a quirky, fashion-forward choice that celebrates volume.

The key to styling this cut is to enhance texture. Use a volumizing spray at the roots and a texturizing mist on the ends to create a piecey, separated effect. Avoid heavy products that would weigh the hair down and eliminate the natural wave. Let your hair air-dry for the most authentic texture. This bold look is perfect for creative souls and those looking to embrace a unique, statement-making hairstyle that truly showcases the body of their wavy hair.

13. The Slicked-Back Texture

For a more formal or polished look, try the slicked-back texture. Unlike a classic slickback that requires straight hair, this version is designed for waves. The hair is cut with layers to build a foundation of volume, then it’s styled back with a product that offers control without killing the texture. The result is hair that is swept back off the face, but your waves and layers are still visible, creating a sophisticated, dimensional look.

To achieve this, apply a high-hold, high-shine pomade or a strong control gel to damp hair. Use a comb to push the hair back, but then use your fingers to gently break up the uniformity, pulling a few wave clumps forward for a more relaxed, textured finish. This style is perfect for events where you need to look sharp but still want to retain the character and movement of your wavy hair. It’s the best of both worlds: polished and personality-filled.