Retro revival cuts are dominating men’s hair trends in 2025, with iconic styles from multiple decades making a stylish comeback.
Below, I share some of my favorite throwback looks that my clients are asking for most right now — along with tips on how to style or modernize them so they feel fresh, flattering, and on-trend for today.
The Pompadour (‘50s)
A signature style of the 1950s made famous by legends such as Elvis Presley and James Dean, the pompadour is a slicked-back, high-volume look that works best for those with medium to longer hair.
To create it, use a hairdryer and round brush to build maximum lift and form the smooth, swept-back shape. Finish with a pomade or wax for strong hold, and lock it in with a light mist of hairspray for extra shine and lasting style.
Today, the style can be modernized with more texture and by pairing the style with disconnected or shorter sides and back. Instead of using a high-shine hair product, you can also experiment with a matte finish to give this style a more effortless, relaxed vibe.
The Mod (‘60s)
Made iconic by then-boy band The Beatles in the 1960s, the mod haircut features longer hair on the top, long sideburns, and texture throughout the cut on the top, sides and back. It often features a heavy fringe.
This look works best when styled more relaxed and messy. A texturizing product such as a salt spray is great for adding extra edge and grit to this style.
This style is being modernized today by changing up the long, heavy bangs for a more textured, shorter fringe style, giving the look softness.
The Shag (‘70s)
The shag was seen amongst many rock musicians in the ‘70s including Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison, and is a heavily layered and textured look which traditionally sits at the shoulders but features various lengths throughout the cut.
This is another cut that works best when styled with products like salt sprays or mousse to enhance natural hair texture. To modernize this cut today, I like to add in some extra shorter layers to give this style more of a contemporary feel.
Experimenting with a fringe is also a great option to update this cut — a long, side swept fringe or a shorter, choppy fringe looks great paired with a shag.
Alternatively, you can add some face-framing layers into the cut, which will blend in seamlessly and draw attention into the face.
The Disco Bowl Cut (‘70s-90s)
The bowl cut became a huge trend in the 1970s, was revived in the '90s by the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Nick Carter, and one we didn’t think would make a comeback since then!
Characterized by a straight, blunt fringe and the rest of the hair cut evenly around the head, the disco bowl is a uniform cut that can be styled either sleek and straight or textured and wavy.
This cut is being updated for 2025 by incorporating texture or by the cut being graduated in length, starting short and going longer at the back.
It’s been highly requested in the salon along with an undercut for those wanting a more standout look. I love to pair the bowl cut with an undercut or short sides, and to add texture into the top for a more stylish finish.
Curtain Bangs (‘90s)
While curtain bangs were a big deal among ladies in the 70s, they became a huge hit among guys two decades later when heartthrobs including Hugh Grant, Brad Pitt, and Johnny Depp sported the style. Today, they're trending for everybody.
This fringe is especially good for men with longer hair lengths and wavy textures. Blow drying with a round brush is a great way to get the iconic S-shape and is still a great way to style this trend today.
However, effortless styles are more on trend than ever, so a product like a sea salt spray is also great to enhance natural hair texture slightly and provide the look with a more lived-in, messy finish.
U.K.-based Jim Shaw is a grooming expert, influencer, and men's hair educator. Among other accolades, he has been named British Hairdresser of the Year, Barber of the Year, and International Men's Hairdresser of the Year.