Best Haircut for Thick Hair Teen Boy: 8 Cuts That Tame It
The best haircut for thick hair teen boy styles keeps the sides short (a taper or fade) and has the barber remove bulk from the top with texturizing, so the hair moves instead of puffing out. Textured crops, taper fringes, short quiffs and medium flows with weight taken out all work well. The key words to say at the barber are "take the weight out."
If your thick hair just looks puffy and you don't know if the cut or the styling is the problem, Glowmaxx scores your hair from one selfie and gives you three moves to fix it today. Start my glow-up
Why thick hair is hard to style
Thick hair sounds like a flex, and it is, until it isn't. Here's why it fights you:
- Volume goes sideways. Thick hair stacks on itself, so when the sides grow out, your head looks wider. That's the "mushroom" or "helmet" look.
- Products disappear. Light products get soaked up and do nothing.
- It dries slow and in random directions. Air-drying lets it set wherever it wants.
- Haircuts grow out fast-looking. Two weeks after a cut, the puff is back.
The fix is mostly the cut, then a bit of styling. So, what haircut is good for thick hair? Read on.
Best cuts for thick straight hair
Haircuts for teen boys with thick straight hair:
1. Textured crop
Short on top, choppy, pushed forward. The barber point-cuts the top so it's piecey, not blocky. Textured crop thick hair is maybe the most low-maintenance option there is.
2. Low taper with a textured fringe
Sides tighten just around the ears and neckline; the top is longer and pushed forward. Taper for thick hair is great because it gets rid of the side puff without looking super short. Styling tips in how to style a low taper fade with straight hair.
3. Short quiff
Short sides, a bit of length at the front pushed up and back. Thick hair actually holds a quiff better than fine hair because there's more to work with.
4. Buzz or crew cut
The ultimate low maintenance haircut for thick hair. Zero styling. Works best if you're happy with a clean, short look.
Haircuts for teen boys with straight hair that's not thick
If your straight hair is fine instead, most of these still work, but skip the heavy thinning and ask for more texture instead.
Best cuts for thick wavy hair
Haircut for wavy hair teen boy options, and the best haircut for wavy hair teen boy guys keep asking about:
5. Medium flow with weight removed
Length on top and the sides grown out a bit, with the barber thinning the inside layers so the waves lie down. Looks effortless; takes a good barber.
6. Messy textured top with a taper
Shorter sides, wavy top left a bit longer and scrunched. This is the easiest wavy cut to style: some product, scrunch, done. Pick your product with gel vs mousse for wavy hair.
Best cuts for thick curly hair
Haircut for curly hair teen boy, plus good haircuts for curly hair teen boys:
7. Curly top with a taper or fade
Clean sides, curls on top. Classic, and the contrast makes curls look intentional. One of the most popular hairstyles for curly hair teen boys.
8. Curly fringe
Curls cut to fall forward over the forehead, with sides tapered. Ask your barber to shape it so it's rounded, not triangle-shaped.
| Cut | Hair type | Maintenance | Styling time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Textured crop | Straight, wavy | Every 3 to 4 weeks | 2 min |
| Low taper + fringe | Straight, wavy | Every 3 to 4 weeks | 5 min |
| Short quiff | Straight | Every 3 to 4 weeks | 5 to 7 min |
| Buzz / crew | Any | Every 2 to 4 weeks | 0 min |
| Medium flow | Wavy, straight | Every 6 to 8 weeks (cleanups) | 5 min |
| Messy top + taper | Wavy | Every 3 to 5 weeks | 3 min |
| Curly top + taper | Curly | Every 3 to 4 weeks | 3 min |
| Curly fringe | Curly | Every 4 to 6 weeks | 3 min |
If you're growing toward a flow, the in-between bit is rough. Our guide to awkward stage hair men gets you through it.
Ask for thinning (and what that means)
Thinning shears meaning: scissors with teeth on one or both blades. They cut only some of the hairs in a section, so you lose bulk without losing length. Barbers might also use a razor, point-cutting or "slide cutting" to do the same.
What to ask your barber for thick hair
Script you can literally read off your phone:
"My hair gets really puffy. Can you take some weight out of the top and sides so it lies flatter, and keep [the sides short / a low taper]? I want it to look textured, not blocky."
Extra tips:
- Bring a photo of someone with thick hair like yours, not someone with fine hair.
- Ask how to style it before you leave. Barbers are usually happy to show you.
- Thick hair puffy sides? Ask for the sides to be a bit shorter than you think, or tapered, because they'll puff first.
- Don't over-thin curly hair. It can go frizzy. A curl-experienced barber is worth it.
Here's the honest problem: after a cut, it's hard to tell whether the cut suits you or you're just used to it. Glowmaxx scores your hair and grooming out of 10 from one selfie, each with a short note, so you can compare this cut with the last one instead of just asking your mom. Start my glow-up
Products for thick hair
Products for thick hair men, from lightest to heaviest:
- Sea salt spray: grip and texture before blow-drying.
- Matte clay: the go-to for crops, fringes and quiffs. Strong enough for thick hair. Here's how to use hair clay for men.
- Paste: a bit softer, good for flows.
- Curl cream and gel: for wavy and curly hair.
Thick hair can handle more product than fine hair, but start with a pea and add.
How to make it lie flat in the morning
How to make thick hair lie flat, the morning routine:
- Wet it. Don't try to style dry, slept-on thick hair. Either shower or wet the top with your hands.
- Blow-dry in the direction you want. Thick hair sets where the heat pushes it. Use the nozzle and point the air down along the sides to stop the puff.
- Cool shot to lock it.
- Product last, worked into the roots.
- No-heat option: wet the sides, press them down with a towel or headband for a few minutes while you get dressed.
Thick hair tips for guys
- Wash with conditioner. Thick hair is often dry, which makes it puffier.
- Don't leave it too long between cuts if you want a short style.
- Sleep with it dry. Going to bed with wet thick hair = chaos in the morning.
Find the cut that actually suits you
The right haircut for thick hair as a teen boy makes the biggest difference, but grooming, skin and the way you angle your photos matter too. Glowmaxx scores all five from one selfie out of 10 and gives you three moves for today aimed at your lowest score, so you know what to work on first.
FAQ
What haircut is good for thick hair for teen boys?
A textured crop, a low taper with a textured fringe, a short quiff or a buzz cut all work well for thick straight hair. For thick wavy or curly hair, try a messy top or curly top with a taper. Ask the barber to take weight out.
How do I stop my thick hair from puffing out on the sides?
Keep the sides shorter or tapered, ask your barber to thin them out, and blow-dry them down with the nozzle pointed along your head. A cool shot at the end helps it stay.
What does thinning mean at the barber?
Thinning means removing bulk without removing length, usually with thinning shears that have teeth. It helps thick hair lie flatter and move more naturally.
What's the best haircut for wavy hair for teen boys?
A messy textured top with a taper is the easiest wavy cut to style. If you want longer hair, a medium flow with weight taken out lets the waves lie down instead of puffing.
What products are best for thick hair for guys?
Matte clay is the most versatile for short thick hair. Sea salt spray before blow-drying adds grip, and curl cream or gel works best for thick wavy and curly hair.