11 Trendy Shape Up Haircut Ideas for Men

A shape up haircut is characterized by straight lines that are cut among a man’s natural hairline. They are also sometimes known as an edge-up or a line-up. Shape up hairstyles began as a trend in the 1980s and 1990s where they were popularized in hip hop culture. Although they faded into relative obscurity in the early 2000s, they are enjoying a renaissance in the 2010s and beyond.

If you request a shape up haircut at your local barbershop, your barber will use a razor (either single-hand or electric) to trace your hairline’s natural bend. Depending on your taste, your barber may round or straighten your hairline. Here is a selection of some of the most flattering shape ups to try out depending on your hair type.

1. Pompadour

For the uninitiated, the pompadour haircut refers to, in short, hair that is swept up high above the hairline. While a popular hairstyle for women in the early to mid 20th century, pompadour hairstyles have gained popularity among men, being seen on the heads of the likes of Bruno Mars, David Beckham, Zac Efron, and more.

The pompadour goes well with a shape up haircut as your barber can cut the lines around your pompadour with a sharp angle and then shave it on the sides. This will help to better define your hair’s volume.

2. High Top Fade

A high top fade, or hi-top is a stylish hairstyle where the sides of the head are kept very short or shaved completely, and the hair on the top of the head is kept very long.

While many of the high tops cut today tend to be more subdued than their retro counterparts, if you are looking for a unique throwback consider keeping a few inches of hair on the top of your head to contrast with your faded sides.

3. Burst Fade

A burst fade is one of the new techniques to make it onto the men’s grooming scheme in recent years. When you request a burst fade, your barber will shave the hair that surrounds your eye, leaving some of the hair near the back of your head longer.

Think of it like the Mohawk of the “fade” world. Given that it’s a bit uncommon, this is a great option for men who prefer to keep one leg up on the next trends. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, ask your barber to shave a design into your haircut.

4. Bald Fade

According to many barbers, this hairstyle is not actually the easiest one to cut, as it requires the perfect blending of hair with skin. To achieve this precision, your barber will first place a hot towel on your head and will then use a specialized razor against the grain of your hair.

5. Sharp Angle

If you’re interested in a shape up haircut, then chances are you are looking for something dramatic. If this is the case, then a shape up haircut with a sharp angle may be for you.

Also referred to as the edge-up, this hairstyle is created by using razors or hair clippers to create a sharp line on the top and/or the sides of your head, regardless of your natural hairline. The result is a thing of geometric beauty.

6. Afro

Shape ups are a great option for men with afros. In fact, a shape up cut works well with a variety of afro styles depending on your taste and hair type.

If you are dedicated to wanting both an afro as well as a shape up haircut, it may be best to start by asking for a medium afro shape up. This way, you can retain your afro’s style while achieving the strict lines that shape ups are known for.

7. Taper Fade

A taper fade is a method of shaving your hair that results in gradient of hair lengths. If you ask your barber for a taper fade shape up, the end result will be hair that starts long at the top and progressively gets shorter as it goes down your head. While an artsy alternative to the shape up hairstyle, this variation will still succeed in making your hair appear neat with its clean lines.

8. With a Beard

Just because you’re a facial hair fan doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the shape up fun. In fact, some of the most attractive shape up haircuts occur when the wearer also has facial hair. It’s actually even possible to shape up your facial hair if you use a close-cutting beard trimmer.