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Trendy Hair Cuts for Men: What Southeast Queens Is Asking For

By The Lilacroix barbers · October 28, 2026 · 1,163 words

Trendy hair cuts for men change slower in a neighborhood barbershop than on a feed. What we see in the chairs on Merrick Blvd is a short list of cuts that keep coming back because they look sharp and fit real schedules.

The direct answer: right now the cuts in demand are tapers, drop fades, short curly tops, crew cuts and clean line ups. Each one works on a different hair type, and each one has a plain way to ask for it.

What counts as a trendy haircut for men right now?

A trendy cut today is short on the sides, shaped with care and easy to wear. Nobody walking into our shop wants a cut that takes an hour of styling or one that looks tired in four days.

The pattern we see across Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens and St. Albans is the same. Men want clean edges, a tapered neckline, texture on top they can leave natural, and a line up that frames the face. Fancy parts, dramatic colors and heavy gel have faded out for most of our clients.

If you remember one rule, make it this: a trend only works when it matches your hair type. A cut that looks great on loose waves can fall flat on 4C hair, and the other way around. The list below is sorted so you can find your match.

The trending cuts at a glance

Here is the short version, with what each cut suits and what to say in the chair. Prices come from our own list; your barber will confirm the exact one when you sit down.

Our regular haircut covers the everyday options, and anything with a faded side goes on the fade price.

Which tapers and fades are leading?

Tapers and fades lead because they clean up the sides without taking much off the top. The mid taper is the everyday workhorse. The drop fade is the one people point at when they want something with a shape.

A taper leaves a little hair at the neckline and around the ears and lengthens as it goes up. A fade takes that down to skin. We wrote up the everyday version in the post on the mid taper fade on Black hair, and the curved version in our guide to the drop fade for Black men.

Ask for a guard number if you know it. A number 1 or 2 on the sides gives a short, tidy result. If you want bare skin at the bottom, say "skin fade" and let the barber blend it up.

Our fade cut is $30, and it is the one to book if you want the sides taken down clean.

What about short curly and coily hair?

Short curls are one of the strongest trends we cut, and they suit curly and coily hair well. The look is tight sides with defined curls or coils on top, kept an inch or two long.

For 4C hair, pick the length you want to see once the hair dries, because coily hair shrinks. Ask the barber to keep the top even and leave it a little longer than you think. Add a light cream and a soft brush and the pattern stays defined between visits.

Our full write up on short curly hair for men goes through curl patterns, guard numbers and styling in detail.

Fringe and sponge tops

A short fringe on curly hair gives the front some movement. A sponge top works on coily hair if you want the pattern to be visible. Either one pairs with a taper.

Is the crew cut still a trend?

Yes. The crew cut keeps coming back because it is short, neat and takes no effort. The sides are tapered, and the top is a little longer, brushed forward or up.

It works for work, for school and for men who do not want to think about their hair. The look is clean on a round or square face, and it handles a receding hairline well since the top is short. We cover the details, including guard numbers and upkeep, in our post on the crew cut.

If you want the sides sharper than a crew cut normally comes, add a line up. It is $16 and it makes any short cut look finished. Read more on our hair shape up.

Which trends work for boys and teens?

Boys and teens ask for the same cuts as the adults, with a little less contrast. A taper with a short natural top is easy to keep for school, and a kids cut on our list is $20.

We are patient with first haircuts and wiggly kids, and the shop is family friendly. For the difference between a taper and a fade on younger hair, read our post on the taper versus fade on kids hair.

Teens often ask for a drop fade or a mid taper with a longer top. Tell the barber what the school allows, and what the teen wants to try. A good barber finds the middle.

Can you copy a trend at home with clippers?

You can copy a simple one, like a buzz or a single guard all over. Anything with a taper or fade takes practice, and most people see the mistakes in the mirror a day later.

The mistakes we fix most often are lines left across the head from stopping the clipper, a neckline cut too high, and sides taken too short on one side. If you still want to try, read our guide on how to cut hair with clippers at home before you start.

A fix at the shop is usually a quick fade or a line up, and it costs less than a new full cut.

Get the cut you picked at LilAcroix Barbers

LilAcroix Barbers is at 232-12 Merrick Blvd, Laurelton, NY 11413. Call (718) 749-5800 or walk in; call ahead to check the wait. We are open Monday to Thursday 7:30 AM to 7 PM, Friday and Saturday 7 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday 7 AM to 5 PM.

Bring a photo, name the guard numbers, and we will build it with your haircut. The Q5, Q86 and Q87 stop at Merrick Boulevard and 233rd Street outside the shop. For the full route, see our contact and directions.

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