17 Quiff Haircuts to Show Your Barber ASAP (2024)

• Kat Thompson is a celebrity hairstylist and men's groomer based in Los Angeles.
  

The Long Quiff

With his extra long, almost mullet-style length, Zayn Malik's quiff is reminiscent of James Dean but with a modern approach. If you have thick hair similar to his, here is some advice on styling.

• Use a round brush to blow dry hair in the desired direction.
• Alternate drying directions on the longest hair upfront to help eliminate any strong partings and give it extra volume.
• Once dry, rub a wax-based pomade between your hands and run through the hair as you want it to lay.
• Run your pomade-covered fingertips over some of the heavier strands that want to fall forward. This will help the style hold its shape and keep it looking sharp.

Lots of Volume

"What makes the quiff haircut stand out is the volume the hair holds up on the top, typically with shorter hair on the sides and back," Thompson says. "There are plenty of versions of this hairstyle you can do while still achieving that 'quiff' look."

Textured Quiff

If you have textured hair, you can make a quiff hairstyle work to your advantage. "Miguel has perfected this look by either straightening out his curls or leaving it natural," Thompson says. Keep your sides tighter in contrast to your natural movement up top in order to give your look a similar quiff style.

Bleached Quiff

Hot tools are often used to style a quiff. If you have bleached hair, heat protection will ensure your strands remain strong and free of breakage.

• Spray your hair with a weightless heat protectant to give damaged hair a smooth finish and natural shine.
• Blow-dry the hair straight up with a round brush. Try to use the brush on both sides of your section to help smooth down the static created by the heat.
• Finish by applying a small pinch of molding paste into your strands for a matte finish and some hold. It will keep brittle hair moisturized and soft to the touch.

Medium Maintenance

Maintenance levels vary when it comes to quiff haircuts. It all depends on your natural texture, how you style your hair and the way your hair was cut. "To keep your haircut looking well-manicured, I’d recommend getting your hair cut every four weeks," Thompson says. In some cases, shorter sides may require additional maintenance.

Waved Back

We love to see Charles Melton wearing his natural waves in a quiff hairstyle. If you have wavy hair, here's how to recreate this look.

• Start by washing your hair with a moisturizing or hydrating shampoo and conditioner.
• Finger comb a curl cream into wet or dry hair.
• Air-dry the hair or blow-dry with a diffuser attachment.
• Use your curl cream as needed to help de-frizz or define any tendrils that need a little extra hold once fully dry.

Ode to the King

Austin Butler channeled Elvis Presley both on screen and on the red carpet. He opted for jet-black hair and a quiff style to recreate the singer's iconic and recognizable look.

A Perfect Blend

"When asking for a quiff haircut, tell your stylist or barber you would like the top to be left significantly longer than the sides and the back," Thompson recommends. "To keep it classic, ask for a low fade."

Retro Pompadour

If you have curly hair, a pompadour styled like Bruno Mars is a great option to consider. Here's how to recreate this quiff style.

• Keep the sides short and tight, while focusing on the top length when styling.
• Use a 1/2" round brush and use your blow dryer on high heat to straighten and smooth out the hair in very small sections.
• Use a small flat iron or pressing comb to go over the same small sections that were just blow-dried. Getting as close to the roots as possible will help manage volume.
• Make sure to gently curve your iron back away from your face as you go over each section. This will help you avoid having very straight hair or ends.
• Seal the final look with some hairspray.

The Textured Quiff

If you want to preserve your natural texture while enhancing and structuring its shape, we have some recommendations.

• Dampen the hair with a few sprays of water.
• Blow-dry only face-framing sections on the top of your hair, as well as the sides. This will help smooth your texture and give your hair shape and direction.
• Use a defining styling cream (for thicker hair) or pomade (for thinner hair) to push your hair back for a natural end result.

The Elvis

This classic quiff is clearly an enhancement of Elvis Presley's signature pompadour. Benicio Del Toro has worn many iterations of the quiff but seeing him recreate this classic for a red carpet event is very fitting.

The Scruffy Quiff

Quiff haircuts are a great way to help fill out thinning hair. Here's how:

• Prep damp hair with a grooming spray to help give it more hold as you build shape into the hair with your dryer.
• Use the heat of your blow dryer to manipulate any stubborn cowlicks and use your fingers to lift the hair at the roots up top and away from the scalp.
• Rub a small pinch of medium hold pomade between your fingers and comb through the top of your hair to give it your desired structure and separation.

The Curly Quiff

As with any new hairstyle, "styling the quiff might feel a little intimidating at first," Thompson says. "But once you find the products that work best for your hair type and figure out how to use a blow dryer if needed, it will become a much lower maintenance style than you’d think."

Range of Versatility

"This hairstyle can be incredibly versatile for different hair lengths and textures," Thompson says. "Depending on your texture, it may require using a blow dryer and round brush to either smooth out wavy hair or to add wave and height to straight hair." We love how Will.I.Am played off his side-parted quiff with a shape similar to his goatee.

The Controlled Quiff

You don't need a lot of length to get a quiff hairstyle, as seen here on Ryan Reynolds. Here are some styling tips for those with shorter hair who want to emulate the look.

• Ask your barber or stylist for a close fade."A close fade will create the illusion that the top is longer and buy you some time while you’re growing out your hair," Thompson says.
• Use a pomade to help keep the hair down on both sides and guide the hair up in the front.
  

Short and Soft

Thicker, shorter hair types may not require as much product but they may still benefit from styling.

• Use a 1" thermal round brush to keep hair smooth and distribute heat quickly. This will allow for a full range of motion in shorter hair. You will only need to blow-dry your hair near the crown and curvature of your head.
• Seal the final look with a soft hold hairspray. This will give your quiff some additional hold and protection.

Consider Your Hairline

The quiff is a great option for anyone with a receding hairline. To keep hair looking full and voluminous all around, here's what you can do.

• Ask your barber or stylist to keep some length on the sides and the back, while not cutting too short nor too close to the scalp.
• Using a round brush and a blow dryer, direct the hair back at recession points. Avoid natural parting or that your hair may fall into.