30 Spiky Hairstyles for Men in Modern Interpretation

Spiky hairstyles for men are so nineties—except that they are totally not. While the spiky hair movement did reach the high point of its popularity during the time when The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was on TV and everyone wore their baggy pants too low, it never faded away like all the other fads. In fact, it only got better with time!

Cool Present-Day Spiky Hairstyles for Men

Since then, men have perfected the look, trading in their dollar store hair gel for something a little lighter, allowing for a softer take on the classic style. If you want to rock the spikes but aren’t sure how, read on. We’ve got twenty different and unique takes to guide you through it. By the end, you should know exactly which will suit you best.

1. Side and Up Spiky Hair

This is one well-groomed, stylish male look. The combination of the trimmed beard and mustache, thick eyebrows, shaved sides, and spiked hair is something to stop and admire. With some workable styling clay, his dark hair is styled into a perfectly imperfect texture – 100% envious style, indeed!

2. Soft, Short Spikes on Top

Everything just flows with this gorgeous face! First, it’s the maintained mustache flowing into the short lined-up beard. Then there’re the buzzed sides leading to the simple upward spike. This spiky hairstyle is both tasteful for work and play.

3. Bare Faced Spiky Cut

Facial hair is not for all men. With this long spiky hairstyle, all eyes will be on top! Attention to the longer strands must be given right after the shower in order to make sure the product applied to the spikes stays in place all day.

4. Young, Disheveled Spiked Hair

If you are able to get away with a cool boys style that requires minimal effort, then this is the look for you. Brushed forward, tousled to the left, to the right, straight up… no matter the direction of the spikes, it all works well with this messy cut.

5. Edge-to-Edge Spiky Cut

They say the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. This rule works awesomely for this fresh, spiked hair style. The precise line up from the forehead to temples and across the cheek to the corners of the lips is noteworthy. Top it off with spiky tips, and this male hairstyle is the new definition of trend-worthy.

6. Spiked Mohawk-Inspired Hair

Combed forward and to a point, this look means serious business. With a short buzz on the sides and the combed up side spike, the hairstyle is fierce any way you look at it.

7. Piecey, Spikey Hair

It’s all about the length on top with this style. For the best results, blow-dry until damp, and then apply a product so the hair is not heavy. Finish blow-drying with a round brush until the hair holds straight up and voila. Who said growing up meant simple hairstyles anyway?

8. Highlights and Spike with Side Buzz

The attention to strands of color is what this image displays. Applying a strong hold product allows for the dimension of the highlighted strands to shine through, while the spikes remain elevated and perfectly defined at the tips. With the sides and back shaved shorter, this look lifts men’s spiky hairstyles to the stylish levels they have never been before.

9. Wave of Spiked Hair

This style is for those who have hair and know the latest ways to wear it! With a medium length on the sides, burst fade around the ears and longer top, pushing forward to the upward flip, one must have patience and dedication with this style. But the results speak for themselves.

10. Wild and Spiky on Top

Shave everything but the top and let it flourish like wildfire! This style is best on thick, light-colored hair as it allows for the different sun-kissed highlights (natural or gained) to show. Full of volume and texture, this is a playful look when you want to have a good style but look like you did not spend a ton of time in the morning on it.

11. Non-Committal Textured Top

What’s great about this haircut is its simplicity and neat look. If you don’t like the spiky top, you can always go shorter without having to disrupt your entire cut. The front spiked hair is longer and strategically tapered to blend with the buzzed sides and back.

12. Spiky for Fine Hair

Focus on what you’ve got over what you don’t! Thinning hair does not need to be left behind when styling a spiked up look. Using a shine men’s hair paste, this look is healthy and fashion-forward while taking the focus off the fine hair.

13. Fade-a-Way Spiked Hair

Short spikes with a blended undercut and burst fade. This style does not require much product or any commitment at all. Perfect for the on-the-go man who wants to make his look a tad spicy!

14. Spiky Pompadour

Not every guy wants to spend their morning on their hair, and we get that! This look is perfect due to the ease of the cut from all ends. No matter which way the wind blows, this is one of the easiest spiky hairstyles for men out there.

15. Extra-High Men’s Spikes

Sometimes bigger is better, especially when it comes to hair! As with all of these images, if you think you can rock this sky-high, front spikey look, then try it out. You need to use a stiff sculpting clay and give yourself time to grow out your hair to get to the perfect long length.

16. Shark-Fin Spikes with Facial Hair

These spikes can catch just about anyone’s attention. Thanks to the long, fierce flip up on top, polished skin fade, perfect line up and flawless facial hairstyle, images like this give tons of inspiration for modern eclectic men’s hairstyles. The razor line breaking into the cut is the finishing touch to this statement style.

17. Work Appropriate Spiky Hair

Our careers keep our style decisions in check, and so it goes for hair. In regards to spiky haircuts for guys, this is a safe and simple cut that is suitable for the office. With a clean part and side spikes, this look can be accomplished straight out of the shower with a comb and styling paste.

18. Short Spiky Haircut

Brush it forward, and you are on your way! Not everyone is ready to wear longer hair due to maintenance and styling commitment. Enter an extra short cut, inspired by your favorite high and tight but allow for some texture up top. Easy to maintain, and it makes you look like you have a lot of hair. Great for men who are thinking about growing their hair out from the traditional buzz cut.

19. Thick and Forward Spiky Style

Dyed blonde hair on a man with dark facial hair is sexy. Make the contrast stand out by embracing the latest trick in the spiky hair trend – the very front of the hair combed straight up. The color gives dimension to this modern style.

20. Acicular Taper Fade Haircut

Spike hair with gel and don’t worry about the direction the spikes go. This cut looks so sharp; you are almost afraid to touch it! With a buzz cut leading into longer, disconnected spikes, this style is edgy yet manageable.

21. Edgy Disheveled Mens Hairstyle

Check out Matthew Atkinson and his messy spikes. It almost looks as if he has just rolled out of bed and stepped out with a perfect, wearable bedhead. We all know that’s not actually possible, so how did this hunk achieve the style? Simple: take some light hair wax and run your fingers through your hair. It’s really that easy on condition that you’ve got a nice razored cut.

22. Spiky Hairstyle with a Maximum Lift

This Twilight star (who will gladly roll his eyes at any mention of the young adult fiction adaptation that skyrocketed his career) lives, breathes and sleeps big hair. Volume isn’t just a thing for your girlfriend to fawn over—just look at Rob and that picture perfect mane of his. If this is the type of hair, you’ve got, and you want to duplicate this bold look, start blow-drying with a high-hold sculpting wax to keep your strands out of place.

23. Cute Spikes for Shorter Hair

For all you dudes out there with shorter hair, spikes aren’t totally out of reach. Take Douglas Booth as an example; he’s pulling off this shorter cut with a low maintenance take on the spiky trend. The shorter the hair, the easier it is to style. If you’re someone who likes a nice head of hair but doesn’t want to shell out the necessary time in the morning to fix it up, go shorter.

24. Spiky Hairstyle with Textured Top

Spiky hair is great, but you may not be willing to wear it like that every day; that’s why you absolutely shouldn’t allow your stylist to cut your hair in a way that only works with spiky styles. In this picture, Michael rocks the spikes with a style that could just as easily be worn right out of the shower. This technique requires a little more hold for the extra thickness and length, but a nice matte pomade paste will do the trick.

25. Refined Messy Spikes

In this picture, good old Colin Farrell has a haircut that’s longer on the top and shorter on the sides. This long and modern take on the high-and-tight is the key to achieving a proper spiky ‘do. The shorter sides are unassuming and unnoticeable without having to be slicked down while the top is ready for styling fresh from the shower.

26. Long Top, Short Sides Hairstyle

For the younger men out there, Brett Davern’s style may be a little more up your alley. His spikes are uniform and controlled, all leaning towards the right in perfect consistency. It can be tough to avoid awkward pieciness when aiming for this more advanced look, but we’ve got your back, bro. Wait until your hair is semi-dry to apply your strong-hold pomade and use a comb to make the front stand straight up.

27. Fairly Neat Spiky Hairstyle for Men

Tyler Hilton, the actor and singer who stole the hearts of teen girls everywhere on One Tree Hill, has a rep to uphold as Dreamy Musician. The dude takes his hair seriously, all right? You can tell by this photo. Short and neat, but styled carefully with some spikiness and volume. This is the perfect prom look for all you high schoolers out there in desperate need of haircut inspiration.

28. Acicular Texture In Spiky Hairstyle for Men

Here’s another short and simple style, this time modeled by handsome Freddy Rodriguez. This photo shows off what a great combination spiky hair and facial hair can make when worn together. Each on their own are okay, beards are cool and spiky hair is flattering, but put them together and you’ve got an unstoppable force to be reckoned with!

29. Cute Piecey Spikes

Josh Dallas is wearing a unique spiky look in this red carpet photo. It sort of resembles a military style, shortly trimmed and uniform. This clean look is the perfect choice for an everyday work style. It’s just the right mix of casual and professional to get you through your business-casual dress code in one sophisticated piece.

30. Mildly Spiked Men’s Hairstyle

Some people aren’t crazy about sticking their hair up in the air and that’s totally fine. Spiky hair isn’t for everyone. If you want a more low-key style that won’t attract as much attention, try out this slightly spiked ‘do from Max Lloyd-Jones. It works best on short hair and only needs spiking in the middle.

What do you think, fellas? Any of the spiky hairstyles catch your eye? Try out something new, you’ll be glad you did.