The Essential Guide to Pompadour Hairstyles: Variations & Styling Options

Almost anyone can pull it off—all you need are the right products and some know-how. Keep reading to see 19 of the most popular pompadours trending today, how to request one from your trusted stylist, and the best styling products to achieve a long-lasting look

Want to look exactly like Elvis Presley? Then the classic pompadour might be your best bet. It’s the perfect monument to the pompadour, and it comes with style, too.

The classic pompadour can be easily recognized by the sheer volume of hair as well as its shine. The hair at the back and sides should be shorter than the front. However, in contrast to contemporary versions that use clippers, the classic pomp haircut typically leaves more hair on the sides and back.

However, there are some things you might need to do if you choose classic pompadour. Hair maintenance is one of them, which might be difficult considering the fast times we live in. Classic Pompadour with Beard

The classic pompadour gets even better when combined with beards. Full beards uniquely complete the look of this hairstyle.

Traditional Pompadour for Curly or Permed Hair

The classic pompadour isn’t just for straight hair. It can also be used for curly (or permed) hair. It looks just the same but styled a bit differently. It’s the ideal style for black hair.

The modern pompadour is the hair of Hollywood royalty. The difference between the classic and contemporary pompadour is the length of hair. With the modern pompadour, the hair on the back and sides is relatively shorter than the top.

Your hair also gets a pomp, which is wavy and delicately masculine. It oozes everything you would want with a hairstyle. There are variants of the modern pompadour to further match your unique style.

The undercut version offers a much different style from the usual modern pompadour. With the undercut, the hair on the sides looks a bit buzzed. The difference between the form on the sides and the top is more discernible.

This version of the modern pompadour comes out shorter on the sides. However, it maintains a different look from the undercut pompadour.

The Pompadour and the quiff may appear similar in many respects. For example, both incorporate brushing up the front of the hair to give it volume. However, these classic hairstyles have key differences. It is important to understand these—especially before you go to talk to your barber!

The main difference is the direction of brushing and the quality of the volume created. With a quiff, your hair is brushed to create an airy volume and can be bundled to the side. In contrast, for a pompadour, you would brush your hair back to give it a denser volume in the bangs. The comb gives it uniform direction but more volume at the top.

The slicked-back hairstyle is precisely what its name implies. With this style, your hair on top will get pulled back tightly, however, it should not have a line caused by combing your hair into a part. To complete the look, the slick back has to have a wet appearance. This can easily be achieved with pomade. Slicked-back hairstyles have a heavier look and feel—further reinforcing your authoritative gravitas, charisma, and alpha-male aura.

While pomps will usually use pomade, you get more of a high volume of hair on top. Pulling the hair backwards is optional.

The contemporary comb-over hairstyle and the pompadour are similar in many ways and are considered equally trendy. The difference between these two hairstyles is that your hair is combed, and the hair on top has evenly sized and spaced bundles.

Simply getting a trendy pompadour is not enough to make a statement. A good barber will always tell you that the hairstyle you choose must be tailored to fit the shape of your face. Men with round faces can pull off any pomp variation. However, the perfect match for timeless pomp is the square face shape. If you have a thin face, the best option would be to go with a shorter pompadour hairstyle.

While the pompadour hairstyle is truly a classic, it can be even better if you know how to wear it to your advantage. Here are three suggestions that can help you master the pomp.

The pompadour can fit into most scenes. It’s all about finding a balance. Most times, the preferences of the social group have to be considered. We recommend rocking the pompadour when you want to make a statement, be assertive, and stand out.

The pompadour goes hand in hand with fashion. Ideal clothes are corporate wear, such as suits. However, jackets, jeans, and denim shirts are also perfect. The bottom line is that while some clothes fit the style more than others, there is no stringent rule about what you can wear with this cut.

This hairstyle oozes confidence. It also signals that you have a high awareness for style and fashion, which means that anyone who is looking for a confident and successful man who is on top of the trends will find your pompadour appealing.

While the majority of the pompadour hairstyles can be lumped into the classic and modern look, there are other classifications like hair length.

The short pompadour is just what it says it is. Short. While it’s mostly short, the general principles of a pompadour hairstyle still apply here.

The short curly (or permed) pompadour is similar to the short top fade. However, this time, it works well with hair possessing curls—whether they be natural or due to perming.

The medium length pompadour is longer than the short pompadour. The mid pomp is usually styled with other variants such as the mid fade haircut.

This pompadour comes with added volume. The top is much larger than the short or mid pompadour and can be divided into the full-volume and mountain-high pompadour.

This version is all high and full. It’s taller and longer than other hair lengths associated with the pompadour.

It comes with one side raised in volumes like a mountain, which is really the only main difference between this type and the full-volume pompadour.

The pompadour comes with a lot of variety as you can easily mix and match options.

The pomp fade is a variation of the classic pomp. It combines the more illustrious taper fade hairstyle with the pomp. It also comes with very short sides and a longer top. The pomp fade has many variants itself.

The low fade pomp offers a clean-cut hairstyle. The short sides give the top a big bump and clearly bring out its style.

This version is similar to the low fade but a bit showier. Just like the name implies, the fade starts higher up the sides. This toughens the look and offers some more contrast. It also comes with a lot of options. Shorter or medium hair lengths are more ideal with this hairstyle.

This is often described as the ultimate hairstyle for barbers. The fade is much higher up, which makes it perfect for a short pompadour. If you wish to style shorter hair, the high fade might be your best choice.

The skin fade is often called a bald fade. The pompadour can be whipped up with this hairstyle as it brings out the stylishness of the top hair. When combined with the textured pomp, it produces a shiny look, which is hard to ignore.

The disconnected pomp can be identified by the clear break between the sides and the top. What this achieves is more emphasis on the height and length of the pomp. This hairstyle gives you a fun and badass look.

The side part pompadour is a combination of traditional pomp and a side part. This hairstyle can be combined with several other variations including facial hair. Whether you rock it clean-shaven, with a thick yet beautifully sculpted beard, or somewhere in between, your look will be bold and distinguished.

This hairstyle combines the slicked back hairstyle with pomp. It’s delicately precise and looks good too!

The wavy pompadour gives off a vibe that is fresh and youthful. You can keep your wavy hair while turning most of the top into pomp, for a look that exudes calmness and cheerfulness.

This cut comes with a large volume of hair. However, the pompadour is a bit loose, which gives a different feel. Combine this with completely shaved sides and you have an exciting look.