Collage of Black men’s hairstyles featuring five types: short hairstyles, braid hairstyles, afro hairstyles, dread hairstyles, and taper/fade hairstyles — shown for Black men in 2026.

Best Hairstyles for Black Men 2026 (50+ Styles)

Last Updated: November 18, 2025

This guide is reviewed and refreshed to stay up to date.

BEST
CORPORATE HAIRCUT IDEAS (2026)

Hey brothers, been looking for hairstyles but can’t find a guide that actually shows hairstyles that fit us?

I put together five main types of hairstyles for Black men: short hairstyles, braid hairstyles, afro hairstyles, dread hairstyles, and taper/fade hairstyles you can try in 2026. 

Each section gives a quick overview with examples, and every one links to a full guide where you can see more styles and breakdowns.

There are over 50 hairstyle ideas in total, so click through if you want a deeper selection.

Here’s a quick nav if you’re too lazy to scroll.

Short Hairstyles for Black Men

Short hairstyles are easy to maintain and only need bi-weekly haircuts to stay looking good. 

Once you’re done checking out the short hairstyles, here are 4 other short hairstyle options for Black men, plus a full corporate haircuts guide for Black men if you want a professional look.

1. Buzz Cut

Black man with a buzz cut hairstyle, smiling in two portrait photos.

2. Short Afro

Two Black men with short afro hairstyles shown side by side.

Tired of spending hours on hair maintenance? Here’s a simple guide with 10 low maintenance haircuts for Black men.

3. Low-Cut Fade

Side profiles of two Black men showing low-cut fade hairstyles.
Copy Gunna's Outfits + Haircut Guide • Click Now

Braid Hairstyles for Black Men

Braid hairstyles need weekly haircuts if you’re rocking a fade or taper, but if you don’t have one, getting your braids redone every two weeks is more than enough.

Scroll through a few braid styles, then check out the full guide here: 10 braid hairstyles for Black men.

1. Tied-Back Box Braids

Black man with neatly braided and tied-back braids—clean, low-profile hairstyle ideal for professional and corporate settings

2. Box Braids

Two Black men with medium-length box braids featuring clean partings and a natural hanging braid style, showcasing a trendy and low-maintenance protective look.

Brothers, you need to pair your new hairstyle with the right tattoo.

Here are 200+ tattoo ideas to try in 2026. 👇

Banner showing 200+ tattoo ideas Black men can copy in 2026, featuring circular preview images of neck, chest, back, and forearm tattoos on a black and gold design.

3. Pop Smoke Braids

Two Black men with Pop Smoke braids featuring clean middle parts and thick cornrow sections, showcasing the iconic protective hairstyle popularized by Pop Smoke.

Looking for that clean, high-class look every Black man wants?

Damson Idris mastered it.

This guide breaks it down step by step 👇

Copy Damson Idris's Outfits + Haircut • Fix Your Style + Look Today

4. Side Braids

Two Black men wearing side braids with clean fades and sharp parts, showing a neat and modern take on the classic braided hairstyle.
Two Black men with side braids featuring clean parts and tight cornrows, showing a sleek protective style with a modern twist.

Have a big forehead? Here’s a quick guide to the best haircuts for Black men with a big forehead.

5. Basic Cornrows

Black man with straight-back cornrows shown from the front and back, showcasing clean braid pattern and neat grooming.
Black man with cool-design cornrows — side profile with bead ends on the left and a spiral-pattern cornrow design on the back of the head on the right.
Twist cornrows hairstyle for Black men — back and top view showing defined parts and twisted braid rows.
Best Cornrow Ideas for Black Men [2026] • Click Here

Afro Hairstyles for Black Men

Afros work best once your hair hits around 4 inches or more, and they look even better depending on whether you pick it out, curl it, or use a sponge for texture. 

Don’t know how to curl your 4C hair? Check out this full, simple guide on how to get defined curls as a Black man. 

Looking for longer hairstyles too?

Scroll down for the afro options, and here’s the full guide if you want more ideas:

6 Long Hairstyles for Black Men

1. Regular Afro

Two afro hairstyles for Black men — one shaped short, one large and round.
Big Sean and The Weeknd with shaped afro hairstyles.

2. Afro w/ Taper

Two Black men with short, sponged afros and crisp taper fades. Both styles feature clean hairlines, tight curls, and low-maintenance cuts that frame the beard.
Two Black men with sponged afros and sharp taper fades. The curls are tight and defined, with a clean hairline and low taper around the ears and neck.

3. Curly Afro

Front-facing portrait of a Black man with a natural curly afro, a simple low-maintenance hairstyle.

4. Afro w/ Temp Fade

Black man with afro and temp fade haircut, side profile view
NBA YoungBoy’s Outfits + Haircut Guide [2026] • Click Here
Best Tattoo Ideas for Black Men [2026] • Click Here

Dread Hairstyles for Black Men

Dreads are one of the most popular hairstyles for Black men for a reason. 

They’re low maintenance, and easy to style once they get longer. 

Most guys only need a retwist every 5 to 7 weeks, and if you’re not getting a taper or fade on the sides, you can go even longer without any extra upkeep. 

Scroll to see some of the dread styles, and here’s the full guide:

13 Dreadlock Styles for Black Men in 2026

1. Dreads

Two Black men with short thick dreadlocks and clean square parts. The locs are freshly twisted and styled to hang naturally around the forehead.
Two Black men with thick, semi-freeform dreads styled in a middle part with clean scalp designs. Both styles feature long locs with twisted roots and neat sectioning.

Want to copy Gunna’s new hairstyle?

Check out Gunna’s new 2026 dread look.

2. Twist-Outs

Black men with long twist outs, one wearing a red Miami snapback and tee, the other styled with diamond chains and middle-parted twists falling to his chest.
Black man with twist-out hairstyle taking mirror selfies; his hair is shoulder-length, slightly frizzy, and full of texture, with visible chest tattoos in both shots.

3. Two-Strand Twists

Two-strand twist dreadlocks for Black men featuring medium-length twists with clean parting and defined texture.

4. Barrel-Twist Dreads

Barrel twist dreads for Black men featuring tight, interwoven twists with clean parting and a fresh taper fade.

5. Dyed Dreads

Blonde dreadlocks on Black men featuring medium-length locs with light golden tones and clean fade styles.
Ginger dreadlocks on Black men featuring warm orange tones and medium-length locs styled naturally.
Honey-brown dreadlocks on Black men featuring short to medium-length locs with warm brown tones and textured styling.
Best Dread Ideas for Black Men [2026] • Click Here
Best Tattoo Ideas for Black Men [2026] • Click Here

Taper and Fade Hairstyles for Black Men

If you want a cleaner look, a taper or fade is perfect. 

You can pair it with a short afro, a longer afro, or even a protective style like the ones mentioned earlier. 

Haircuts every 3 to 4 days are usually the norm, so I recommend learning to cut your own hair or choosing a high taper to stretch the maintenance longer. 

You can check out the hairstyles below.

If you like this taper or fade look, take a look at this full guide:

8 Fade & Taper Hairstyles for Black Men

1. Mid Taper

Two Black men with mid taper haircuts showing clean fades on the sides—one with waves and one with a natural curly top.

2. High Taper

Two Black men with high taper fades featuring clean side fades and textured curls on top for a sharp, modern finish.

3. Mid Fade

Two Black men with mid fade hairstyles showing even fades around the sides and back with natural curls on top for a clean, balanced look.

4. Temp Fade

Two Black men with temp fade haircuts showing a clean line-up and short natural curls on top.
Best Corporate-Safe Haircut Ideas for Black Men [2026] • Get Interview Ready Today

5. Low Fade

Side profiles of two Black men showing low-cut fade hairstyles.

6. High Top Fade

Black man with a high top fade helping mask temple thinning and crown recession

7. Low Taper

Two Black men with low taper haircuts shown side by side.
Copy Central Cee's Outfits + Haircut Today • Click Here

Hairstyle FAQ for Black Men

What’s the easiest hairstyle for Black men to maintain?

Low fades, buzz cuts, and short afros are the easiest to maintain. They don’t require daily styling and only need a shape-up every 1–2 weeks.

How often should Black men get a haircut?

Most Black men get a cut every 1–3 weeks depending on the style. Fades and tapers need more frequent upkeep than braids or dreads.

Do certain hairstyles help hair grow faster?

Protective styles like twists, braids, and dreads reduce breakage, which makes hair appear to grow faster.

What hairstyles work best for thinning or receding hairlines?

Tapers, full afros, buzz cuts, and short curls blend thinning areas naturally. Avoid tight braids or styles that pull on the hairline.

Here are two guides you can check out:

What’s the best way to keep hair moisturized?

Use a leave-in conditioner, a light oil, and avoid overwashing. Moisturizing 3–4 times per week keeps curls soft and prevents breakage.

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