50 Pompadour Hairstyle Variations + Comprehensive Guide

Simple and flexible, this pompadour draws a lot of its style from the sudden drop fade on the sides. It’s a nice twist that shakes up an otherwise classic haircut.

The classic pompadour is neat and slick, but that doesn’t mean all pompadours have to fit that description. This contemporary take has the hair messy and uses a matte finish for a less shiny appearance.

The classic “I love to ride bikes” look is here! The top is a very round and thick fluff with sides being tapered just enough to blend it with beard slightly. Also, if you notice there is a widow’s peak that makes this a very unique cut especially for the fluff. Have a thick beard, by the way, to make it a denser look.

If you mix a soccer-inspired hairstyle with a pompadour, this will be the end result. The trendy attitude in that haircut is over the roof and the cleaner approach just makes it better. The sides are undercut tapered with size 1 clippers or even less for that stubble look as there is very beard to balance it.

This cool, rock’n’roll-style pompadour features two parts on the side plus a messy mustache and beard. Sunglasses not optional.

This tall pompadour definitely stands out, adding flare to the remaining, hipsterish look. Personally, I’d keep it a little shorter.

This style really demonstrates how a plain pompadour can look great too. A simple slick, a simple fade, and some light facial hair? That’s all you need.

This one is quite a slingy style with and especially hair with a straight texture and possibly silky texture would make this a jewel of a cut. The sides here are slightly trimmed and not tapered for that emphasized look which brings more focus on the top.

Thick hair with dry texture has an advantage when it comes to styling as it can look good on volume. This is no different and especially with that undercut taper fade on the side all the attention goes to the top and that fluff makes it pop real good. The beard comes as a good balancer between the top and the bottom.

Pompadour is all about boasting that volume and here it is also pushed back which makes it twice the better. The sides are not parted which gives it a very whole look with a mid fade that brings trend to the table. The lineup is also faded halfway which makes things so much more interesting.

There’s a reason why this pompadour with a clean fade is popular – it works well with any face shape. A clean fade matched with a pompadour is a great combination to create height and length, and if this is something that you think your face needs, then what are you waiting for? Wear with a short-boxed beard to further emphasize your facial features – but don’t accessorize anymore. It’s best without any accessories to make your hair and face the prime focus.

Short pompadours can be confused to be quiffs but if you look closely it is a unified fluff ball which usually is a pompadour. The sides are gradually taper faded which gives it a very clean look but the clean shave approach is the best as it gives another layer of a clean dapper look.

The modern pompadour is a mix of old and new. The sides get an undercut while the top is styled in a wavy way. Like the disconnected pompadour, its modern version is a high contrast style that defines both the sides and top.

Is it just me or this gives very retro vibes in here? The ginger color not only makes it obvious but also adds life to it. Especially after that side part, it looks very royal. The sides are mid faded with the top very thickly side-parted, how can one look so elegant yet so chill?

50 shades of blonde! This one is very poppy yet too subtle at the same time, the dye makes it stand out while the pompadour is the cooling element here. This mature look is quite simple, concentrate the volume on top and make sides tapered or even faded at times. And voila!

This might very well be the look from Harvey Spectre in season 1 where he rocks a pushed-back pompadour except this has fluff and taper on the sides. The key is don’t copy-paste the style, tweak it like here with that sharp and tapered lineup. The fluff is just a good bonus to the look.

Definitely not your usual pompadour with the top being curly yet brushed up in a collective manner. The sides being tapered to their finest size with low fade in a drop fade fashion making a totally unique and elegant outlook.

How can we miss the classic suave retro pompadour which is very close to what James Bond rocked back in the day? The top is combed pompadour with sides combed to push back. All of that and no fade which shows that this is the classic style and no tinge of hippie undertone.

In a variation on the classic, this gentleman keeps his fringe a good deal longer than the top while combing it up and over to create a flowing pomp that thins out in the sides and rear. Adding a modern look to the cut, he gets a low fade down to the skin and adds some edge with the two subtle earrings and silver chain.

Here’s a reserved pompadour look with all of the basics: a long, slicked-back top, short sides, and connecting facial hair. No bells and whistles here!

Clean, classic, legendary. The pompadour has always been a style that makes first impressions easy. To nail a look like this, the fringe has to be long enough to be combed up and back to combine with the top of the head. The sides need to be kept short and combed back with the fringe and top. Keep this look sleek with a clean-shaven jawline, as in this image.

For a looser, more relaxed pompadour, try this one. The pompadour is finger combed, which results in the visible waves at the front of the head.

Here’s a smart look that’s great for school or the office. The medium length pompadour is combed just right, and the burst fade complements everything wonderfully.

Finger combing (or hand brushing) is a surprisingly versatile hairstyling technique. A little bit of finger combing goes a long way, as shown by this elegant, contoured style.

After a picture-perfect pomp? This style is tidy yet textured, striking a happy medium that not many hairstyles can achieve.

This pompadour shows that you’re classy but still easygoing. Instead of being styled into a tight and tidy formation, the hair forms a looser, more relaxed pompadour.

Pompadours and parts have traditionally gone together, but typically, you’ll see side parts used with pomps. This style takes the part nearer the middle of the head for a striking look.

This large pompadour shows how much finger combing can do. Waves radiate in a semicircle from the top of the head down to the side, resulting in satisfying shape.

This clean undercut is definitely a hot look right now. With short sides and smooth, slicked-back pomp, what more could you need?

Pompadour doesn’t have to be always fluffy and thick, here’s an example of a slim pompadour with a very formal look to it. The whole side-parted look makes it very elegant with that hard part making it all clear. The sides are very neat that helps with fading the beard and the temple for a wholesome approach.

Who says guys with thinner hair can’t have lots of volumes? This pompadour style strategically uses hair products to give the hair extra lift.

Presenting the OG thin hair pompadour with a slight combed texture for that cheeky gentlemanly look. The top is pushed back with that taper fade on the sides make this style even more fun.

This is a layered slicked back but since there is fluff to it, it is also a pompadour with a slim hard part which makes way for taper fade. The fade however is quite low helping the top to shine bright. Don’t forget the 2 fold line up, not very common these days.

We think the humble skin fade doesn’t get enough credit. It does a lot more of the heavy lifting than you might think! Here, it anchors the tall pompadour and provides balance.

If you want to (literally) turn up the volume, this skyscraper pompadour is for you. Even though it’s one of the most voluminous styles on this list, it’s still nicely proportioned thanks to the skin fade and shaved line.

If none of these styles has to whet your appetite for volume, perhaps this one will do the trick! A fluffy, “bloated” pomp is the centre of attention here (and of course, it’s got plenty of volume).

The layered pompadour is a great choice for guys who want to try something different and get an eye-catching look. Again, the trademark finger combed look is critical here.

Matte finish pompadours are quite trendy, and this hairstyle is a fantastic example that shows just why they’re so in vogue. In particular, the disconnected fade does a wonderful job of enhancing the cut.

This cool style brings together a few contrasting elements: the fresh, long pompadour, the angular line up, and a disconnected fade. The combination works surprisingly well!

So someone said, “I want a pompadour but can I also have some flat-top vibes?” and the barber carved out this gem of a look. The longer strands on top compliment the look very well with sides being taper faded. The temple is faded as well but it does give some drop fade tinge to it.

Who doesn’t like that fluff on the top especially for someone with thin hair, that is a dream come true. This is one of those versatile looks that go well on formal and casual occasions. The key is that taper fade on the sides with a beard blend that is a cherry on top.

Pompadour can be styled in many ways and this one is another version of it. The pushed back quiffed texture makes this look very formal on the top and flashy in the sides especially due to those shaved lines and a very clean cheeky temple fade. Ace it with that taper and you getting those stares.

Here’s another pompadour expertly blended with the sides. The loose texture on top makes for a young, care-free look.

Here’s a narrower pomp that brings the hair to an apex in the middle. A slight fade keeps the hair longer on the sides for a fuller look.

This pompadour takes many of the techniques we’ve already discussed (finger combing, a skin fade, and a disconnect) and gracefully blends them into one look.

Pompadours can be modified in many different ways. You might try a shaved design like the zigzag line shown here.

This combed look features a short pomp on the top and sides faded a few centimeters higher than usual. Combined with the overgrown stubble, it’s young and bold.

Short and brushed back, this pomp is elegantly unified into one whole by the disconnected fade. If you’re not sure whether the pompadour look is for you, this is a good way to ease into the world of pomps.

This long, classic pompadour is expertly blended with slicked-back sides for a complete, well-rounded look. There’s something very Mediterranean about this look, isn’t there?

Now, this is a cool cut. With an ultra-short fade on the side, a slight part, and a retro style, slicked-back pomp, this is a handsome and manly style.

Check out this brushed and parted pompadour. The light fade on the sides and scruffy facial hair ties it all together for a hipster-esque look.

This modern pompadour is completed with short sides and connected facial hair. The hairline patterns add an extra twist to an already exciting cut.