From vintage-inspired fades to timeless slick-backs, men’s grooming in 2025 is embracing the best of past decades with a modern twist. Discover the top retro haircuts making a comeback, and how to update them for today’s style-conscious clients.
Men’s hair in 2025 is all about the retro revival, with classic styles from past decades making a sharp return. Jim Shaw, Multi Award Winning Men’s Hairdresser and Director at TONI&GUY Billericay, shares the most-requested throwback looks in salons right now. He also share expert tips to style and modernise retro haircuts for today.
Pompadour (‘50s)
“The pompadour, one of signature the retro haircuts of the 1950s made famous by icons like Elvis Presley and James Dean, is a slicked-back, high-volume look that works best for those with medium to longer hair. To create it, use a hairdryer and round brush to build maximum lift and form the smooth, swept-back shape. Finish with a pomade or wax for strong hold, and lock it in with a light mist of hairspray for extra shine and lasting style. Today, one can modernise the look with different styling and by pairing the style with disconnected or shorter sides and back. Instead of using a high shine hair product, you can also experiment with a matte finish product to give this style a more effortless, relaxed finish.”
Mod Haircuts (‘60s)
“The mod haircut features longer hair on the top, long side burns and texture throughout the cut – on the top, sides and back. It also often features a heavy fringe. This cut works best when styled more relaxed and messy, and a texturising spray such as a salt spray is great for adding extra edge and grit to this style. People are modernising the look today by changing up the long, heavy fringe, for a more textured, shorter fringe style, giving the look softness.”
The Shag (‘70s)
“The shag was famous with many rock musicians in the ‘70s including David Bowie and Road Stewart. It is a heavily layered and textured look which traditionally sits at the shoulders but features various lengths throughout the cut. This is another cut that works best when done with texturising products like salt sprays or mousse to enhance natural hair texture. To modernise this cut today, I like to add in some extra shorter layers to give this style more of a contemporary feel. Experimenting with a fringe is also a great option to update this cut – a long, side swept fringe looks great paired with a shag or a shorter, more choppy fringe. Alternatively, you can add some face framing layers into the cut which will blend in seamlessly with the cut and draw attention into the face.”
The Disco Bowl Cut (‘70s-80s)
“The bowl cut was a huge trend in the 1970s-80s and one we didn’t think would make a comeback! With a straight, blunt fringe and the rest of the hair evenly cut around the head. The bowl cut, a uniform cut, you can style either sleek and straight or with textures and waves. However, you can generally style it more sleek and smooth. This cut is being updated for 2025 by incorporating texture or by the cut being graduated in length, starting short and going longer at the back. Also, men highly request it in the salons, pairing it with an undercut for those looking for a more standout look. I love to pair the bowl cut with an undercut or short sides and add texture into the top for a more stylish finish.”
Curtain Bangs (‘90s)
“Curtain bangs, a huge hit in the ‘90s for men, are trending again. Particularly amongst men with longer hair lengths and wavy hair textures. A round brush whilst blow-drying is a great way to get the iconic S-shape curtain bangs and is still a great way to style this trend today. However, effortless styles are more on trend than ever, so a product like a sea salt spray is also great to enhance natural hair texture slightly and provide their style with a more lived-in, messy finish.”
