The Surfer Hairstyle: 27 Ideas & How To Get The Look
From tousled beach waves to sun-bleached highlights, the surfer hairstyle embodies a cool, casual aesthetic that captures the relaxed, adventurous and natural spirit of the ocean. This attractive, low-maintenance style often features longer, layered hair with texture, volume and flow, achieving the perfect, windswept look.
These stylish, beach-inspired hairstyles pair perfectly with tan skin, fearless athleticism and a free-spirited attitude, whether you prefer medium-length curtains or messy, short curls.
Let's explore some of the best surfer haircuts that will show off your luscious locks, from the latest trends to the most classic styles.
Cool Men’s Surfer Hairstyles
Brushed Back Flow
As the quintessential surfer hairstyle, the brushed-back flow is casual and relaxed with its numerous medium-length layers and texture. The thick waves are longer on top but shorter at the back and sides. The voluminous hair flows up and off to each side in the front, and slight curls or waves at the ends impart character.
Crew Cut
A tousled crew cut is playful and fun, offering an exceptional canvas for the texture provided by the salty sea. Leaving the hair about the same length all over creates a casual layered look that is attractive, wet or dry. To style, apply a small amount of matte pomade through your hair and then tousle to achieve the perfect look.
Tousled Shag
A flirty and tousled curly shag with a thick fringe creates a stunning frame for the eyes, especially when paired with a short, well-trimmed beard. The hair on top and in front is longer than the crown, sides and back, showing off the natural curl pattern while imparting volume. Add a small amount of styling mousse to achieve the definition and separation.
Messy Bun
A messy bun is a relaxed, easygoing look often useful for surfers who must keep long tresses out of their faces while catching waves. Pull the hair back into a mid-ponytail, then pull the ends halfway back through while leaving the ends out. For even more impact, consider adding a few bold highlights.
Messy, Short Hair
Messy, short hair is popular for its simplicity, versatility and natural masculine charm, featuring beachy waves, a tousled fringe and a classic taper at the sides and back. The casual style looks playful and youthful when wet but offers ample professional styling flexibility when dry.
Long, Curly Hair
Long, curly hair is sultry and bold, particularly when carefully layered to promote voluminous body. The hair flows up from the forehead and off to each side, gently framing the face with loose ringlets. A quality curl cream or mousse is essential for separating and defining curls, and a few expertly placed highlights can amplify each ringlet.
Beachy Waves
Casual beachy waves are loose and carefree, reflecting the surf lifestyle. The longer hair on top flows off to each side from a subtle side part, creating a soft, feathery effect. Adding highlights and lowlights is essential for the sun-bleached effect, and a short, full beard imbues ruggedness.
Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks are an edgy classic, popular among surfers due to the ocean’s natural ability to tighten and knot individual dreads. Dreads can be any thickness and length, but thinner dreads perform better in salt water. Remember that salt water can also expose loose hairs, requiring more maintenance than is typical.
Short Curls
Bleached blonde, short curls capture the essence of the salt life with their yellow hue and distinct separation. The hair is slightly longer on top than at the sides and back, falling over the forehead to create a short, fluffy fringe. The cut requires styling products such as mousse or curl cream to maintain definition when dry, and the hair must be deep conditioned regularly due to the bleaching process.
Long, Straight Hair
Longer, straight hair is a cool surfer classic with its center-parted, slightly layered style. To achieve the somewhat tousled, messy look, scrunch a texturizing pomade into damp hair before allowing it to air dry. Wear the cut without facial hair for a youthful effect, or pair it with a goatee or beard for a more masculine look.
Comb Over Taper Fade
A comb over taper fade takes a textured, tousled approach to an iconic classic men’s style, which works well for various hair types. A deep side part separates the longer hair on top, and a tapered undercut gives the illusion of more volume and body. Apply a semi-shiny styling product, such as a high-quality pomade, then comb the hair up and over from the part.
Blonde Medium Curtains
Pairing blonde medium curtains with a tousled short cut creates a sultry windblown look perfect for a day at the beach. Long layers in the front fall off to each side, creating feathered bangs that blend into the sides and back beautifully. Consider ample highlights to enhance the feathery appearance, and apply sea salt spray to damp hair to add volume and texture.
Faux Hawk Fade
A faux hawk fade is edgy but neat and fresh, making it a good choice for professionals who surf on days off. Long hair on top abruptly fades to the skin at the sides, amplifying the texture and volume. Most of the hair flows forward from the crown, but a curled-up fringe adds visual interest.
Short, Loose Curls
Short, loose curls are sexy and rugged paired with a full beard. The hair flows upward and off to one side, falling gently over one side of the forehead. A scissored taper at the sides allows for the thick, connecting sideburns that balance the cut.
Buzz Cut
A classic, bleached-blonde buzz cut is effortless and chic, offering the least resistance in the water. The hair is the same all over – just a few millimeters long – and features a golden blonde reflecting sunlight. Wear the cut with a clean-shaven face for high impact, or pair it with a stubbly beard for a brawny appearance.
Slick Back
A timeless, slick back is polished and refined, making it an essential cut for men who spend most of their time in the office. The style features short to medium-length hair on top, combed back and away from the forehead. A scissor-cut taper at the sides keeps the look clean and neat, and stubble all over the face adds a hint of machismo.
Long Flowing Blonde Hair
Long, flowing blonde hair can quickly form natural dreads when exposed to salt water for a long time. Twisting and teasing the hair can speed the process along, and platinum blonde highlights create visual separation that makes each strand stand out. Facial hair creates a more dynamic appearance and frames the face.
Crew Cut Fade
A simple, elegant crew cut fade is a practical and contemporary style that requires minimal styling, making it popular among busy men. Neatly trimmed, styled hair on top stands out against the skin fade at the sides and back. A full beard pulls the look together for a balanced appearance.
Long Comb Over
A long comb over is fresh and stylish with its multifaceted color and stunning flow. The hair flows up and over from a deep, subtle side part at the hairline, then gradually gets shorter toward the crown. The scissored taper at the sides and back balances the thickness and volume on top. Due to its many layers, the cut works best with straight, thick hair.
Thick Wavy Fringe
A thick, wavy fringe is a mysterious, captivating look, commanding attention from beachgoers. The medium-length hair flows over the forehead in distinct, tousled strands. At the sides and back, the scissor-cut taper offers a subtle change in length that keeps the focus on the fringe.
Middle Part
This middle part is a tantalizing, fashionable choice that offers versatile styling options for work and play. Long layers flow effortlessly from the center of the head, and blonde highlights contrast sharply with the natural darkness at the roots and the brows. A layered cut frames the face and draws attention to the eyes.
Brush Forward with Undercut
A brush forward with an undercut makes the most of naturally soft, tight curls. Longer hair in the front falls over the forehead in ringlets but slowly gets shorter toward the crown. The short undercut balances the length and volume on top, while thick caramel highlights amplify the texture of the curls. Wear the cut with a clean-shaven face for a youthful, approachable aura.
Wavy Textured Crop
A wavy textured crop is a simple yet attractive style that suits most hair types and face shapes. The short cut is long enough to allow the natural wave pattern to shine through. A subtle taper at the sides connects the wavy hair with a short beard, attractively framing the face and balancing the length.
Modern Quiff
A modern quiff is a textured, trendy style that maximizes natural volume and flow for a sleek, polished finish. Thick hair at the hairline moves upward and over, and the tapered sides and back offer a subdued transition to mere stubble at the ear. Wear the cut with a thick, full beard for an attractive, captivating look.
Messy Combed Over Hair
This messy, combed-over men’s surfer hairstyle is stylish and trendy, particularly for men who want to make the most of their fine tresses. Careful layering and stacking allow the hair to appear fuller and more voluminous, while tousled styling provides the perfect beachy, windblown appearance.
Short Messy Waves
Short, messy waves are versatile and striking with their ample volume and texture. The cut features longer hair on top, shorter hair at the sides and back, and a hint of a fringe falling over one side of the forehead. Apply a generous amount of sea salt spray to wet hair to separate and define the strands, and consider caramel highlights for even more definition.
Long Wavy Hair
Long wavy hair paired with a thick, full beard epitomizes masculinity and brawn. The hair is all one length all over, causing the waves to look fuller and more uniform. Matte pomade can offer a soft finish, while sea salt spray texturizes and separates strands. To maximize the effect of either product, be sure to scrunch damp hair after applying and allow it to air dry.
What Is The Surfer Haircut?
Surfers are known for their tanned skin, laid-back, adventurous lifestyle, athletic skill, and tousled, flowing hair. The surfer haircut generally involves long, choppy layers infused with texture and volume, creating the ideal beach-inspired look.
You can get this sexy style using texturizing hair styling products like sea salt spray, clay, paste and/or curl-enhancing cream.
What Length of Hair Works Best?
While the aesthetic works best on medium-length to longer hair, you can achieve the look on shorter styles, ranging from the side part to the faux hawk and crew cut.
Some teenage guys and mature men will keep the sides and back short with a taper fade to emphasize the messy, longer hair on top.
How To Get Surfer Hair
Wash Hair with Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner
Volumizing shampoos and conditioners are essential for removing excess product and oil while promoting additional texture and body to the hair. Highly-rated products with ingredients like ginkgo biloba, Vitamin B3, and healthy oils are essential, particularly for those who spend too much time in salt water or color their hair.
Avoid products that list keratin as an ingredient or promote hair bonding. These products can have the opposite effect, making it difficult to achieve many surfer styles.
Use Texturizing Sea Salt Spray on Wet Hair
After shampooing, conditioning, and rinsing, apply a texturizing sea salt spray while your hair is soaking wet. Because sea salt adds grit and coarseness to the hair, the higher the concentration in the product you use, the more tousled and beachier the results will be.
Sea salt sprays also offer some hold, and if you find one with nourishing ingredients, you can take care of your hair and scalp while achieving the surfer hair you crave.
Scrunch Your Hair
Flip your head upside down and scrunch after spraying your wet hair with sea salt spray. Scrunching is the act of opening and closing your hands around your hair over and over as you press it toward your scalp. This process creates natural waves that hold their shape all day while fighting frizz and improving the waves’ definition.
After scrunching your hair, flip your head back over, make a claw-like shape with your fingers, and use the tips to tousle while paying particular attention to the roots.
Dry Your Hair
Several drying methods are available for creating stunning surfer hair, but blow drying offers the most control over the result. Blow drying adds more volume and texture, especially with a diffuser that aids in maintaining the shape of the waves while cutting down frizz.
Use the blow dryer on low heat, but switch to medium for the thicker spots. Ensure you always blow dry from root to end to maximize volume.
Air drying is another excellent option for achieving surfer hair, particularly for styles that require volumizing mousse. After applying products to wet hair, gently pat the excess water off with a microfiber towel and avoid touching or disturbing it until completely dry.
Add A Styling Product with Hold
Now that your hair is dry apply a styling product with the level of hold you need to keep your beachy hair in place all day. Some men prefer to re-apply sea salt spray, but others prefer styling products with a much stronger, longer-lasting effect.
Remember that your hair’s natural texture needs the most support from the middle of its length to the end, so concentrate most of your product here. For a chunky or piecey look, apply a product like matte pomade or styling wax to small, carefully selected sections of hair.
Popular Hair Products For Surfer Styles
The most popular hair products used to achieve the surfer hairstyle are sea salt sprays for texture and flow combined with styling clays, pastes and creams for added hold. These styling product options offer different levels of control, allowing you to shape and maintain your waves while infusing a healthy, natural shine.