French Crop Hairstyles for Men: The Ultimate Guide

1. Paul Mescal: Wavy French Crop

If you’ve been wanting a new hairstyle but don’t want to spend hours in the morning styling it, then Paul Mescal’s new ‘do might be for you. The Normal People star has been rocking a relaxed french crop that looks great whether you just rolled out of bed or spent some time with your styling products. 

This cut really lets his natural texture shine through while also giving the appearance of more thickness. When your hair is on the finer side like Paul’s, it can look a little limp at times. Not with this style!

We’ve all seen photos of Paul where his hair seems a bit unkempt or just average. But this cut elevates his whole look to the next level. It shows what the right barber can do for your hair. Sometimes a change in style is all you need to bring out your best features. 

Paul’s french crop is about 1-1.5 inches long at the top and has a short, textured fringe that falls perfectly across his forehead. The sides and back must be subtly tapered and blended into the top.

How To Style:

• If you’re going for a low-maintenance, everyday beachy wave, allow your hair to air dry naturally after you shower. As it’s drying, give it some texture by scrunching in sea salt spray or texturising paste.
• For bolder texture, try spritzing in sea salt spray while blow-drying your hair. Scrunch the product in to amplify the strands. 
• Once fully dry, run your fingers through your hair with a dab of soft clay or molding paste. Tousle it a bit for more definition.
• Finish the look by brushing your bangs forward and separating them slightly for a piece-y, beachy fringe.

2. Archie Renaux’s Hair: Textured Crop With Choppy Fringe

Actor Archie Renaux is typically seen with a close-cropped cut featuring a sharp fade, but his latest hairstyle is a softer, more flattering look. In recent photos promoting his new sci-fi film Alien: Romulus, the 26-year-old is sporting a textured crop that adds dimension to his appearance. 

It seems like he simply washed his hair and let it air dry for this photo, showcasing the natural texture and movement in his crop. But this cut offers plenty of styling potential too. You could add a touch of product and tousle the hair to give his fringe more piece-y texture. Or part it to the side and style a bit of the fringe into a mini quiff for some edge.

The best part? This crop is low maintenance but high impact. Those short on time or product can simply wash and go, letting your hair do all the work.

Texture is truly the star of this style, with his barber skillfully cutting layers into his hair. 

The lengths appear to be around an inch long on top, with the sides and back tapered slightly tighter for a clean, polished look. Mini sideburns are cut in as well to frame his face. Ask your barber to help shape these precisely then maintain them at home with clippers.

To keep it looking fresh between cuts, schedule regular trims to maintain the texture and shape as it grows out. With minimal effort, Archie proves this crop is the easy, cool cut to rock all season long.

How To Style:

• Archie Renaux’s haircut is really versatile – you can put as much or as little effort into it as you want. 
• The layers are choppy so it looks good tousled or slicked back in a little quiff. You can even just wash it and go without much product. 
• If you want that shine he’s got, focus on gentle products. Use a nourishing shampoo and always follow up with conditioner when you wash. And try not to shampoo your hair more than a few times a week – let the natural oils do their thing.
• When it’s damp, mist a little texture spray in there. Then let it air dry while scrunching it. 
• In a rush? Blow dry it on medium heat, running your fingers through as it dries for volume. Finish it off with a shine spray to make it glossy.

3. Kingsley Ben-Adir: Afro French Crop With Low Fade

Kingsley Ben-Adir is proving that you can rock the stylish French crop look without compromising your natural hair texture. 

His Afro French crop is razor sharp – quite literally. Yet the style doesn’t feel overly severe thanks to Ben-Adir’s effortless coolness.

This hairstyle is perfect for men with thicker, coarser hair types like Afro, kinky or unruly textures since the style is a low effort to style and easy to maintain.  

What’s most notable about Ben-Adir’s ‘do is the clean, precise line-up shaped like his fringe. Often referred to as a “shape up,” the hairline is cut with an unguarded blade to achieve a super sharp, defined edge. 

Be warned though – this style loses its sharpness fast. To maintain that just-cut look, visit your barber at least once a week, or every other week at most, for a touch-up. 

How To Style:

• While the cut may be short, Afro hair requires extra love and care in order to thrive. 
• Reach for shampoos and conditioners made with natural, moisturising ingredients. 
• Work in a nourishing oil like coconut or jojoba into the scalp at least a few times a week. This protects the scalp and encourages new growth to come in strong.
• Schedule your hair washing not more than once a week.
• Treat your hair to a deep conditioning treatment weekly. This helps replenish moisture and boost shine. 

4. Skread: French Crop With Low Taper Fade

Hip hop producer Skread is known for laying down tracks with a smooth, chilled out vibe – and his haircut matches that energy perfectly. His French crop with a low taper fade has that signature pared-back-yet-cool vibe synonymous with French style. 

This hairstyle keeps things loose on top without any of the messiness. The short sides and back mean low sweat levels and easy styling, so you can just focus on the music. Plus, it just looks very chic.

Getting the perfect low fade haircut requires some skill from your barber. They will first take a look at your hair type, thickness and natural growth patterns. Then you can discuss the exact length you want on top. 

Ask your barber to use clippers and guard attachments to fade the hair on the back and sides. For a low fade, start just above the natural hairline at the neck. From there, blend the hair length by moving upwards with the clippers. This is done by gradually switching to smaller guard sizes.

Next, move to the sides. Your barber should start just above the ears and fade upwards about an inch. Again, they have to smoothly transition between lengths by swapping to shorter guard attachments. 

Scissors are used on the top layer to achieve the right style and texture. With a French crop, the hair is shorter at the front and gets gradually longer towards the crown. 

Point cutting may also be done to add texture and thin out bulk. This involves cutting individual hairs at an angle with scissor tips. 

Finally, the fringe for a French crop is kept very short. Skread’s signature look has a choppy fringe that is barely there.

How To Style:

• Simply wash and let it air dry for an effortless look. Or, you can enhance the wavy texture with some product. 
• Only wash your hair 2-3 times per week. Frequent washing can strip the natural oils off your hair and cause your locks to puff up. 
• When damp, spritz a texture spray from roots to ends. Let it air dry while lightly scrunching the hair.
• Once fully dry, work a small amount of pomade, about a half-a-5p-sized dollop, between your fingers and distribute evenly. You can add a bit more if needed for your desired style.
• If your fringe is a bit unruly, style it into place with a touch of pomade. This will tame flyaways while letting your barber’s work shine through.

5. Matt Goss: French Crop

Matt Goss is known for his iconic ’80s pop style from his days fronting the band Bros. While his recent haircut on Strictly Come Dancing was certainly eye-catching, his usual blonde french crop is a more natural look. 

With fine, potentially thinning hair, Matt often wears a hat – both literally and figuratively speaking. However, this cropped style brushed forward adds texture that cleverly disguises any thinning areas.

When getting this classic style, be sure to discuss what clipper guard you want to use with your barber. This will determine how much hair on top is trimmed. It’s up to you how short or long to go. Matt’s look is versatile – it can be worn slightly longer and textured or really close and severe. If you’re new to having short hair, start with a more subtle take on the crop for your first time. That way, you can always go shorter next visit if you want a bolder look.

How To Style:

• Styling your hair like Matt Goss is as easy as washing it and leaving as is.
• You can also play around with different styling products. Try warming a small amount of wax, clay or pomade in your hands and then scrunching it into dry hair. This will add grit and hold without making your hair look greasy.
• Use your fingers to push some hair up into a mini quiff for extra height and style. A light spritz of hairspray can help set the look.
• On non-wash days, dry shampoo is your best friend. A few spritzes will absorb oil and add volume and texture to keep your crop looking fresh between washes.

6. Damon Albarn: Messy Textured Crop

Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn has always been known for his eclectic style and distinctive hair. His current messy crop gives major 2000s vibes, with a fauxhawk that was super popular in the noughties. 

Damon might be trying to rock more of a DIY cut with his choppy layers. And it does give off punk French crop energy for sure. But let’s be real – there’s no way this wasn’t done by a high-end stylist. Only a pro could get hair to look so perfectly effortless.

The short back and sides have been carefully clipper cut very close to the head for a precise, tailored look. His hair along the sides has also been blended seamlessly into the longer lengths on top.

Whatever you call the style, it works great on Damon. Partly because at his age, he can really pull off that cool, creative musician aesthetic. But it also just gives a shot of charisma and frontman energy.

How To Style:

• The key is to let your hair do its natural thing – try not to wash it daily as the texture really comes alive on day 2 or 3 hair. 
• Between washes, a little dry shampoo goes a long way. Spritz it at the roots to soak up oil and add grit.
• Texturising spray will liven up your textured cut. A few sprays of the product and a little tousling with your fingers is all it takes. 
• Once dry, add a small amount of clay, pomade or wax to your hair, rubbing it between your palms before raking through from front to back. 
• For added edge, pull out random pieces. The looser and less controlled, the better – embrace the messy, lived-in look.

7. Michael Fassbender: Textured French Crop

A French crop is a timeless style and Michael Fassbender pulls it off effortlessly. It’s perfect for men who want a low-maintenance hairstyle yet still seem put together. 

In Michael’s case, he dons a micro fringe that cleverly conceals thinning hair or a receding hairline. This gives him an even more youthful vibe which can be amplified with longer, textured, hair.

A choppy, French crop is achievable by getting textured layers throughout your hair and by subtly tapering your sides and back that blend into the top.

How To Style:

• For a more laid-back style, allow it to air dry and work in some sea salt spray or ANFORH Texture Volume Spray as it dries to enhance the texture. You can also let it dry naturally, giving it an occasional ruffle. 
• Once fully dry, apply a small amount of matte clay and tousle with your fingers. 
• Use your fingers to brush the fringe forward, separating it slightly for a piecey effect.

8. Richard Gadd: Textured Crop With Undercut

Not only is Richard Gadd killing it on Netflix, but his ​​tousled, asymmetrical fringe is also stealing the show. 

The texture on top gives his hair some serious volume and movement. For guys with fine hair like his, those perfectly cut layers are a must to avoid looking flat. It’s all in your barber’s scissor work.

But, it’s not just the fringe. Take a closer look at his subtle undercut. Who knew a little buzzed hair around the sides could add such an edgy twist? 

To recreate this style, your barber should use a point-cutting technique. The bangs should be left a little longer than the rest and heavily textured to give it an asymmetric, piecey style that looks cool. Meanwhile, the undercut is subtle and trimmed slightly underneath where it sits at the top of each ear.

How To Style:

• For guys with fine hair like Richard, a mousse or root-lifting spray on damp hair works great for adding volume.
• Scrunch in a little matte paste or clay to add texture and hold without any shine. It’s important to warm these products up in your hands first so they distribute evenly. Work it through from root to tip.
• Blow dry your hair once you’ve applied your product and be sure to use your fingers to tousle and shape sections as you go.
• For extra body and texture, a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer is a lifesaver. 
• When fully dry, go back in with your fingers to break things up a bit more. A final tousle ensures a beautifully undone look. 
• Don’t be afraid to add a smidge more product where you want more grip or texture to really define your style.

9. Luther Ford: Tousled French Crop

Actor and filmmaker Luther Ford, known for his role as Prince Harry in the final season of Netflix’s The Crown, has been turning heads with his effortlessly chic hairstyle. With tousled strands swept casually across his forehead, Ford rocks what can only be described as maximum bedhead texture. 

His version of the French crop is a great low-maintenance option. Just a bit of styling cream is all it takes to achieve this laidback look. Plus, the versatile length on top means you have plenty of freedom to play around with styles like quiffs or side parts without much effort.  

If you’re self-conscious about a receding hairline or thinning patches, the forward sweep of a French crop can help draw attention away.

To achieve Luther’s tousled look, you’ll want to visit a skilled barber. They’ll likely start by tapering the back and sides to create a seamless blend with the longer hair on top. 

Your barber may use a point-cutting technique on the top to enhance your natural texture and movement. This allows each hair to sit perfectly, giving you maximum style without looking over-styled. You can also pair the French crop with a skin fade or undercut for a bit of an edge.

Be sure to bring this photo or a photo reference of the style you want so your barber knows exactly how to cut it. Also, discuss with them what length will suit your hair type and face shape best. 

How To Style:

• If you’re rushing to dry your hair, use a blow dryer but be sure to apply a heat protectant spray first. This will protect your locks from heat damage.
• For an even more tousled, lived-in look, rub a pea-sized amount of styling clay or wax between your hands and scrunch it through your strands. This will add grit and hold without making your hair feel crunchy or stiff.
• Once your hair is almost fully dry, brush the top length forward with your fingers or a comb. Gently separate the strands for extra choppiness.