Long hair for men trend that has taken over masculine scalps around the globe recently--but what if you’re not prepared to grow out your locks for the sake of allure? After all, there is an awkward growing period; the space in between your ears and your jawline is a difficult one to tread without sacrificing yourself to the bowl cut gods. Don’t worry; there are plenty of ways to keep short hair trendy and oozing with appeal this year--here’s where to start.

Choppy & Piecey

One thing’s for sure, and it’s that high-maintenance, clean-cut styles are on the way out. That doesn’t mean you have to abandon all upkeep, but it does mean that in most of the rising styles this season -- both long and short -- you’re going to be seeing a lot of layered chops and a mishmash of pieces. This doesn’t need to be a radical change for you fellas with short hair, but rather a re-invention of classic style. Let your part veer off, allow strands and pieces to fall every which-way, and aim for that sexy bedhead look the artist next door has been sporting for years. Maintain your perfect hair imperfections with a bit of styling wax or mousse.

Poufy & Quiffed

Volume might never go out of style for ladies, but for men it’s never been hotter. Waves and quiffs in the front of the hairline are making their appearances on clean-cut and street greaser men alike, taking retro handsome in a contemporary direction. Whether you’re going for windswept or electrocuted, the key here is to add volume to the top of your hair with mousse and emphasize the height with smoothed sides. Don’t want to fully commit? You can always make your regular medium-length style a mad-scientist-inspired ‘do, but be prepared to use a lot of product to get it to stay up.

Curls In Your Eyes

If you’ve got curled locks, the look of the moment is medium-length and moving forward. Not just in the sense of progression of style, but also literally brushed forward so that locks dangle over your forehead and onto your brow. The look is equal parts long hair sexy and cute boy next door and can be dressed up or down with any style--but don’t use its ease as an excuse to look disheveled. With a bit of gel, you can easily control frizz and excessive volume to achieve casual curl perfection.