25 Korean Haircuts for Men You Can Ask For

The 25 Korean Haircuts

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Every variation below is a name your barber will recognize with a photo. Numbers are your friend — inches on top, guard number on the sides — so bring both.

1. The Two Block

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The foundational K-pop cut. Long top, clipper-buzzed sides hidden underneath a horseshoe line above the ears. At rest, you see one length — the covering piece drapes over the buzzed layer. Move the top and the second block appears. It is the base template most other cuts on this list build on. SEVENTEEN's Mingyu, EXO's Kai, and half of ATEEZ have worn a straight two block haircut at some point.

Best on straight hair with medium-to-thick density. Every face shape works if you tune the top length.

Ask for: "Two block, 4 inches on top, two guard on the sides, hidden line at the horseshoe."

Styling tip: matte cream through damp hair, blow-dry with fingers pushing forward, done.

2. The Single Comma

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One curled front lock that hooks toward your dominant eye like a punctuation comma. The rest of the top stays medium length, the sides run short and clean. V (Kim Taehyung) wore the reference version in the "Sweet Night" era. Jimin runs a slightly softer edit.

Best on straight-to-lightly-wavy hair. Oval, oblong, and heart-shaped faces read best.

Ask for: "A comma haircut, 4 inches on top, front cut long enough to hold a curl, sides on a soft taper — no fade to skin."

Styling tip: point a 1-inch round brush at your temple, roll the front section inward, hit it with cool air. A pea of curl cream to set. Done in ninety seconds.

3. The Superman Perm (Twin Commas)

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Two commas mirrored off a soft middle part — the shape reads like a Superman spitcurl in stereo. This one needs a light perm to lock the curl direction so it survives past lunch. Jungwon from Enhypen and Jimin have both worn it during recent comebacks.

Best on straight hair that won't hold a curl on its own. Oval and square face shapes.

Ask for: "Superman perm, medium top around 4 inches, front sections cut for twin commas either side of center, low taper on the sides."

Styling tip: air-dry to damp, apply curl cream, hook each front section inward with your fingers. Sleep, wash, repeat — the perm carries the shape.

4. The Curtain Fringe (V Cut)

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Long fringe parted down the middle, falling in two soft panels across the forehead like open curtains. V wore this through "Christmas Tree" and most of the drama-era press. It's the most-requested Korean fringe on Pinterest for a reason — it reads romantic without looking styled.

Best on straight-to-wavy hair. Long, oval, and square faces work best; round faces should keep the panels short enough to sit above the eyes.

Ask for: "Curtain fringe past the eyebrows, texturized ends, top around 5 inches, sides scissor-blended above the ear."

Styling tip: blow-dry the fringe forward and down while wet, then part with your fingers and set with cool air. A light hairspray keeps the curtains from splitting.

5. The Jaehyun Middle Part

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The K-drama lead default. Straight center part, 4 to 5 inches on top, each side falling forward to frame the eyes. NCT's Jung Jaehyun runs it as his signature; most K-drama leading men default to it on camera. Cleanest, most photogenic Korean cut on the list.

Best on oval, square, and heart-shaped faces. Round faces need extra crown volume.

Ask for: "Middle part haircut, 4 to 5 inches on top, scissor-tapered sides that stay long enough to tuck, slight forward curve on the ends."

Styling tip: round-brush each side forward and slightly out from center, set with cool air, pea of light cream through the mid-lengths. Recomb the part while wet, not dry.

6. The Prince Middle Part (Cha Eun-woo)

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Cha Eun-woo's romantic-lead middle part is softer than Jaehyun's — the length runs 5 to 6 inches, the ends flip slightly outward at the cheekbones, and the whole shape reads like it's made for a slow-motion drama scene. The wave is often set with a light perm or a curling wand.

Best on straight-to-wavy hair. Oval and heart-shaped faces.

Ask for: "Long middle part with face-framing layers starting at the cheekbones, ends flipping outward, soft taper at the sides."

Styling tip: curl the front sections outward with a 1-inch wand, then break the shape with your fingers. A drop of hair oil on the mid-lengths for shine.

7. The Flow Layers (Jungkook Long)

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Long, layered, always in motion — the version Jungkook wore through "Butter" and most of the solo work. Length runs 6 inches and up on top, past the eyebrows in front and past the collar in back. Nothing about it is corporate.

Best on straight-to-wavy hair with medium density. Long, oval, and square faces.

Ask for: "Long layers starting at the cheekbones, back tapered — not blunt — into the neckline, front long enough to tuck behind the ear."

Styling tip: leave-in conditioner while damp, rough-dry to eighty percent, then round-brush section by section. A drop of oil is what makes it look Korean instead of unkempt. See medium length hairstyles for men for the shorter version.

8. The Korean Wolf Cut

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Yeonjun from TXT is the reference. Heavy internal layers throughout, a fringe that falls forward, and a back that runs longer than the sides in a soft shag. Reads bold, textured, slightly disheveled by design.

Best on straight-to-wavy hair with medium density. Oval and oblong faces.

Ask for: "Wolf cut with layers starting at the temples, longer at the back than the sides, heavy texture through the tips, fringe forward — not swept."

Styling tip: this cut wants wave. Straight hair needs a curling wand or a light perm to make it read Korean instead of just shaggy. Sea salt spray finishes it.

9. The Wolf Perm (Hyunjin)

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Hyunjin from Stray Kids ran this through the "MANIAC" era — a wolf cut plus a full wolf perm so every layer moves in defined wave rather than sitting flat. This is the maximum-effort Korean cut on the list. Also the one with the biggest visual payoff.

Best on straight hair that won't hold volume. Oval, square, and long faces.

Ask for: "Wolf cut plus a wolf perm — light wave through every layer, not a tight curl. Cut first, perm second, same appointment."

Styling tip: wash-and-go. Diffuse damp hair on low heat, scrunch in a curl cream, leave it alone. Brushing kills the pattern within a week.

10. The Overgrown Two Block

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A two block let out for six-plus weeks. The top pushes past 5 inches, the buzzed sides grow into a scissor-blended taper, and the whole shape softens toward wolf-cut territory. Hyunjin, Yeonjun, and half the fourth-gen K-pop industry cycle through this phase between comebacks.

Best on straight-to-wavy hair with density to spare. Oval and square faces.

Ask for: "Grow-out shape from a two block — leave the sides where they are, cut only the top into layers so the length looks intentional."

Styling tip: sea salt spray, scrunch, air-dry to about ninety percent, finish with a round brush pulling the front forward.

11. The K-Drama Business Cut

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The corporate default across every Korean office drama — Park Seo-joon in Itaewon Class, most Vincenzo secondary characters, every chaebol love interest. Top runs 3 inches, soft side part, scissor-blended sides that stop above the ear. Reads professional without going stiff.

Best on straight hair with any density. Every face shape.

Ask for: "K-drama business cut, 3 inches on top, natural side part on the left, scissor-blended sides above the ear, no fade to skin."

Styling tip: light pomade for a subtle shine, combed to the part, set with a mist of hairspray. This is the one Korean cut that survives without a round brush.

12. The Slicked-Back Undercut (Suga)

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Suga's "Daechwita" era template. Top runs 4 to 5 inches, pushed straight back off the forehead with a high-shine pomade. Sides sit tight — usually a hard-line undercut or a low taper. The most dramatic Korean look on the list, and the one that photographs best under stage lights.

Best on straight hair with a receding hairline hidden by the sweep-back. Oval, square, and angular faces.

Ask for: "Slicked-back with an undercut, 4 inches on top, one guard on the sides, natural part left in — the part still shows through when everything's combed back."

Styling tip: apply pomade to towel-dried hair. Comb straight back with a fine-tooth comb, then blow-dry cool from the front to lock the direction.

13. The Textured Crop (RM)

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RM's default — the Korean answer to the French crop. Short sides, 2 to 3 inches on top, a forward fringe reaching the brow, choppy point-cut ends. Softer than a French crop and less fade-forward than an American crop.

Best on every face shape. Heavier fringe on long faces; lighter on round.

Ask for: "Textured crop, 2 to 3 inches on top, choppy point-cut ends, fringe reaching the brow, soft scissor-tapered sides — no fade."

Styling tip: rough-dry forward with your fingers, break the shape apart, done. A dry texture spray adds grit without weight.

14. The Korean Bowl Cut (J-Hope)

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J-Hope wore this in the 2018-2019 era and Korea has kept it alive since. Not a 90s cereal bowl — a modern bowl with an undercut or short scissor blend underneath, and a longer, disconnected top that falls in a smooth curve across the forehead. Every K-drama villain from 2018 forward has worn this.

Best on straight hair with medium-to-thick density.

Ask for: "Korean bowl cut, top cut on a single length skimming the eyebrows and covering the top of the ear, undercut or short taper underneath. Bring a photo."

Styling tip: blow-dry forward and down using a flat brush — not round. Finish with a shine spray, not a hold product. The bowl should look sculpted, never crunchy.

15. The Curtain Bowl

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A bowl cut with a middle-part curtain fringe cut into the front. The rounded perimeter stays, but the front section drops to eyebrow length and splits into two curtain panels. Reads softer than a straight bowl, more shaped than a plain curtain.

Best on straight hair with oval and square face shapes. Not for round faces — the curved perimeter widens them.

Ask for: "Bowl shape at the perimeter, but drop the front to a curtain fringe with a center part, undercut underneath."

Styling tip: blow-dry the fringe forward and split, then round-brush the perimeter down and forward. Light hairspray to hold the split.

16. The Ivy League K-Style

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Kim Soo-hyun in Queen of Tears era. The classic Ivy League — short back and sides, a clean side part, 2 to 3 inches on top — but scissor-blended in the Korean style rather than clipper-tight. Reads mature and old-money without being stuffy.

Best on straight hair and every face shape.

Ask for: "Ivy League shape but Korean-style sides — scissor-blended above the ear, not clipper-faded. 2.5 inches on top, hard side part on my left."

Styling tip: light pomade combed strictly to the part. Set with a mist of hairspray. No fingers in the shape.

17. The Fluffy Fringe (Felix)

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Felix from Stray Kids has worn this on and off for years — a full, fluffy fringe that sits across the entire forehead in a soft cloud rather than falling in defined panels. Length runs 4 inches on top, fringe reaching the eyebrows. Softer and heavier than a comma or curtain.

Best on straight hair with medium density. Long, oval, and square faces — round faces should skip this one.

Ask for: "Fluffy fringe covering the whole forehead, 4 inches on top, layers cut to lift the fringe off the brow, scissor-blended sides."

Styling tip: blow-dry the fringe forward with a round brush from underneath, lifting at the roots for volume. Mist with a light hairspray to hold the lift.

18. The Undercut Comma (San)

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San from ATEEZ runs this in stage and photoshoot form. Take a single comma cut, drop the sides into a hard-line disconnected undercut with no fade, no blend. The comma up top reads soft; the undercut reads sharp. The tension between the two is the whole point.

Best on straight hair with strong density. Angular, square, and oval faces. Fine hair loses too much visual mass against skin-tight sides.

Ask for: "Comma cut on top, hard-line undercut at the temple, one guard straight down all the way around. No blend."

Styling tip: matte clay for grip on the sides that show at rest, curl cream on the front for the comma. See undercut fade if you want to soften the disconnect.

19. The Loose Center Part (Soobin)

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Soobin from TXT wears this on off-days — a center part looser and messier than the polished Jaehyun version, with the ends flipping wherever the wave takes them. Length runs 4 to 5 inches. Reads casual, tall, and slightly windswept.

Best on wavy hair. Oval and heart-shaped faces.

Ask for: "Loose center part, 4 inches on top, layers cut with my wave direction, ends left long enough to flip, scissor-tapered sides."

Styling tip: sea salt spray on damp hair, scrunch, air-dry. Break the part with your fingers, don't set it with product.

20. The Long Perm Mullet (Bang Chan)

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Bang Chan from Stray Kids has worn a long permed mullet through several albums — top and front medium length with wave, back running past the collar in soft shag. The perm is what makes it read Korean instead of American 80s.

Best on straight-to-wavy hair with medium density. Oval and oblong faces.

Ask for: "Korean mullet with a light wave perm through the back, 4 inches on top, back running 5 to 6 inches, heavy point-cut ends."

Styling tip: air-dry with a curl cream scrunched through the back. Do not blow-dry the tail — it goes fluffy.

21. The Sleek Prince Cut (Jin)

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Jin from BTS wears the most classic version of this — top around 4 inches, a soft side sweep with volume at the crown, sides scissor-blended clean. Reads regal in a Korean-drama-lead way. Photographs beautifully.

Best on every face shape. Round faces especially benefit from the crown lift.

Ask for: "Sleek Korean prince cut, 4 inches on top with root volume, natural side part on my dominant side, sides scissor-blended above the ear."

Styling tip: mousse at the roots on damp hair, round-brush pulling up and slightly back, finish with a shine spray. This is a formal-photo-ready cut on weekdays.

22. The K-pop Buzz

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Every K-pop idol runs this once — enlistment prep, comeback reset, or personal choice. A #3 or #4 all over, sometimes with a slightly longer top and a soft temple taper. Never military-short, never skin-shaved. The finish reads clean and modern.

Best on strong face shapes — square, angular, oval. Softer faces need a beard for definition.

Ask for: "Korean-style buzz cut, #3 or #4 all over, slight taper into the sideburn and nape, top left a hair longer if the shape needs it."

Styling tip: no product needed. Moisturize daily, use SPF on the scalp, book a monthly cleanup — visible scalp shows every dry patch.

23. The Wispy Curtain with Low Taper (Sunghoon)

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Sunghoon from Enhypen wears a curtain fringe with a low taper underneath — the curtain reads soft up top, the sides read modern with just enough fade to signal a fresh cut. Cleaner than a plain curtain, less bold than an undercut.

Best on straight hair with oval, oblong, and square faces.

Ask for: "Wispy curtain fringe, 4 inches on top, front reaching the eyebrows split in the middle, low taper fade on the sides ending at the sideburn line."

Styling tip: blow-dry the fringe forward and split with a round brush, then mist with a light hairspray. Keep the sides matte so the fade shows clean.

24. The Side-Swept Curtain (Heeseung)

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Heeseung from Enhypen has cycled through this shape multiple times — a curtain fringe swept diagonally across the forehead rather than split down the middle. Reads bolder than a center curtain, less severe than a full sweep. The fringe covers one eyebrow and stops mid-forehead.

Best on oval, square, and long face shapes. Round faces should keep the sweep steeper to add vertical.

Ask for: "Side-swept curtain fringe from my right to my left, 4 inches on top, front cut long enough to cover one brow, soft-taper sides."

Styling tip: blow-dry the front across the forehead with a round brush, following the direction you want it to fall. Light cream through the mid-lengths, then a mist of hairspray.

25. The Setting Perm Volume Cut

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The Korean stylist's default recommendation for straight, flat-lying Asian-type hair. Any of the shapes above — two block, comma, middle part, curtain — plus a light setting perm at the roots. The perm adds gentle volume that a hairdryer alone can't hold. K-pop stylists use it on almost every idol with straight hair.

Best on straight hair that falls flat by lunch. Every face shape.

Ask for: "Setting perm at the roots only, keep the shape of my current cut but add lift. Cut first, perm second, same appointment."

Styling tip: air-dry or diffuse on low, scrunch in a curl cream, leave the shape alone. Setting perms last three to four months if you don't over-brush.

How to Ask Your Barber

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Korean cut vocabulary doesn't translate cleanly. Here's the script that gets you the shape you had in mind at a non-Korean barbershop:

1. Bring at least three photos — front, side, and three-quarter. One photo lets your barber guess; three photos remove guessing.
2. Name the cut by its Korean name if it has one — "two block," "comma cut," "wolf cut," "Superman perm," "curtain fringe." These have crossed over and most barbers recognize them.
3. Specify the top length in inches, not adjectives. "Four inches on top" is unambiguous. "Medium" is not.
4. Specify the side finish explicitly. "Scissor-blended, no fade to skin" is the Korean default. Say it out loud or you'll get an American fade.
5. Point to the disconnect line. If it's a two block or undercut, touch your temple where you want the line. If it's a taper, say where you want it to end.
6. Mention the perm if you want one. "Setting perm at the roots, cut first, perm second." Most non-Korean barbers won't offer, but many can do it.
7. Book the follow-up before you leave. Every 3 weeks for a buzz, 4 to 5 for a two block or comma, 6 to 8 for long flow layers.

Styling and Maintenance

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Korean cuts live on four tools: a hairdryer, a round brush, a lightweight product, and a light-hold spray. Skip any of them and the shape falls before lunch.

The dryer does most of the work. Rough-dry your hair to about eighty percent, then blow-dry with a round brush pulling the top in the direction you want it to sit — forward for a comma, down for a curtain, up-and-back for a slicked prince cut. Set each pass with a two-second blast of cool air.

Match the product to the finish. A matte cream keeps the two block and textured crop reading natural. A curl cream hooks the comma and holds the middle-part curve. A light pomade adds shine to the sleek prince and business cuts. A sea salt spray builds the wolf and mullet texture. One product, small amount — Korean styling is subtractive, not additive.

Set with a light-hold spray, never a strong-hold one. Korean cuts should look intentional, not lacquered. A mist from twelve inches away is enough to lock the shape without freezing it. Skip aerosol on any style you want to touch during the day — you can't reshape frozen hair.

Book a wash-day routine. Sulfate-free shampoo twice a week for oily scalps, once for dry. A leave-in conditioner on the mid-lengths, especially on medium and long variations. A drop of hair oil on the ends for any cut past 4 inches — this is what makes Korean hair look Korean rather than merely long.

Sleep on it right. A silk or satin pillowcase saves the round-brush work overnight, especially on permed styles. Guys with permed hair should also skip touching the shape between washes — every hand-run drops the curl pattern a little.

FAQ

Is a Korean haircut hard to maintain at home?

Not once you know the routine. Two minutes with a round brush and a pea of cream handles most of the list. The wolf perm and long flow layers ask for slightly more — five minutes and a diffuser. The buzz and textured crop ask for zero.

Can I get a Korean perm at any salon?

Most salons that offer perms can do a setting perm, a Superman perm, or a wolf perm — but the results vary wildly. If your city has a Korean-owned salon, book there for the perm specifically. The technique and solution differ from the standard American men's perm.

What if my hair is too curly for these cuts?

The wolf, the flow layers, the middle part, and the loose center part all translate — you're already halfway to the texture Korean stylists add with a perm. See curly hairstyles for men for adjacent shapes.

Which cut works for a corporate office?

The K-drama business cut, the Ivy League K-style, and the sleek prince cut all read office-ready. The two block, comma, and middle part read modern-professional if you keep the sides scissor-blended and the top under 4 inches.

Are two block and Korean haircut the same thing?

The two block is one specific Korean haircut. Not every Korean haircut is a two block — the comma, the middle part, the wolf, and the buzz are all Korean and none of them require the hidden-buzz layer underneath.