Every black boy wants a cool hairstyle that reflects his personality, hair texture and desired look. From modern to classic, the most popular haircuts for black boys are versatile, stylish choices that feature short faded sides with longer, naturally-textured hair on top, creating a sleek, flattering look.

Some of our favorite styles include the buzz cut, sponged curls, burst faded mohawk, curly high top fade, box braids, waves, frohawk, twists, dreads and the classic afro.

These charming hairstyle ideas are classy and easy for any little black boy who needs a school-appropriate look requiring minimal styling. Whether your son has curly, coily or kinky hair, he’ll want to experiment with these trendy styles.

Let’s explore the coolest black boy’s haircuts to inspire his next trip to the barbershop and ensure a fashionable, low-maintenance look.

Trending Haircuts For Black Boys

Cute Curls with Low Skin Fade

Cute curls get a modern touch with a clean and polished low skin fade. Keeping the sides short draws attention to the mass of coils on top and will let your little boy’s natural texture shine. Gradually blend the sides into the hair on top with clippers to achieve a gorgeous contrast characteristic of modern styles. This seamless transition should create a relatively low-maintenance style that’s neat enough for kindergarten kids.

Handsome Buzz Cut

Easy and masculine, a buzz cut offers a clean look for handsome black teenage boys who want a low-maintenance, timeless style. Tighten the hairline with a sharp line up and keep the sides short to create a subtle disconnect, contrasting the slightly fuller top. This very short haircut is ideal for athletic kids and will suit any school dress code.

Thick Curly Mohawk with Low Burst Fade and Shaved Line

A thick, curly mohawk looks fantastic paired with a low burst fade and shaved line for an edgy appearance. The stark difference in volume between the dense, curly top and the sides gives this look instant visual drama. A shaved line creates a distinctive separation between each section, highlighting the badass burst fade that drops around the ear.

Awesome Coily Afro with Low Fade and Shape Up

A playful coily afro with a classy low fade and shape up can be an iconic look for any black boy wanting to embrace his natural texture. This classic longer afro features the signature rounded shape, working against the sleek sides and crisp lineup for an eye-catching finish. Keep the locks moisturized with deep conditioning and schedule regular barber visits to keep the back and sides looking uniform.

Box Braids

Box braids are a fun and fresh hairstyle for black kids who want to minimize damage and protect their beautiful hair from the elements. While longer can be captivating, wear these trendy braids short to eliminate the need for daily styling and detangling. Ask your barber for slightly tighter twists for a defined finish on the scalp. The style lasts several weeks and can hold up in basketball, soccer and football games, playground tumbles and everything in between.

Classic Afro with Shape Up

Unique and angular, a classic afro with a shape up is a striking style for black boys with natural volume and coarse locks. A sharp, defined line along the hairline creates dapper angles across the forehead and sides. For a low-maintenance but stylish cut, pair a relatively cropped length on top with subtle faded sides.

Flat Top with High Fade

A flat top with a high fade offers a neat, clean appearance with sharp contrast. The impressive height is usually well-defined and gives the cut a retro 90s vibe, perfect for experimental tweens and teenage guys. The high fade keeps this style relaxed and comfortable while being low-maintenance and modern. For a more manageable cut, keep the top closely cropped.

Messy Short Afro with High Fade

A messy, short afro is a cute and fun cut for younger African-American kids that can be enhanced with a daring high fade. The more relaxed style allows natural curls to form on top, creating breathtaking visual interest with the clean lines of the faded sides. For double takes on the playground, throw in a sleek line up.

Long Curly Top with Low Drop Fade

Kids with long, natural hair can experiment with a curly top and a badass low drop fade. The drop fade gradually transitions between the sky-high top and the sides, adding a modern element to this fun style. Leave the hair to sit naturally or grab small sections and style the hair with an afro comb to give the top extra body and lift.

Soft Buzz Cut Fade

Relaxed and easy to manage, an adorable soft buzz cut fade will show off your little boy’s thick hair while maintaining a simple style. The faded back and sides create a blended finish all around the head to keep him cool and comfortable, especially in the summer. The subtle transition results in a smoother look and can be ideal for stricter schools.

Frohawk Fade with Highlights

This frohawk fade gets a burst of fun color with refreshing highlights. Unlike a traditional mohawk with shaved sides, the frohawk features a dapper fade that blends in seamlessly with a central afro. Ask your barber for bleached or colored highlights that heavily contrast against your natural shade to add flair to your ‘fro.

Sweet Hair Twists

Sweet hair twists let youngsters with medium-length locks embrace their heritage with a unique look. Twisting the hair prevents the breakage and split ends that can arise from frequent styling. Twists can also be an excellent option for those sensitive to tighter styles. Talk to your barber about experimenting with an undercut for an edgy feel.

Sponged Afro with Mid Fade and Edge Up

A sponged afro is a flattering hairstyle that looks stylish with a balanced mid fade and sharp edge up. Lining up the hairline with a defined edge works beautifully with the defined coils to draw attention to this style’s natural volume. Adding a modern fade blends this look while keeping the neck and ears fresh.

Locs with Undercut

Rocking locs with an undercut lets your child combine traditional dreads with edgy, faded sides. The closely buzzed back and sides emphasize the voluminous locs, creating an effortlessly cool look when the hair is tied up. Add a sleek shape up to the mix for more definition.

Buzz Cut Fade with Zig Zag Pattern

You can easily give a buzz cut fade a personal twist with distinctive zig-zag patterns on one side of the head. The shaved design should start from the temple and cut toward the back of the head for a sleek appearance. Adjust the pattern’s thickness, spacing and curves to create a design that suits your child’s unique vibe.

Long Retro Flat Top with Skin Fade

The long, retro flat top is a fashionable choice for modern black teens that will look contemporary and refreshing with a skin fade on the sides and back. The refined top can be fluffed up with an afro comb for extra lift or left natural for a relaxed feel. For rebellious kids, throw in a shaved line to distinguish between the top and the sides.

Cornrows with Low Fade

Getting cornrows with a low fade gives you a groomed appearance with a contemporary feel. Replacing shaved sides with a gradual fade makes this cut less severe than alternative styles for young boys. Braiding the hair extremely close to the scalp also keeps fragile hair protected, sleek and low-maintenance.

Textured Afro with High Temp Fade

A textured classic afro with a modern high temp fade is an awesome cut for any daring guy wanting to incorporate some extra personality and drama. This style embraces the natural texture of black hair, giving curls room to form into a voluminous afro. Tapering from the temples creates a handsome, blended transition that complements the more rebellious top.

Braids with Fade

Active kids can get braids with a fade to keep their locks away from their eyes and protected from styling damage. Combining tight braids with a high fade creates cool contrast that pulls the eye towards the sleek hair on top. Once the braids are locked in, they also require minimal maintenance.

High Top Fade

The timeless high-top fade is a stylish haircut for little black boys who want to highlight their personality with a unique look. With faded back and sides, the structured, geometric style on top offers an unbeatable vintage vibe. Personalize the edgy cut with a low, mid or high fade that suits your child’s style and face shape.

Short Afro Taper

A short afro taper is a practical style that frames the face and instantly sharpens the features. The shorter length lends the cut a professional edge, while the rounded top and subtle taper soften the overall look for school-aged kids.

Waves with Mid Skin Fade

The waves haircut is a modern, low-maintenance style that features texture and looks effortlessly trendy with a mid skin fade. Deep waves offer a natural look, but the sleek fade gives this cut its contemporary appearance. Keeping the hair relatively short makes this style easy to manage, providing an excellent choice for cute toddlers who struggle at the barbershop.

Kinky Faux Hawk with Low Skin Fade and Surgical Part

A kinky faux hawk with a low skin fade and surgical part is a modern style that celebrates the natural texture of black hair. The precise part above the ear offers a clean aesthetic, while the low skin fade prevents this style from looking overly dramatic.

Longer Kinky Afro with Low Bald Fade and Edge Up

Little daredevils can embrace their natural curls with a longer kinky afro, low bald fade and sharp edge up. The bald fade keeps the back and sides shaved close to the skin and requires minimal styling if your child is usually running around the schoolyard. Contrasting the well-defined coils with a uniform hairline creates glorious visual interest that fashionable kids will adore.

Long Braids with Short Sides

Also known as a braid-out fade, long braids with short sides protect black hair with a clean and edgy aesthetic. The longer length complements the closely cropped sides, keeping all eyes on the swirl pattern and sleek styling on top.

Long Twist Braids

Long twist braids give the hair an effortlessly cool and masculine appearance that comes with less structure than other braided styles. The twisted effect emphasizes natural volume and locks in moisture for a low-maintenance look. These versatile braids can be worn loose, pulled back into a slick ponytail or bundled up into an updo for afternoons on the soccer pitch.

Short Curly Crew Cut with Mid Fade

Embrace a short, curly crew cut by dialing it up with a dazzling mid fade. The adorable crew cut is comfortable enough for toddlers and older kids while highlighting the natural kinks in black hair. By pairing a low-maintenance crew cut with a basic mid fade, you’ll minimize trips to the barber shop while adding breathtaking visual interest to the overall look.

Round Afro with Mid Taper Fade

A round afro with a mid taper fade is a timeless style for older boys who want a clean-cut look that’s easy to maintain. The longer hair on top complements the seamlessly tapered sides for a blended and wearable appearance. Ask your barber to clean up the hairline with sharp lines for a sleek finish.

Braids with Bun and Undercut

For an awesome look, an undercut can deliver drama while you style protective braids into a sleek bun in the back. Split your braids into uniform sections and alternate micro braids with thicker sections around the edge of your style for extra flair. To give your look structure, maintain the undercut with regular clipping.

Close Cropped Cut

A close, cropped cut creates a clean and minimalistic boy’s hairstyle. You can achieve this military-inspired style by using clippers with a short guard. Although a uniform buzz around the head is cool and classic, older boys may want to experiment with slightly more hair on top.

Cute Curly Top with High Fade

A cute curly top with a high fade lets rebellious little ones showcase their natural texture with clean lines. The kinks on top bring a youthful energy to this style, but the cut gets a modern feel from the short back and sides. During the summertime, experiment with shaved designs for a touch of individuality.

Low Temp Fade

A low temp fade creates a smooth transition from longer hair on top to shorter hair around the temples and ears. This lower fade is less dramatic than a shorter higher cut, complementing everything from textured high tops to buzz and crew cuts. A precise edge up is the perfect finishing touch to pull the eye toward the voluminous sponged coils.

360 Waves with Shape Up

Stylish textured waves can be combined with a sleek shape up to elevate handsome facial features. The deep waves form a striking “360” pattern that adds effortless texture and visual interest to a traditional buzz cut. To get deeper waves, boys should patiently grow out their hair for a few weeks before laying their hair down.

Pulled Back Dreads with Temp Fade

Old-school, pulled back dreads get a contemporary makeover with a temp fade’s clean and tapered appearance. A hair band can keep unruly locs neatly arranged and away from the face, making this an ideal style for active kids. The shorter fade around the temples also adds dimension to the mass of hair on top.

Mid Fade

Simple and versatile, a mid fade involves gradually tapering the hair from a longer top to shorter hair around the middle of the head. The seamless fade creates a clean and polished aesthetic that keeps naturally kinky hair under control with minimal maintenance.

Edgy Braid Pattern

An edgy braid pattern is a daring style that uses geometric shapes, zig-zag or curved cuts to create a unique finish on the scalp. Zig-zag designs or star-like shapes around the scalp provide fantastic anchoring for protective braids while letting older boys showcase their individuality.

Popular Black Boy Hairstyles

The most popular hairstyles for little black boys and teens alike are timeless looks such as the fresh high top fade, elegant short curls, simple buzz cut with design, playful frohawk, charming curly mohawk with a burst fade and cute afro with a line up. Ask your barber about trending cuts that complement afro-textured hair and infuse your son’s personality into the equation for a creative approach. With numerous variations, you can find the perfect haircut style to suit your little guy, no matter what he’s into.