Pompadour haircut

A pompadour is a men’s haircut in which the longer hair on top is combed up and back to form high volume above the forehead, while the sides and back are kept much shorter. Its signature is a smooth roll at the front with no parting or only a faint one. The volume is held in place by blow-drying and a styling product.

The name comes from French, and online you may also see it misspelt as “pompandour” — it is the same cut.

The silhouette is easy to recognise in profile: the highest point sits right above the hairline, and the length then tapers gradually towards the crown. The face stays open, with no strands falling onto the forehead.

What sets the pompadour apart from other volume cuts is direction. All the hair on top goes back rather than sideways or forwards, so the cut looks tidy even with generous length on top.

The sides can be done in different ways. The classic version is cut with scissors, with a soft transition and enough length to lie back. Modern versions use clippers: a skin fade, a high-contrast undercut or a neat short back and sides.

The top is cut with scissors: the barber keeps the length at the front and gradually shortens it towards the crown so the volume doesn’t collapse by lunchtime.

The pompadour is one of the few classic men’s cuts that works equally well with a suit and with a denim shirt. At Lumberjack Barberhouse it is done as part of the Men’s Haircut service in all 10 of our Kyiv barbershops.

A pompadour is often confused with the side-part cut known locally as the “British”. That one also has a long top, but with a clear side parting and volume shifted to one side, whereas here the hair goes straight back through the centre. Another name you’ll see in searches is the “modern pompadour”: a version with a fade and matte texture instead of shine.

Below you’ll find the history, key specs, photos of four versions, pros and cons, home care and answers to common questions. If you already know what you want, book online and fine-tune the shape together with your barber.

The pompadour is a cut with character, and it has a price: a few minutes every morning. Here’s an honest look at what you get and what you trade for it.

Pro: a striking silhouette. Volume above the forehead visually adds height and opens up the face. People notice the cut from a distance.

Pro: flexibility. The same top can be worn smooth for a business meeting and textured at the weekend — only the product and the brush movement change.

Pro: works with a beard. A high top balances a beard of any length, from stubble to full.

Pro: easy to change. From a pompadour it’s simple to move to a quiff, an undercut or a crop — the length on top gives the barber room to work.

Pro: grey-friendly. A swept-back top looks neat with grey hair too — here natural grey adds gravitas rather than years.

Con: styling required. Without a dryer and product the hair falls where it likes, and the pompadour turns into an ordinary cut with a long top.

Con: regular upkeep. Short sides grow out fast, so you’ll need to refresh the shape every 3–4 weeks.

Con: not helmet- or hat-friendly. Headwear flattens the volume, and you’ll have to restyle afterwards.

Con: needs density. If the hair at the crown is thinning, a high style can draw attention to it. In that case your barber will suggest lower volume or a shorter cut, such as a crop.