1920s Men’s Haircuts: Styles & Products of the Jazz Age

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Plus, follow our steps to get the 1920s slick-back at home

Co-authored by Samantha Fulton, BA

Last Updated: March 30, 2026 Fact Checked

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1920s Male Hairstyles

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How to Get the ‘20s Slickback

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Popular Hair Products

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Facial Hair in the 1920s

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The Roaring ’20s were filled with Jazz, flappers, and tons of new fashion trends. In particular, men began sporting a short, slicked-back style that has been romanticized and recreated for the last century. In this guide, we’ll show you some classic variations of the sleek Jazz Age look and tell you how to achieve the look at home! Plus, we’ll take a peek at facial hair trends from the ‘20s, in case you want to go full Gatsby.

How did 1920s men wear their hair?

Men in the 1920s primarily wore their hair short and slicked back. But, while most gentlemen of the Jazz Age maintained a classic, pomaded style, there were some variations. Some men wore a slicked-back side part, while others did a middle part or comb-over. Short pompadours and slick finger waves were also popular.

Section 1 of 4:

9 Male Hairstyles from the 1920s

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For the classic slick back look, men would use pomade or oil to push all of their hair back. The hair on the sides and back of the head would be closely cropped, with a little extra length on the top to slick back.^{[1]
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The slicked side part featured a hard side part with tapered hair on the sides and back of the head. The hair is longer on top, so it can be pushed over to the side and slicked back using oil or pomade.

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The slicked middle part featured a straight center part with slicked back hair. The hair was usually tapered on the sides and back and longer on the top. Men would push back the hair on either side of the center part with pomade. This was often worn by younger men seeking a more casual look.
To get the undercut style, men would completely shave the sides and back of their hair, leaving the top long. They would slick back the longer hair on top with pomade, either parting it or pushing all of it back.^{[2]
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The comb-over involved a side part with longer hair on the top of the head. It is similar to the slicked side part, but instead of creating a hard, visible part, men would use pomade to comb their hair over their part for a more tousled look.
Some men would sport a sleek fingerwave style. They would fashion their hair into waves and pomade it into place. This style could be parted on the side or in the center, or it could be pushed back with no part.
Men with natural curls went for a variation of the slicked back look, too! Leaving their curly hair natural on the top, they would use pomade to slick back the sides of their hair, styling their curls on the top to fall forward or to the side.
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The Conk The conk hairstyle was a slicked-back look popular with African American men in the 1920s. To achieve this look, men would use a straightener made of lye to replicate the popular pompadour style.^{[3]
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- Something to keep in mind: This is not a styling technique you should attempt at home. The lye straightener was a harmful chemical, and the conk required painful maintenance.
Regardless of the variety of short slicked hair men sported, different types of hats were always a fashionable option in the 20s! Popular styles included the felt hat, fedoras, flat caps, or straw boater hats, depending on status and season.^{[4]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Achieve the 1920s Men’s Slickback

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Ask your barber for a long taper on the sides and back with length on top. The perfect sleek look requires the right cut. For a classic, Gatsby-esque style, the hair should decrease in length from the top of the head down.^{[5]
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- Ask your barber to leave about 4 inches (10 cm) on the top, so you have plenty of hair to work with once you’re ready to slick it back.
- For an undercut, the hair will be the same length on the back and sides, rather than tapered.
When you’re styling at home, your hair should be clean before you start working with product. Apply shampoo and cleanse your hair while wet. After you’ve rinsed out the shampoo, it’s time to condition. Once you’ve rinsed all your shampoo and conditioner out, you’re ready to start styling your slick back.
While your hair is still damp, use a parting comb to draw a straight line on the left or right side of your head to get your desired shape. Then, comb the hair on both sides of the part toward the back of your head.
Apply an oil-based pomade product for shine. Once your hair is in position, start with a small amount of pomade and work it through your hair. Keep combing your hair into the slicked style as you apply your product.

Section 3 of 4:

What hair products did men use in the 1920s?

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Pomade made of petroleum and beeswax replaced older products. While animal fat was previously the main ingredient in pomade, men started to rely on pomades consisting of petroleum or beeswax to make sure their hair stayed sleek.^{[6]
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Brilliantine was the primary brand of choice. Men relied on the product, also called Brilliantine, to best maintain their slicked-back hair. Other popular products were Murray's, Sweet Georgia Brown, and Royal Crown, which were mass-produced pomades. These brands are still around today!^{[7]
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Section 4 of 4:

Facial Hair in the 1920s

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It was more common to be clean-shaven in the 1920s. Men returning from WWI were used to shaving every day, so the mustaches of the previous era fell out of fashion. Most slicked-back hairstyles were accompanied by little to no facial hair.^{[8]
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- Occasionally, men would sport a small mustache.
- Chin hair was only common on older men.
- On the fence? Check out some pros and cons of having a beard to help you decide if you want to go for the clean-shaven look.