Men's Style
The Quiff: A Modern Classic with Volume Up Front
The quiff has been around for decades and keeps coming back because it does something most cuts cannot: it works dressed up or dressed down. Sharp and sleek for the office, textured and loose for the weekend, same haircut. If you want volume at the front without committing to the full drama of a pompadour, the quiff is the one.
What a quiff is
You keep length on top and style the front up and back to create height, while the sides stay shorter with a taper or a fade. The lift at the front is the signature. Unlike a style that lies flat, the quiff gives your hair movement and presence, and how much you push it decides whether it reads as formal or casual.
Quiff or pompadour?
People use the names loosely, but there is a real difference. A pompadour sweeps the whole top up and back into one big, smooth wave. A quiff focuses the volume at the front and can be worn more textured and relaxed, which makes it easier to pull off day to day. If you want maximum height and polish, go pompadour. If you want something versatile, go quiff.
Who it suits
It works on most face shapes and looks especially good on oval and square faces. The height at the front adds length, so it flatters rounder faces as well. You need medium length and a bit of body on top for the lift to hold, so very fine hair may need more product or a shorter, more textured version.
Pair it with the right sides
- Taper fade sides for a clean, modern contrast. See our taper fade guide.
- Undercut sides for a sharper, disconnected look. More on the undercut.
- Scissor-cut sides for a softer, more grown-out feel.
How to style it
Start on damp hair and blow-dry the front up and back with a round brush, which builds most of the volume. Then work in a matte clay for a textured, natural finish, or a light pomade for something sleeker. Keep the product light if you want it to move. For help choosing, see how to style men's hair.
Keeping it in Dubai's heat
Volume and humidity are not natural friends, so a firm-hold product matters here. A quick morning blow-dry sets the shape, and a matte clay holds it through the day without going greasy in the heat.
How to ask your barber
Ask for a quiff with length kept on top to style up at the front, and choose the sides: a taper, a fade, or an undercut. Say whether you want it sharp or textured so the barber cuts it to suit. A photo helps. Our guide on how to ask your barber has more.
Get it cut at home
A quiff depends on the top being cut long enough to lift and the sides shaped to frame it. Maison Cut brings an expert barber to your door across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and finishes by showing you how to style it. A haircut is from AED 190.
FAQ
What is a quiff?
Length on top styled up at the front for volume, with shorter tapered or faded sides.
Quiff or pompadour?
A pompadour sweeps everything up and back. A quiff lifts the front and can be worn more textured and casual.
Who does it suit?
Most face shapes, especially oval and square. Needs medium length and some body on top.
How do I style it?
Blow-dry the front up and back, then matte clay for texture or light pomade for a sleeker finish.