Broccoli Cut
Love It or Hate It: 2026 Guide

About This Style

A rounded mass of tight curls sits on top, cropped short enough at the sides to look intentional rather than overgrown, which gives oval and square faces a soft, balanced frame. It only really works on naturally curly or permed hair, since the shape depends entirely on curl bounce rather than styling technique. Permed versions need a refresh every few months to keep the curl pattern from relaxing out at the roots.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to soaking wet hair, scrunching upward from underneath.
2. Diffuse on low heat, cupping curls rather than dragging the dryer through them.
3. Avoid touching curls once dry so the rounded shape stays intact.

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About This Style

The sides taper down gently rather than fading sharply, keeping the overall look conservative enough for first-time wearers or workplaces that prefer understated styles. The curled top still reads clearly as a broccoli cut, just without the high-contrast sides some versions use. It's a gentle entry point for anyone curious about the trend without committing to a bolder fade underneath.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to damp curls, working it through evenly.
2. Scrunch curls upward gently to encourage the rounded shape.
3. Let hair air-dry rather than using heat for a softer, natural finish.

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About This Style

A fade starting at mid-height on the sides gives noticeably more contrast than a low taper while still working across nearly every face shape, which is part of why this is the most requested broccoli variation. The curled top sits above a clean, faded base rather than blending gradually into it. It balances boldness and wearability better than either the very low or very high fade versions.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls before diffusing them upward.
2. Diffuse on low heat until curls are fully dry and bouncy.
3. Check the mid fade line looks clean against the curled top.

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About This Style

The fade climbs all the way up near the crown and goes down to skin, creating the sharpest possible contrast against the curled top and suiting strong jawlines that can handle the bold statement. It draws far more attention than a low or mid fade version, which is exactly the appeal for anyone wanting to stand out. The tradeoff is upkeep, since a skin fade needs a trim every one to two weeks to stay sharp.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, scrunching from the ends toward the roots.
2. Diffuse on low heat, keeping the dryer away from the faded sides.
3. Check the skin fade edge is crisp before leaving the mirror.

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About This Style

Naturally straight hair is chemically permed to create the tight curl pattern the broccoli cut depends on, making this the right route for anyone without natural curls who still wants the look long-term. The perm needs redoing every few months as it grows out and relaxes, while the sides need trimming more frequently in between. It's a bigger commitment than styles built on natural texture, both in time and upkeep.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to damp, permed curls before diffusing.
2. Diffuse on low heat, scrunching gently to maintain the perm's curl pattern.
3. Book perm touch-ups before the curl pattern visibly loosens at the roots.

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About This Style

Built entirely around natural type 3a to 3c curls with no perm involved, this version simply lets existing curl pattern do the work while the sides are kept short and neat. It's the lowest-maintenance route to the look for anyone who already has the right hair type, since there's no chemical process to repeat every few months. Curl cream is mainly there to control frizz rather than create shape.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to soaking wet hair, distributing evenly through curls.
2. Scrunch gently from ends to roots to encourage natural curl clumping.
3. Let hair air-dry completely without touching to avoid frizz.

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About This Style

A crisp, straight-edged line is shaved along the hairline and temples, adding barbershop precision to the otherwise soft, rounded curls on top. It suits any face shape and works especially well for anyone who wants their broccoli cut to look freshly barbered at all times. The line-up fades and blurs quickly as hair grows in, so it needs touching up every one to two weeks to stay sharp.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to curls, keeping product away from the hairline.
2. Diffuse curls upward, avoiding the freshly lined-up edges.
3. Book a line-up touch-up as soon as the edge starts to soften.

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About This Style

A gradual taper rather than a hard fade line runs down the sides, softening the transition beneath the curled top and suiting nearly any face shape without drawing too much attention to the sides themselves. Many consider this the most flattering variation because the soft taper doesn't compete visually with the curl texture above it. It also grows out more forgivingly than a sharp fade line.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls before diffusing upward.
2. Diffuse on low heat until the curls are fully set and bouncy.
3. Check the taper blends smoothly with no visible hard line.

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About This Style

The fade line drops lower behind the ear rather than staying level across the head, following the curve of the skull for a rounder look that flatters round and oval faces especially well. It pairs naturally with the rounded curl shape on top, since both the fade and the curls share a soft, curved silhouette. The dropped line takes a skilled barber to freehand evenly on both sides.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, scrunching upward from underneath.
2. Diffuse on low heat, letting curls fall naturally rather than combing.
3. Check the dropped fade curve looks even behind each ear.

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About This Style

The fade curves tightly around the ear in a small burst rather than running in a straight line, giving the sides a sculpted, streetwear-influenced look that pairs with strong features well. It's a bolder choice than a standard taper or mid fade, suited to anyone wanting their broccoli cut to look more editorial. The curved fade needs a barber experienced with burst fades to keep it symmetrical.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls before diffusing them upward.
2. Diffuse on low heat until fully dry and bouncy.
3. Check the burst fade curve around the ear looks even on both sides.

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About This Style

The sides taper down to skin very gradually rather than in a hard fade line, giving a subtle edge that still reads as clean and professional. It suits workplaces that want some contrast without an obviously bold statement fade. The gradual nature of the taper means it needs frequent trims to keep the transition to skin looking smooth rather than patchy.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, scrunching from ends to roots.
2. Diffuse on low heat, avoiding the tapered sides directly.
3. Check the taper fades smoothly into skin with no visible steps.

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About This Style

A perm creates the curl on top while a low, understated fade cleans up the sides, giving straight-haired men a lower-key version of the trend than the higher-contrast fades. It suits anyone who wants the curl texture to be the main feature rather than a bold sided statement. Both the perm and the fade need separate maintenance schedules, with the perm lasting months longer than the fade needs between trims.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to damp, permed curls before diffusing.
2. Diffuse gently on low heat to preserve the perm's pattern.
3. Keep the low fade simple so it doesn't compete with the curls.

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About This Style

Curls on top are individually defined rather than left in a general rounded mass, taking more styling time but producing a sharper, more polished result suited to special events or style-focused wearers. A mid fade underneath keeps the sides clean without distracting from the defined curl work above. This version needs more product and more time each morning than a standard broccoli cut.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream generously to soaking wet hair, working through small sections.
2. Twirl individual curls around a finger while still wet for definition.
3. Diffuse carefully on low heat, avoiding disturbing the defined curls.

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About This Style

A high fade removes as much bulk as possible from the sides, which pushes visual attention upward and adds apparent height to the curled top, useful for round or shorter faces wanting more length through the crown. The volume on top is emphasized rather than kept compact, making the curls look fuller by contrast with the closely faded sides. Regular trims keep the fade sharp since regrowth shows quickly at this height.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls before diffusing them upward and outward.
2. Diffuse on low heat, cupping curls from underneath to build maximum volume.
3. Avoid flattening the top with your hands once curls are dry.

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About This Style

The curls on top are left considerably longer than a standard broccoli cut, creating a bigger, more dramatic silhouette that suits anyone wanting to make a real statement with the style. It requires real commitment, since longer curls take more time to grow into and more product to manage day to day. The sides need trimming more often than the top, which can stretch to six weeks between cuts.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream generously to soaking wet hair, covering every section.
2. Diffuse on low heat for longer than usual to fully dry the added length.
3. Scrunch periodically throughout drying to build maximum volume.

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About This Style

Built around type 2b to 2c waves rather than tight curls, this softer take on the broccoli cut has a looser, more relaxed silhouette on top since waves don't clump as tightly as curls do. It suits anyone with wavy hair who likes the trend but doesn't have the curl pattern for the classic version. Very little product is needed, since the goal is natural texture rather than defined curl shape.

How to Style at Home

1. Scrunch a light styling product through damp waves.
2. Let hair air-dry naturally rather than diffusing on high heat.
3. Tousle gently with fingers once dry to break up any flat sections.

About This Style

The rounded curl shape is kept deliberately undone rather than neatly diffused, suiting casual wearers who want the trend without a structured styling routine each morning. It tolerates humidity and a bit of neglect far better than a precisely shaped version, since the messiness is part of the intended look. This is close to a no-effort version of the cut, needing little more than a scrunch of product.

How to Style at Home

1. Scrunch a small amount of product through damp curls without much shaping.
2. Let hair air-dry completely, resisting the urge to smooth it down.
3. Tousle with fingers once dry for a looser, undone finish.

About This Style

A section of curls at the front is directed to one side rather than left standing straight up, softening the forehead and suiting oval and heart faces particularly well. It gives the style a slightly more grown-up, styled feel compared to the classic centered version. The side fringe needs a touch of product to hold its direction, since curls naturally want to spring back upright.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, focusing extra product at the front.
2. Diffuse the front section while gently guiding it to one side.
3. Press the fringe lightly in place once mostly dry to set the direction.

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About This Style

Extra attention is paid to shaping the curls into a symmetrical, even dome rather than leaving natural growth patterns to dictate the silhouette, which suits square or oval faces wanting a deliberate, statement-focused look. It requires more precise trimming than a standard broccoli cut, since any unevenness in the round shape is immediately noticeable. Regular shape-up trims matter more here than length maintenance.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, distributing evenly around the whole head.
2. Diffuse in sections, working around the head to build an even dome.
3. Check the shape from multiple angles in the mirror once dry.

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About This Style

Paired with a full or well-groomed beard, this version suits men in their late twenties and thirties who want the trend balanced with a more mature look overall. The beard adds visual weight below that matches the volume of the curls above, so neither one looks like an afterthought. Both need trimming on roughly the same schedule to keep the whole look cohesive rather than mismatched.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to curls and beard oil to the beard separately.
2. Diffuse curls on low heat while the beard air-dries after washing.
3. Trim the beard line neatly where it meets the sideburns and fade.

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About This Style

The curls on top are colored differently from the shorter sides, adding a bold visual contrast that suits younger, style-focused wearers more than conservative settings. It takes real commitment to the color, since regrowth at the roots shows within weeks and needs regular refreshing to stay sharp. The curl pattern itself is unaffected by the color, so the shaping and diffusing routine stays the same as any curly broccoli cut.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet, colored curls before diffusing.
2. Diffuse on low heat, being gentle since color treatment can weaken strands.
3. Use a color-safe product to avoid fading the tone prematurely.

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About This Style

Length is kept at the back in mullet fashion while the top keeps its rounded, curled broccoli shape, creating a hybrid that appeals to trend-savvy wearers wanting two statement styles combined. The curls on top and the longer back need different handling, with the curls diffused and the back left to fall more naturally. It's a distinctive enough combination that it works best on someone confident wearing an unconventional shape.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to the curled top section and diffuse as usual.
2. Apply a lighter product to the longer back section to define texture.
3. Keep the two sections visually distinct rather than blending them together.

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About This Style

The sides and back are shaved very short or undercut, creating an abrupt, high-contrast line beneath the full curled top that suits bolder, more alternative aesthetics than a standard fade would. The sharp distinction between the shaved sides and the curls draws immediate attention, which is exactly the point for anyone wanting an edgier variation. It needs frequent trims to the sides to keep the contrast crisp.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, keeping product away from the shaved sides.
2. Diffuse curls upward, letting them stand in contrast to the short sides.
3. Check the undercut line stays sharp and doesn't blur into the curls.

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About This Style

The curls are cropped shorter overall than a standard broccoli cut, giving a more compact, textured silhouette that suits conservative environments and anyone preferring shorter hair generally. It keeps the recognizable curl texture without the height or volume of longer versions. Because there's less length to manage, styling time is shorter than fuller broccoli cuts.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, working through the shorter length.
2. Diffuse briefly on low heat since there's less hair to dry.
3. Pat curls gently into place rather than combing them out.

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About This Style

A shaved pattern or shape is added into the short sides beneath the curled top, giving creative environments and barbershop-art enthusiasts a highly personalized version of the cut. The design becomes the focal point at the sides, so the curls on top are usually kept in their natural rounded shape without extra styling to compete for attention. Like any shaved design, it needs frequent touch-ups to stay sharp as hair grows in.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to the curled top, keeping it simple and rounded.
2. Diffuse on low heat, avoiding the shaved design at the sides.
3. Book a design touch-up as soon as the lines start to blur.

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About This Style

A thin shaved line marks a hard part at the side, adding barbershop precision to the otherwise soft, rounded curls above. It suits any face shape and works well for anyone who likes a mix of structure and texture in the same haircut. The shaved line needs regular upkeep, since it grows in and softens well before the curls on top need attention.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, avoiding the shaved part line.
2. Diffuse curls upward, letting the part remain visible at the side.
3. Touch up the hard part with a fine comb if hair falls across it.

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About This Style

The front curls are built up with extra height and swept back rather than left in a uniform rounded shape, blending vintage pompadour styling with the modern broccoli trend for a look that suits oval faces well. It takes more diffusing time at the front than a standard broccoli cut, since the goal is lift rather than an even dome. This version reads a touch more polished than the classic style.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to the front curls first, focusing on lift.
2. Diffuse the front section upward and slightly back using cupped hands.
3. Let the remaining curls fall into their natural rounded shape at the sides.

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About This Style

Curls are left looser and less defined than the classic version, giving a relaxed, lived-in look that fits music and creative scenes better than polished settings. It relies on natural texture rather than diffusing technique, so styling effort is minimal day to day. The overall silhouette is less rounded and more irregular than a shaped broccoli cut, which is part of the appeal for anyone after a laid-back result.

How to Style at Home

1. Scrunch a small amount of product through damp curls without much shaping.
2. Let hair air-dry completely rather than using a diffuser.
3. Leave curls loose and uneven rather than trying to round out the shape.

About This Style

Maximum lift and fullness are pushed into the curls on top, creating an oversized, photo-ready silhouette meant to make a real statement rather than blend in. It takes more time and product than a standard broccoli cut, since every step of the diffusing process is aimed at adding volume rather than definition. This version suits anyone wanting the boldest possible version of the trend.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream generously to soaking wet hair, covering every strand.
2. Diffuse upside down or tilted forward to maximize root lift.
3. Scrunch repeatedly during drying to build as much volume as possible.

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About This Style

The curls are bleached to a platinum shade, adding a striking color statement to the already eye-catching rounded shape, which suits bold, younger wearers more than conservative environments. Bleaching curly hair takes real care, since the chemical process can dry out and weaken the curl pattern if not maintained properly between color sessions. Regular color refreshes every six to eight weeks keep the platinum tone from growing out unevenly.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream formulated for color-treated hair to damp curls.
2. Diffuse gently on low heat to avoid further stressing bleached strands.
3. Use a purple or toning product periodically to keep brassiness at bay.

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About This Style

Very tight, small coils create a dense, compact version of the rounded broccoli shape, suited to special occasions or anyone wanting a more style-focused, precisely defined look. The tighter the coil, the more product and time it takes to define individually rather than let clump naturally. It holds its shape for longer between styling sessions than looser curl patterns because the coils are less prone to loosening.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to soaking wet hair in small sections.
2. Twirl each small section around a finger to define tight coils.
3. Diffuse carefully on low heat without disturbing the defined coils.

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About This Style

Looser, larger curls replace the tighter coil pattern of the classic version, giving a softer, more sophisticated take on the broccoli cut that suits older wearers and formal contexts better than the boldest variations. The relaxed curl shape reads as more grown-up while still keeping the recognizable rounded silhouette. It needs less frequent styling attention since looser curls hold their shape without much definition work.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream lightly to damp hair to avoid overdefining the curls.
2. Diffuse on low heat, allowing curls to fall more loosely than usual.
3. Let hair settle naturally rather than scrunching for extra volume.

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About This Style

The fade is concentrated specifically at the temples rather than running around the whole head, framing the face and suiting round faces that benefit from added definition near the hairline. The rest of the sides can stay slightly fuller than a full fade style, keeping the overall focus on the temple area. It needs regular upkeep since the temple fade is the fastest-growing section to lose its sharp edge.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, focusing on the top and crown.
2. Diffuse the top on low heat, keeping the temple fade area untouched.
3. Check the temple fade looks crisp and framed around the face.

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About This Style

Curls are left intentionally uneven from one side to the other rather than symmetrically rounded, giving fashion-forward wearers an editorial, unconventional take on the trend. It requires a barber comfortable working outside the standard symmetrical shape, since the asymmetry has to look deliberate rather than accidental. Styling day to day focuses on maintaining the uneven balance rather than trying to correct it.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, working each side slightly differently.
2. Diffuse one side with more lift than the other for visible asymmetry.
3. Check in the mirror that the imbalance reads as intentional, not sloppy.

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About This Style

Only the very tips of the curls are lightened, referencing the frosted tip trend of past decades while keeping the base color natural, which appeals to anyone chasing a nostalgic, playful look. Because only the ends are treated, this needs less frequent color maintenance than a fully bleached style. It works best on curls with enough definition to show the lightened tips clearly against the darker base.

How to Style at Home

1. Apply curl cream to wet curls, focusing on defining individual curl clumps.
2. Diffuse on low heat so the lightened tips stay visible and distinct.
3. Touch up the frosted tips roughly every couple of months as they grow out.

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