The Warrior Cut: The Trending Male Haircut of 2026
Published date 19 February 2026
A cut that’s masculine and extremely cool, The Warrior Cut, a bold revival of the classic 90’s haircut worn by Brad Pitt, is making its way into 2026. Becoming one of the most requested haircuts in the salon, this style has a strong shape with a deliberate messy vibe to it. The Warrior Cut embodies controlled chaos that feels both nostalgic in a cool, edgy way. Popularised by Hollywood heartthrob Austin Butler, this messy spiked yet soft look is the ultimate reference for clients wanting more length and volume, which is still wearable.
What exactly is the Warrior Cut?
This textured male haircut, inspired by the 90’s grunge aesthetic, blends a heavily textured top with softer sides for a rebellious finish. With key features such as choppy layers for definition and movement, with deliberately messy, spiked styling for volume and height, the Warrior Cut gives the result of a bold, cool style that makes a statement to your clients' look.
Why are clients asking for the Warrior Cut?
As we’ve seen throughout the past couple of years, male haircuts are moving towards styles that can be effortlessly created with natural texture to ensure a lived-in, masculine finish. Ticking every box, the Warrior Cut gives an edgy look whilst being low-maintenance but still fashion-forward.
How to achieve the Warrior Cut:
We teamed up with our Education Manager, Sara Simpson, to discuss how you can achieve the Warrior Cut in your salon with your very own clients.
Sectioning
- Firstly, start by dampening the hair
- Take a horseshoe section from recession to crown to isolate the top
- Keep the sides and back slightly drier if planning to use clippers
Cutting the sides
- To ensure that softer feel, use a scissor-over-comb technique for a natural, masculine finish
- If tapering with clippers, begin with a guard 3 at the lower occipital and blend in
- Blend upwards into a 4 right to the crown area
- Maintain weight at the parietal ridge to avoid harsh disconnection
Sara’s Pro Tip: “Remember, high fades are a modern look, whereas we are looking to create that 90’s masculine softness. Don’t fade the hair too high!”
Creating texture at the top
- Establish a central guide, usually around 4 inches, depending on the client
- Elevate to a 90-degree angle to achieve soft layering
- Make sure to slightly over-direct from the apex of the head, leaving the fringe slightly longer (This will create a softer, longer fringe)
- Point cut throughout to create internal movement and avoid bulk
Connect the top to the sides
- Blend using scissor-over-comb
- Soften the corners and remove excess weight with point cutting
Texturising
- When point cutting, make sure to hold your fingers at least halfway down the hair, pointing down towards your fingers
- Slide and cut through ends to remove bulk and enhance separation
- Avoid overusing thinning scissors unless working with dense hair
How to style the Warrior Cut
When styling, the goal is for The Warrior Cut to look intentionally messy, meaning it’s a super fun cut to style. Sara suggested these top tips when styling your clients' Warrior Cut:
- Once washed and towel dried, apply a sea salt spray or volumising mousse all over the hair for texture
- Rough dry with a hairdryer to add natural movement
- Work a pea-sized amount of styling paste or clay throughout the hair (we recommend Shed’s Clay Dough Matte Styling Clay)
- Use fingers to pull the hair into shape, keeping the style relaxed and undone
The Must-Have Male Haircut of 2026
The Warrior Cut definitely embodies the shift towards expressive and texture-led hair that embraces individuality. Clients are looking for styles that balance boldness with wearability, and this ’90s-inspired cut delivers the perfect mix of texture and volume so your client can rock this look with plenty of edge and confidence.
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