The ducktail is a classic cut dating back to the 50s, where both sides of the hair are slicked back to meet in the middle. There are loads of variations of this style, allowing you to get a look as classic or as modern as you want. In this picture guide, we’re walking through ten of the top ducktail hairstyles for men.

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Formal Duck Tail with Undercut

The ducktail works great in formal situations, and you can save yourself a lot of hassle by keeping the back nice and short. Remember to apply the same ducktail principles to the top, to really keep the soul of the style present.

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Inverted Ducktail on Crop

This inverted ducktail hairstyle takes the concept of the ducktail and flips it around. Instead of slicking the hair backward, the two sides are slicked forwards to meet in the middle of this cool crop.

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Light Classic Ducktail

Here’s a classic ducktail haircut that’s been brushed into place. Notice how it’s not an overly “sticky” look, like some heavily-gelled ducktails. This one is stylish and super clean — we love it!

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Modern Ducktail with Tapered Neckline

This is a more modern take on the ducktail, where the slicked sides have been layered onto the back hair. It might take some time to grow locks these long, but the final result is definitely worth it.

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Front Volume and Curly Ducktail

For a twist on the regular ducktail, use the line along the middle as a guide for adding extra volume at the front. This curly ducktail hairstyle definitely has that technique down!

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Deconstructed Ducktail

If a plain ducktail haircut is a little too rigid for you, try adding some more texture. This deconstructed ducktail is layered up with locks of hair pointing in all different directions, for a carefree, modern look.