Samurai Topknot

The samurai topknot is the men's styling with very long hair on top pulled into a high topknot, paired with shaved or very short sides. The look traces aesthetically to traditional Japanese chonmage (the samurai hairstyle of the Edo period, 1603-1868) but the modern Western version is a 2010s adaptation that emerged alongside hipster styling and the broader 'undercut with long top' trend.

It flatters oval and square faces — the contrast between shaved sides and topknot adds visual height and frames square jaws. Straight and wavy hair show the topknot cleanest; curly hair adapts but the topknot is softer. The cut needs significant top length — at least 10 cm — to pull into a high topknot.

Medium maintenance — pull top hair into a high topknot with an elastic, takes 1-2 minutes. Re-shave sides every 3-4 weeks to maintain the contrast. The traditional Japanese reference (chonmage) is historically significant but the modern Western 'samurai topknot' is a styling adaptation, not a cultural revival. The modern era is 2013-2016 alongside the broader hipster topknot moment; it has stayed in rotation since. Cut long enough to fully pull back (10+ cm); style into a high topknot with shaved or short sides for the contrast.