C-Pop style for men: Hairstylists reveal the key to a youthful vibe.

In recent years, as Chinese dramas and male celebrities have risen in popularity, the uniquely stylish “C-Pop hairstyles” have quietly swept through Taiwan’s hair fashion scene. You may have seen effortlessly stylish men’s cuts on social media that give off an elegant, premium vibe—but it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why. In this article, M-Palace hairstylist Evan introduces the charm of youthful C-Pop-inspired haircuts and showcases four popular styles that explain the trend and might just inspire your next look.

M-Palace Taichung Flagship Store hairstylist: Evan

Catalogue

I. What is a “C-Pop” haircut?

II. Korean, Japanese, and C-Pop hairstyles—What’s the difference?

1. Korean style

2. Japanese style

3. C-Pop style

III. Who suits a C-Pop haircut?

What is a “C-Pop” haircut?

A C-Pop hairstyle blends a relaxed, slightly tousled look with a touch of sophistication. It emphasizes irregular, sharp lines and a loose, effortless vibe. Using low-layered cuts to add style, this look leans mature and composed—without appearing stiff. The concept of “youthful charm” is key: according to Evan, achieving that C-Pop boyish vibe depends on creating natural volume and a fresh, energetic overall feel.

C-Pop hairstyle / Evan’s work

Korean, Japanese, and C-Pop hairstyles—What’s the difference?

In Asian hairstyle trends, styles can generally be divided into three major categories: Korean, Japanese, and C-Pop (Chinese). Evan explains the differences in a clear, approachable way:

Korean hairstyles
Popularized by K-dramas and K-pop, Korean hairstyles are known for their clean, polished look and soft volume. They often feature thicker-looking hair through layered techniques, creating a fuller visual effect. The overall aesthetic leans toward neatness and modern minimalism, making these styles especially appealing to office workers due to their easy maintenance and tidy appearance.

Korean hairstyle / Work by Evan

Japanese hairstyle
Japanese hairstyles are essentially the opposite of Korean styles. The overall look emphasizes lightness, achieved through thinning and high-layered cuts to create a delicate feel. Compared to Korean hairstyles, Japanese styles are more challenging to maintain and typically require styling products for daily upkeep. Therefore, they are ideal for those who enjoy dressing up and are willing to spend time styling their hair.

C-Pop hairstyle
In recent years, several popular sweet romance Chinese dramas have entered the Taiwanese market, quietly sparking a trend for C-Pop hairstyles. The hallmark of C-Pop hairstyles is a balanced look that is both stylish and relaxed, avoiding overly neat designs. The bangs usually fall between the eyes and eyebrows, creating a casual and laid-back vibe. This is the biggest difference from the neat and tidy Korean style, making C-Pop hairstyles ideal for young people who prefer a natural yet textured look.

Evan mentioned that compared to Korean hairstyles, C-Pop styles work better for guys with defined facial features but can also greatly enhance the appearance of those with less refined looks. In other words, this hairstyle was born to help “ordinary guys make a comeback.” You don’t need a naturally handsome face—just the right design can boost your look from average to outstanding.

Who suits a C-Pop haircut?

C-Pop youthful hairstyle is especially suitable for guys with smaller facial features, square faces, or long face shapes. It effectively softens the cheekbones and jawline, creating a more balanced facial proportion. For example, in the recent popular Chinese drama Unrequited Love《難哄》, the male lead Sang Yan, played by Bai Jingting, sports a classic C-Pop style featuring a “subtle layered fringe” combined with a slight wolf tail. This perfectly complements Bai Jingting’s angular face, enhancing his charismatic and atmospheric appeal.

Subtle layered fringe with wolf tail / Evan’s work

For hair texture, coarse and thick hair, fine and soft hair, as well as natural curls can all achieve the C-Pop style through different treatments. Coarse hair relies on precise cutting to create the desired effect; fine hair benefits from perms to enhance volume and dimension; naturally curly hair can opt for straightening treatments or root-smoothing perms to improve manageability and style.

In summary, the C-Pop youthful hairstyle suits various hair types and face shapes, especially for guys looking to subtly refine their facial features. However, those with an M-shaped hairline are not suitable for this style, as the C-Pop look depends on bangs creating a relaxed, effortless vibe, which is difficult to achieve with a receding or sparse frontal hairline.

Popular 4 C-Pop inspired youthful hairstyles

Men’s hairstyle “Airy Texture Perm”: Voluminous and natural, perfect for busy students

This client has normal hair—not particularly coarse or fine—and wanted to fix the flatness on the crown with a perm. Evan used a voluminous, natural “airy texture perm” to boost the top’s fullness and create a casual, fluffy look. This perm offers long-lasting curls that are easy to style; after applying mousse and blow-drying at home, the client can effortlessly maintain the hairstyle.

Men’s hairstyle “Leslie Curls”: Slimming cheekbones and elongating the face

This client has coarse hair and a round face with somewhat prominent cheekbones, and he wanted to elongate his facial proportions. Evan used Leslie curls to add volume on top, creating the effect of a longer face, while using a smoothing perm on the sides to soften the high cheekbones. Evan noted that because Leslie curls have strong curls, the style maintains some curl even with regular trims, lasting at least four months.

Men’s hairstyle “Subtle Layered Fringe”: The natural curl savior for a slimmer head shape

This client has coarse hair that tends to puff out on the sides and have unruly hair flow, making his head appear larger. To address this, Evan used a micro-layered textured cut to add layers and dimension, combined with hair-straightening treatment and smoothing perm to make the hair softer and lie flatter, instantly slimming the head shape.

Men’s hairstyle “Manga-Inspired Subtle Layered Fringe”: stylish even with thin hair

This client has fine, soft hair and a slight M-shaped hairline recession. He wanted a defined part with bangs and a hairstyle that visually increases hair volume. Evan corrected the hair flow using the client’s natural bangs length to successfully cover the M-shaped recession area. The style achieves the desired part simply by blow-drying. Additionally, Evan used a long-lasting Leslie perm to add volume on top, preventing flatness common with fine hair and enhancing the overall visual fullness.

Recommended C-Pop haircuts in Taichung: M-Palace Flagship Store – Evan

Evan, with 10 years of experience in hairstyling, specializes in men’s perms and C-Pop hairstyles, helping men find their own unique style. His passion for hairstyling began in childhood when he accompanied his mother to the salon and was fascinated by the process of applying hair treatment products. This early interest led him to fully immerse himself in the world of hairstyling.

If you want a makeover but aren’t sure which men’s hairstyle suits you, Evan offers basic perms starting at $3,200. Enjoy a 15% discount when you get a perm combined with hair treatment. Click the hairstylist info below to consult with Evan and start your transformation—become the heartthrob who turns heads everywhere you go!

For appointment information at M-Palace flagship store:

Hair stylist: Evan

Instagram: @evan_mpalace

Address: No. 95, Jin Xin Street, North District, Taichung City 404, Taiwan.

◆ Suitable for bleached, permed, and severely damaged hair
◆ Leave-in hair treatment
◆ Developed and manufactured in Japan, imported as original product
◆ Contains hydrolyzed keratin to maintain scalp moisture and fiber integrity, nourishing the scalp, enhancing hair elasticity, and reducing breakage

◆ Suitable for normal and damaged hair
◆ Infused with Moroccan argan oil to deeply nourish and enhance shine
◆ Golden silk oil protects damaged hair and boosts elasticity with excellent spreadability
◆ Solomon’s seal oil is rich in vitamins to lock in moisture and nutrients
◆ Crambe abyssinica (Abyssinian seed) oil, high in vitamin E, brightens hair, reduces frizz, and prevents unwanted waves

C-Pop style for men: Hairstylists reveal the key to a youthful vibe.

Further Reading