Put simply, a men’s quiff haircut is when the hair comes up at the front and curves toward the back, often forming a wall of hair directly above the forehead. And if you think this sounds like a faux hawk or pompadour, you aren’t necessarily wrong. Ultimately, all three men’s hairstyles overlap and there remains plenty of confusion as to which one is exactly which. To make things all the more muddled, a number of barbers might say that a pompadour is a type of quiff. There’s also something known as the men’s quiff hawk, making it all one big top-heavy family.

Needless to say (though we’ve said it multiple times already), the men’s quiff haircut remains a broad and dynamic concept. And that’s a good thing since it leaves plenty of room for personal interpretation and style. However, don’t take that to mean there aren’t specific quiff haircuts from which to choose because there are. A number of them go all the way back to the 1950s, if not earlier. Here are some men’s quiff hairstyles that continue to stay the course, decade after decade.

As bold now as it ever was, the rockabilly quiff delivers a slightly shorter take on the classic pompadour. Ripped straight out of 1950s Greaser subculture, it’s commonly associated with figures like Elvis and James Dean. Most versions incorporate a side part and also fade in from the sides to the top. However, parting down the middle and curling in the side sections—also known as a ducktail haircut—is also an option.

They don’t call this one “classic” for nothing. Preceded by decades of history, it goes shorter on the sides and longer on top without resorting to grand gestures like a disconnected undercut or heavy fade. The results is a more uniform and understated style, which works best on short to medium length hair. Everyone from Don Draper to David Beckham has rocked a classic quiff and who are we to argue with them?

Speaking of David Beckham, he’s also no stranger to the undercut quiff. True to its name, this men’s hairstyle pares down the sides and goes longer on top. In the same general ballpark is a quality fade, which grows in length as it ascends toward the top. Most modern quiff haircuts employ an undercut or fade and then taper around the sides. Not only does it create a tasteful sense of contrast, but it amplifies the texture and volume of the hair on top.

Don’t mistake the textured quiff for a messy hairdo, as this one requires a careful amount of patience and instinct. Prepare to get busy with the pomade or other hair product, as you shape your quiff hairstyle to unkempt perfection. Throw in a classic fade and you’ll be rocking a seriously modern aesthetic.

Short on the sides and pointy on top, the quiff hawk is guaranteed to grab eyeballs. This one goes big on personality so don’t take it on unless you’re ready to make an entrance every time you turn a new corner.

Since modern hair products can often reach super glue levels of strength, essentially any man with healthy hair can pull off a nice quiff or quiff hawk if he puts his mind to it. That said, it’s far easier for men with naturally straight or wavy hair than it is men with curly or frizzy hair. On the other hand, there are definitely some killer curly quiffs out there. Again, it’s really a matter of finding the right approach and using the right products. What is always required, however, is that you have some hair to play with in the first place.