What is a flow haircut for men?

A medium-length men's style where the hair is allowed to move naturally backwards away from the face. Also commonly called a brush back. Scissor-led rather than clipper-heavy.

What are men's curtains?

Longer hair through the front, parted around the centre or slightly off-centre so the hair frames either side of the face.

Can you combine curtains with a flow haircut?

Yes. This cut is a good example. The front parts naturally like curtains while the rest of the hair sweeps backwards into a flow shape.

Do I need a centre part?

No. A natural or slightly off-centre part often looks better because it follows how the hair actually grows. A razor-straight middle part can look too deliberate on most men.

Does this haircut need a fade?

No. Keeping more length through the sides is actually what creates the connected movement that defines a flow haircut. A fade would break the shape.

How long does my hair need to be?

Enough length at the front and through the top for the hair to sweep backwards. Roughly 4 to 7 inches on top is a useful starting range. If you're currently short, plan for a few months of grow-out.

How often should I get a flow haircut?

Roughly every five to seven weeks depending on how quickly your sides and back lose shape. Much longer than a fade cut.

Does it work with fine hair?

Very well, actually. The longer layers create movement and the appearance of fullness without needing high density. The trick is not over-texturising, fine hair needs weight left in the right places.

Where can I get a flow / curtains haircut in Surry Hills?

Fresh By Prince at 216 Devonshire Street. The standard Haircut service covers scissor cutting alongside skin and zero fades. L1 light rail stops directly outside.

1 September 2026 7 min read Prince

Natural Parted Curtains With a Flow Brush Back

Not every haircut needs a fade. Sometimes the flex is leaving enough hair there to actually do something with it.

Men's natural curtain flow brush-back haircut with medium-length scissor-cut layers by Prince at Fresh By Prince in Surry Hills Sydney

The cut

Style: Natural Curtains + Flow Brush Back
Top: Medium length, natural part, scissor-cut layers
Best for: Straight to wavy hair, medium-to-fine density
Finish: Natural, soft (cream or lightweight paste)
Maintenance: Approx. 5 to 7 weeks
Cut by: Prince
Location: Surry Hills, Sydney

Not every haircut needs a fade. Sometimes the flex is leaving enough hair there to actually do something with it.

For this cut, Prince kept the length through the top and sides, created a natural part through the front, then shaped the hair into a soft curtain that flows back away from the face.

No hard line. No skin exposure. No helmet of product holding everything in place. Just movement.

The front frames the face, the sides sweep back naturally, and the longer shape through the rear keeps the whole thing connected. It's basically curtains growing up.

What he wanted

Something more grown-up than a fade cut. Length preserved through the top and sides so the hair actually moves. A natural part rather than a sharp line. Enough shape that it looks intentional the moment it settles, not a "waiting for a trim" grow-out.

What we did

Kept the length through the top so the hair can carry a natural part
Scissor-cut internal layers so the front can fall forward as curtains and sweep back into flow
Left weight through the sides so the shape stays connected front-to-back
Softened the perimeter around the ear and neckline rather than lining it hard
No fade, no clipper work up the sides. Full scissor cut.

Why the cut works

This haircut needs weight. Cut the sides too short and the front feels disconnected. Fade the temples aggressively and the whole style turns into a different haircut altogether. Prince leaves enough length around the side and back so the hair travels naturally from front to rear, which is what creates the layers sweeping over one another. The shape does the work, not a clipper line.

Who this cut suits

Straight to wavy hair
Medium to fine density (thick hair works with more internal weight removal)
You want medium-length hair, not short
You want a natural side or centre part, not a hard line
You want a scissor cut rather than something clipper-heavy
You want a more classic or polished look without going corporate
You're comfortable with a haircut that moves throughout the day

Maintenance and grow-out

This one can go longer between appointments than a skin fade. Around 5 to 7 weeks depending on how quickly your sides bulk out and how tidy you like the perimeter. That's part of the point: this is a haircut meant to have some life in it, not something that lives or dies by a fresh edge-up.

At home

Don't drown it in pomade. Start with damp hair. Find the natural part with your fingers. Use a small amount of styling cream or lightweight paste through the hair. Dry the front away from the face while directing the sides backwards. Hands for a softer finish, a brush for more polish. The goal is movement with control, not shellac.

What to ask your barber

Ask for a medium-length flow cut with natural curtains through the front. Keep enough length through the sides and back so it can brush backwards naturally. No hard part, no skin fade. Then show the photo. "Curtains" and "flow" both cover a big range, from 1996 Leonardo DiCaprio to a modern Korean centre part. The photo tells the barber which version you actually mean.

What is a natural curtain flow haircut?

A men’s curtain flow haircut combines longer hair through the front with a natural centre or off-centre part, then uses scissor-cut length through the sides and back so the hair can brush naturally away from the face. It sits between classic curtains and a brush-back flow, giving a softer, medium-length alternative to a fade.

The important word is flow. The haircut is designed to move. Curtain movement through the front. Brush-back flow through the sides. That combination is why this cut lands, and why Prince gets asked for it by clients who are done with the fade cycle.

Why the length matters

Cut the sides too short and the front feels disconnected. Fade the temples aggressively and the whole style becomes a different haircut. Prince keeps enough length around the side and back so the hair can travel naturally from front to rear. That’s what creates those layers you can see sweeping over one another.

More hair. Less heaviness. That’s the beauty of a properly-cut flow.

Why the part looks natural

A curtain cut doesn’t need a razor-straight middle part. For most men, that reads as too deliberate. Prince lets the client’s natural fall determine where the hair wants to split. Some days it sits close to centre, other days slightly off. Both work. The haircut is built for movement, not geometry.

Is this a curtain haircut or a flow haircut?

Both. The curtains are in the front. The flow is what happens as the hair moves backwards. A pure curtain cut may fall more heavily toward either side of the forehead. A pure brush-back flow directs more of the hair away from the face. This version blends the two, which gives more styling options day to day.

Is this the same as a side part?

No. A traditional side part has a clearer division between the two sides and a more structured finish. This is softer. The natural part is there, but it isn’t the whole haircut. The emphasis is movement rather than separation.

Does it work with thick hair?

Yes, but with a different cutting strategy. Thick hair may need more internal bulk removed so the shape doesn’t become too heavy around the sides. Same style, different technique. That’s where a scissor-led consultation matters more than a clipper number.

More flow cuts

Prince’s full flow catalogue lives at /flow-haircut-sydney/. The variations (natural curtain part, layered scissor, brush back) explained side by side with photos.

Why get this cut at Fresh By Prince?

Fresh By Prince isn’t only a fade shop. The standard Haircut service covers scissor work alongside skin and zero fades, and this style is where the scissor capability actually gets shown. Prince handles the consultation, the cut and the finish himself from one chair at 216 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills. For a haircut this dependent on shape and layering, one barber owning the full cut is what makes the movement land.

Frequently asked

What is a flow haircut for men?

A medium-length men's style where the hair is allowed to move naturally backwards away from the face. Also commonly called a brush back. Scissor-led rather than clipper-heavy.
What are men's curtains?

Longer hair through the front, parted around the centre or slightly off-centre so the hair frames either side of the face.
Can you combine curtains with a flow haircut?

Yes. This cut is a good example. The front parts naturally like curtains while the rest of the hair sweeps backwards into a flow shape.
Do I need a centre part?

No. A natural or slightly off-centre part often looks better because it follows how the hair actually grows. A razor-straight middle part can look too deliberate on most men.
Does this haircut need a fade?

No. Keeping more length through the sides is actually what creates the connected movement that defines a flow haircut. A fade would break the shape.
How long does my hair need to be?

Enough length at the front and through the top for the hair to sweep backwards. Roughly 4 to 7 inches on top is a useful starting range. If you're currently short, plan for a few months of grow-out.
How often should I get a flow haircut?

Roughly every five to seven weeks depending on how quickly your sides and back lose shape. Much longer than a fade cut.
Does it work with fine hair?

Very well, actually. The longer layers create movement and the appearance of fullness without needing high density. The trick is not over-texturising, fine hair needs weight left in the right places.
Where can I get a flow / curtains haircut in Surry Hills?

Fresh By Prince at 216 Devonshire Street. The standard Haircut service covers scissor cutting alongside skin and zero fades. L1 light rail stops directly outside.

Coming from outside Surry Hills?

Coming from the Inner West?

If you're travelling from Newtown, Erskineville, Marrickville, Petersham, Stanmore, Ashfield or Burwood, getting into Central makes Fresh By Prince an easy city-side appointment rather than a cross-Sydney mission.

Coming from the Eastern Suburbs?

Clients coming from Randwick, Kensington, Kingsford and the eastern light rail corridor can use the light rail network toward Surry Hills and Central.

Coming from Western Sydney?

If you're travelling from Parramatta, Strathfield, Lidcombe or further west, get the train into Central and walk up toward Devonshire Street.

Coming from North Sydney?

Metro and rail connections make Surry Hills accessible from North Sydney, Chatswood and the Lower North Shore without needing to drive across the city and hunt for a park.

Like this cut?

Book the Haircut and bring the photo. Consultation covers the rest.

Book the chair

216 Devonshire St, Surry Hills · L1 light rail at the door