Hey man, you're already half way there.

It's all about the cut in, and secondly it's about using water to set your hair.

When you cut in, leave the sides long towards the front /temples. Then use a thinning shears to gently shorten and blend. Then try to comb back the hairline a bit for a realistic look.

To water style, you wet the hair so it's weighted down a bit with water, and then you force it into the exact style you want. The knots seem to magically "remember" this style over time, and you don't need any styling product really. But sometimes a little gel or wax is helpful in the beginning when hair is oooomphy.