If you’re not a fan of long, shaggy styles or find buzz cuts too extreme, the crew cut serves as the perfect midpoint in the spectrum of hair lengths. These sleek and practical cuts have stood the test of time, consistently making their mark in lists of top haircuts for men year after year. Moreover, they’re notably easy to style, making them ideal for those who are time-pressed or enjoy maximizing those extra ten minutes of sleep.
Embracing a crew cut hairstyle is a smart choice. Uncertain about which crew cut suits you best? Keep reading as we delve into 25 of the trendiest crew cut variations for men. This guide aims to assist you in finding your ideal style among the most popular options available.
WHAT IS A CREW CUT?
While commonly used interchangeably, the distinction between a “crew cut” and a “buzz cut” becomes apparent when sitting in the barber’s chair. According to Callum McDonald, a barber at Ruffians, “Unlike the buzz cut, the crew cut involves tapering the back and sides, often incorporating a fade, while leaving more length on top.”
In essence, a buzz cut typically involves uniformly shortening the hair all over the head, resulting in a close-cropped look, while crew cuts maintain visible length on the top with variations in length on the sides.
To simplify, a buzz cut leans toward a nearly bald appearance, while a crew cut is cropped but doesn’t trim the hair as closely, allowing for more noticeable length and style on top.
BEST CREW CUT HAIRSTYLES
1. CLASSIC CREW CUT
Originating in the 1920s, the classic crew cut remains a timeless and effortlessly tidy hairstyle that complements a variety of facial shapes. Recognizable by its tapered back and sides, this style transitions into a cropped top, typically around one inch in length, slightly longer towards the front. Achieve this look by opting for a tapered scissor cut or a grade 3 trim on the sides, ensuring a seamless blend into the top for that classic crew cut appearance.
2. CREW CUT FADE
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A modern adaptation of the classic crew cut, the crew cut fade maintains the longer top while incorporating shorter sides for a striking contrast. Embrace variations like low, mid, high, or skin fades based on your desired look, capitalizing on the visual effect of shorter sides to accentuate facial features.
Notably, the crew cut fade boasts a lineup of celebrity enthusiasts renowned for their impeccable hairstyles: Ryan Reynolds, Zac Efron, Tom Hardy, Brad Pitt, and even David Beckham have all adopted this style in recent years. This contemporary twist not only offers practicality but also exudes a seriously stylish vibe.
3. CREW CUT LOW FADE
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A more discreet fade option, the crew cut low fade gradually transitions into a shorter cut, typically starting around 1 inch above the ears. This fade can manifest as a gentle, low taper fade or a more defined low skin fade, offering a sharper effect. Opting for the latter results in the hair nearest the hairline being barely visible in the last inch, creating a polished and subtle finish.
4. HIGH FADE CREW CUT
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Conversely, the high fade crew cuts initiate the tapering much higher, closer to the corners of the forehead. This attention-grabbing style directs focus to the cropped top and effectively highlights distinct facial features.
Nevertheless, this men’s crew cut isn’t for the faint-hearted. For those new to fades, it’s advisable to start with a low or mid-fade and gradually progress to the high fade to ease into the bolder look.
5. MID FADE CREW CUT
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Seeking a style that strikes a balance? Enter the mid fade crew cuts, offering the ideal fusion of length and fade. These cuts begin to taper between the temple and ears, effectively reducing bulk from the sides and creating a seamless transition towards the longer top section. This sharp and contemporary crew cut haircut suits various hair types, infusing a modern flair into the classic style.
6. SKIN FADE CREW CUT
For a revitalizing and youthful appearance, consider opting for a skin fade crew cut. This particular fade style seamlessly blends down to the skin, best executed from a high or mid starting point. The nearly bare sides create a striking contrast with the longer, textured top, resulting in a sharp and subtly daring look. To maintain balance, it’s essential to ensure that the top isn’t excessively long, preventing an unbalanced appearance.
7. DROP FADE CREW CUT
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8. SHORT CREW CUT
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Crew cuts don’t strictly adhere to a conservative style – in fact, they can veer quite close to a buzz cut by maintaining extremely short sides and almost eliminating the length on top. This approach results in a hairstyle that comfortably straddles the line between the severity of a buzz cut and the sophistication of a crew cut: notably short but not to the extent of hindering prospects for more traditional workplaces.
For those seeking a men’s crew cut necessitating minimal styling, the short crew cut stands out as an excellent choice. Typically spanning around ¼ to ½ inch in length, short crew cuts combine the flattering elements of a crew cut with the low-maintenance aspect of a buzz cut. The slightly longer front section allows for playful spiking or can be kept flat, creating the illusion of a smaller forehead.
9. MEDIUM CREW CUT
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Around 1 inch in length, the medium crew cut embodies the essence of the traditional crew cut style. Opt for subtly tapered sides to maintain a timeless appeal or embrace a more contemporary look with a fade. With this length, the top section offers versatility, allowing various styling options, such as fluffy spikes or textured strands, enabling effortless transitions in appearance for different occasions.
10. LONG CREW CUT
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Offering versatility and various styling choices, long crew cuts present a flexible option for men seeking diversity in their hairstyles. With lengths reaching up to 2 inches on top, a long crew cut allows for styling versatility. This style can be brushed up into a pompadour shape, parted to the side, or even fashioned into a faux-hawk, granting the freedom to experiment with different looks. Achieving your preferred style simply requires a firm brush or comb and the use of strong-hold wax or pomade to sculpt and maintain the chosen appearance.
11. MESSY CREW CUT
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Opting for a low-maintenance routine? Consider embracing a messy crew cut for a casual yet stylish men’s hairstyle that provides an effortless, relaxed finish suitable for daily wear. This type of crew cut also serves to add volume, particularly for those with thinner hair. To achieve this look, maintain tapered sides while allowing the hair on top to grow slightly. Then, use your fingers to tousle it up, applying styling wax or hair mousse for an easy-going, laid-back effect.
12. TEXTURED CREW CUT
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While the original crew cut emphasized a neat, polished appearance, in the 21st century, the style has evolved beyond its strict formality. Enter the textured crew cut: a modern twist on the classic look, designed to exude an intentionally undone vibe.
Distinct from messy styles, textured crew cuts offer a more deliberate disheveled appearance while maintaining a degree of intentionality. This style involves point cutting to create choppy layers of varying lengths in the longer top section. These layers can be styled in different ways, from spiked-up with gel to a tousled effect using a texturizing sea salt spray to tame any inherent fluffiness. You can opt to blend the sides into the cut or keep them short for a distinctive, asymmetrical appearance.
13. MILITARY CREW CUT
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For those seeking a classic style reminiscent of short back and sides with a touch of wartime allure, the military crew cut is the ideal choice. These cuts gained popularity during World War II due to their adherence to armed forces regulations, featuring a short crop on top and a high fade on the back and sides. The military crew cut embodies a crisp, clean, and orderly appearance, ideally complementing angular facial structures.
14. SIDE SWEPT CREW CUT
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Regardless of whether you’re sporting a medium or longer length, achieving a face-slimming side swept crew cut is well within reach. To attain this style, consider requesting a square cut using scissors instead of clippers from your stylist. This method allows for versatility – you can either work with your natural part for a sleek side-parted appearance or opt for an unstructured parting. With this flexibility, you can effortlessly brush your hair to the side or forward as desired, creating a personalized side swept crew cut look.
15. TAPER FADE CREW CUT
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In contrast to the original crew cut, taper fade crew cuts exhibit a quicker graduation, allowing the skin around the ears to become visible. While not as drastic as a skin fade, these cuts feature a gradual shortening of the sides towards the base of your head, achieved through the use of clippers set at various grades for the fade. It’s advisable to consult your stylist to customize the starting point of the fade based on your face shape and the style of your facial hair, ensuring a tailored taper fade crew cut that complements your overall look.
16. IVY LEAGUE CREW CUT
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Emerging from prestigious institutions such as Harvard and Princeton in the 1930s, the enduring charm of Ivy League crew cuts persists to this day. Distinguished by a slightly longer length compared to regular crew cuts, this style incorporates a side part. The hair is elegantly combed over, offering a polished and professional appearance. Featuring neatly scissor-tapered sides, the Ivy League crew cut particularly suits individuals with thick, straight hair, exuding a sophisticated and refined allure.
17. CREW CUT AND BEARD
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Combining a crew cut with a beard instantly cultivates a rugged and masculine appearance. Tousled, longer crops can be complemented with full beard styles, creating a balanced aesthetic. On the other hand, more angular crew cuts pair well with shorter beards or neatly sculpted chin straps. An important detail to remember is to ensure your sideburns are seamlessly blended into the sides, whether you opt for a fade or a precisely tapered cut. This synchronization enhances the overall cohesiveness of the crew cut and beard combination, allowing for a harmonious and stylish look.
18. CREW CUT MOHAWK
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For those who favor a longer cut paired with an ultra-short, high fade, the crew cut mohawk is a distinctive choice. Technically categorized as a faux-hawk due to the absence of spikes down the back, it still enables you to channel your inner rocker. To achieve this look, brush up the strands to create a semi-triangular ridge along the top and secure it with a strong-hold spray. Notably, this style is versatile and also complements curly hair, offering a unique and bold twist on the classic crew cut.
19. CREW CUT BLONDE
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Amid the trend of edgy blonde buzz cuts, blonde crew cuts present a slightly softer alternative with more hair length on top. For a modern twist, platinum blonde shades bring a sleek appeal, especially when styled into short, feathery spikes, enhancing the texture. Additionally, for those with messy brown crops, adding caramel highlights offers a sun-kissed, surfer-like aesthetic, providing versatility in blonde crew cut variations.
20. CREW CUT FOR RECEDING HAIRLINE
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When considering crew cuts for receding hairlines, two primary options can effectively address this concern. Opting for a mid-length, textured crew cut offers a favorable choice to conceal thin spots around the forehead, as this style lacks a distinct endpoint. The strands can be brushed forward as necessary, providing coverage. On the other hand, shorter crew cuts with faded sides work to minimize the contrast between the temples and the sides of your head, resulting in reduced prominence of the receding section. These styles cater to different needs and aid in managing the appearance of a receding hairline.
21. CREW CUT FOR CURLY HAIR
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22. FLAT TOP CREW CUT
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The classic crew cut, characterized by a slightly longer front section than the crown, shares similarities with the flat top crew cut. However, the distinguishing factor of the flat top crew cut lies in maintaining a flat line across the top of the head. To achieve this style, precision cutting is essential, followed by combing up the top to create a distinct, boxy shape. Using a strong-hold hair clay will help set the style in place. For a crisp and refined finish, pair this with short, faded sides, enhancing the overall look of the flat top crew cut.
24. CREW CUT COMB OVER
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In the realm of crew cut comb overs, the styles vary from retro Ivy League crops featuring a side part to shorter haircuts with a small quiff at the front, catering to diverse personalities. The versatility of this style allows you to experiment by slicking it back instead of to the side, even integrating a high fade for a chic and contemporary appearance. However, it’s crucial to avoid excessive length on the top to maintain the essence of a crew cut, preserving its defining characteristics.
25. CREW CUT FOR THIN HAIR
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Opting for a short crew cut proves to be an excellent choice for individuals with thin hair as it aids in minimizing the visible difference between thicker and thinner strands. Crew cuts designed for thin hair primarily focus on concealing a balding crown. Another effective option for thin hair includes a medium-length, tousled cut, where the crossing strands play a role in concealing the thinner patches, offering a practical solution for this particular hair type.
CREW CUT FAQS
HOW DID THE CREW CUT GET POPULAR?
In case you ever questioned the crew cut’s status as one of the most convenient and enduring hairstyles for men, consider its (figurative) origins. “The term ‘crew cut’ is believed to have been coined to describe the hairstyles sported by members of the US Ivy League university rowing teams at the turn of the last century,” as explained by McDonald.
The popularity of this hairstyle wasn’t solely due to a passing whim of frat boys; its fuss-free finish played a crucial role. “The style gained favor because of its short and tidy appearance, making it ideal for preventing hair from obstructing the vision of rowers.”
Soon, even army recruits recognized its practicality. “The style’s popularity skyrocketed when it was adopted by the US Army in the 1930s,” McDonald states. “Once again, it was prized for its low-maintenance attributes.”
The crew cut isn’t just about practicality; it also garners widespread appeal. Thanks to the style’s adaptability to various hair types, it levels the playing field for individuals with shiny, lustrous locks, unruly curls, or fine, thread-like strands, making it a universally suitable and favored choice.
WHAT IS A CREW CUT HAIRCUT?
HOW TO STYLE A CREW CUT
Crew cuts offer a versatile range of styling options, dependent on the chosen length. Whether you prefer a spiky look, a sleek comb-over, textured tousles, or a faux mohawk, crew cuts accommodate various styles. Additionally, you have the choice between classic scissor-trimmed sides for a traditional appeal or contemporary fade techniques for a more modern touch, offering you the freedom to personalize and tailor your hairstyle according to your preferences.
