Short Haircuts for Men:
14 Cuts and How to Ask

Short Haircuts Compared

Use this table to narrow the list. "Top" is the length left on top; "Sides" is the usual guard on the sides. Guard lengths follow our clipper guard chart: a #1 leaves about 3 mm, a #2 about 6 mm, a #4 about 13 mm.

If you are not sure what a name means, our men's haircut names chart defines each term in one line.

The Shortest Cuts: Buzz, High and Tight, Crew

1. Buzz cut

The simplest short cut: one clipper guard all over, or a slightly shorter guard on the sides. A #1 or #2 gives a close, uniform look; a #3 or #4 leaves enough length to soften the head shape. It needs no styling and suits oval and square faces best, as well as men with strong head shapes. Ask: "#3 on top, #2 on the sides, square off the neckline." Our buzz cut styles guide covers the variations, and you can do it yourself at home.

2. High and tight

A military-origin cut with very short sides, usually a #0 or #1 taken high, and a short top of about half an inch to an inch. It is the lowest-effort cut here, but the sides show regrowth fast. It suits square and oval faces and athletic lifestyles. See high and tight variations and military grooming standards.

3. Crew cut

Short on top with the front left a little longer, and the sides tapered shorter. It is one of the most practical short cuts: neat enough for work, easy to wash and dry, and it grows out evenly. It suits most face shapes, especially round and oval. Ask: "Crew cut, about an inch on top, a little longer at the front, #2 on the sides tapered to a #1 at the neckline." See the crew cut guide.

Short Cuts With a Fringe: Caesar, French Crop, Textured Crop, Edgar

4. Caesar cut

A short top brushed forward to a straight, short fringe. It is good for men with a receding or uneven hairline because the fringe covers the front. See the Caesar cut guide and best haircuts for a receding hairline.

5. French crop

Similar to a Caesar but with a slightly longer, often textured fringe and usually a fade on the sides. It is a common short cut because it hides a high forehead and needs very little product. See the French crop guide and haircuts for high foreheads.

6. Textured crop

A crop with point-cut texture on top so the hair looks choppy and separated. It works well on thick and wavy hair and suits round and oval faces when the top has a little height. Ask for "a textured crop, about an inch and a half on top, point cut for texture, mid fade on the sides." See the textured crop guide and how to ask for texture without thinning shears.

7. Edgar cut

A short top cut to a blunt, straight fringe across the forehead, with a fade underneath, often high. It is popular with straight and wavy hair. See the Edgar cut guide.

Short Classic Cuts: Ivy League and Side Part

8. Ivy League

Essentially a crew cut with enough length at the front to part and comb to the side. It reads as smart and conservative, so it is a strong choice for interviews and office jobs. See the Ivy League guide, best haircuts for job interviews and professional office haircuts.

9. Short side part

A short top combed to one side along a natural part, with a taper or low fade. Some men add a shaved hard part line. See the classic side part guide, comb over and low skin fade with side part.

Short Cuts With Height: Quiff, Undercut, Slick Back

10. Short quiff

The front is left two to three inches and blow-dried up and back, with shorter sides. It adds height, which lengthens round and square faces. See quiff hairstyles and messy quiff styling tips.

11. Short undercut

Short, clipped sides with no blend, and a longer top that sits over them. The disconnection is the point. See the undercut guide and two-block, a softer Korean version.

12. Short slick back

The top is combed straight back with pomade, over tapered or faded sides. It needs the most daily effort of the short cuts here. See the slick back guide and the slick back undercut.

Short Cuts for Curly and Coily Hair

13. Short curly cut

A short, curly top, often called a curly crop, with a taper or fade. It keeps curls defined without letting them expand sideways. See curly hairstyles for men and haircuts for biracial curly hair.

14. Short afro

A short, rounded afro, often finished with a taper or temple fade and a line-up. See the afro guide, Black men's haircuts and taper fades for coily hair.

How to Choose a Short Haircut

By face shape

• Round: add height and keep the sides tight: textured crop, short quiff, crew cut with a mid fade. See round face haircuts.
• Square: most short cuts work; a soft textured top stops it looking too boxy. See square face haircuts.
• Oval: almost anything, including a buzz. See oval face haircuts.
• Long: avoid extra height; a French crop or Caesar with a fringe shortens the face. See long face haircuts.
• Heart and diamond: keep a little length at the sides with a low taper. See heart-shaped face haircuts.

Unsure of your shape? Use how to figure out your face shape or browse the face shape guides hub.

By hair type and hairline

Thick hair suits textured crops and crew cuts, since short lengths control bulk; see haircuts for thick hair. Fine or thinning hair often looks fuller very short, which is why buzz cuts and crops are common choices; see haircuts for balding men and buzz cut vs shaved head for thinning hair. Receding hairlines are helped by forward fringes such as the Caesar and French crop. Cowlicks are easier to manage with a little length rather than very short clipper work; see styling cowlicks and double crowns.

Maintenance and Cost of Short Haircuts

Short haircuts are quick to style but need regular trims, because a quarter inch of growth is a much bigger change on a short cut than on a long one. As a typical guide, faded short cuts need a trim every two to three weeks and tapered ones every three to four. A uniform buzz can be redone at home; how long hair takes to grow back after a buzz cut helps you plan. When a short cut grows out, see overgrown buzz cut styles for interim options.

Most short cuts are charged as a standard cut. Our haircut cost guide puts a typical neighborhood barbershop cut in the $25 to $45 range, and fades and skin finishes usually cost a little more. Because short cuts need more frequent visits, the yearly cost depends more on visit frequency than on the price of one cut; see how often to get a haircut and barbershop vs at-home grooming cost.

How to Ask for a Short Haircut

Give your barber three things: the length on top (in inches or a guard number), what happens on the sides (guard number and whether it is tapered or faded), and the finish at the neckline. For example:

A photo from the side and back helps. For more tips, read how to talk to your barber and our fade types guide.

Frequently Asked Questions