The Crew Cut: Popular Styles, How to Achieve the Look & More

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Look clean and crisp with this low-maintenance haircut

Co-authored by Yan Kandkhorov and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: October 21, 2024 Fact Checked

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What is a crew cut?

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Asking for a Crew Cut

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Popular Crew Cut Hairstyles

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Styling & Maintenance

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History

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FAQs

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Video

Popularized by Ivy League rowing team members and American soldiers, the crew cut is a crisp and classic haircut that originates from the 1920s. It’s super easy to maintain and suits a variety of face shapes, so if you’ve been wanting to switch up your style, look no further! In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the crew cut, including how to style, maintain, and ask your barber for the look.

The Crew Cut Haircut at a Glance

The crew cut features short hair on the top, graduated in length from the front to the back. To get the look, ask your barber to cut your hair so it’s 1 inch (2.5 cm) long on top, and have the sides and back tapered with a #4 clipper guard. Apply pomade or wax to add texture to your hair.

Section 1 of 6:

What is a crew cut?

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It’s a classic military-inspired haircut that resembles the bristle surface of a brush.^{[1]
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Research source} The hair on top of the head is cut relatively short, graduated in length from front to back. The longest hair is at the front hairline, while the shortest hair is at the back of the crown. This creates a timeless and low-maintenance look that’s perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who wants a sharp hairstyle.

Section 2 of 6:

How to Ask for a Crew Cut Haircut

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Request a short back and sides fade with a scissor cut on top. Ask your barber for a “crew cut,” where the hair is cut finger length on top (or about an inch or so in length). Add texture to the top so it doesn’t lay too flat, and have them taper the sides and back with a #4 clipper guard.^{[2]
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- Show your barber reference photos of crew cuts that have the length, graduation, and styling you like. The key to a flattering haircut is to be clear about what you want!

Section 3 of 6:

Popular Crew Cut Hairstyles

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This is the most subtle of all the crew cut variations, with a low taper fade or low skin fade starting about an inch above your ears. It’s clean, crisp, and doesn’t require any styling!^{[3]
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Whether your hair is spiky, textured, or straight, this crew cut is ultra suave and classy. Ask your barber to give you a high fade to concentrate the length at your crown, then use a matte clay to bring out texture and keep everything in place.^{[4]
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Texturizing your hair adds life and character to the classic crew cut. Just ask your barber to cut your hair about twice the length of the sides on top and chop into it to create more texture. Use a texturizing paste or sea salt spray to add more definition.^{[5]
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This is a modern spin on the classic crew cut. The back and sides of your hair will slowly blend into the longer hair on top, giving you more contrast for a clean and crisp look. Use a comb to sweep the hair slightly to the side, or run your fingers through your hair for a textured, messy look.^{[6]
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This polished version of the crew cut features short hair on the sides and back, with the top hair styled to stand upright in a flat, level plane. To achieve the look, ask your barber for a square-shaped crew cut with defined corners. Comb the top to create a boxy shape, then set your hair in place with a strong-hold hair clay.^{[7]
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For this sleek and sophisticated style, the hair on top is long enough to comb over to one side, while the sides are cut shorter to create sharp contrast. Use a wide tooth comb to part your hair, then apply a dime-sized amount of gel to slick your hair back.^{[8]
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This modern style incorporates a quiff at the front, adding extra volume and texture. Ask your barber for a tapered cut with lots of length on top, then tell them to fade the sides and create lots of texture through the top. Apply sea salt spray onto damp hair, then blow dry into shape with a round brush.^{[9]
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This variation of the crew cut features long hair on top that can be parted and brushed to the side. The sides are kept short and tidy with scissors, with hair that’s slightly longer over the ears. This gives it a more preppy aesthetic, rather than the military look.^{[10]
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This modern spin on a classic crew cut is super bold and striking. Just ask your barber for shaved sides with 2 inches of hair on top for maximum contrast. Use a comb to sweep the hair slightly to the side, or run your fingers through your hair for a textured, messy look.^{[11]
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If you have thick hair, the side-swept crew cut is a solid choice. It’s surprisingly easy to style and maintain, so you won’t have to spend a lot of time fixing your hair. All you need to do is sweep the front hair with some styling cream or mousse, then add hairspray to seal everything in place.^{[12]
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Strike the perfect balance between laid-back and formal with this longer crew cut. It has more length and movement than the classic style, so you can style it many different ways—from a sleek, pushed-back style to a voluminous, quiffed ‘do.^{[13]
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If you’re looking for a short and simple ‘do, the short crew cut is for you! It’s short enough to be classified as a buzz cut, but still long enough to maintain a polished, professional vibe. Just ask your barber to keep your hair about 0.25 inch to 0.5 inch (0.64 cm to 1.3 cm) in length.^{[14]
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For this edgy hairstyle, you’ll need the sides of your hair buzzed ultra-short while letting the top do its own thing. Run your hands through your hair with a bit of gel or pomade for extra texture, separation, and shine!^{[15]
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Section 4 of 6:

Styling & Maintaining a Crew Cut

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Get your crew cut trimmed every 2 to 3 weeks to maintain its shape. The hair on top is between 0.5 inch to 2 inches long (1.3 cm to 5 cm), which means you need to trim it every 2 to 3 weeks. If you prefer a more casual style, you can try growing your hair out or getting it trimmed every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows.^{[16]
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- You can always teach yourself how to fade the sides or trim split ends at home.
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Apply pomade or wax to add texture and height to your hair. Since the crew cut is so short, styling is purely optional. Just warm up a dime-sized amount of pomade or wax between your fingertips, then apply the product to your hair. Use a comb to create a sleek and smooth style, or run your fingers through your hair for a textured, messy look.^{[17]
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- Alternatively, use a matte paste or other texturizing product to achieve the look you want.
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Use shampoo and conditioner that matches your hair type. To maintain the health of your hair, invest in shampoo and conditioner that’s specially formulated for your hair type. Before washing your hair, rinse it with warm water to open up the hair cuticle, then rinse it with cool water at the end to seal in hydration. Hair stylist Yan Kandkhorov recommends “using sulfate-free shampoos [to make damaged hair healthy again].”
- For straight hair, use a sulfate-free smoothing shampoo and conditioner to minimize frizz and add extra shine.
- For wavy, curly, or textured hair, use a sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to hydrate your strands.

Section 5 of 6:

Crew Cut Haircut History

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While the exact origins of the crew cut are unclear, the style was frequently worn by Ivy League rowing team members. The haircut was perfect because it kept the rowers’ faces clear of hair while racing. During World War II, American soldiers widely adopted the crew cut to help control head lice in their tight quarters.^{[18]
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Section 6 of 6:

Crew Cut Haircut Frequently Asked Questions

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What face shapes look best with a crew cut haircut? The crew cut suits a variety of face shapes, but it’s especially flattering for those with square, oval, or diamond-shaped faces. With that being said, you can always style the longer hair on top in a way that complements your face shape, or customize the texture to accommodate your natural hair.^{[19]
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- After you determine your face shape, talk to your barber to see what style suits you. They can offer advice on what works well with your hair texture and length.
A crew cut features faded or tapered sides, but it’s not the same as a taper or a fade haircut. Unlike faded and tapered styles, the top of the head is cut to a longer, uniform length.
A crew cut has longer hair on top, while a brush cut is cut very short across the entire top. Unlike a brush cut, a crew cut has a more defined square shape with a longer front. A brush cut is more round and uniform in shape.
Celebs like Channing Tatum, Tom Hardy, Justin Timberlake, Zayn Malik, Nick Jonas, Ryan Gosling, and Joe Manganiello have sported variations of the crew cut.