The crew cut is a classic haircut for men who want a short and iconic style. The crew cut hairstyle offers a cool, masculine and low-maintenance look for a stylish finish.
While this style comes in many variations, the most popular crew cut haircuts feature a taper fade on the sides and back with slightly longer hair on top. The crew cut fade is a modern barbershop favorite that allows for easy and versatile styling options.
With so many different modern and classic styles, asking your barber for the right cut can be tricky.
To inspire you, we’ve compiled examples of the best crew cut haircuts for men. From short to long, explore these popular styles to find a fresh crew cut.
What Is A Crew Cut?
The crew cut is a classic short men’s haircut in which the hair is trimmed slightly longer than a buzz cut. Also sometimes known as the classy Ivy League haircut, modern crew cuts follow the “short sides, long top” hair trend with a taper fade or undercut on the sides. While buzz cuts are often trimmed using hair clippers and buzzed down using a number 1 or 2 guard size, crew cut lengths range from 1 to 3 inches on top.
Because most guys prefer to get the crew cut fade, where the back and sides are faded short and slowly blend into the longer hair on top, you can expect your barber to know exactly how to cut your hair. This tapered crew cut allows for some contrast instead of one-length all over, offering a clean cut hairstyle.
Ultimately, the crew cut is a versatile hairstyle that suits any face shape. It can be styled neat and swept to the side, or messy and textured for a natural finish. The way you choose to style your crew cut hair will determine whether you use pomade, wax, or clay as a styling product.
With so many different types of crew cuts, it can be helpful for guys to have visual examples for their own haircut ideas. If you’re planning on getting a crew cut, check out the styles below to see which short or long, modern or classic haircut is best for you.
Crew Cut Styles
Classic Crew Cut
The classic crew cut generally keeps with the theme of short hair on top, but allows for slightly longer hair on the sides. Instead of a fade, this traditional cut is more conservative and often a safer choice for older men.
Modern Crew Cut
The modern crew cut is the edgy way to get this haircut, resulting in a style that stands out. Guys can ask for shaved sides with two inches of hair on top for maximum contrast. You may even want to combine a crew cut with a beard to pull off the dapper modern gentleman.
Crew Cut Fade
The crew cut fade is the most common way to get this haircut. With so many different kinds of fade haircuts, men can tailor this look the way they want. For example, there are high, mid and low fades, each of which determines where the tapering will begin. You also have the option of the skin or bald fade, which blends the hair gradually into the skin.
No matter which crew cut fade you pick, all of these cool styles are easy to comb and will have you looking stylish.
Side Swept Crew Cut
The side swept crew cut remains one of the hottest ways to style the look. Simply brush your hair to one side. Whether you choose to sweep all your hair or just the hair in the front and leave the rest textured or messy is entirely up to you. The ease of styling the side swept crew cut makes it a low-maintenance look you’ll appreciate.
Long Crew Cut
The long crew cut provides flexibility. With longer hair on top, guys are able to style for hairstyles, including a slick back, faux hawk, comb over fade, or quiff. Although you can keep the sides shaved or buzzed, you just need to tell your barber you want a crew cut but longer, such as two to three inches in length.
Short Crew Cut
The short crew cut verges on being a long buzz cut. Generally, a buzz cut requires an inch or less in hair length, so expect a short brush cut to be around one to two inches.
Textured Crew Cut
Messy Crew Cut with High Bald Fade
Crew Cut with Beard
Short Crew Cut with High Skin Fade and Beard
One Length Crew Cut with Spiked Front
Clean Crew Cut Fade
Brush Cut Fade
Low Fade Crew Cut with Hard Part
Long Messy Crew Cut with Low Taper Fade
Tapered Crew Cut with Beard
Spiked Crew Cut Fade
Classic Crew Cut with Taper
Spiked Up Crew Cut Undercut with Full Beard
How To Do A Crew Cut
To get a crew cut at home, all you need is good hair clippers with multiple guard sizes. If you want a crew cut fade, the fading of the sides may not be something most guys can do well. Doing a nice fade requires skill and a keen eye, particularly as you gradually blend the hair from one length to another. If you want the perfect haircut, we recommend you visit a barbershop and ask for a crew cut instead.
To get a good crew cut haircut, follow these instructions:
- Start with the hair on the sides and tell your barber how you want your fade. A high skin fade is sexy and rebellious, and your barber will start buzzing the sides with just the blade on the trimmers. If you want some hair left for a taper, ask for a number 1 along the neckline and ears.
- From the top of your head down to your ears, the hair should get progressively shorter. Move up a guard size as you slowly work up the head. The transitions should be seamless and natural.
- Hair at the top of the head should be the longest. For a short crew haircut, bordering on a buzz cut, use the 1″ clipper size; for a long crew cut, you may need to cut with scissors. Otherwise, just tell your barber how long you want the hair on top.
- If you want to be able to spike the front, sweep it to the side, or style it flat for a french crop or short fringe, ask your barber to leave a little extra length in the bangs.
The beauty of the crew cut is that you can let it grow out and use the longer hair to style a comb over, quiff or other cool men’s hairstyles.
How To Style A Crew Cut
The modern men’s crew cut is short enough that styling is optional. In fact, the crew cut is a hairstyle that can go all day effortlessly. If crunched for time on a Monday morning, even bedhead will look trendy and hot. But while messy and natural can work, there are variations to change up your look.
For example, men can combine their crew cut with a beard for a manly style. The best crew cut beard styles will start with a fade on the sides, maybe a textured top, and a thick beard that completes the badass look.
Another popular way to style the crew cut is the Ivy League haircut, where men can brush their hair to one side for a clean cut hairstyle. This looks good if you have straight, thick hair.
The crew cut is manageable, but you’ll need to go for fresh haircuts with your barber every few weeks to maintain. Alternatively, grow out the top for a long crew cut for a tousled look.
Hair Products For Styling A Crew Cut
The best hair product for a crew cut is a pomade, wax or clay. The styling product you choose will depend on how you want to style your hair. Because different grooming products provide different levels of hold and shine, guys have a few brands to pick from.
If you want a textured crew cut with a matte finish, use a good medium to high-hold hair wax. For a messy or neat crew cut hairstyle with a shiny look, consider a top-rated styling pomade. If you want a light hair product that allows movement and volume for the most natural finish, you should apply clay.
