The crew cut is a classic, military-inspired hairstyle known for its clean, sharp look that is both low-maintenance and stylish. Perfect for those who want a neat yet practical style, the crew cut is versatile and is suitable for all face shapes and hair textures.
In this blog, we’ll explore different crew cut styles, how to achieve them, and provide useful tips for styling and maintenance to help you keep your look fresh and effortless. Whether you’re going for a short, buzzed finish or a slightly longer version with more texture, the crew cut is timeless.
What Is a Crew Cut?
The crew cut is a classic, military-inspired hairstyle known for its clean, sharp look that is both low-maintenance and stylish. Perfect for those who want a neat yet practical style, the crew cut is versatile and is suitable for all face shapes and hair textures, making it a popular choice.
The crew cut has a long and honourable history, with the style originally favourited by military personnel for its practicality and clean appearance. This sharp, low-maintenance style became a trend in the armed forces, where it was designed to be easy to maintain while maintaining a neat, professional look. Over time, it transitioned into a stylish choice for everyday wear and has remained popular for its versatility and ease of upkeep.
Today, the crew cut is more than just a military haircut—it’s a timeless, polished style that suits any occasion. Whether you prefer it short and buzzed or with a bit more length on top, the crew cut continues to be a go-to option for those looking for a sharp, effortless look.
Key Considerations for a Crew Cut
Face Shape
The crew cut is a very versatile style, which works for many face shapes, such as oval, square and heart shaped.
Oval Faces – The crew cut is naturally flattering on oval faces, as they already have balanced proportions and facial features. The sharp lines and clean shape of the cut highlight the symmetry of the face, making it an ideal choice for this face shape.
Square Faces – For square faces, with their strong jawlines and angular features, the crew cut helps to soften these sharper and defined lines. The short sides and slightly tapered top sections create a more rounded appearance, which balances the angularity of a square face. The cut’s neat lines also highlight the eyes and cheekbones.
Heart Shaped – The crew cut is also great for heart-shaped faces, which are characterised by a wider forehead and a narrow chin. By keeping the sides short and the top slightly longer, the crew cut helps create balance, minimising the forehead’s width and drawing attention to the jawline.
Hair Type
The crew cut is an extremely adaptable style that works in tandem with different hair types and textures. Whether you have straight, wavy or even slightly curly hair, this style can be adapted to you.
Straight hair – the cut is perfect for straight hair, as it allows for a clean, smooth finish. Straight hair holds the shape of the cut well, giving you that sharp, crisp look. Whether you opt for a tight buzz or a slightly longer top, the crew cut maintains its shape effortlessly with straight hair.
Wavy hair – for those with wavy hair, this is a fantastic style, as it adds a bit more texture to the cut, giving it a slightly more relaxed and natural look. The waves blend well with the short faded sides and top, adding volume and creating a modern, casual appearance. Using a light styling product can enhance the texture without making it too bulky.
Curly Hair – The crew cut works with slightly curly hair by embracing the natural curls on top whilst keeping the sides neat and short. The curls can be slightly tamed for a more defined look, or left a bit tousled for a more relaxed style. For those with more pronounced curls, it’s best to speak to one of our Rush stylists for tailored advice on how to manage curly hair with a crew cut.
Hair Health
For a sharp and polished crew cut, maintaining healthy hair is essential. Shorter styles evidently put the hair more on show and damage is much more apparent when the hairstyle is shorter. Healthy hair ensures that the cut looks its best, stays fresh, and continues to compliment your face shape and overall style.
Regular trims are crucial for keeping your crew cut looking sharp and well-maintained. As the hair grows, even the most precise cut can begin to lose its shape. Opting for trims every 4-6 weeks will help maintain the clean, structured appearance of the crew cut.
Professional products are another must for shorter cuts, as they keep your hair looking healthy and vibrant. Using nourishing products, such as Goldwell Professional Dualsense Just Smooth Taming Shampoo and Conditioner, not only nourishes the hair, but keeps the general condition in check. Using the correct products can make a significant difference. These products help keep hair soft, manageable, and free from damage. Healthy hair looks shinier and more defined, which enhances the overall sharpness of your crew cut.
Professional Consultation
Are you ready to get the perfect crew cut tailored just for you? Book a consultation at your nearest Rush salon today! Our expert stylists will provide personalised advice on how to customise your crew cut based on your face shape, hair type, and lifestyle.
What Are the Different Types of Crew Cuts?
Classic Crew Cut
Description: A timeless cut with short, tapered sides and a slightly longer top, offering a clean and balanced look.
Celebrity Reference: Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds.
Suitable Hair Types: For those with a square, oval or heart shaped face.
Styling Tip: Use a light hold wax to add shine and texture if desired.
Short Crew Cut
Description: A classic short style, tapered at the sides and back with a longer top section.
Celebrity Reference: Zayn Malik
Suitable Hair Types: Suitable for those with straight, wavy and curly hair.
Styling Tip: Keep the hair shorter with defined lines, and allow hair’s natural texture to speak for itself.
Ivy League Crew Cut
Description: Inspired by the American Ivy League, the slightly longer crew cut incorporates a side parting with a modern day comb-over.
Celebrity Reference: Justin Timberlake
Suitable Hair Types: Those with thick, straight hair.
Styling Tip: The use of a pomade or light wax is perfect to mould this style to suit your desired look.
Caeser Crew Cut
Description: A modern take on the traditional crew cut, with an added full frontal fringe.
Celebrity Reference: Drake
Suitable Hair Types: This style suits all hair types.
Styling Tip: Use a comb when drying the hair to blend the fringe section, allowing you to style this correctly and keep in place.
Tapered Crew Cut
Description: A new take on the short, back and sides with a slightly longer top section.
Celebrity Reference: Romeo Beckham
Suitable Hair Types: Those with straight hair.
Styling Tip: This is extremely low maintenance and requires little to zero styling!
High and Tight
Description: An evolution of the short back and sides, featuring a skin fade and longer top section.
Celebrity Reference: Justin Bieber
Suitable Hair Types: Those with straight hair.
Styling Tip: Blow-dry the top section roughly, to add a natural texture.
Midlength Crew Cut
Description: A longer length take on the classic crew cut, with subtly tapered sides.
Celebrity Reference: Conor Bradley
Suitable Hair Types: Those with thick, straight or wavy hair.
Styling Tip: Opt for a sea salt spray to add a relaxed texture to the style.
Tapered Side Burn Crew Cut
Description: A modern day take on the shorter shag crew cut with long side burns.
Celebrity Reference: Liam Gallagher
Suitable Hair Types: Straight or wavy hair.
Styling Tip: Style with a sea salt spray to add a natural texture throughout.
Crew cut with Widows Peak
Description: Short, classic crew cut which works in partnership with a V shaped hairline
Celebrity Reference: Taron Egerton
Suitable Hair Types: Thick to medium hair.
Styling Tip: Use a powder volumiser to help build the appearance of thicker hair around the hairline.
Side Part Crew Cut
Description: A modernised crew cut, parted from the side with a sweeping movement.
Celebrity Reference: Luca Bish
Suitable Hair Types: Those with medium to thick hair.
Styling Tip: Use a wide tooth comb to create the sweeping effect from the parting.
How to Maintain Your Crew Cut
Maintaining your crew cut is relatively easy, but regular care is essential to keep it looking sharp and fresh. Being a shorter style, crew cuts require frequent trims to maintain their clean and structured look. As your hair grows, the sharp lines of the cut can become uneven. We suggest scheduling a trim every 2-4 weeks to keep your style looking fresh.
Likewise, using the correct products to ensure hair health is vital, keeping the hair looking fresh! Being a shorter style, the scalp and hair follicles are heavily exposed, therefore look at using a hydrating or nourishing shampoo to revitalise the hair and give it a boost.
How to Ask for a Crew Cut
Asking for a crew cut at the salon is straightforward, but it’s helpful to communicate clearly with your stylist to ensure you get exactly what you want. Firstly, bring with you reference pics – this gives your stylist a solid visual of the style you are really aiming for and allows them to build their own vision and journey for you as an individual.
When discussing this during your consultation, it’s important to cover key factors such as the length you are looking for, the desired fade or taper cut.
Styling Tips for Crew Cuts
For Texture:
If you’re looking to add some definition and texture to the top of your crew cut, lightweight pomade or matte paste is your go-to product. These products provide texture and structure without making the hair feel heavy or greasy.
Pomade: Ideal for a slightly shiny finish, pomade helps to define individual strands, giving your crew cut a more polished, refined look. For a lightweight option, choose a medium hold pomade that won’t weigh your hair down, but will still give it some definition.
Matte Paste: For a more natural, matte finish, matte paste is ideal. It adds texture and holds the style in place without any unwanted shine. This is great for a more casual, tousled look, allowing the top of the crew cut to have more volume and structure.
For a Clean Finish:
If you’re aiming for a sharp, clean finish on your crew cut, using a light gel or mousse is an excellent way to maintain the neat, structured look of the sides while ensuring they stay fresh and structured throughout the day.
Light Gel: A light hold gel is perfect for keeping the sides of your crew cut sleek and polished. It helps maintain the shape and keeps the sides from falling out of place, without making your hair stiff or crunchy. This product offers a clean, glossy finish and provides control without the weight of heavy styling products.
Mousse: For a lighter, more flexible hold, mousse is a great option. It adds volume and texture to the sides while keeping them smooth. Mousse is perfect for achieving a clean, airy look that maintains the crispness around the ears and neck without making your hair feel heavy or sticky.
For Volume:
If you want to add volume and lift to the top of your crew cut, volumising mousse is an excellent product to help achieve that extra body and texture, especially if you have thicker hair. It gives the hair a fuller, more dimensional look without weighing it down.
Conclusion
The crew cut is a highly versatile and timeless hairstyle that suits a wide range of face shapes and hair types. Whether you have a square, oval, or heart-shaped face, the crew cut can be tailored to enhance your features. Its clean, sharp lines help soften angular faces while adding structure to rounder ones.
For hair types, the crew cut works well with straight, wavy, and slightly curly hair. It provides a polished look, without requiring too much maintenance, making it perfect for those with busy lifestyles.
Book Your Crew Cut Appointment at Rush
Ready for a fresh, sharp new look? Book your crew cut appointment at your nearest Rush salon today! Our expert stylists will work with you to tailor the perfect cut for your face shape and hair type, ensuring you leave with a style that’s clean, modern, and easy to maintain.
FAQ’s
The crew cut is a classic, military-inspired hairstyle known for its clean, sharp look that is both low-maintenance and stylish.
You should opt for a trim to ensure definition and freshness, every 4-6 weeks.
Those with a square, oval or round face suit the crew cut style best.
Yes! This versatile cut can be adapted to your hair type and texture and works well on curly hair. We would advise consulting with your stylist for the best cut to suit your curls.
What’s the difference between a classic crew cut and a high and tight?
The classic crew cut and the high and tight are both short, military-inspired styles, but they differ in their level of length on the top and the tapering of the sides. The high and tight crew cut is just that, a higher cut with tighter, more defined lines.
Yes, a crew cut is a great choice for older men. It offers a timeless, clean, and low-maintenance look that’s both stylish and practical.
