Crew Cut Hairstyles For Men: 25 Timeless, Stylish Variations
The crew cut is a timeless men's haircut that combines classic function with attractive versatility to achieve an all-around clean, masculine look, making it a stylish, sophisticated choice for modern gentlemen.
This low-maintenance, short haircut often involves seamlessly tapering or fading the sides and back to emphasize the relatively longer hair on top, offering a charming, polished look suitable for both casual and formal settings. Our favorite contemporary variations enhance contrast and sleekness while still providing guys some styling flexibility, from textured to messy, spiky or side parted.
If you want an iconic hairstyle that transcends trends, the different men's crew cuts are handsome and practical, come with long-lasting appeal, flatter strong facial features and work well across the spectrum.
Let's explore some trending examples of crew cut hairstyles for men that blend enduring minimalism with edgy, fresh elements, each providing a unique twist on the classic look.
Popular Types of Men's Crew Cuts
Classic Crew Cut
The classic crew cut is a short, military-inspired hairstyle with uniformly buzzed sides that transition into relatively longer hair, creating a neat, structured look suitable for active men. The traditional style requires minimal effort and offers enduring appeal, ensuring a sharp profile in any scenario, whether you're hitting the boardroom or aiming to impress on date night. Use clippers to maintain the cut at home and infuse texture with a matte styling product for a fuller look.
Modern Crew Cut
The modern crew cut is a fresh take that involves a sharp skin fade on the sides to contrast the thicker, textured layers, incorporating new dimensions for a cool hairstyle. This popular variation can be tailored with different types of fades, including low, mid, high, drop, temp and burst combinations, and generally runs longer on top, allowing for styling variability to suit preferences.
Crew Cut Fade
The crew cut fade is a sharp, modern hairstyle that pairs the sleekness of the fade on the sides and back with the effortlessly handsome and classy profile of the crew cut. The skin faded version infuses powerful contrast and adds an edgy, dynamic dimension while accentuating the clean-cut, longer styling on top.
Ask your barber for a low fade crew cut to achieve a professional look, while mid and high fade cuts should be reserved for more rebellious styles.
Short Crew Cut
A short crew cut is a popular, stylish men's haircut that offers a low-maintenance, athletic look, making it perfect for those seeking a versatile style as college students or business professionals. The short crop can be textured and the fringe can be swept to the side for a preppy Ivy League style, while a high taper fade delivers contrast, amping the silhouette.
In this example, the pared-down length accentuates the natural contours of the head, pulling attention to the jaw and cheekbones to highlight any masculine lines on the face. Keep your shorter crew cut looking fresh and militaristic by rocking a clean shave and getting regular trims.
Long Crew Cut
The long crew cut is an attractive style for men who want to balance between simplicity and variability by choosing a unique approach that allows for range. Masterfully taper faded sides are neat and defined, while the length and natural volume on top add intentional softness to the style. This longer cut intersects playfulness and professionalism.
High Fade Crew Cut
The high fade crew cut is a cool, short haircut that aggressively transitions the sides and creates a high-contrast look with the longer top as a backdrop, resulting in a rebellious, trendy vibe. This sharper finish from the temples brings visual interest to any crew cut, instantly highlighting the jawline and cheekbones for a defined style.
Messy Crew Cut
A messy crew cut offers a relaxed feel to your style and features textured, longer hair on top that looks casual yet put-together. The mussed styling brings volume using a matte clay or paste to spike the locks and hold them in place. This example screams attitude without the extra grooming time you need to bookmark for longer styles.
Textured Crew Cut
A textured crew cut is a stylish hairstyle that favors a more natural, chic look, adding a fresh dimension and fuller volume. With taper faded sides, ask your barber to combine point and side cutting to create a choppy, layered style that appears effortlessly casual. If you have waves or curls, a textured finish embraces and amplifies your hair's natural movement and volume across the head.
Mid Fade Crew Cut
The mid-fade crew cut is versatile, adaptable, and easy to maintain, balancing modern flair with timelessness. This medium variation provides the perfect amount of contrast for the fashion-conscious gentleman, appearing less dramatic and focusing on respectability.
Crew Cut Taper Fade
A crew cut with a taper fade is a classy haircut that gradually transitions the sides and works well with a textured and layered longer top, adding flair while maintaining enduring elegance. Any low, mid or high tapered will blend seamlessly shorter and complement the crew cut to achieve a soft, structured style. Use a matte pomade, clay or paste to brush forward, spike up or tousle for the perfect result.
Ivy League Crew Cut
The Ivy League crew cut is trendy, preppy and refined, making it a favorite for teenage boys and athletic young men seeking a versatile look. This attractive, sophisticated hairstyle features a crew cut with a slightly longer fringe swept to the side. Pair it with a taper fade for a traditional take or low-to-mid skin faded sides to add a hint of attitude.
Spiky Crew Cut
The spiky crew cut is a bold, modern hairstyle that partners the rebellious trend of the late '90s and early 2000s with the traditional look. Mixing spiked hair with the short, structured sides of a crew cut allows you a level of personal expression while keeping your look well-defined and smart. Style your spikes with a firm holding gel or wax to keep them locked in place all day.
Low Fade Crew Cut
The low fade crew cut is a smart, upscale style for those needing to infuse some modern edge into a classically appealing aesthetic while still having it suitable for the office. Starting just above the ear, a low fade is more gradual and creates a harmonious balance between the short sides and longer top. The lower cut requires less maintenance than a high or mid fade, with the extra length keeping the cut dignified as the hair grows out.
Hard Part Crew Cut
A hard part with a crew cut brings sharp lines and clean edges to make the style stand out. This look is equal parts coiffed and radical, with the distinct shaved line giving the haircut a defined, angular shape. Use wax or gel and a fine-tooth comb to work the longer hair away from the part and ensure the razor line delivers maximum impact.
Crew Cut with Tapered Sides
A tapered crew cut is a stylish, versatile haircut that enhances the traditional style by softly blending the sides down to create a seamless look. Tapering is a less conspicuous way to transition into the crew cut, giving your hair a natural finish while upholding a neat, well-maintained look. The gradient here is less severe, which makes the style look fuller. Use a texturizing hair product and then blow-dry to boost volume and effortless chicness.
Thick Crew Cut with Skin Fade
This thick crew cut with a skin fade is a striking look for anyone wanting to show off their fuller head of hair. It leans casual but take it to the next level with a line-up for extra structure and emphasis.
Afro Crew Cut
An Afro crew cut stylishly elevates the natural texture of black hair while keeping your style pristine and professional. The neat, perfectly shaped silhouette of the crew cut projects refinement and elegance whilst allowing the tight curls and coils of Afro-textured hair to shine. Use a curl sponge for more definition, and grab an Afro pick to detangle as your style grows out.
Traditional Crew Cut with No Fade
The traditional crew cut with no fade is an instantly recognizable men's hairstyle known for its simple, militaristic design and low-maintenance appeal. It offers the ideal balance for casual, academic and business settings. The smart, cultured look makes it well-suited for any man seeking a refined haircut that's not overly modern or tapered.
Messy, Short Crew Cut
The messy, short crew cut is an excellent compromise on the classic style, allowing your hair to retain its natural life and flow. Opting for a scissor-cut top and messing the hair up with a holding gel or wax will enable you to showcase your inner style without much upkeep.
Crew Cut Fade with Beard
A crew cut fade with a beard is a ruggedly handsome pairing for guys blessed with great genetics and thick, healthy facial hair. This intense look screams power and masculinity, especially when incorporating a well-groomed beard. The short length on top and the precision fade exude professionalism, while the beard brings a tough, rugged edge that makes this haircut ideal for any setting.
Brushed Back Wavy Crew Cut
A brushed-back, wavy crew cut is perfect for the man with thicker hair who doesn't want to sacrifice his natural wave. The style is kept slightly longer and brushed back, breaking from the flat finish of a standard crew cut. All that's needed is a light pomade or a sea salt spray to showcase those waves while maintaining a dynamic, slightly tousled look.
Military-Inspired Crew Cut
The military-inspired crew cut, much like a high and tight, pays homage to its origins in the Armed Forces, displaying a precise, functional look that's incredibly easy to style. This variation is kept very short, with a neatly cropped top and an aggressive taper down the sides and back. As expected from a military cut, the look is well-structured and requires minimal upkeep.
Edgy Crew Cut with Short Fade
Pairing an edgy crew cut with a short fade balances the flair of a more daring hairstyle with the slick, refined silhouette of a tight, high fade. It's a modern take on a traditional style that's interesting without sacrificing presentability. Apply texture powder or paste to roughen up the longer hair and naturally enhance the definition from the tapered sides.
Side Swept Crew Cut Fade
A side-swept crew cut fade brings sophistication to the classic style by incorporating a soft, slightly longer top. Blow-dry and sweep the longer hair to one side, then hold it in place with a medium-hold wax or pomade. The faded sides amplify the natural contours of your face and draw attention to the fresh look of the swept top. This style shows dynamism and originality without abandoning the neatness and professionalism of a crew cut.
Cropped Crew Cut with Shaved Line Design
A cropped crew cut with a shaved line design is an eye-catching, flashy look perfect for trendsetters. The cropped cut means the length is slightly shorter with a clean fade down the sides, drawing attention to the signature, striking razor-cut design. The shaved line breaks up the taper, adding sharpness and individuality to this style.
What Is The Crew Cut?
The crew cut is a classic men's hairstyle defined by buzzed, tapered or faded hair on the sides and back that smoothly transitions into a slightly longer length on top, often featuring a thicker fringe and textured styling.
Military members and professional athletes made this classy, low-maintenance haircut popular and, in a short time, it came to represent rugged masculinity and timeless charm, ensuring the crew cut style would eventually become a barbershop staple for generations.