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For the brush cut, the sides
and back are cut short and tapered, but the hair on the top of
the head is usually cut to the same length (i.e., no tapering in
length on the top of the head), following the curve of the head.
The top is worn straight up to resemble the bristles of a brush |
The burr is
created by taking a clipper with a very short blade and cutting
all the hair on the head to the same length (usually 1/8 inch or
shorter). It is shorter than a "butch," which is usually about
1/4 inch or so. You can see much more scalp with a burr than you
can with a butch. A burr is short enough that it feels a bit rough, like sandpaper, when you rub the head against the grain of hair growth |
A business man's cut is a
generic term for a conservative, short (but not too short)
haircut that is appropriate for an office setting. It usually refers to a tapered cut on the back and sides, with enough length on the top of the head to be able to part the hair or wear it brushed back from the forehead. There are several possible variations on the business man's cut. |
The butch is
created by taking a clipper and cutting all the hair to the same
length on the top of the head (typically about 1/4 inch or so).
It is longer than a "burr," which is often considered to be 1/8
inch or less. A butch may or may not be tapered around the ears
and near the neckline, depending on the preference of the
wearer. |
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A crew cut is a fairly generic term for a very short cut that is tapered on the back and sides, and tapered on the top of the head to have a little more length toward the front hairline. The contour of the head is usually followed on the top, giving a somewhat rounded look. A crew cut can be considered a very short version of a classic taper cut, or even a very short pompadour if the hair is brushed upward in the front |
A fade is an extreme type of taper cut, where t he hair on the sides and back is cut very, very close to the head and then tapered upward-- usually beginning above the ears or at the temple-- to a longer length on the top of the head. There are many local and popular names for different kinds of fades, such as temple fade, low fade, Philly fade, Brooklyn fade, and more; be sure to discuss what you'd like with your barber |
The high and tight recon is an extreme version of the high and tight (above). The sides and back are shaved very high, about an inch or two past the crown of the head. There is no blending between the sides and the top. The patch of hair left on the top forward part of the head is more narrow and smaller than in a high and tight. The recon resembles an extremely short mohawk. |
A classic taper cut is simply a short haircut where the sides and back are cut progressively shorter down toward the neck, with even blending throughout. The hair on the top of the head is also tapered, but can be cut quite short, or left long enough to part or otherwise style with gel or pomade. A good taper cut should show no demarcation lines; the transitions between hair lengths should be smooth. Most short cuts employ at least some tapering. |
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 Flat Tops |
 Flat Tops |
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Areas where the back and sides are clipped very close (or shaved) so that scalp is plainly visible. This area of scalp is referred to as "whitewalls |
The sides and back are cut short and tapered across the crown, and the hair gradually becomes longer and fuller toward the front. In a classic ivy league (shown in the illustration), enough hair is left in the front so that it can be neatly parted and styled, usually with pomade or gel. More contemporary ivy league cuts may style the hair upward or forward in the front, but are still generally neat cuts that follow the shape of t he head. |
For the flat top, the hair on the sides and back are usually cut in a short taper, and the hair on the top is cut to stand up and give a very flat appearance to the top of the head. There are a number of possible length variations with the flat top, though the longer the hair on the top, the more likely you will need some sort of styling product (hair wax) to keep it standing up straight. There are also styling variations as to how the sides can be cut to meet the top: the sides can go straight up and give a square appearance to the top of the head (often referred to as a "boxy" flat top), or the sides can be somewhat contoured toward the top, giving a more curved appearance (often referred to as "rounded" or "beveled"). | |
