You’ve probably seen the butch cut on military men and athletes. Also known as a short brush cut or long burr cut, the butch haircut is a type of buzz cut in which the hair is cropped short and to the same length all around the head. While this men’s haircut has traditionally been reserved for the military, butch hairstyles have become popular for guys who want an easy and simple style. Some get a fade or undercut on the sides and back and just want short hair on top, but it can also be designed to hide a receding hairline, fix bald spots, and cover up hair loss. To inspire you with ideas and styles, we’ve compiled the best butch cut haircuts for men to get right now!
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What Is A Butch Cut?
A butch cut is a low-maintenance men’s haircut that requires a short uniform cut all around the head. As a military style haircut, it is a very short hairstyle for men that can be paired with a fade or undercut on the sides and back. There are many variations of the style, including the burr, brush, buzz and crew cut.
The hair length ranges between 1/4 inch and 3/4 inch. A butch that is trimmed shorter than a quarter inch on top is generally called a burr cut. Meanwhile, a longer butch cut might be referred to as a brush cut. Like most buzzed styles, guys typically ask their barber for a fade haircut on the sides to create some contrast. The result is a stylish masculine hairstyle for men with no styling required.
Butch Cut vs Crew Cut
The butch cut is similar to the crew cut, but the main difference is that the crew cut haircut is longer all over with extra length in the front. Butch haircuts are really short and don’t need any styling or product. Meanwhile, the fringe of the crew cut is generally swept to the side for a parted style.
It’s also easy to do a butch cut at home using just your clippers, but we advise you to visit a barbershop to get a crew cut. The best crew cut haircuts are faded on the sides and back with longer, layered hair on top. Getting a properly tapered fade is essential to pulling off the hairstyle.
Short Butch Haircuts
The burr cut is a popular version of the butch haircut and can look good with all hair types. Also known as a short butch, the burr haircut is slightly longer than the induction cut, which is the type of haircut given to new recruits in the military. The induction is achieved by buzzing the hair completely with no guard on the clippers.
To get the burr cut, you’ll want to use a #1 or #2 guard all over. Your hair will be very short, so your facial features will take center stage. For a rugged manly look, grow a full beard and get a fade on the sides to complement your short hair.
Long Butch Cuts
If a butch cut appeals to you but you’re worried that your hair will be too short, you can go for a short brush cut. Also known as a long butch cut, this longer hair buzz cut is edgy and bold. The brush cut haircut can be spiked up, parted to the side, or styled flat.
If your hair is naturally curly, the cut will begin to show it. Black men who get this haircut can create waves with their tight curls. In general, this style offers more options if you want to experiment with styling your look.
Butch Cut Fade
The butch cut fade is one of the most popular haircuts for men who want very short hair. Guys can ask their barber for a low, mid or high fade to determine the level of contrast between the sides and top. You can also get a razor, bald or skin fade that will taper the sides and back down to the skin for a shaved cut. This sharp cut looks stylish when it’s fresh, but it will need a touch-up every couple of weeks as the hair grows out.
Butch Cut with Beard
The best thing about a butch cut is that it looks stunning with a beard. Celebrities like Tom Hardy and Nick Jonas love to pair a buzz cut and beard because the look is edgy and sexy. Regardless of the beard length, the contrast between the short haircut and facial hair will give you a masculine and cool style. This combo is also ideal if your hair is thin or thinning because it will take the focus off the hairline and onto your face.
Butch Cut with Shaved Line
If you want your butch cut to stand out, consider adding a shaved line into the mix. You can add one or two shaved lines into your fade to create a trendy look. The line can be on one or both sides of your head.
Butch Hairstyles
Just because your hair is short doesn’t mean you can’t style it, and there are many cool butch hairstyles worth styling. You can use a strong hair product to spike it up or lay it flat, depending on the look you like. From bad boy to daring gentleman, butch haircuts can be fashioned to fit your style. If you want to take your buzzed head to the next level, you can even dye your hair blonde or platinum. Stand out from the crowd with a dyed platinum blonde buzz cut.
How To Give A Butch Haircut
The butch cut is a classic hairstyle that is easy to do. If you’re giving a butch cut, all you need is quality hair clippers with a complete set of guards. Depending on the desired length, you should attach a #3, #4, or #5 guard to cut a butch haircut.
Once you’ve decided on the right guard size, run the clippers all over the head and buzz the hair off. Make sure you’ve covered the entire head to get a uniform style. Use a three-way mirror to check the back of your head or ask a family member or friend for help.
Cutting an induction, burr, or brush haircut requires the same step-by-step process, so you can always change up your look the next time.
With that said, if you’re looking to get a buzzed or butch cut with a skin fade on the sides, you might want to visit a barber who will help you achieve the perfect look.
How To Style The Butch Cut
The butch cut is easy to get and simple to style. In fact, it looks fine even when there is no styling product in your hair. If you want to dress up your short hairstyle, you can style your haircut using butch wax. Applying this strong wax product will allow you to spike up your short hair and create a shiny finish. If you choose one of the longer styles, use butch wax to get a more textured look.
What Is Butch Wax?
Butch wax is a classic hair styling product for men with a very strong hold. This pomade-like product has been around for decades, first becoming popular in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Back then, the buzz cut was all the rage, but barbers used to leave a tuft of hair in the front. The wax was used to get those hairs to stand for an extra dose of panache. The wax was also very flammable, which only made it more appealing.
Nowadays, you can use butch wax to style your short buzzed hair. Whether you have a short or very short cut, the wax is easy to apply and offers a strong hold, ensuring that your hair will look perfect all day.