35 Best Crew Cut Haircuts

When it comes to short haircuts for men, the crew cut is one of the most popular styles that looks classy and stylish. The crew cut comes with short hair on top and tapered sides to create a cool and versatile look. The crew cut hairstyle can be easy to get, looks great on most guys, and offers a clean-cut style that exudes confidence. Whether you’re a business professional who needs a short haircut for work or just want short sides with a longer top for a stylish look, there are several crew cut styles to consider.

Some men will get a high fade with a crew cut for a modern style, while others may prefer the crew cut taper for an elegant finish. You can combine the crew cut haircut with different types of fades, including the high, mid, low and skin fade to create a fresh look.

With so many different types of crew cuts to consider, it can be a challenge choosing the right hairstyle. To inspire you with ideas, we’ve compiled a list of the best crew cuts. From classic to modern styles and short to long hair, explore these crew cut hairstyles to find a stylish look you’ll love!

What Is A Crew Cut?

A crew cut is a classic military-inspired men’s haircut featuring short hair on top with a shorter cut on the sides and back. The crew cut hairstyle is a popular style for guys who want a low-maintenance look that is still stylish. Whether you want a taper fade on the sides for a modern cut or an undercut with longer hair on top, there are many different types of crew cuts to consider.

The classic crew cut is a shorter trim on top with a tapered haircut on the sides, creating a contrasting look that works well with all face shapes. The modern crew cut is a short hairstyle with a fade haircut on the sides, resulting in a masculine and fresh style. You can also choose between a shorter and longer crew cut, giving you some length on top to style a textured look. As one of the best haircuts for men to get, there are several crew cut styles to try!

Crew Cut Styles

Classic Crew Cut

The classic crew cut is a manly short haircut that blends fashion and function. As a popular professional hairstyle for men, the traditional crew cut is a truly timeless haircut with short hair on top and tapered sides. While the cut is minimalist and sharp, this classy cropped style is cool and stylish in any setting. Whether you need a new hairstyle for the office or just want a masculine look for a night out, you can pair the crew cut with different types of fades for an edgy finish. Ideal for men with all hair types, you can’t go wrong with this sleek trim.

Short Crew Cut

A short crew cut takes this practical and trendy haircut to the next level with even shorter hair. Similar to a buzz cut, the short crew cut haircut is trimmed all around with clippers and features a taper fade on the sides and back for contrast. The short crew cut fade is a popular option because you can pair a low, mid or high skin fade to create a bold and modern haircut. This short men’s hairstyle offers the same fresh look and versatility as the classic cut while minimizing maintenance and styling. When styling, make sure to apply a light-hold matte product for a textured finish that will keep your hair looking thick and full.

Long Crew Cut

The long crew cut is a popular haircut for guys who want extra length for styling options. This crew cut with longer hair on top is generally combined with a taper fade haircut to achieve a classy yet rugged look. Leaving the hair on top slightly longer adds a handsome dimension and contrast to the tapered sides. When styling your hair, you can sweep the fringe, comb over the hair and create a part, or brush it up and spike the top. The long crew cut fade is great for business professional men as well as teenage guys. You’ll want to use a medium to high hold product with a matte texture for the perfect finish. If your hair grows long enough that the weight lays your hair flat, then you can always style a side part or comb over.

Crew Cut Fade

The crew cut is a short men’s haircut that looks cool and modern with a taper fade. While a traditional crew cut will subtly taper the sides and back of your hair, the taper fade haircut offers a shorter, bolder faded cut that eventually blends down to the skin. There are many types of fades to choose and guys can decide on a high, mid or low fade. For a classy and elegant touch, the crew cut taper is truly a gentleman’s haircut. For a more edgy and low-maintenance style, ask your barber for a skin fade with your crew cut. This short crew cut may require more visits to the barber for a clean-cut look, but the result is a stylish and sleek hairstyle for men to wear anywhere.

Textured Crew Cut

The textured crew cut is an elegant and smooth hairstyle for guys who want to infuse a casual feel into their hair. Simply put, texturizing hair means adding a matte finish that looks natural and full. Matte hair products work to provide shape and dimension to your strands, creating the perfect textured crew cut haircut. The extra texture is great for guys with thick, straight, curly and wavy hair, but can be especially effective at thickening your strands if you have thin hair. When styling a crew cut, use a matte pomade or clay with a light hold for a thicker and fuller appearance.

Crew Cut Blowout

For an edgy and cool look, combine the crew cut and blowout to create a spiky hairstyle. This short spiky style starts with a longer crew cut haircut with a fade. There are many different types of fade haircuts that will work with this look, so feel free to experiment with a low, mid, high, bald or drop fade to tailor your cut. With two inches of length on top, you’ll need to apply a high-hold pomade or styling product all over. Running your fingers through your hair, use a blow dryer to spike and blow out the top. If you want a bold look with some attitude, this crew cut style is worth trying.

Crew Cut Side Part

The side part crew cut is a stylish haircut for guys who need a business professional style at work but still want a trendy look to wear casually on the weekends. For starters, ask your barber to give you a fade haircut on the sides and back with a short cut on top, leaving extra length in the front. When styling, you can create a side swept look by combing the fringe over. Guys may also consider styling hair when it is wet and using a high-hold product such as a pomade, wax or gel. If you want to embrace a more contemporary look, ask your barber for a hard part. Shaving a line into your natural part can help you style the crew cut side part hairstyle and help you highlight the direction your hair is flowing.

Curly Crew Cut

The crew cut is a great option for curly hair, allowing you to get a short haircut that is easy to control and style. Similar to wavy hair, a curly crew cut is a stylish hairstyle that will highlight your unique hair texture as well as help manage your curls. For a clean-cut and popular look, make sure to get a fade haircut on the sides and back to keep the hair cropped short. With longer hair on top, styling your unruly waves or curls will become the focus, so invest in a high-hold pomade and show off your natural texture.

Ivy League Crew Cut

The Ivy League is a type of men’s hairstyle that can be characterized as a longer crew cut. The Ivy League crew cut comes with a taper on the sides and longer hair on top, which is styled as a side part. Also known as the Harvard clip or Princeton, this type of side swept crew cut is classy and universally-flattering for stylish men. The Ivy League haircut is better-suited for guys with straight, thick, and wavy hair and prefer to style their hair combed to the side. To maintain a dapper look, you’ll want to make sure that the sides are freshly taper faded and the top is neatly parted.

Crew Cut with Beard

Combining a crew cut with a beard can create a rugged and sexy look. There are many beard styles that look good with the crew cut, but the best way to groom your facial hair would be to maintain a thick short beard. If you prefer a bold style, ask your barber to blend your sides and back into your facial hair for a fresh beard fade. When trimming your facial hair at home, use a trimmer with multiple guard sizes to keep your beard full and even.

Silver Crew Cut

A silver crew cut is a flattering hairstyle for the mature gentleman with white and grey hair. Getting older doesn’t mean you have to be any less dapper and a buzz or crew cut can ensure you always look good. Becoming a silver fox can help take a classy and elegant crew cut to the next level. If you’ve gone grey and want to style a crew cut, it can be a good idea to use a matte product for a natural textured finish. Short haircuts with grey hair can sometimes come across as old-fashioned, but the texture and fullness will give your hairstyle a modern feel.

Crew Cut and Low Fade

A crew cut with a low fade makes for an excellent business professional hairstyle. Guys can get a low taper fade for a soft finish or ask for a low skin fade for a clean style. The short hair on top can be swept to the side, brushed forward, or spiked up, giving you limitless styling opportunities.

Crew Cut and High Fade

The high fade can take the crew cut to the next level for a hot look. The high fade haircut offers a short crop on the sides and back, maximizing the contrast and focusing the eyes on the short hairstyle on top. If you’re new to the cut, start with a mid fade or undercut to see the haircut.

Crew Cut Taper

The crew cut taper is a clean haircut for guys who want a fashionable and handsome style. This tapered haircut will cut the sides and back short without blending the hair into the skin. The crew cut taper hairstyle offers a sophisticated look that balances modern and classic styles.

Messy Crew Cut

The messy crew cut can be a cool hairstyle for a casual look. This messy hairstyle is easy to achieve with a crew cut on top and a fade haircut on the sides. Fun and youthful, the messy style is well-suited for a matte hair product that will create a full and textured finish.

How To Get A Crew Cut

To get a tapered crew cut, all you really need is hair clippers. Many guys actually cut their own hair at home with a good pair. Now, start with a tapered fade on the sides and back. While the typical crew cut is short all around, you do have the option to leave your hair on top slightly longer than the sides.

We recommend a number 1 or 2 haircut on the sides, and a 3 or 4 on top to create some contrast. However, if you do want a barber to cut your hair, try a high or skin fade for a very sharp finish.

How long you leave the hair on top depends on whether you want a short or long crew cut. Longer hair can give you the option of styling different hairstyles, including an Ivy League, textured crop, or even a side part.

How To Style A Crew Cut

Finally, to style a crew cut, use some good pomade or wax. If you want your hair to look structured, shiny and slick, choose a medium to strong hold pomade with sheen. For a textured crew cut that shows off your hair’s natural feel, use a no or low shine product for a matte finish. We would advise against using gel to avoid clumping, especially if you have thin or thinning hair.

Because your hair is really short, actually styling your hair is optional. You can just spread out some hair wax and leave it mostly messy. For a classic sophisticated look, guys may want to consider the side swept crew cut, where you part the fringe to one side.