A crew cut is a short men’s haircut with the sides and back clipped close and the top left a little longer, cut to stand up slightly at the front. It is the original low effort office haircut, and it still holds its own on 34th Street.
The direct answer: ask for a crew cut with a number 2 or 3 on the sides, a number 4 to 6 on top, and a tapered neckline. It needs no product, takes about twenty minutes and suits almost every face shape, which is why it has outlasted a lot of trends. Here is how to order it, how it differs from its cousins, and how to keep it sharp.
What is a crew cut and who suits it?
A crew cut keeps the top slightly longer than the sides, usually between a half inch and an inch and a half, and trims the sides and back short with clippers. The front is often left a little longer so it can stand up or lie flat with a dab of product.
It suits men with straight to wavy hair, medium to thick density and a regular schedule they would rather not think about. Oval and square faces look best, and a round face gets a lift if the top is left a little taller. If you have a receding hairline, a slightly shorter top can make the front less noticeable. The crew cut is also a common first step for men leaving a longer style behind and wanting a clean reset.
It is easy to confuse with a buzz cut. The difference is that a buzz is one length all over, while a crew cut has a clear difference between top and sides. If you are leaning toward something with a little more flair on top, our fade haircuts include a higher contrast version of the same idea.
How do you ask your barber for a crew cut?
Name the cut, give two guard numbers and describe the neckline. A good order is: “crew cut, number 2 on the sides, number 5 on top, tapered neckline, front left a bit longer.”
Use this guard chart as a starting point:
| Part of head | Safe first order | Shorter option | Longer option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sides and back | Number 2 | Number 1 | Number 3 |
| Top | Number 5 (about 16 mm) | Number 3 | Number 7 or scissors |
| Front | Left a touch longer | Same as top | Up to an inch and a half |
| Neckline | Tapered | Skin taper | Natural |
If you want it fully faded rather than simply tapered, say so, and the cut becomes a fade haircut at $35 with the hot towel neck finish included. Crew cuts and faded crew cuts both fit inside that service at Deja Vu Barbershop.
Want the corners cleaned? The front and temples can be squared off with a shape up, which is a sharper hairline made with a trimmer. We offer that as a line up and edge up for $18.
How is a crew cut different from a quiff or a pompadour?
A crew cut is short and light, a quiff is longer and swept up at the front, and a pompadour is longer still with much more volume. All three can share the same tapered sides, so the difference is how much hair is left on top.
If you are standing between a crew cut and something with more lift, look at our comparison of quiff vs pompadour. The crew cut is the cut you can do with almost nothing, while the quiff and pompadour ask for a blow dryer and a few minutes of effort. That difference alone decides it for most of our weekday clients, since they would rather save the time.
The crew cut also takes on features of other short styles. A longer top and a mid fade gives you something close to the Ivy League cut. A shorter top and a high fade gives you the high and tight. A natural taper on the sides with a textured top gives the modern version many clients now ask for. The structure is the same; only the numbers move.
How do you style a crew cut?
Style a crew cut with a small amount of matte clay or paste on damp hair, pushed up and forward at the front and left alone elsewhere. It is a thirty second job.
The steps are simple. First, towel dry until the hair is only slightly damp. Second, rub a pea size amount of product between your palms. Third, run your fingers from front to back to set the shape, and push the front up with your thumb if you want a bit of lift. Finally, check the sides, which should need nothing.
You do not need to wash your hair right before the cut. If you wonder whether it makes a difference, we answered it in should you wash your hair before a haircut. If your hair is very short on top, you can skip the product altogether and run a comb through it.
Common mistakes
- Too much product, which makes short hair look wet and flat.
- Skipping a neckline clean up, which makes the cut look overgrown fast.
- Going too short on top when the face is long, which stretches the head shape.
How often should you get a crew cut, and how long does it take?
Plan on a trim every three to four weeks, since short sides show growth quickly, and expect the cut to take around twenty minutes in the chair. The longer the top, the longer the appointment.
The numbers in detail are in our guides on how often to get a haircut by style and how long a haircut takes at a walk in barbershop. The short answer for a crew cut is that most Midtown clients come in every three weeks and fit the visit into a lunch break or after work.
If the sides begin to thicken before the top, you are at week three. If the neckline looks fuzzy, you are at week two and a half. A quick line up between full cuts keeps the edges sharp, and you can see our line up and edge up service for $18.
Book a crew cut in Murray Hill
Deja Vu Barbershop is at 101 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016, between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Murray Hill. Call (212) 576-1062. We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm, closed Saturday, and walk ins are always welcome. If you prefer a set time, book online or contact the shop.
A fade haircut starts at $35 and includes the hot towel neck finish. Add a beard trim and grooming for $18, or take the Classic Combo, fade plus beard, for $48. The 6 train at 33rd Street and Park Avenue is about two minutes away, and Grand Central is about eight. For the full list of cuts, see our fade haircut menu.
Questions readers ask
How do I give myself a crew cut?
Use clippers with a number 2 guard on the sides and back, and a number 4 or 5 on top, working against the grain from the neck up. Ask a friend to check the back, and expect a barber to tidy the neckline and edges afterward.
Is a crew cut the same as a buzz cut?
No. A buzz cut is one length all over, while a crew cut keeps the top longer than the sides.
Can I get a crew cut with a fade?
Yes. Ask for a low, mid or high fade on the sides. A fade haircut is $35 and includes the hot towel neck finish.
Does a crew cut suit thinning hair?
Often yes. A short, even length hides thinning better than a long comb over, and the barber can keep the front slightly shorter.
Do kids get crew cuts too?
Yes. A kids haircut is $35 and parents stay beside the chair.