What do Erling Haaland, Jake Shane and Connor Storie all have in common? They simultaneously debuted winter’s trendiest cut – the buzzcut.
For the past decade, men’s haircuts have transformed from the signature short back and sides to more men experimenting with their look - bleached hair, mullets, curtain fringes, frosted tips, side partings – you name it! Length was sought after when it came to men’s cuts; curly hair became a trademark for some men and hair health was at the forefront of trends. Nevertheless, trends come and go, and this season, clients will be shaving it all off!
Clients love the buzzcut for its pristinely polished nature, while still maintaining its edgy undertones. However, it’s not as simple as shaving all the hair off, stylists need to consider their client’s head shape, grow pattern and their commitment to the style’s upkeep! When it comes to creating a buzzcut that’s even all over, it’s important that you use the best tool possible. Simon Shaw, President of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing said: “For me, the Wahl Bald & Buzz Cut DIY Hair Clipper is an essential for helping me to create the perfect buzz cut. There are many different styles of buzz cut, whether your client is looking for the most popular buzz cut style that’s created by using a 1 with your clipper guard or by taking the guard off and shaving even shorter to a 0.5 or a faded buzz cut, which is really on trend today, it’s important to create a look that is bespoke to your client.”
Simon continued: “I really like to use a scissor over comb technique on the sides to get really close to the hair for more precise results and then use a clipper on top. With buzz cuts, I always tend to analyse the client’s head before going ahead with the cut, feeling around their scalp to look out for any bumps before cutting to ensure I work round these areas more gently.”
The buzzcut is loved by clients for its minimal styling, but that’s not to say that it doesn’t need any!
Bailey Snowden, Owner of Snowden Hair, tends to reach for his matte paste when creating a buzz cut as it helps to maintain that desired structural shape. Bailey said: “Matte paste is the perfect styling product to avoid any unwanted frizz with a buzz cut. As the paste has a flexible hold, it binds to the shorter hairs to lock everything into place, keeping the styling looking fresh all day long!”
Whilst a buzz cut can be a daunting change for clients, Craig Mason, RUSH Academy Director, always ensures that his and his client’s visions are aligned. Craig said: “Make sure that you look at your client’s hair colour, density and texture in order to determine the clipper length to use on the top. Lighter-coloured, low-density, or smooth-textured hair normally requires a longer length with a number four to number eight guard, while dark, dense or coarse hair requires a shorter length with a number one to number three guard. I always find an inspiration photo helpful, and while you may not be able to fully achieve their desired finish – you can customise the buzz cut to suit them!”
Image Credit:
Creative Direction: Dean Gleeson
Hair: Project Men and Media 2025, Fellowship for British Hairdressing
Photography: Paul Simmons
Stylist: Stephanie Day
Make-Up: Lily Winfield