The Essential Guide to Crew Cuts for Men 2025 | GATSBY
The Crew Cut is the classic men’s hairstyle that’s still going strong in 2025 – and is clearly here to stay. Polished yet low-maintenance, this chill short haircut for men works for school and the office. Want the look? In this guide, we’ll fill you in on the various Crew Cut styles you can try.
What is a Crew Cut?
The Crew Cut is a short men’s hairstyle that comes with a touch of length on top and clean, tapered sides. The magic? It’s tidy yet lets you flex your style. Textured, side-swept or softly finished – this short haircut for guys is versatile and easy to wear.
Origins of the Crew Cut
The Crew Cut has been around since the 1920s, first worn by Ivy League rowers who needed a short hairstyle that stayed out of their eyes. Named after those college “crews”, this practical look quickly spread beyond campus. By the 1950s, it had evolved into the preppy “Ivy League cut” and has remained a classic men’s haircut ever since.
Why the Crew Cut Is Still an “In” Thing
Trends come and go, but the Crew Cut remains timeless, crossing generations. The nature of the cut – short, tapered sides with a bit of length on top – flatters almost every face shape.
It’s stayed popular because it fits modern life – quick to style, fuss-free and super cool. Definitely a win for anyone juggling work, social plans, workouts, and life admin. It’s the kind of short haircut that works for any age, vibe or men’s lifestyle.
Types of Crew Cuts: Casual vs Classy
How you wear a Crew Cut depends on the energy you’re after. For a casual look, keep more length on top so you can go messy, tousled, or textured. Prefer a sharp, classy finish? Then go for a shorter top with clean, faded sides. Here are the different ways you can rock a Crew Cut!
Top Trendy Casual Crew Cut Variations
Crop-Inspired Crew Cuts
The Crop-Inspired Crew Cut is a fresh take on the classic version – short sides with a textured, slightly messy top. Think Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders – but with a modern twist. It works best for those with oval and square faces, giving your features perfect balance. Got wavy hair? This cut works effortlessly.
Barber’s Instruction and Styling Guide
What to tell your barber: Ask for a short fade or taper on the sides and keep the top about 2 to 3 inches long with slightly messy layers for the crop cut.
How to style: Rub a bit of pomade through damp hair, mess it up with your fingers, and let the fringe fall naturally for that effortless vibe.
Crew Cut with Natural Fringe
For a softer look, try the Crew Cut with Natural Fringe – a Korean-inspired spin on the classic. Short sides, subtle texture, and a wispy fringe, this style works best on oval and heart-shaped faces. Great for straight or slightly wavy hair, this look hits with that “K-drama main character” energy.
Barber’s Instruction and Styling Guide
What to tell your barber: Remind your barber to keep the sides short with a gradual fade and the top around 2 inches with light texture and a soft, Korean-style fringe at the front.
How to style: Rub a small amount of sea salt wax between your fingers. Work it through your hair, while guiding your fringe forward so it falls naturally.
Crew Cut Quiff
Made to turn heads, the Crew Cut Quiff pairs a short fade with a lifted quiff – the star of the show – that pops with volume, height, and effortless movement. Sharp, casual, and low-key flex-worthy – it’s the hairstyle that says “I care, but not too much”.
Barber’s Instruction and Styling Guide
What to tell your barber: Request for a high skin fade on the sides and back, leaving the top about 2 to 3 inches long with added texture so the quiff has movement and lift.
How to style: To crush the quiff, grab a texturizing matte clay like GATSBY Fiber Clay and work it through your hair, lifting the front with your fingers for volume. This gives a messy, textured lift that nails the look.
Wavy Crew Cut
Do you have thick, wavy hair? Let it do the talking with a Wavy Crew Cut. This chill, textured look shows off your natural waves while ditching the flat vibe of a classic Crew Cut. Keep the sides faded so all the attention stays on the wavy, voluminous top.
Barber’s Instruction and Styling Guide
What to tell your barber: Ask for a short fade on the sides and back, leaving the top around 2 to 3 inches to show off your natural waves.
How to style: Tighter, defined curls are the way to go if you prefer something trendy. Scrunch in some styling foam such as GATSBY Meta Rubber Bubble Perm-Style Creator to give your waves some serious bounce. For something more natural, dust on GATSBY Powder Clay for instant volume, texture, and that perfectly tousled, wavy look.
Military Crew Cut
The Military Crew Cut is a no-fuss, super clean, low-maintenance short haircut. NS guys, this look’s for you! Short sides and a tidy top keep things disciplined while still looking sharp. It’s practical, structured, and timeless.
Barber’s Instruction and Styling Guide
What to tell your barber: For this look, ask for a one-inch top, faded down to a #1 on the sides and back with a clean, sharp neckline. Optional: you can ask for the top to be slightly textured so it’s easier to style.
How to style: Even with short hair, there’s room to work in some texture. All you need are a few sprays of GATSBY Sea Salt Spray Volume Mat on damp hair. Mess it up with your fingers then let it air dry.
Top Trendy Classy Crew Cut Variations
Brushed-Up Crew Cut
Craving a sleek style? The Brushed-Up Crew Cut keeps the sides faded and the top lifted for volume, giving even thin hair a fuller appearance. Here’s a neat, professional look that’s perfect for work or interviews.
Barber’s Instruction and Styling Guide
What to tell your barber: Say you want neat, faded sides and to leave the top long enough so you can brush it up for volume. Ask for a clean, sharp finish.
How to style: Grab a lightweight, non-clumpy pomade (hint: GATSBY Fiber Pomade works perfectly), rub it in your hands and work it through dry hair in small amounts for a natural volume and clean finish.
Side-Part Crew Cut
The Side-Part Crew Cut is straight-up sharp and polished – with the clean side part keeping things structured and neat. Throw in a mid fade from the middle of your head and you’ll look well-groomed and pro. It’s work-approved by day and date-worthy by night! And if you want something more chill, the Ivy League cut is its casual counterpart.
Barber’s Instruction and Styling Guide
What to tell your barber: A clean, defined side part is the way to go. Keep the top long enough to style up and over. And don’t forget to ask for a mid fade starting from the middle of the head.
How to style: Use a lightweight, matte clay with a high hold like GATSBY Fiber Clay to keep your side part in place. Rub a small amount in your hands and work through dry hair for volume. Comb your hair to the side to create a neat finish.
Clean Crew Cut
The Clean Crew Cut is the default no-frills cut – short all around with a bit more length on top. It’s best paired with a high fade and a super close shave on the sides and back. This crisp look is for those who want to look put-together with zero effort.
Barber’s Instruction and Styling Guide
What to tell your barber: Say you want to keep things short all round with the top slightly longer. Do a high fade starting at the temples and keep the sides and back shaved close.
How to style: This is one of the easiest-to-maintain hairstyles. No styling needed – just wash and you’re good to go.
Hairstyling Tips and Tricks for Crew Cuts
Want the perfect Crew Cut? Pick a barber who actually knows short hair – someone who can crush fades, tapers, and texturing. Save a few pics on your phone so your barber gets the exact vibe you’re going for.
Don’t forget, regular cuts = zero stress. Keep your sides tight and the top tidy by going for a fresh cut every 3 to 4 weeks … or sooner if your hair grows fast or you’re rocking a super short style.
Most crew cuts are wash-and-go ready, but if you want to switch it up, stash some men’s grooming staples like matte clay, pomade or sea salt spray for quick texture and volume.
Conclusion
The Crew Cut is a no-brainer for anyone who wants to look clean and sharp without minimal effort – it suits everyone! Light styling is all you need so keep a couple of solid hair products on hand to level it up when you feel like it. Classic, low-effort, and versatile, this cut looks good on almost anyone and transitions effortlessly from school or work to after-hours.