Military Haircuts

Have you seen the military guys and gals in Hollywood movies and felt like you wanted to look like them? Well, you can go someway in that direction if you try duplicating their haircuts. So, here's a little guide on what the military parlance for those haircuts are, with a little bit of description.

Military Haircut # 1 – The Induction Cut

Quite the place to begin, right? The induction cut is the shortest cut in the military, and you get it as soon as you are in! One of the specialties of the induction cut is that it is a purely clipped haircut and the razor is not used even a bit. Well, for that matter, it is not even done by a professional barber! Just about anyone in the military with a little free time that day can give this 'Army's #1 Haircut'! No problem anyways, these guys are not going to walk on the fashion romp for a long time.

The civilian version of this haircut is done by a professional barber and razors are used. Due to that reason, the person sporting the 'Mighty Fine' in nonmilitary society will resemble a pruned porcupine a little less. The style is a good choice, anyways, if your hair are quickly saying adieu to your scalp. People wouldn't know that your hair is deserting you.

Military Haircut # 2 – The Flattop

This is the distaff end of the spectrum from the induction cut. The flattop is the favored cut among the upper brass of the armed forces, and even several celebrity men (and women) sport this hairstyle with élan. The flattop is so named because the top of the head is very carefully clipped to resemble a flat board. The flatter the top, the more professional the cut is. This requires great expertise, because the head's natural shape is round, so a lot of adjustment is required. The sides are trimmed almost to baldness, but not totally so. As a result, the head becomes more vertical, with deliberate effort made to make the hair stand up on end.

A variety of the flattop is achieved by making the frontal portion of the hair into a U-shape. This is known as the horseshoe flattop.

The flattop is a lovely cut if you want to look real masculine and sporty. It goes as well with a football jersey as it goes with a tuxedo. A real universal military haircut if there was one! However it must be done only through a licensed barber. (Do not try this at home!)

Military Haircut # 3 – The Crew Cut

If you talk about juvenile popularity, this is the most popular haircut. You will see most schoolchildren sporting this one too, especially in the summers. This is very similar to the induction cut, with the only exception that a professional barber does it in the military and instead of clipping, the look is achieved through trimming. The hair is trimmed all around with an electric razor very close to the scalp to get a very fine layer all around. The scalp can be seen clearly and there's only a very little hair length on it.

A wonderful cut if you want to make a bald fashion statement (pun intended). Will keep you cool and looking masculine all through the summer. Everyone from your neighborhood newspaper boy to Beckham has tried it once in his life. A safe military cut! People might ask you when you are getting drafted, though!

Military Haircut # 4 – The High And Tight

Actually, there are many haircuts that can qualify as the high and tight, but the basic principle is the same. The haircut gives an effect that the hair is pulled high and tight above the head. The hair around the sides and back is clipped and trimmed very short (crew cut length) so that the scalp is almost visible, while the hair on top of the head is kept longer. The hair on top is made to stand erect too, so the look of hair standing on end is achieved. Variations here are many – the hair can be allowed to remain tapering on the top, or it could be made into a traditional flattop, or any other design that might be permitted in the military.

The high and tight is usually the haircut movies show when they have to make up military characters. It is a stylish cut, which works quite well everywhere. Only, it must be done with a professional barber who is experienced in creating the right look.

There are several other military haircuts like the recons, the butch haircuts, and so many other ingenious styles that different domains in the military have come up with. The above four are the most generic ones, though, and they are the ones mostly used by civilians.