Men's cut
Buzz length

Buzz cut

Model M1 before the cut, with their own hair. AI reference on a synthetic model — not a real person.

BeforeBuzz cut

AI reference on a synthetic model — not a real person

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Your face is measured on your phone

Free · about 2 minutes · No account

A buzz-length, edgy and classic men's cut with 0.3–0.4 in (0.5–1 cm) on top, finished with a tapered neckline.

Also asked for as: buzzcut, buzz, number 2 all over, induction cut, burr cut

Updated September 30, 2026

On top: 0.3–0.4 in0.5–1 cm
Best on: Any texture hair
Recut: Every 2–3 weeks
Styling: None

Traditionally suggested for

Even head shape, a strong brow or jaw, hairline stages 3–5, and 4A–4C hair.

Stylist rule of thumb

The buzz cut on 4 synthetic models

4 skin tones and 4 hair types, each shown only on hair the cut can hold. AI reference on a synthetic model — not a real person.

Buzz cut · Model M1light skin · straight hair · 20s
Buzz cut · Model M4deep brown skin · coily hair · 30s
Buzz cut · Model M5light brown skin · curly hair · 20s
Buzz cut · Model M7olive skin · straight-to-wavy hair, receding at the temples · 30s

AI reference on a synthetic model — not a real person. Each picture starts from one AI-made portrait per model; only the hair is changed, and we publish it only if our check finds the face unchanged. Your own preview uses your photo.

Who it fits

Hair comes first: these decide whether the shape can hold.

Works on every texture, from straight to coily.How hair behaves
Any amount of hair, thin to thick.How hair behaves
Works with any hairline, including advanced hair loss.Barbers agree
Scores higher if you have a receding hairline.Barbers agree
Scores higher if you have low-density hair.How hair behaves
Scores higher if you have a crown whorl.Barbers agree

Who should skip it

Any one of these moves it down your list, or off it.

You want to keep your length: from typical medium hair this is a big chop.Your call
Scores lower if you have prominent ears.Barbers agree

Barbers also flag: Puts bumps, a flat back of the head and prominent ears on show.

Buzz cut vs shaved head / bald fade

The buzz cut and the shaved head / bald fade share buzz length length, the same best textures (1A–4C), any density and a recut every 2–3 weeks, which is why they get mixed up. Below are only the specs where they differ.

The buzz cut and the shaved head / bald fade compared on the catalog fields where they differ
Spec	Buzz cut	Shaved head / bald fade
What the barber cuts	Buzz cut: Clipper all over; edge up the hairline	Shaved head / bald fade: Foil shaver or razor; blend into the beard
Length on top	Buzz cut: 0.3–0.4 in (0.5–1 cm)	Shaved head / bald fade: 0–0.1 in (0 cm)
Daily styling	Buzz cut: No daily styling	Shaved head / bald fade: 2–5 min a day
Top 3 on proportions	Buzz cut: Diamond	Shaved head / bald fade: No shape in the top 3
Traditionally suggested for	Buzz cut: Even head shape, a strong brow or jaw, hairline stages 3–5, and 4A–4C hair.	Shaved head / bald fade: Hairline stages 5–7 and diffuse thinning; pairs well with a beard.

Every row is a catalog field or our engine’s geometry ranking; “traditionally suggested for” is stylist convention. Which of the two suits you comes down to your own texture, density and hairline: check your hair for free, or read the full shaved head / bald fade spec.

What to tell your barber

The catalog spec, in barber terms. Your own card adjusts it: the part side from your crown, notes for your hair type, and a QR code your barber can open.

Read this to your barber

“#2 (6 mm) all over, or #3 top / #1 sides blended; tapered neckline; edge up.”

Clipper guards in this spec (Wahl sizes)

#13 mm
#26 mm
#310 mm

Side options that suit this cut

Low fade
Mid fade
High fade

Sides: #2 (6 mm) all over, or #1 (3 mm) on the sides blended into #3 (10 mm) on top
Top: 0.3–0.4 in (0.5–1 cm)
Neckline: Tapered (fades out naturally)
Technique: Clipper all over; edge up the hairline
Product: None; SPF on the scalp outdoors
Recut: Every 2–3 weeks

Get the look

Products and tools for the buzz cut

Product types, not brands, picked from the barber spec above. Your own results match them to your hair.

We may earn a commission if you buy through these links; it doesn't change what we recommend.

Upkeep and yearly cost

Priced at $30 a cut. Your results use your own local price.

Trim every: 2–3 weeks
Per year: 17–26 cuts a year, about $510–$780 at $30 a cut
Daily styling: No daily styling
Product: No product
Heat tools: Not needed

Proportions, by face shape

Where the buzz cut places in our engine’s top 10 for a textbook face of each shape, on proportions alone: a top-3 pick for diamond. Proportions are the smallest part of a real score; your hair counts for more.

Where the buzz cut places in the geometry-only top 10 for each face shape
Face shape	On proportions	Position in the top 10
Oval	#4 of the top 10
Round	Not in the top 10
Square	Not in the top 10
Oblong	#4 of the top 10
Heart	Not in the top 10
Diamond	#1 of the top 10
Triangle	Not in the top 10

Full ranked lists: men's cuts for diamond-shaped faces.

Guides that mention the buzz cut

Buzz cut: questions

What do I ask my barber for with a buzz cut?

Read this out: “#2 (6 mm) all over, or #3 top / #1 sides blended; tapered neckline; edge up.” That's 0.3–0.4 in (0.5–1 cm) on top with a tapered neckline, recut every 2–3 weeks. Your own barber card adjusts it for your part side and texture.

Buzz cut vs shaved head / bald fade: what's the difference?

The buzz cut and the shaved head / bald fade share buzz length length, the same best textures (1A–4C), any density and a recut every 2–3 weeks, which is why they get mixed up. The buzz cut is cut as “Clipper all over; edge up the hairline”; the shaved head / bald fade as “Foil shaver or razor; blend into the beard”. Our engine scores both against your own texture, density and hairline, so the free check tells you which of the two ranks higher for you. Full spec: shaved head / bald fade.

Is the buzz cut a men's cut?

Yes: our catalog lists the buzz cut as a men's cut, so it comes up when your check is set to men's cuts, and not in the women's list. That is where gender stops counting: the shape is decided by your hair and your proportions. The spec wants 1A–4C hair at any density. The free check measures your texture, density and hairline, then ranks the buzz cut against every other men's cut.

Does the buzz cut work on curly or coily hair?

It's best on 1A–4C hair. It works on every texture from straight 1A to coily 4C.

Does the buzz cut work on thin or fine hair?

Yes: the catalog allows any density, so low-density hair isn't ruled out. Nothing else in its spec marks it down for fine strands or low density. Density is measured in the free check, and our thinning hair guide lists the cuts our engine favours for thin hair.

How much upkeep does a buzz cut need?

A trim every 2–3 weeks: 17–26 cuts a year, about $510–$780 at $30 a cut, plus no daily styling.

Who should skip the buzz cut?

You want to keep your length: from typical medium hair this is a big chop. Scores lower if you have prominent ears. Barbers also flag: Puts bumps, a flat back of the head and prominent ears on show.

Which face shapes suit a buzz cut?

On proportions alone, our engine places it in the top 3 for diamond faces. Proportions are the smallest part of a real score; texture, density and hairline count for more, which is why the free check looks at your hair first.

Is a buzzcut the same as a buzz cut?

“Buzzcut” is one of the names people use for it. Ask for it by the spec above rather than the name, since names vary between barbers.

All haircuts

Will the buzz cut fit you? Find out before you sit down.

We check it against your face and hair. Your best cut is free, shown on your own face. Members see every cut that fits, with the numbers for your barber.