45 Best Military Haircuts For Men in 2023

The military haircut is a popular choice for men who want a ruggedly handsome and low-maintenance style. A military hairstyle can be defined by a short cut on the sides, back and top of the head, creating a functional look for a soldier or law enforcement officer.

Whether you want short and modern or timeless and simple, these stylish military haircut styles are cool, fresh and flattering options that will enhance your masculine features. Some men will want a buzz cut with a fade on the sides and back, while others may prefer a crew cut with an undercut for a versatile longer style.

To inspire you with ideas, here are some examples of the best military haircuts for men. From the high and tight to the short comb over fade, these popular military-inspired hairstyles are effortlessly manly and easy to wear.

Military Haircuts

Buzz Cut

The buzz cut is a short military haircut that offers a clean and bold look for men who want an easy style. The buzz cut fade offers a modern and high-contrast look that can take your style to the next level. Guys can choose between a low, mid or high fade haircut on the sides and back to create an edgy and stylish finish. To take it a step further, you can ask your barber to further tailor the cut with a skin fade that will taper the hair into the scalp. For a rugged handsome look, you can pair a full beard with your cut.

Modern Caesar Cut with High Taper

The modern Caesar haircut style is a bold choice for fashionable men who want a masculine and clean look. You can get a straight fringe to frame your face and tie it all together with a high taper for an irresistible finish. When styling, use a matte clay product to create separation and texture.

Spiked Fringe with Skin Faded Sides

A spiked fringe can be combined with bald faded sides to create a timeless look. Ask your barber to cut your hair down to finger length while adding texture for the iconic spiky look. Combined with a skin fade and beard, this masculine military-style haircut will look good on a guy with strong facial features.

Crew Cut

The crew cut is one of the most common short haircuts for men who want a business professional style that always looks great. A crew cut can be a great way for military men to get a masculine look while maintaining longer hair. The fade offers tapered short hair on the sides and back with a slightly longer length on top, adding definition and style for the perfect finish. When styling, guys can brush the hair forward, sweep it to the side for a comb over or leave it messy for a casual look. Whether you’re a cop or in the Army, the hairstyle is a universally-flattering and charming option.

French Crop

The French crop is a trendy and charming hairstyle for guys who prioritize texture and dimension. This cropped style features a thick, layered fringe to complement the short faded sides. Use a low-shine pomade for definition and a textured finish.

Hard Side Part

The hard side part can be a stylish and simple way to make a bold statement. This side part features a shaved line where the hair naturally combs over to create a precise separation. A low or mid skin fade will add contrast while a strong matte pomade can lock in your look and provide texture and volume.

Military Fade

The military fade is a popular haircut for men to get on the sides and back, offering a sharp and modern style that will elevate your look. The fade haircut involves gradually tapering the hair, going from long to short down the sides. There are many different types of fades to consider, including the low, mid and high fade. For an edgy vibe, guys can also feature a bald or skin fade.

Some guys like to add a low fade to their military cut for a soft and versatile finish, while others choose a mid or high fade to create a very short and masculine look. For a bold touch, a skin fade haircut can blend your hair into the scalp and give you a sleek style. The fade can be combined with a buzz cut, crew cut, high and tight, flat top or hard part for the perfect hairstyle.

Modern Textured Cut with Disconnected Fade

A modern textured cut with a disconnected fade will take your style to the next level with a popular look. The brushed forward hair and spiked front complement the high skin fade and heavy stubble to achieve a masculine finish. Thinning shears and point cutting can be used to debulk the hair, giving it life. The disconnected fade will give the illusion that the hair on top is longer than it is.

Bowl Cut

The bowl cut is a classic military style that has transformed into a trendy choice in barbershops around the world. With military vibes, this modern variation keeps the back and sides extra short with slightly longer hair on top, creating bangs that hang over the forehead. To style, use a low-shine product to spike or brush forward.

Ivy League

The Ivy League is a smart and classy men’s hairstyle that will allow you to create a side swept look, resulting in a cool and preppy style. The Ivy League haircut combines a taper on the sides and back with a longer crew cut on top. Guys can add a fade to get a military-inspired look. With extra length and volume, you’ll want to style the Ivy League by sweeping the hair in front to the side for a classic gentleman’s style. You can use a matte styling product for a textured finish or a high-shine pomade to get a retro wet look.

Brushed Up Fringe with Mid Taper

A modest cut for every man, the brushed up fringe exudes boyish charm. You’ll need to let the top get longer and ask for a mid taper to retain some length while creating contrast. To finish, use a styling gel to hold your locks in place all day.

Slick Back Fade

The slick back fade is a trendy cut that flows naturally for easy styling and a sleek look. If you’re willing to forget the regulations, let the top grow a few inches so you can slick it back with gel or a strong pomade. Clean up the look by fading the sides nice and high.

Induction Cut

The induction cut is a very short military haircut for guys who want a masculine look that requires no styling. The induction hairstyle is given to recruits on the first day of boot camp and can be cut using hair clippers with no guard. To experiment with this very short cut, you’ll want to ask your barber for a high skin fade on the sides and back to create some contrast with the hair on top. Similar to a shaved head, this look is suited for men with a square head shape and sharp facial features like a chiseled jawline.

Textured Spiky Hair Fade

This trendy textured spiky hair fade features short layers for a messy and textured look. With a high skin fade and shaved line design, this haircut is a solid choice for men. Don’t think too hard about how to style it – all you need to do is run some matte product through and you’re set.

Regulation Cut

The regulation cut is a longer Army haircut that has become a barbershop favorite for business professional men. A regulation haircut starts with a taper fade on the sides and back with a short crop on top that allows guys to style a side part. This military style is easy to maintain, looks good and works for most occasions. You’ll want to apply a medium to strong hair product for control and volume, resulting in an elegant and clean-cut style.

Short Side Swept Ivy with High Taper

A side-swept Ivy League with a high taper is a modern and trendy play on the classic and conservative version. The hair is left long enough to style to the side while the tapered sides lend a subtle touch.

Flat Top

The flat top is a short haircut characterized by the hair on the top being cut flat and styled upright. With a fade on the sides and back, the flat top haircut is an edgy military style that looks great with thick, straight hair. Similar to a high and tight, you’ll need a strong styling product to keep your hair spiked all day. For a softer and more natural finish, guys should use a matte pomade or gel.

Thick High and Tight with Shaved Sides

A high and tight with shaved sides can be a cool and really short haircut style that requires minimal styling. Much like the Peaky Blinders look, you’ll need to leave the top chunky and messy with texture and get the sides shaved high just before the round of your head. Scrunch your hair with a matte product to create separation.

Faux Hawk Fade

A faux hawk fade is an excellent choice for the guy who wants a mohawk but can’t commit. Ask for some texture on the top and style your hair towards the middle for the hawk façade. Fade the back and sides to really get to the point.

High and Tight

The high and tight is a very short hairstyle for guys who want a shorter variation of the crew cut. The high and tight haircut can be characterized by a high fade on the sides and back with short hair on top, creating a simple and youthful style. You can ask your barber for a high skin fade to focus all the attention above. Whether you style your hair messy or sweep it to the side, the high and tight military hairstyle is a functional cut that you can get at home with clippers.

Butch Cut

The butch cut is a modern haircut that comes with short hair all-around for a masculine look. Butch haircuts are great styles for military men and athletes who need functional cuts that minimize styling and distractions. There are many different types of butch hairstyles, ranging from the shorter burr to the longer brush cut. For a stylish look, talk to your barber about getting a medium to high fade on the sides and back. When trimming the hair on top, you’ll need a number 1, 2 or 3 clipper guard depending on short you want to cut your hair.

High and Tight Recon

A high and tight recon is ideal for rebellious guys who prefer shaved sides with a short flat top on top. This high and tight style requires thick hair and a strong facial structure to work. Use a strong styling product to spike or brush the top forward.

Short Crop with Spiked Fringe and Low Bald Fade

The short crop with a spiked fringe is a fresh take on the traditional crop haircut. With limited layers, the top is left heavier with enough at the front to push up with pomade. A low bald fade helps create rugged intrigue.

Burr Cut

The burr cut has become a popular style for guys who need a very short and low-maintenance look. A burr is a type of butch haircut that is cut to less than 1/4 inch of hair on top. The burr cut hairstyle looks best with a skin fade or shaved undercut on the sides and back, giving you another dimension and some necessary contrast. Great for guys with thin or thinning hair, this military haircut offers an aggressive vibe that would be perfectly acceptable for a Marine or MMA fighter.

Thick Buzz Cut with High Skin Fade

A thick buzz cut with a high skin fade is a cool style that will show off your fullness on top. Using longer guards, this cropped hairstyle can go as high up as a number six to leave more density. Pair it with a high skin fade for a ton of contrast and edginess.

Comb Over

The comb over is a classic men’s hairstyle that has become a fashionable look for modern gentleman. The comb over haircut is a style that starts with a fade or undercut on the sides and longer hair on top that is combed to one side for a parted finish. As a stylish business professional cut, the comb over fade offers a versatile look and can be a great look for military men. Whether you have straight, wavy or curly hair, you’ll want to experiment with this charming style.

Tousled Up with High Undercut

A longer tousled-up style can be a chic look for younger men who want to venture away from a strict military style. Use hair mousse to give your locks body and ask for a high undercut to elongate your face and heighten natural volume.

Police Haircut

The police haircut is a short style that looks clean-cut and professional while being convenient and practical. Police officer hairstyles have utilitarian features and tend to include styles like the short crew cut with a high skin fade, comb over tape, high and tight, buzz cut, flat top and shaved head. Similar to military styles, your short hair can be tailored to create the perfect look to suit your needs. With a fade on the sides and back, your cop haircut will look stylish and flattering all around.

Skin Fade

The skin fade is a military-style haircut that blends the hair on the sides and back into the scalp to create a fresh cut. The skin fade haircut can be added to any modern hairstyle, making the style low-maintenance and cool. Great for the Marines, Navy, Army and all branches of the military, there are several fade haircut styles to explore for a stylish look.

Hard Part

The hard part has been a classic haircut for gentlemen who like to comb their hair to the side. The hard part cut features a thick shaved line into your hair with a razor. The part can separate the sides and top of your head or where you style your parted hair. This military style can be a unique way to get a cool and classy look.

Shaved Head

A shaved head is a popular military-inspired style that provides the ultimate “no-maintenance” look. Shaving your hair can save you time, money and styling effort, but you’ll need to trim regularly to keep the clean, smooth look. Shop around for a good razor and shaving cream; your scalp will thank you.