The high and tight haircut is a classic barbershop cut, a variant of the buzz cut, that has been a staple for decades, widely seen on men in the military and increasingly popular in civilian life. Its ease of maintenance and clean, sharp look make it an attractive option for many. Every gentleman has different preferences in his hairstyle. Some guys want the latest trending style (right now it’s the man braid), while others simply want a low-maintenance haircut that still looks good.
A high and tight haircut features a shaved back and sides, while the top is a longer strip of hair that is either blended or faded. As we mentioned above, this style is “high” or longer on top and “tight” because the sides and back are shaved. It’s a dynamic and easy-to-maintain cut, like a military version of the crew cut. “High” because it features a longer strip of hair on top, sometimes faded. This cut was a common military cut but became more popular because of its ease and low maintenance.
To begin with, the high and tight cut looks very similar to some other popular cuts because it has almost no hair on the sides and a longer top part. But this cut originally appeared in black communities in the 1980s when it was highly in demand for young black males.
One of the biggest benefits of the high and tight is its ease. The high and tight haircut is a simple yet stylish haircut that is popular among men. As a hairstylist, mastering this classic style can attract many clients who want a neat and professional appearance. Since the high and tight is such a simple hairstyle, you don’t need anything in the way of products. So if you’re often busy and can’t spend enough time styling your hair as you’d like, the high and tight could be a great option for you.
It’s easy to personalize a high and tight to your liking. The good thing about drop fades is that they can go with almost all kinds of haircuts. High and tights aren’t always super short.
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Length: If you have enough hair left on top or opt for a longer length, you can style the hair, but most men who wear the high and tight choose to not style it.
Texture: With the focus that the high fade haircuts brings to the hair on top, adding an eye-catching design or texture can really stand out. This fella uses that focus to show off his wavy ripples while keeping the hair short. This afro-textured top is surely a new trendy high and tight where the top is what attention is drawn. This faded line up with semi wavy texture on the top makes it very fancy. Trimmed forehead hair while maintaining the volume is the key to ace this look. High and tights work with afros too! Texture is the name of the game with this hairstyle.
The Fade: The Fade refers to how the top and sides meet - they can be blended for a softer look or faded into slightly longer hair. If your client wants a high and tight fade, switch to a longer guard as you move up.
Quiff: When you think of quiffs, you think of volume and flow. Hence, when you put together a high and tight with a quiff - it might seem impossible. Think again. A quiff paired with this comes up sharper and cleaner because of the sides. It also defines the quiff more, as the focus is only on the top part of the hair.
Modern Twists: This is a very modern high and tight which is a blend of many things. Let’s start with the texture on top with a short length and a thin texture. Moreover, it is straight laid with sharp yet faded line ups, it surely adds that panache.
Read also: Comprehensive High and Tight Guide
Side Part: This is a combination of the long side-parted top with undercut fade on the side. It’s pairing with the beard makes the face balance and looks it even.
Line Up: Crisp and clean, like a newly pressed suit, this line up hairstyle places emphasis on your head’s natural contour. But if it’s a bit too clean for you and you want to play it up, a layered top will do the trick. This is a more generic hairstyle with brush up on the forehead but the clear line-up spices it up. Thick hair can be quite hard to handle but shaving it off on the sides and tying it up as a bun keeps it cool and macho. This faded line up with semi wavy texture on the top makes it very fancy. Trimmed forehead hair while maintaining the volume is the key to ace this look.
Tapered: This is for sure not your just another high and tight. It has a taper that goes all around with comparatively longer tops.
French Crop: This is a good blend of Tapered Line Up and top has some decent volume. The controlled French Crop on the forehead makes it look all sleek and tidy.
Longer Top: This high and tight haircut incorporates a tight fade on the sides which seamlessly blends into the top of the hair which is much longer. If you’re not a fan of short hair and still want something to grasp and style every now and then, then ask your barber or stylist to leave the top area of the buzz cut at least an inch long.
Read also: Hairstyles to Conceal a High Forehead
Afro-textured Top: This is not your usual high and tight that you see on a Monday afternoon. This afro-textured top is surely a new trendy high and tight where the top is what attention is drawn.
If you’re unsure if a high and tight haircut is for you because you think it would lack an edge or you will become a product of a factory look, think again. Pair your high and tight haircut with a Klingon beard or a pronounced chin curtain, plus wear accessories that draw attention to your brow ridges - such as square-shaped sunglasses, then the haircut becomes a natural part of you.
The high and tight will work better with certain face shapes. It leaves only a small area of hair on top of the head, so your face shape will be emphasized since it’s the focal point of your head. For that reason, the high and tight works nicely with square, oval, triangular, or diamond face shapes.
Whether you go to a barbershop or refresh your high and tight cut on your own, you should keep in mind that in order to get this particular style it’s better to use clippers of size 1 that would almost shave off your sides. This will let you get something in-between the skin fade and a #1 short sides. So if you’re looking to get a high and tight hairstyle just mention to your barber that you’re looking to get something in between the buzz cut and a french crop cut.
If you’re cutting the high and tight yourself at home, you’ll need a high-quality hair clipper and an assortment of blade guards. Before you begin cutting, make sure you know how wide you want your top strip of hair to be. Make mental markers at its boundaries so you don’t accidentally clip the top part too short. The strip should go to the vertex of your head. With longer blades, the HH8 Talon is great for efficiently cutting larger sections, making it useful for trimming the longer top in a high and tight style.
A high and tight haircut is a longer strip of hair on top of your head with shaved back and sides. Pick a place above your temples where you want to keep your hair long. You can choose to make it as wide or as narrow as you want. Snap the guard onto your clippers and turn them on. If you have longer hair, start with a larger blade guard and work your way down towards a shorter cut. Or, if you hair is at least a few inches long, then you can gather it with your hands in 1 or more sections and cut it with shears before cleaning it up with clippers. Start at your neckline on 1 side and work up to where you want the strip of hair to start.
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