Three short, classic cuts that look similar but wear very differently. Here is how to tell them apart and pick yours.
Crew cut
Short and tapered, slightly longer at the front, graduating shorter toward the back. Low maintenance, neat, works for almost everyone.
Ivy League (Harvard clip)
A longer crew cut — enough length at the front to sweep or side-part. Smart and versatile, a step up in styling options.
French crop
Short sides with a textured top cut into a small, blunt fringe forward over the forehead. Modern, great for thick or cowlicked hair, and brilliant for disguising a receding hairline.
Which suits you
- Lowest effort: crew cut.
- Want to style it: Ivy League.
- On-trend / thick hair: French crop.
Getting it right
These cuts live and die by the fade and the top length, so precision matters. Bring a reference photo to a men’s haircut in Chicago, or ask the barbers at Artur’s Barber Shop which of the three suits your hair and face.
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