It is no secret that the military has had a significant influence on menswear in recent decades. You can find a wide range of military-inspired clothing, including bomber jackets, pea coats, cargo pants, and desert boots. Military roots aren’t just found in clothing and footwear. Many popular haircuts, such as high and tights, also come from military roots.
The high and tight trim has long been favored by American military personnel and law enforcement. In contrast with the classic crew cut, this style has long buzzed hair rather than shaved hair.
Since the 1980s, civilian versions of this style have emerged. Adding sharp edges, skin fades, and volume to the high and tight helped make it popular in the States.
Despite its popularity today, the high and tight is one of the easiest styles to maintain. There are several variations to consider when it comes to this military staple, all of which are described in this article.
Short hairstyles such as the high and tight are cut with clippers. There is usually a patch of longer hair at the very top of the head, while the back and sides are buzzed down to the skin.
In most cases, the transition is smoothed with a fade, but in some cases it can be worn directly after one length, called ‘disconnected’ length.
Hip-hop artists and B-boys alike turned to the high and tight for its loftier appearance during the 1980s.
Who Suits A High & Tight Haircut?
When choosing a high and tight style, you should take your face shape into consideration.
Different styles will look different on different faces based on their shape. To balance out your face’s proportions, you should determine what category it belongs to.
A face can be classified as round, oval, square, rectangular, or heart-shaped. You can determine which one it is by observing the outline and shape of your face in the mirror.
Almost the entire spectrum is covered by high and tight, making it a very versatile instrument. The height of your top might not be appropriate if your face is long and rectangular. Apart from that, it’s an excellent choice due to its close-cropped nature.
It is important to take into account your lifestyle as well. Hair styles that are high and tight are good for those who are short on time, since they do not require a lot of styling or maintenance, requiring just periodic trips to the barber.
A high and tight is an expression of its purest, simplest form. Back and sides of the head are buzzed down to the skin, while top is left a little longer. Anyone looking for a buzz cut with some length variation but little maintenance can benefit from short buzz cuts. They require little to no styling.
It’s good to take a picture along with you when you go to the barber, because knowledgeable barbers will know what you’re asking for. If you have mastered the use of a clipper, you may be able to perform this cut at home.
The slightly longer version of the high and tight keeps true to its trademark shortness by adding just a touch of length to the top. Although the sides are buzzed close, the top has enough hair to allow for some styling.
Even though it’s still short, it’s fine to style into short crops, quiffs, or side combed styles. By fading between the two lengths, you can also smooth out the transition.
To maintain the sharpness of this style, regular barber visits are essential.
Add length to a high and tight cut to enhance its versatility. With more hair on top, you can style your hair in different ways, such as pompadours, long quiffs, and slickbacks if you have long enough hair. Both crew cuts and high and tight cuts have similar length transitions, however the transition occurs higher.
Simply show the barber a picture of the look you like and he will give you the look you want. In this way, you won’t have to discuss anything before you’ve agreed on what you both want.
During a ‘shape-up,’ the natural hairline is straightened with precision trimming. Hairstyles with high or tight hairstyles look sharper when you do this. It’s an easy method for giving thick or afro-textured hair a sharper appearance.
To maintain sharp edges, this cut requires regular barber visits, again with minimal maintenance.
Wearing a high and tight style accentuates the natural texture of afro hair. If you want to add volume and facilitate styling, you can buzz the top or wear it longer on top. If you choose more length on top, a fade can be incorporated to create a clean transition.
Bring a picture to the barber so he can give you exactly what you want. The usual advice for Afro hair (moisture, moisture, moisture) is all you need to know, but don’t forget to touch it up regularly to keep it fresh.
I am Jayden Ward, the owner and creator of Taperfadee.com, a dedicated platform focused on providing comprehensive guides and insights into taper fade haircuts. With a passion for hairstyling and a keen eye for detail, I aim to empower individuals to achieve the perfect taper fade, whether for personal styling or professional grooming.
