Buzz cuts are an incredibly popular look for men these days, as it’s a simple style that is pretty easy to maintain. But how do women feel about this recent trend for men? Do women like buzz cuts?
A lot of women do not like buzz cuts because they prefer the feel and versatility of longer hairstyles.
However, some women do like how buzz cuts look on men with certain facial features or as a part of more complex styles.
I did my research by reviewing as many forums and discussion threads as humanly possible. As a fan of the buzz cut, it was kind of disappointing to learn the truth.
Keep reading to learn more about how women seem to feel about them.
Are Buzz Cuts Attractive?
Buzz cuts can highlight the facial features and contours, especially when the underlying bone structure is already chiseled. When worn with confidence and when properly groomed, a buzz cut can definitely look conventionally attractive.
It’s worth noting that buzz cuts do suit certain face shapes more than others.
Men with naturally round faces may find that their face appears even rounder when their hair is very short. They no longer have the benefit of being able to lengthen their face as they would with a taller hairstyle such as a quiff, for example.
In addition, men with thin and naturally oily or greasy hair types may find that ultra-short hair may reveal too much of their scalp under bright lighting.
Ultimately, the right buzz cut on the right person with the right hair type can definitely look attractive.
But the question is, do women actually like them?
Why Do A Lot Of Women Dislike Buzz Cuts?
Women have cited a couple of reasons for disliking how buzz cuts look on most men.
Remember, this definitely won’t apply to all women. They’re just trends and patterns that I picked up on.
A lot of women do not find buzz cuts attractive due to the following reasons:
They Prefer Hair They Can Run Their Fingers Through
A majority of women appear to prefer long hair on men, and they cannot help comparing a buzz cut to other styles that do not show off a man’s scalp.
Specifically, several women stated that they dislike how they are unable to run their fingers through a buzz cut.
Some women assume that men with buzz cuts must have bad hair, and that is why they wear it in a buzz cut.
By “bad hair,” they mean features such as weak, thin, scraggly hair, or receding hairlines. They believe that men are being lazy by having most of their hair removed to hide these things instead of embracing them.
If a woman already thinks that a man is being lazy about his personal appearance, she may also think that he generally has poor hygiene or is disorganized.
Although buzz cuts are typically associated with the clean-cut, ultra-efficient aesthetic of the military, it could also be seen as an “easy way out”. A simple haircut that takes very little time to achieve and very little time to maintain.
In contrast, with longer styles like a medium-length slicked-back look, for instance, women generally feel like the man is putting more effort into his appearance.
From that they can assume that a man has other positive traits, like being organized, tidy, or confident. It might sound like a stretch, but it’s true.
At a glance, it’s just much easier for most women to appreciate well-kept long hair on a man because they just think it says more about them.
Related Reading: What Long Hair Says About You
Faded Styles Are A Lot More Popular Now
The popularity of faded styles has overshadowed the trend of buzz cuts for most women.
Although buzz cuts themselves can have fades, they’re more popular on longer hairstyles like pompadours, quiffs, and faux hawks these days.
They can be included in a variety of different hairstyles. Many of the longer hairstyles that women prefer on men have faded sides.
Fades gradually go from being long at the top of the back and sides to shorter towards the bottom. They have a lot of flexibility, unlike a traditional, induction-style buzz cut, which is the same short length all over.
As such, a faded style is more likely to be flattering on a man, and women see them as more unique and eye-catching.
Fades aren’t just more trendy. They also say more about a man than a buzz cut would.
It suggests that he spends the money and takes the time and effort to go to a barber or stylist capable of trimming it.
A buzz cut, on the other hand, could easily be a DIY job. Although that’s a big part of a buzz cut’s appeal, it could send the wrong message to a prospective partner.
Buzz Cuts and “Tough Guy” Vibes
Several women stated that buzz cuts often make a man look like he is trying too hard to seem tough or overly masculine.
Although this is obviously a generalization, it’s one that shouldn’t be ignored.
While some women may be drawn to buzz cuts because of their stereotypically masculine edge, others may shy away from them.
Even without speaking to or interacting with men that have buzz cuts, rightly or wrongly, the vibe they give off just may not be right for them.
Related Reading: Do Women Like Goatees, Things You Need To Know About Buzz Cuts
When Do Women Like Buzz Cuts?
Although the majority of women seem to dislike buzz cuts, there are definitely some who love them.
Here are the situations in which buzz cuts tend to draw more praise than negativity.
When The Buzz Cut Suits The Face Shape
While buzz cuts may not be flattering on any random man, they do look good with certain face and head shapes.
When you trim your hair down super-short, there’s very little you can do with it. You can’t quiff it up or slick it to the side.
Because of this, you can’t really use it to adjust the shape of your face. Your head shape is exaggerated as a result.
If you’ve got a round face, for example, trimming a buzz cut will make it look even rounder and there’s not much you can do about it.
It’s why certain head shapes suit buzz cuts better than others.
This one comes right down to aesthetics. Faces come in all shapes and sizes; because of this, some men just look better with buzz cuts than others.
In general, men with round faces are better off with longer hairstyles; they can use the length to add height (eg. with a quiff) and elongate the face.
On the other hand, men with longer face shapes such as oblong, diamond, and oval would suit a buzz cut very well.
When Buzz Cuts Have Length
Some women only dislike very short buzz cuts that leave little hair beyond stubble.
These women are often a bit less harsh towards buzz cuts that are closer to a high-and-tight or a crew cut in length.
A number 4 buzz cut or longer would be a good compromise. You’d still get the ease of maintenance that you get with a short buzz cut, but with the versatility that longer hair grants you.
Plus, it’s generally long enough for the scalp not to be very visible.
Many male celebrities have sported longer buzz cuts in the last few years.
Again, some women feel that a longer buzz cut leaves enough hair for them to run their fingers through, which is something that several women cited as a reason for typically disliking short buzz cuts.
They would rather feel strands of hair than stubble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a couple of frequently asked questions on the topic to really round things up in style.
Are Crew Cuts Attractive?
Crew cuts can definitely look attractive. They have the benefit of having a short back and sides aesthetic that naturally defines the jawline and makes the face appear narrower.
In many ways, they’re more versatile than buzz cuts, simply because you have slightly longer hair up top that’s often styled upward.
The sides are still trimmed ultra-short, but it’s incredible how just a small amount of length up top can produce a totally different look.
Of course, there are several variations of the crew cut – the classic crew, the high and tight, and the Ivy League, for example.
Each of them has its own pros and cons. But ultimately, crew cuts are generally easy to pull off and often do look attractive.
Are Buzz Cuts Masculine?
Buzz cuts often do come across as stereotypically “masculine”, mainly due to their association with military personnel. The practical, low-maintenance hairstyle is said to convey a sense of discipline and toughness.
In addition, as explained earlier, they do help to create a more chiseled and defined appearance to the face – aesthetic traits traditionally associated with masculinity.
Having said this, masculinity is subjective and could never be defined by a hairstyle.
Are Buzz Cuts Classy?
While buzz cuts are usually associated with practicality and discipline as opposed to dapper sophistication, it’s definitely possible for a buzz cut to come across as “classy”. Pairing the hairstyle with tailored clothing or formal wear is one way to achieve this.
However, “classiness”, much like masculinity, is subjective and cannot be definitively defined by a hairstyle. Personality, etiquette, mannerisms, and sense of style will all play a role.
Conclusion
It’s important not to dwell too much on the opinions of others.
But it’s no secret that many men have asked this very question and have found it tough to get a full and complete answer.
Unfortunately for buzz-cut-loving men, a lot of women dislike buzz cuts due to the negative associations I listed in this article.
Not all women, but apparently a lot of them.
Even so, this shouldn’t be the only reason you choose to adopt a different hairstyle. If you’re a fan of the look, don’t stress too much about it.
There are still plenty of women out there who like them too.
Ready Sleek founder. Obsessed with casual style and the minimalist approach to building a highly functional wardrobe. Also a fan of classic, vintage hairstyles.