A buzz cut, induction cut or wiffle is a very short haircut.[1]
The cut is usually performed using hair clippers without a comb guard. The sides are cut closely and then the top is either shaped or cut to the same short length all over. The cut takes just a few minutes to perform.[1] A buzz cut can make the face look more defined. The buzz cut is popular among people who want a short, low-maintenance hairstyle. Far fewer women than men get their hair clipped off.
There are many different variations of buzzcuts. One variation leaves some bangs (fringe) so they can be spiked upwards using hair products, such as wax or gel. With side fades, the side hair slowly fades shorter and shorter until the hairline ends, or the shortest clipper number is reached. In some cases, clippers are used to shear the hair short on the sides and back of the head, resulting in a short haircut, but not the classic buzz.
A flattop is similar to a buzz cut, with the exception that the hair on the top of the head is not cut as short, and is deliberately styled to stand up. The longest part of the hair in the flattop cut is the front, being one to two inches in height. It is cut to be flat, resulting in a haircut that is square in shape.[2] The style was popular in hip-hop culture during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when it was known as the Hi-top fade.
The buzzcut was a fashionable unisex hairstyle in the late 20th century. In the 1990s celebrities like Kevin Costner, George Michael and David Mamet pioneered a uniform buzz as opposed to the traditional flattop.[3] Other celebrities noted for wearing their hair in this way included Jason Sehorn, Susan Powter, Sinéad O'Connor, Benjamin Granger and Natalie Portman.[1][4]
In many countries, armed forces recruits are given buzz cuts when they enter training, originally to prevent the spread of lice,[3] but now for ease of maintenance, cooling, and uniformity.[5]
A buzz cut may be used to reduce the shock of hair loss when chemotherapy is administered. The hair still falls out but the effect is reduced and so is less traumatic.[6]