The Caesar haircut style guide: What you need to know

Getting bored of your man bun? Or perhaps you’re looking to change up your slicked-back ‘do for something a little shorter and more dapper? You may have tried all sorts of fades, flat-top and lo-hawk styles, but if there was one look we can guarantee you haven’t even given a second thought to, it would be the Caesar haircut.

Made popular back in the ‘90s by George Clooney (during his ER days), we, along with professional stylists, are convinced it’s one to keep on your hair radar. Neat, handsome and genuinely low-maintenance, there’s nothing you won’t like about this haircut, we promise.

Aside from the foolproof styling, another great advantage of the Caesar cut is that – thanks to one of its defining characteristics, the fringe – it’s a great one for gents suffering from thinning locks and/or receding hairlines. Now have we got your attention? Thought so. In which case, consider the below your ultimate style guide to the Caesar haircut.

What is a Caesar haircut?

Essentially a short, even all-round cut with a brief fringe, the Caesar haircut is one with a lot of history. As the name suggests, the style was named after its most famous ambassador Julius Caesar, who adopted this tight cut with blunt bangs as his signature look. And no, it wasn’t purely for fashion reasons; he too was balding and this was a great hairstyle for concealing it.

Great for those who want a sharp but low-maintenance haircut that requires minimum styling efforts, the Caesar is also one of the most versatile options that work well with straight and wavy textures, thick or thin hair.

How to ask for it

If you’re after a classic Caesar, ask your barber to keep the length – which should be no longer than 1-2 inches – even all the way around. There are, however, a number of modern variations on the cut that are worth considering if you want to make it more 21st century-appropriate.

A more contemporary and increasingly popular take on the Caesar is to taper or fade the back and sides, while keeping the top flat and traditional. For a more directional look, try it with an undercut, but if you really want to elevate the cut and inject it with a cool, youthful spirit, we suggest adding in a bit of that messy texture on top, while keeping the sides just a tad longer with some choppiness built in. Now that’s what we call the Caesar haircut 2.0.

How to style it

Unlike several currently trending men’s hairstyles, which require additional volume, dramatic slicking back or building height, the Caesar cut calls for a much simpler approach to styling. All you need is a good hair product and a fine comb. Try the VO5 Extreme Style MattClay (£3.99*) for a reworkable matte finish with prominent texture, or TIGI Bed Head For Men Slick Trick Pomade (£13.95*) for a sleeker look. The trick is to create the style while your hair’s still damp, and to apply the product prior to combing.

For a neater, slicker classic look, use your fingers to evenly distribute product all over your hair and start combing from the crown of your head to the front to create a fringe. Do the same to the sides, and either leave the back or comb it down for maximum tidiness. If a softer, more casual, less uniform outcome is what you’re after, use Toni&Guy Mens Styling Fibre (£6.99*) to rough up the texture at the top, while keeping the back and sides neat for a cool contrast.

*RRPs are Unilever suggested retail prices only, it is at the discretion of the individual retailers to set the actual price.