Cambridge Cut & Ivy League Haircut

Hairdresser cutting a Cambridge cut for men
Photo: Vagengeim/Shutterstock
Q: My son is in an opera next month and it is set in 19th Century Great Britain. He has been asked to get a Cambridge Cut. Do you have a good picture of what this might be?
 
A: I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I am familiar with the Cambridge Cut (also known as a Collegiate Cut) and can give you a good description of how it is achieved. The bad news is that I have been unable to locate good photos with side and rear views of this specific haircut type.
 
The Cambridge Cut is typically created as a tapered haircut that starts extremely short at the nape of the neck and on the sides and gradually increases in length to approximately 2-3 inches of length (or longer) at the top front of the scalp. (The front length is usually determined by the length of the bangs, which should fall to a point around the eyebrows.)
 
The tapering of the cut is smooth and even, and the finished look can be styled with bangs down, a side parting, or smoothed back and gelled. The style was traditionally favored by young collegiate men because it allowed them to conform to school dress codes, yet the length of the forward locks gave them the ability to show some personal style when on their own time.
 
Because of the way haircut styles evolve (and the way the terms for a certain style change from generation to generation) I was able to locate a very close approximation to the Cambridge Cut.
 
This photo of Colin Farrell actually shows what is now called an "Ivy League" haircut. It is created in the same way a Cambridge Cut would be created, but progresses to a shorter length at the top front. You can print this photo and this reply to show your barber/stylist and he/she should be able to give you the style being requested for your son's performance.
 
I hope this helps.
 
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See also:
 
What is a Princeton haircut?
 
Can an Ivy League haircut be done on curly hair?
 
Clipper cutting techniques for men's and boys' standard cuts
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