Ivy League

A crew cut left long enough on top to part and comb to the side.

BuzzSide partingLonger frontAlle 3 bis 4 Wochen

An Ivy League haircut is a short men's cut with tapered sides, usually a grade 2 or 3, and a top left about 3 to 5cm long at the front, getting shorter towards the crown, so it can be combed into a side parting. It is essentially a crew cut with enough length at the front to part. Also called the Princeton or the Harvard clip, it is one of the neatest, least fussy cuts among the classic men's hairstyles we cover.

Man with an Ivy League cut, a longer front combed to the side over short tapered sides, front view
Vorderseite
Profile of an Ivy League cut, the longer front combed to the side over short tapered sides
Profil
Derselbe Schnitt von vorne und im Profil.

Auf einen Blick

Auch bekannt als
Princeton cut, Harvard clip
Beilagen
A grade 2 to 3, tapered at the neck
Nach oben
3 to 5cm at the front, shorter towards the crown
Parting
On the side, natural
Instandhaltung
Alle 3 bis 4 Wochen
Am besten auf
Oval, square and round faces
Vermeiden Sie dies, wenn
You want volume or a lot of styling options
Bekannt geworden durch
Ryan Gosling (his go-to sleek version), Harry Kane (a choppier take)
Instandhaltung2 / 5
Alle 3 bis 4 Wochen
Aufwand für das Styling2 / 5
A comb and a little cream
Erforderliche Länge2 / 5
3cm or so on top

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So fragst du deinen Friseur

  1. Ask for an Ivy LeagueA crew cut long enough on top to part.
  2. Give the side gradeA grade 2 or 3, tapered at the neck.
  3. Say the top lengthAbout 3 to 5cm at the front, getting shorter towards the crown.
  4. Say where you part itLeft or right, natural rather than shaved.

Die Varianten

Derselbe Schnitt, anders getragen. Was sich ändert, ist die Länge, wo der kurze Teil beginnt und wie das Oberteil gestylt wird.

Classic Ivy League Scissor top, clipper sides Neat and smart.
Short Ivy League 3cm at the front Closer to a crew cut.
Ivy League with a fade Verblasste Seiten More modern.
Textured Ivy League Roughed up Less formal.
Hard part Ivy League Parting shaved in More defined.

Wird es bei deinem Haar funktionieren?

Der Haartyp bestimmt, wie ein Haarschnitt sitzt und wie schnell er seine Form verliert. Die folgende Tabelle gibt einen kurzen Überblick.

Heterosexuell Ideal Parts and lies flat easily.
Gewellt Ideal Waves add a little body.
Lockig Werke Keep it short so it holds the parting.
Coily Werke Works short and neat.
Dick Ideal Thin the top so it combs across.
Fein oder ausdünnend Ideal Short and tidy, so thin hair looks deliberate.

Passt es zu Ihrem Gesicht?

Ob ein Haarschnitt die Höhe betont oder die Breite reduziert, entscheidet darüber, wie er zu Ihrer Gesichtsform passt. Der Haartyp spielt zwar eine größere Rolle, aber das ist hier nur die Kurzfassung.

Oval Ideal Ausgewogene Proportionen, sodass der Schnitt selbst den Ausschlag gibt.
Rund Ideal A short top with a little height at the front suits a round face.
Platz Ideal A neat parting suits a defined jaw.
Länglich Werke Keep the top fairly flat rather than lifted.
Herz Ideal A side parting breaks up a broad forehead.
Diamant Werke A parting with some fullness on top works.

Passende Bartfrisuren

Haare und Bart bilden eine einheitliche Kontur. Diese sorgen bei diesem Schnitt für die richtigen Proportionen.

What an Ivy League haircut is

Three things define it. The back and sides are short and tapered, getting gradually shorter towards the neck and ears. The top is graded, longest at the front hairline and shorter at the crown. And the front is long enough to take a side parting and be combed across, rather than standing up.

Profile of an Ivy League cut: short tapered sides and a longer front combed over to the side

That front-to-back grading matters. It is what lets the fringe sweep to one side while the crown lies flat, so nothing sticks up at the back. Get the top cut to one length and the parting will not sit properly.

The name comes from the American Ivy League universities, where it was a common student haircut in the middle of the last century. It has been a standard smart short cut on both sides of the Atlantic ever since.

Ivy League vs crew cut

The two are the same shape at different lengths.

A Militärhaarschnitt keeps the top at about 1 to 3cm. It is too short to part, so the front is pushed up or brushed forward. It reads as sporty and practical.

An Ivy League leaves the front at 3 to 5cm, enough to part and comb across. The sides and the grading are the same. The extra centimetre or two turns a practical cut into a smart one.

That makes it easy to move between them. Let the top of a crew cut grow for a month or two and you have an Ivy League. Take an Ivy League shorter and you are back to a crew cut.

The Ivy League is also a shorter, more structured cousin of the side part. A side part usually has a longer top of even length. The Ivy League's graded top is what keeps it short and tidy.

Who an Ivy League suits

Straight hair is ideal. It holds a parting with no effort and the taper shows clearly.

Man in a blue Oxford shirt with an Ivy League cut, the front combed to the side, in a barbershop

Wavy hair gives it a slightly looser, more relaxed look. Use a cream rather than pomade so the wave stays soft.

Thick hair works well but can look bulky on top. Ask the barber to thin the top so it lies flat.

Curly hair is possible with a little extra length on top and a softer taper at the sides. The parting will be softer than on straight hair.

Fine or thinning hair suits it better than most cuts. The short length makes thin hair look fuller, and combing the fringe across covers a slight recession at the temples. If thinning is more advanced, the Frisuren für Männer mit schütterem Haar page has more options.

Gesichtsform is rarely a problem. The modest height suits oval, square and round faces. On a long face, keep the top flat and the sides a touch fuller.

It is also about as safe as haircuts get for work and school. If you want a cut that will not attract comment anywhere, this is one.

How to ask a UK barber for an Ivy League

Some barbers know it by name, some do not, so describe it as well.

  • Ask for an Ivy League, or "a long crew cut with a side parting".
  • Die Seiten. "A grade 2 on the sides, tapered at the neck." Ask for a grade 3 (9mm) for a softer look. For a more modern version, ask for a fade from a grade 0.5 or 1 around the ears instead. Keep the taper soft if you want it to look classic.
  • Die Spitze. "About 4cm at the front, shorter towards the crown, long enough to part." Say how much to take off if you are not sure about centimetres.
  • The parting. Tell them which side. A natural parting is standard. A shaved-in hard part is an option, but it needs redoing at most cuts.
  • Der Ausschnitt. Ask for it tapered rather than squared off. It grows out more gracefully.

Bring a side-on photo if you have one. It shows the grading on top better than a front view.

Styling an Ivy League

It is a two-minute job.

  1. Start with damp hair. Towel dried.
  2. Add a small amount of product. A light cream or matte paste for a natural finish, or a little pomade for a neater, slightly shiny look. Work it in from the back forward.
  3. Set the parting. Run the end of a comb along your parting line from the front hairline back.
  4. Comb the front across. Sweep the fringe to one side and slightly back. Comb the shorter side down.
  5. Dry it in place. Let it air dry, or use a hair dryer on low heat in the direction it is combed. Lift the front slightly with your fingers if you want a little height.

On a lazy day it can be towel dried and pushed into place with the fingers, and it will still look tidy.

Pflege und Schnittintervalle

Every three to four weeks. The tapered sides are what keep it looking sharp, and they are the first part to go fuzzy. A faded version or a hard part needs doing every two to three weeks.

At each cut the barber should tidy the sides and neckline, keep the top graded and trim the fringe back to parting length. If the top gets much longer than 5cm, the cut stops being an Ivy League and starts drifting towards a side part.

Variations

  • Classic Ivy League. Scissor-cut top, clipper sides tapered from a grade 2. Neat and smart.
  • Short Ivy League. About 3cm at the front. Closer to a crew cut, even less styling.
  • Ivy League with a fade. Faded sides for more contrast. More modern, more upkeep.
  • Textured Ivy League. Matte product, roughed up with the fingers. Less formal.
  • Hard part Ivy League. The parting shaved in. More defined.

It grows out cleanly. Let the top keep going and you have a side part, then a longer short back and sides. For the rest of the family, see the classic haircuts collection.

Fragen, die uns gestellt werden

What is an Ivy League haircut?

A short haircut with tapered sides and a top about 3 to 5cm long at the front, getting shorter towards the crown, worn with a side parting. It is a crew cut left long enough at the front to part and comb across.

What is the difference between an Ivy League and a crew cut?

Length on top. A crew cut keeps the top at about 1 to 3cm, too short to part. An Ivy League leaves 3 to 5cm at the front so it can be combed into a side parting. The sides and the front-to-back grading are the same.

What grade are the sides on an Ivy League?

Usually a grade 2 (6mm), tapered at the neck. A grade 3 (9mm) gives a softer look. For a more modern version, a fade from a grade 0.5 or 1 around the ears.

Is an Ivy League haircut the same as a Princeton or Harvard clip?

Yes. Princeton cut and Harvard clip are other names for the same haircut. Barbers use them more or less interchangeably.

Does an Ivy League suit thinning hair?

Usually, yes. The short length makes thin hair look fuller, and combing the fringe across covers a slight recession at the temples. Avoid a hard part over a thin area.

How often should I get an Ivy League cut?

Every three to four weeks to keep the taper sharp. If the sides are faded, every two to three weeks.