Ivy League
A crew cut left long enough on top to part and comb to the side.
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.
In één oogopslag
- Ook wel genoemd
- Princeton cut, Harvard clip
- Zijkanten
- A grade 2 to 3, tapered at the neck
- Bovenaan
- 3 to 5cm at the front, shorter towards the crown
- Parting
- On the side, natural
- Onderhoud
- Every 3 to 4 weeks
- Het beste op
- Oval, square and round faces
- Vermijd dit als
- You want volume or a lot of styling options
- Popularised by
- Ryan Gosling (his go-to sleek version), Harry Kane (a choppier take)
£5 korting op je eerste bestelling
Een vers geschoren gezicht komt het best tot zijn recht met een strakke halslijn. Een scherp mesje zorgt ervoor dat dit zo blijft tussen twee scheerbeurten door, zonder de scheerirritatie die een bot mesje veroorzaakt.
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Hoe vraag je het aan je kapper?
- Ask for an Ivy LeagueA crew cut long enough on top to part.
- Give the side gradeA grade 2 or 3, tapered at the neck.
- Say the top lengthAbout 3 to 5cm at the front, getting shorter towards the crown.
- Say where you part itLeft or right, natural rather than shaved.
De variaties
Hetzelfde kapsel, op verschillende manieren gedragen. Wat verandert, is de lengte, waar het korte gedeelte begint en hoe de bovenkant is gestyled.
Zal het bij jouw haar passen?
Het haartype bepaalt hoe een kapsel valt en hoe snel het zijn vorm verliest. In de onderstaande tabel vind je een beknopt overzicht.
| Heteroseksueel | Ideaal | Parts and lies flat easily. |
|---|---|---|
| Golvend | Ideaal | Waves add a little body. |
| Krullend | Werken | Keep it short so it holds the parting. |
| Krullend | Werken | Works short and neat. |
| Dik | Ideaal | Thin the top so it combs across. |
| Fijn of dunner wordend | Ideaal | Short and tidy, so thin hair looks deliberate. |
Past het bij je gezicht?
Of een kapsel je gezicht langer doet lijken of juist smaller, hangt af van hoe het bij je gezichtsvorm past. Het haartype speelt een grotere rol, maar dit is de korte versie.
| Ovaal | Ideaal | Evenwichtige verhoudingen, zodat de snit zelf de doorslag geeft. |
|---|---|---|
| Rond | Ideaal | A short top with a little height at the front suits a round face. |
| Vierkant | Ideaal | A neat parting suits a defined jaw. |
| Langwerpig | Werken | Keep the top fairly flat rather than lifted. |
| Hart | Ideaal | A side parting breaks up a broad forehead. |
| Diamant | Werken | A parting with some fullness on top works. |
Baardstijlen die daarbij passen
Het haar en de baard vormen één geheel. Deze zorgen ervoor dat de verhoudingen bij dit kapsel kloppen.
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.
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 crew cut 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.
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 haircuts for balding men page has more options.
Gezichtsvorm 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".
- De zijkanten. "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.
- De top. "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.
- De halslijn. 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.
- Start with damp hair. Towel dried.
- 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.
- Set the parting. Run the end of a comb along your parting line from the front hairline back.
- Comb the front across. Sweep the fringe to one side and slightly back. Comb the shorter side down.
- 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.
Onderhoud en hoe vaak er gemaaid moet worden
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.
Veelgestelde vragen
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.
Other short clipper cuts
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