Men's · Short

The Edgar Haircut: Blunt Fringe, High Fade & All Variations

A straight horizontal fringe cut sharply across the forehead, a high skin fade on the sides, and a crisp line-up — the Edgar is one of the most geometrically bold haircuts in the barbershop.

The Edgar haircut gets its identity from a single distinctive feature: a blunt, straight fringe cut horizontally across the forehead with scissors held flat — no texture, no layers, no angled ends. That squared-off fringe is paired with a high fade or skin fade on the sides and a precise line-up that defines the forehead hairline and temples with a razor-sharp edge. The result is a bold, geometric shape with maximum contrast between the shaved sides and the flat-topped crown. Originating in Mexican-American communities in the south-western United States, the Edgar — also called the takuache cut or "cuh cut" — spread nationally through social media in the late 2010s and is now one of the most requested cuts in barbershops across North America.

At a glance

Best for
Oval, square & round faces; type 1–3 hair
Length needed
1.5–3 in on top; any length on sides
Maintenance
High — fringe and fade both need frequent refreshing
Barber visit
Every 2–3 weeks
Styling time
2–5 min
Grow-out difficulty
Moderate — fringe grows forward quickly

The anatomy of the Edgar cut

Three technical elements combine to make an Edgar recognisable:

  • The blunt fringe — scissors are held perfectly horizontal across the front of the hair and a straight line is cut across the forehead, leaving the fringe with a flat, blunt edge rather than a feathered or layered one.
  • The high fade or skin fade — the sides and back are faded from skin or a very short guard at the base, with the fade line sitting high (above the temple area). This draws the eye up and emphasises the flat top.
  • The line-up — a razor or trimmer is used to create clean, sharp edges at the hairline: across the forehead, along the temples, and at the sideburns. Without a crisp line-up, the Edgar loses its graphic precision.

Edgar cut variations

Classic Edgar

Straight hair lying flat, blunt fringe about 1.5 to 2 inches long sitting across the forehead, high skin fade, and a sharp line-up. The top surface is smooth and the fringe edge is ruler-straight. Works best on type 1 (straight) hair because the fringe lies flat without effort.

Fluffy Edgar

The same blunt fringe and high fade, but the top is left with more volume — often 2.5 to 3 inches — and styled with a blow-dryer to lift and fluff before the fringe is pressed flat. The contrast between the puffed-up crown and the dead-straight fringe is the signature of this variation. Works well on type 2 (wavy) hair that naturally has volume.

Wavy Edgar

Designed for type 2 and type 3 (curly) hair. The top is left long enough for the natural wave or curl pattern to show, and the blunt fringe line cuts through the waves rather than against them. Salt spray or a curl cream enhances the texture on top while the sides stay faded clean.

Edgar with designs

A razor design — a line, geometric pattern, or simple shape — is etched into the fade section on the sides. This is an extension of the line-up work and adds a personalised, custom element to the already graphic style.

Edgar vs. Caesar vs. French crop

Edgar haircut compared to the Caesar and French crop on key features.
FeatureEdgarCaesarFrench Crop
Fringe styleBlunt, straight, horizontalBlunt, forward-combedTextured, piece-y
Fade heightHigh or skinLow to midLow to mid
Line-upSharp and definingClean but softerOften no hard line-up
Overall feelBold, geometricClassic, versatileTextured, European

The Caesar cut and the Edgar share the blunt fringe idea but differ significantly in how aggressively the rest of the cut is executed. The French crop has a textured, point-cut fringe that is the direct opposite of the Edgar's straight-scissor bluntness.

Barber tip: When asking for an Edgar, bring a reference photo and specify the fringe length explicitly — this is the most variable part of the cut. A fringe that sits 1 inch below the hairline looks very different from one that sits 2 inches down. The further it comes down, the more dramatic the look.

How to maintain an Edgar at home

  1. Between barber visits, use a cordless trimmer with no guard to touch up the line-up along your forehead hairline and sideburns.
  2. If the fringe starts growing past your preferred length, trim it straight across with sharp scissors — hold the hair flat against your forehead and cut in one clean horizontal pass.
  3. Style the top with a small amount of pomade or matte cream worked through from roots to ends; press the fringe flat with a palm to maintain the blunt edge.
  4. For a fluffy Edgar, blow-dry the crown upward before pressing the fringe flat — doing those two steps in sequence creates the characteristic volume-plus-flat-fringe contrast.

Face shape considerations

The straight horizontal fringe draws a line across the upper face, which effectively shortens the visual length of the face. Oval and round faces carry this well — round faces in particular benefit from the horizontal fringe breaking up vertical length. Square faces suit the Edgar because the sharp geometry of the cut echoes strong angular features. Oblong faces should be cautious: the fringe can make an already long face look shorter and heavier. Use the face shape guide to confirm the right fringe length for your proportions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Edgar haircut?
The Edgar haircut is defined by a blunt, straight fringe cut horizontally across the forehead, combined with a high fade or skin fade on the sides and a sharp line-up around the hairline. The top hair is kept relatively short — usually 1.5 to 3 inches — and the fringe sits flat across the forehead rather than being textured or layered at the front. It originated in Mexican-American communities and is sometimes called the takuache cut or cuh cut.
How is an Edgar different from a Caesar cut?
Both the Edgar and the Caesar have a blunt horizontal fringe, but the Edgar pairs that fringe with a high skin fade and a very sharp line-up, making it more high-contrast and modern. The Caesar typically has softer, lower-faded sides and the fringe sits slightly longer and less aggressively straight. The Edgar is a bolder, sharper, more geometric interpretation of the same fringe idea.
How is the Edgar different from a French crop?
A French crop has a textured fringe — the front is cut with point-cutting or choppy ends that create a soft, piece-y look. The Edgar fringe is cut blunt and straight across with scissors held horizontally, giving it a sharp, flat edge. The French crop also tends to have a lower fade and more texture through the top, while the Edgar keeps the top relatively flat and smooth.
What fade works best with an Edgar cut?
A high skin fade is the most common pairing for an Edgar cut. The high fade starts above the temples, which emphasises the sharp contrast between the shaved sides and the flat top. A sharp line-up along the temples and forehead hairline is essential to define the front corners of the style. Mid fades also work if you prefer something less extreme.
What hair type suits the Edgar haircut?
The Edgar works best on type 1 (straight) and type 2 (wavy) hair because a straight fringe sits flat and stays in place. For type 3 (curly) hair, a fluffy Edgar variation works — the curls give the top volume and the fringe is cut blunt through the curls rather than flat. Type 4 (coily) hair can carry the Edgar fringe with a line-up defining the front edge.
How often does an Edgar haircut need maintenance?
Every 2 to 3 weeks. The high fade and sharp line-up both grow out quickly and become noticeably softer within two weeks. The blunt fringe also grows forward and will start falling in the eyes after 3 to 4 weeks without a trim. This is one of the higher-maintenance short cuts because both the sides and the fringe need frequent attention.

Keep the fringe sharp between visits

A precision trimmer is essential for maintaining the Edgar's line-up at home without visiting the barber every two weeks.

See recommended tools