The Edgar Haircut: A Blunt Fringe Cut and How to Wear It Well
An Edgar haircut is a short cut with a dead-straight, blunt fringe across the forehead and tightly faded or very short sides. The top is cut to one length and combed forward, then the front edge is squared off in a hard horizontal line, often with a crisp line-up at the temples. It suits thick, straight or slightly wavy hair and an oval or longer face, and it needs a tidy every two to three weeks to keep that line sharp. Ask your barber for “a skin or low fade, about an inch on top pushed forward, and a straight blunt fringe cut level across the forehead”, and decide beforehand how high you want that fringe to sit.
Where the Edgar comes from
The cut grew out of Mexican-American barbershops in Texas and California and spread widely through social media in the late 2010s. It is sometimes called the “takuache” cut. Its ancestry is older: a straight fringe over short sides has been around in various forms for a century, and you can see relatives of it in the Caesar and the French crop. What makes the Edgar distinct is how deliberate that front line is. It is not a soft, textured fringe. It is a hard edge, cut to look exactly level.
Edgar vs French crop vs Caesar
| Cut | Fringe | Top texture | Overall feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgar | Blunt, straight, hard line | Fairly solid, one length | Graphic and bold |
| French crop | Short, often textured or slightly choppy | Textured, point-cut | Relaxed, modern |
| Caesar | Very short, straight but softer | Short and even | Classic, understated |
If you like the idea of a forward fringe but want something quieter, our comparison of the French crop and the Caesar is worth a read before you sit down.
Who the Edgar suits
Hair type
Thick, straight hair is the ideal. It falls forward naturally, holds a clean edge and does not need much product. Dense wavy hair works too, though the fringe may need a little product to lie flat. Fine hair is harder: a blunt line exposes how sparse the front can be, and gaps show. Very curly or coily hair will not sit in a straight blunt fringe without significant styling, so a different forward cut tends to look better.
Face shape
A heavy horizontal line across the forehead shortens the face visually. That helps if your face is long or you have a tall forehead. If your face is already round or short, the Edgar can make it look wider; raising the fringe slightly and keeping a little height on top helps balance it.
Hairline
A strong, even hairline makes the cut easy. If you have a receding front or a cowlick right at the fringe, tell the barber. A cowlick can push the fringe up or sideways and break the line, and sometimes the fix is leaving the fringe a little longer so the weight holds it down.
How to ask for an Edgar
Every visit at Highgate Cuts starts with an assessment, where the barber looks at your hair, growth pattern and what you want before recommending an approach. Coming in with clear language makes that conversation quicker. Cover these points:
- Sides and back: how short. A skin fade is typical, but a low or mid fade with a little length works well for a more grown-up version. Our team can talk you through fade heights during the assessment.
- Length on top: usually around an inch, enough to fall forward and reach the fringe line.
- Fringe height: mid-forehead is the classic position. Higher looks sharper and more modern; lower is softer.
- Edge: whether you want the fringe line straight across or with a very slight curve following the brow.
- Line-up: whether you want the temples and corners squared off with a trimmer.
A photo helps, particularly one taken front-on so the fringe height is clear. Have a look at our barbers in Highgate page for what the team offers.
What happens in the chair
- The barber sets the fade or side length first, usually working with clippers from the bottom up.
- The top is cut to one length, often with scissors over comb or clippers, and combed forward.
- The fringe line is set. This is the critical step: the barber will usually comb the hair straight down and cut the line with clippers or scissors held level, checking it against your brow line.
- The corners and temples are lined up with a trimmer if you want that sharp frame.
- A final check from the front and in the mirror at eye level, because a line that looks straight from above can look tilted when you stand up.
Wearing it day to day
The appeal of the Edgar is that, cut well, it needs very little styling. Towel dry and comb forward. If your hair lifts or splits at the front, a small amount of matte paste or clay pressed into the fringe will hold it flat without shine. Avoid heavy gel, which tends to separate the fringe into points and destroys the clean line. Our hair product guide explains the differences.
A blow dryer on a low setting, aimed down and forward, helps if your hair has a mind of its own in the morning. Avoid pushing the fringe up and back; it will remember.
If the fringe will not sit after a week or two, it usually means the weight or length at the front is not quite right for your growth pattern, and that is a quick adjustment at your next Highgate Cuts appointment rather than something to fight with product.
How often to have it tidied
The blunt line is the giveaway. Hair grows roughly a centimetre a month, and on a cut this precise you notice it after two weeks. Most people keep an Edgar sharp with a visit every two to three weeks, and some book a quick fringe and line-up tidy between full cuts. If you let it go four or five weeks, the fringe starts falling into your eyes and the fade loses definition.
If the skin around your hairline gets red bumps after a sharp line-up, that is often irritation or ingrown hairs from the close edge. The NHS page on ingrown hairs has sensible advice, and the barber can leave the line a touch softer next time.
Growing it out
When you are done with the Edgar, the fade grows out first. Let the sides reach a grade or two before asking for a softer taper, and have the fringe point-cut so it loses the blunt line gradually. Within two or three cuts you can move into a textured crop or let the top grow towards something longer.
Questions we get asked
Is the Edgar haircut professional enough for the office?
It depends on the office and the version. A softer fade, slightly longer top and a fringe cut higher reads as neat and deliberate. A skin fade with an ultra-sharp, low fringe is more of a statement.
Can I get an Edgar with wavy hair?
Often, yes, if the waves are loose. The barber may leave the fringe a little longer so the weight helps it lie flat, and you may need a little product.
How long does an Edgar haircut take?
Usually similar to a standard fade, because the fade is the longest part. The fringe line itself takes a few careful minutes.
What is the difference between an Edgar and a bowl cut?
A bowl cut keeps the hair long and rounded all the way around. The Edgar has a straight fringe but very short or faded sides, so the shape is far sharper.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready for a proper cut? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
Visit The Highgate House · The barbers
The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.
