Now’s as good a time as ever to find out we aren’t lying (plus how to get a good one if you decide to take the plunge).
The ultimate ‘refresh’—as we go through the time of year when that word is ever-present again—is a buzz cut. It’s not a wardrobe do-over (not even if Marie Kondo is involved), not the emptiness of a new phone devoid of your screen time sins to reconfigure, and not a clear head after a holiday. It’s the invigorating, rebellious, enriching act of taking a pair of clippers and running them through your hair. It’s a truly drastic form of rebirth and one of the rare ones you can achieve as an adult, and it’s something you’ll never regret. Here’s why.
As people, we crave order, routine, structure—anything to help us understand a dogecoin, goblin mode, corecore world. But, change is undeniably healthy. It removes us from our comfort zones, builds resilience, introduces new stimuli and ultimately, increases our sense of self-worth. That’s why when we travel, move houses or even just switch up our wardrobe, we get addicted—we love the feeling of newness. And while it’s not a career change or huge move, shaving your head creates a certain amount of revolution.
The first thing you’ll notice when you shave your head is, well, you. In every reflective surface, you’ll catch yourself by surprise. At first, super short hair is jarring and uneasy, but like any new thing, it quickly becomes exciting. Your environment and your clothing feel new too. A T-shirt you used to hate will suddenly look great, outfit combinations you never dreamed of will be unlocked—everything looks different because one of your most defining features is.
But, it’s not just about the way you see yourself, it’s the way others see you, too. Whether it’s subconscious or not, everyone will look at you with fresh eyes and a new perspective. And that, more than anything else, changes everything. Some people will like it, some people will hate it—it all comes out in the wash—but that’s not important. It’s the change, the new, the escape of comfort that makes this feel so good.
Of course, the going won’t always be as smooth as your dome. If you’ve never shaved your head before, you’ll find out quickly that things are rarely all pearly under there. Whether it’s a reflectively white scalp, some sneaky grey hairs you didn’t know about or worse, the first shave reveals some great unknown.
Then, if you’re not going to keep the classic buzz cut long-term, there are the transition lengths, like a crew cut or a butch cut. As you go on your journey from zero back to a fuller length on top, you’ll have some great looks, but in the in-betweens, there can be some iffy transition periods. Your head may start to resemble a tennis ball or the hair at the back of your head may start to stick up like a duck’s arse, but again, that’s all part of the process of change. It’s not always pretty, but more often than not, it’s worth it.
After all, shaving your head isn’t about playing it safe. Rather than going back to just below the hill every time you reach the summit of the mountain (ergo, getting a haircut), shaving your head takes you back to the valley and lets you start the journey again. And that journey is a fun one. After the initial buzz cut, you can play around with basically every trending style on TikTok before you reach your starting length. Try a tight fade haircut, a baby mullet à la dreamboat Paul Mescal, a shaggy ’90s middle part—you can run the gamut of in haircuts in a few months.
And the end result? A fresh start, a new perspective, a bit more fun in your haircare, and overall, just a damn good time. As we said, you’ll never regret a buzz cut.
If you want to find out for yourself, we asked Zach Russell, master barber of Sydney’s The Barberhood, for his advice on tackling and maintaining the style. Here are his tips:
What to know before getting a buzz cut?
On a practical side, Russell says “getting a buzz cut is a great way to deal with the amazing summer weather we’ve been having and a no-fuss hairstyle that you can walk out the door with.” But, in preparation for taking the plunge, he says there are a few simple rules to follow, for all face shapes.
Firstly, you need to take note of the shape of your head and the thickness of your hair—as well as the temperature. The cut is a great one for thinning hair, Russell says, but if you’re in warm weather it can burn (and vice versa, if it’s cold, it’s really cold.)
If you’re not sure what to look for here, ask your barber as they’ll be able to clear things up for you.
What are the different buzz cut styles?
“Although the general outcome of a traditional buzz cut is the same,” says Russell, “there are a few small differences to the finish of the haircut that will make a big difference to the quality and the way it grows out.”
The main quandaries are deciding whether you want one blade all over for a uniform length (you’re typical no-frills buzz) or a taper. A high and tight buzz cut remains one of the more popular choices. Likewise, you can choose whether you want to go with your natural hairline or have a hairline shaped in—this will impact how the cut grows out. In the end, it’s up to your personal taste.
How do you maintain a buzz cut?
As we’ve already said, the buzz cut isn’t exactly a low maintenance hairstyle. Taking care of a buzz cut is key for navigating those awkward in-between lengths. “It’s best to see your barber regularly, every one to two weeks,” Russell says, “but if this isn’t possible then make sure you ask for a shaped hairline and razored neckline. This will ensure that the style grows out nicely and it won’t look ‘scruffy’.”
If you can’t get to a barber that often, Russell suggests you invest in a good pair of clippers and a clipper guard, make sure you cut in multiple directions to keep it even and always clean your hair before you cut it.
Speaking of clean hair, you might think that shaving your head means you can put away the shampoo for a while, but sadly, no dice. Shampooing and conditioning your hair with quality products is still essential. Russell also adds that if you want to style your hair, a good salt spray or matte finish is the way to go (he recommends Evo Salty Dog or Patricks M1).
