Need A Haircut? Go For The Undercut

I’ve been where you are. Heck, I’m probably just about there right now. It’s not you, it’s your hair post-lockdown. The same old song and dance: your hair is looking like an overgrown lawn but you don’t want to cut it too much, don’t want to change the color, and cutting bangs just would not work for your face shape.

If you’re ready to move on to a new do, consider an undercut by shaving the bottom layer of hair that sits on your neck. You heard that right: shaving a part of your head. But trust me, it looks pretty badass. Just look at ScarJo, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and countless other leading ladies with the bold and edgy chop. As daunting as it sounds, the transition from your current hair-situation to an undercut doesn't have to induce a feeling of overwhelm.

I chose to get an undercut because I could personalize it, more than any other (boring) blunt cut I’ve gotten in the past. You can ask for a minimalist undercut (aka “hidden undercut” that is smaller, less apparent) or one that stands out more with your own design (aka “bold undercut” that is noticeable to the average eye). My first undercut took off a larger chunk of hair and had a simple geometric design of my choosing. This technique reduced the weight of my hair in the lower back part of my skull without affecting the overall look of fullness. 

From that point, the benefits of an undercut just kept rolling in. If your undercut is at the bottom half of your long hair, like mine, you can still style your hair down for those occasions you’re being your good-ass self. It feels less like a long-term commitment this way. You hold the pen on when your undercut is open for public viewing.

After several weeks without a touch-up, it’s inevitable that your strands will start to grow back and the blatant lines of the cut will begin to fade. To keep it looking sharp, you may be visiting your hairstylist more often than you’re used to. The whole experience made me better appreciate why bromances with barbers exist. As tempted as you may be to save the extra bucks, do not trust a non-professional with a trimmer.

Another thing to keep in mind: not that I’m promoting the notion of your hair-snipping decisions depending solely on weather, but in this case, it’s relevant. An undercut is great in the heat. Especially for thicker and darker hair that tends to absorb warmth, leaving you switching between headgear all summer. I know all too well the discomfort of loose hairs falling out of my ponytail only to stick to the back of my moist neck during an ill-planned mid-day July BBQ. On that note, an undercut is literally the wind beneath my strands.

By Audrey Alix