The Edgar cut is gradually becoming a popular request amongst Gen Z and Millennial clients, who have taken a cut that conjures images of Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber or Leonard Nimoy's Spock, and made it cool - if worn the right way. We spoke to four barbers to find out exactly what the Edgar cut is and how you can achieve it.
According to Yahoo News, the Edgar cut originated from the hairstyles of the indigenous Native Americans, namely the Jumano tribe that were dominant between 1500s an 1700s in Texas, and although no one knows where the name 'Edgar' came from it is thought to have been popularised by American baseball player, Edgar Martínez.
So, What is The Edgar Cut?
The Edgar cut is one of many modern varieties of the French crop (also known as the Caesar cut) explains Luke Hartley, barber at House of Barbers, "It typically combines a high taper fade with a blunt cropped fringe, giving it a clipper heavy look. It is often paired with enhancements to create sharp line ups and darker fades." Jim Shaw, Director of TONI&GUY Billericay, adds that although it is similar to the Caesar cut the fade is higher up on the Edgar, making the overall haircut more defined, "It can also look similar to the bowl cut, particularly if there is no texture and choppiness included at the top of the hair or if the hair on top is left a little longer."
This style works for a variety of hair types and is a smart everyday style says Ben Brazzo, Artistic Director at Jack & The Wolfe, "It’s a very popular style because it allows you to keep the sides short which can be maintained regularly while leaving the top longer, giving that fresh cut feel whilst still having more length to style.”
Jim Shaw, Director of TONI&GUY Billericay, however advises being careful not to leave the hair too long on the top, or making sure to add some texture to give it a contemporary and stylish appearance. "The texture can then be enhanced with a matt pomade to give it a further trendy finish." And what about clients who are after something a bit more creative? "They can also have a freehand design cut into the back of the hair at the neck or they can add some pops and panels of colour."
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Credit: Jim Shaw[/caption]How To Cut 'The Edgar'
Perfecting the Edgar cut requires an impressive use of fade work and line up precision says Luke. "It often includes clean pattern work. I’m personally not a fan of the overuse of enhancements in a lot of these styles, so my heart still lies with the more British/European style of taper. For me personally, I prefer the blend of hairdressing style techniques and barbering together, as this creates far more control over the shape and movement of the cut. This allows for a far more subtle French crop and taper fade combination which you often see here in the UK."
“A classic Edgar cut is faded on the sides and left longer on top, and is normally a slightly rounded shape on top. Typically, it is worn forward and characterised with strong detailed lines around the fringe,” says Ben. “Take a horseshoe section separating the top from sides. Start with your fade and work through the top cutting to the desired length. Dry the hair forward and with your detailers clean up the neck hair and sharpen up all your line work. Apply your chosen matt paste or texture spray and style."
Depending on the hair, texture and density this cut can achieve a very different look and feel says Darren Fowler, at Fowler35 for L'Oreal Professionnel, "The traits of the Edgar are a fade - it can even be a drop fade and a bowl cut line that creates absolute contrast between the sides and top," he tells us adding: "If the keywords to your client's look are contrast, cool and sharp this has their name on it, make it personal to them and encourage them to own their Edgar!"
