If you are a police officer, your reputation needs to precede you besides maintaining order and catching bad guys.
Professionalism and personality are the best ways to uphold your reputation. For most men, hair speaks volumes about their personality.
Being a cop means looking professional and upholding high performance and safety in dangerous and fast-paced situations.
Your hair can make all the difference in the field, so choose a hairstyle that won’t get in the way of doing your job effectively.
Look around you; there are a few predominant police haircuts, but the few that exist always look dashing and steal the show.
However, they all have in common that they don’t go beyond 2 inches and are easy to maintain.
Whether you’re a cop or just a simple man who wants to spot a sleek, clean, and neat police cut, continue reading to learn about short haircuts and how to style them.
Table Of Contents
95 Most Popular Police Hairstyles
The police haircut is a simple hairdo ideal for men who don’t want to spend too much time styling their hair.
If you are considering getting a police haircut, here are a few dashing styles you can consider:
High and Tight Police Haircut
The high and tight is a short hairstyle that is a shorter variation of the crew cut. The hairdo features a high fade on the sides and back, leaving short hair on top for a simple youthful style.
You can ask your barber or hairstylist to give you a high fade so that the attention remains on the hair on top of your head.
With a high and tight, you can choose to style the remaining hair anyway, such as sweeping it to the side or leaving it messy.
The haircut is a functional hairdo you can get at home if you have the best clippers for a close head shave.
Police Flat Top
The flat top is a short hairdo with longer hair cut flat and styled upright with a fade on the back and sides. The haircut is edgy and looks great with thick, straight hair.
It is similar to a high and tight, but you must use strong styling products to keep the hair spiked all day. For a natural and softer finish, use matte gel or pomade.
Police Buzz Cut
The buzz cut is one of those timeless haircuts that is easy to style, looks clean, and gives off a masculine vibe. This military haircut offers a modern and high-contrast appearance that will take your style to the next level.
With a buzz cut, you can choose between a low, mid, or high fade on the back and sides for an edgy, stylish finish. You can even ask your barber to include a skin fade that tapers the hair into your scalp. And for a rugged, manly look, consider pairing the buzz cut with a full beard.
Police Crew Cut
One of the most common short haircuts for men is the crew cut. If you want a professional style that makes you look modern and stylish, the crew cut is that hairdo. The crew cut like a buzz cut gives off a masculine vibe when you want to maintain long hair.
The crew cut features tapered short hair on the back and sides with a slightly longer length on top that adds definition and style for the perfect finish. When styling, brush the hair forward, sweep it to the side, or leave it messy if you are going for a casual look.
Police Brush Cut
The brush cut falls under the category of a buzz cut except that it is slightly longer than a traditional buzz, therefore, requiring more maintenance.
However, it can be styled with hair wax and is one of the best options for men with naturally curly hair.
Police Induction Cut
The induction cut is a short military haircut for men who want that masculine look without spending too much time styling the hair.
The induction haircut gets its name because it’s what recruits are given on the first day of boot camp. It’s an easy haircut to get with hair clippers with no guard. At the same time, a safety razor might be for you if you want a clean fade.
To get the haircut, ask your barber to give you a high skin fade on the back and sides to create some contrast with the longer hair on top.
The induction cut, however, suits some men better than others. For instance, men with square face shapes and sharper facial features like a chiseled jawline look better with an induction cut. The induction cut also looks better with a clean-shaven face.
How does Police Haircut Look Like
A police haircut is ideally a short hairstyle that looks professional and clean-cut while maintaining convenience and practicability.
Police haircuts feature functional characteristics and include everyday hairstyles like the short crew cut, high and tight, buzz cut, comb-over taper and shaved head. Like military styles, your hair can be tailored to suit specific looks and needs.
Ideally, any police haircut is bound to look stylish and flattering with a fade on the back and sides. With a police haircut, the hair length gradually decreases until the remaining hair blends in with the skin.
The fade occurs towards the back and sides of the head, and there are three types of fades you can go for – regular, low, or high fade.
The regular fade is where the back and sides of the head hair fade at your natural hairline.
With a high fade, the fade ends a few inches above your natural hairline, while in a low fade, the fade ends above the regular fade but below the high fade. Your barber will know how to give you the right kind of fade.
Likewise, you might opt for the best premium tools, self-hair cutting shavers or razors, and innovative shaving cream alternatives to do it at home.
Quick Styling Tips
- When styling short hair, ensure that you start with freshly cleaned hair that is still damp after being towel-dried. To learn how to wash and shave your hair, check out our comprehensive guide to using a shaving soap.
- Use quality hair styling products with the right hold, texture, and shine.
- Consider using a solid pomade or gel for a new and structured look.
- Apply matte wax, pomade, or styling clay to get a textured look for a more natural finish.
- To add volume and hold, blow-dry your hair on a low heat setting as this helps keep it in place all day long.
- For any short hairstyle, the best way to pull off the look is to get your haircut from a professional barber. However, if you would rather cut your hair at home, consider investing in the right products like the world’s best electric head shavers.
Best Products to Use for Police Haircut
Short hairstyles require you to invest in the right hair products for maximum hold, shine, and texture. Some hair products provide a light hold with a matte finish, while others offer a much stronger hold with some gloss finish for a defined style.
It all comes down to the personality you are going for and the kind of maintenance you can manage.
Pomade
When you have short hair, one of the products you can’t afford to miss in your grooming kit is hair pomade. Pomade is ideal for short hairdos that require a medium to strong hold with either a moderate or a high shine.
Pomades are highly versatile and ideal for all kinds of hair, including straight, curly, wavy and thick hair. The hair product will work wonders for your police and military haircut.
Wax
Hair wax has a medium hold with a matte or low shine and works well for short hairdos that require volume, texture and flow.
Most hair waxes are made with beeswax – an ingredient that makes hair appear thicker and fuller.
As such, hair wax works best for men who have thin hair.
Cream and Clay
Styling cream and clay, like a shaving brush, will elevate your experience when styling short hair. These products add body and thickness to any short hairstyle.
If you are going for a low or medium hold and matte to medium shine, styling cream and clay will work wonders for your hair.
When it comes to styling your short hair, consider pairing it with an appropriate beard also.
Because of that, you have to learn how to shave your beard appropriately to match your chosen style.
So, why not start by learning about aftershave and how to use it?
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Ensure that your hair length doesn’t exceed 2 inches since police haircuts feature short hair that is easy to style.
- Use the right products like hair pomade, waxes, styling creams, and clay to maintain the hold and right finish.
- Ask your barber to give you a fade or undercut on the back and sides for a stylish, modern look.
- Consider getting a short hairstyle that matches your face shape and facial structures since not all short hairdos will suit you.
- For a masculine low, maintenance look, go for a buzz cut, high and tight, crew cut, or a French crop.
- Consider pairing your short hairstyle with a nice beard to complement the cut.
Don’ts
- Don’t wait too long between haircuts. Short haircuts feature tapered or faded sides and back for a clean finish. So regular trimming at the barbershop or home will do. In such a case, remember that some hair clippers are ideal for fades while others are ideal for undercuts.
- Don’t overload your hair with too many styling products; you want it to appear as natural as possible.
FAQ
Do members of the police have to have short hair?
Most police precincts have grooming standards that require uniformed officers to have relatively short hair. However, this isn’t a requirement everywhere as police officers can have long hair as long as it is well-groomed.
Can members of the police use styling products in their hair?
Yes, police officers can use styling products in their hair. But here’s the thing; most styling hair products are highly flammable and dangerous in situations that involve heat and fire.
Such products also tend to cause the hair to stick up so far that wearing a helmet properly is difficult. At the same time, some people are allergic to the odors of styling products like gels and hairsprays, which can be problematic when working in a public service position.
So, while no law forbids styling products, it’s a matter of what you are comfortable with and its functionality.
Are police officers allowed to have dreadlocks?
While it’s uncommon, no law forbids police officers from wearing dreadlocks and ponytails. There have even been past cases where police officers sued the department when the dreadlocks led to unfair dismissal or discrimination.
Are beards allowed in the police force?
The consensus is that beards for police officers are allowed as long as they don’t look unkempt. If you are to keep a beard, ensure it is neat.
What is the American police haircut?
The American police haircut is a classic hairstyle commonly seen among law enforcement officers in the United States.
Characterized by its short length and clean, professional look, this hairstyle is often preferred for its practicality and low maintenance.
It is a versatile style that can be easily styled and maintained, making it a popular choice among law enforcement professionals.
How do female cops wear their hair?
Female police officers often wear their hair tied back in a neat bun or ponytail to maintain a professional appearance while on duty.
This hairstyle is practical and helps to ensure that their hair does not interfere with their work.
In some cases, female officers may also wear their hair in a braid or a sleek, low ponytail.
Michele Meesh Antunes is the lady of the Beardoholic writers team and a genius when it comes to hair and beard styles that suit any face shape. She’s been a barber for years now and, no matter your personal style, she knows exactly what beard, hairstyle and length suit you. She brings the women’s perspective on beards, beard care, haircuts and hairstyles and male grooming.