The Disconnected Undercut Hairstyle, Post-Peak Or at Its Prime?

The disconnected undercut is the look of yesteryear, today.

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Image via Complex Original
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David Beckham, who has run the gamut of hairstyles known to man, has not always been on point with his cuts, but he's often risked looks that most dudes wouldn't dare. Yeah, he's got the money, athletic skills, and the hot wife, but did you know he's a forerunner of the disconnected undercut hairstyle too? Though the fabled footballer has involved himself in several fashion-related ventures, it was hard to consider the guy a trendsetter circa 2003. You know, back when he was sporting white dude cornrows.

Cheers to Mr. Beckham, however. As this New York Times piece recently pointed out, the disconnected undercut—long on the top, short on the sides—is the coolest hairstyle for men right now. Many celebs are donning the look including Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake, Sam Hunt, A. J. Burnett, Macklemore, and Nick Wooster. Even Ruby Rose, star of Orange Is The New Black, makes this cut look dope too. Though what that lineup may not suggest is that the look is an update on your typical buzzers-and-clippers deal. Rather than cutting edge, this haircut is, like many "new" styles, a rehash of an older fashion. With military origins (see: Brad Pitt in Fury) this is something time-tested reprocessed for our modern tastes.

"Despite its technical-sounding name, the cut is basic. The sides are shaved with clippers set to one or zero. The top is left long. And unlike a classic blend or face, the transition from short to long hair is abrupt—that is, disconnected," reports the Times.

The disconnected undercut is the look of yesteryear, today. Will it be a marker for our times like the afro was for the '70s? If so, would that make an icon out of David Beckham a la Jimi Hendrix? Or is the man bun the true style for men's haircuts today? Better watch out Beckham. Lest we forget, David Lynch is the OG of the disconnected undercut.

 

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