30 Androgynous Haircuts That Defy Gender Norms in 2024
Hair makes up some of the best body features to express oneself. In the 1970s, when discos and bell bottoms highlighted the essence of life, androgynous haircuts arose. Twiggs’s iconic pixie cut of the 1960s made androgynous haircuts a thing.
Androgynous haircuts emanate a sense of gender expression and flexibility for the wearers. For instance, the floofy feathered bangs in a mullet of the 70s to today’s buzz cut highlight just how haircuts are here to stay.
Always opt for androgynous haircuts that ooze versatility, comfort, and individual expression. As indicated herein with the 30 gender non-specific haircuts, consider the facial shape and hair texture for professional or casual representations.
What Are Androgynous Haircuts
Androgynous haircuts are hair do’s, trims, and style designs that work well with feminine and masculine facial features.
Because shaved sides often complement curly hair, most androgynous haircuts are hallmarked by cut/trimmed sides.
How these haircuts blend masculine and feminine elements
These hairstyles blend both masculine and feminine elements by;
● Inclusion of Varied Hair Texture
Be it soft curly hair from the Caribbean or the kinky tough from the Northern Sahara, androgynous creative hairstyles defy these hair characteristics to bring out style.
Androgynous haircuts work best by defying the typical hair features and presenting the hair in a manner everyone can style and show.
● Facial Symmetry
Most androgynous hairstyles will incorporate short haircuts to expose the face and ears. Factors such as face shape and proportion give barbers ample ways to make a haircut androgynous.
● Varied Hair Styling Techniques
From the use of bangs, typically associated with feminine leanings, to the clean-shaven techniques related to the masculine, a good barber puts the tools together to create an androgynous look.
The result, a mix of styling hair, makes these haircuts versatile for all genders.
Appeal across non-binary, trans, and gender-fluid individuals
Androgynous haircuts represent body pride and acceptance, which is appealing to most LGBTQ individuals.
Gender-fluid, non-binary, and trans people break the barrier of expectations on how people should keep their hair, making it a celebratory milestone for everyone.
The importance of face shape and hair texture when choosing a style
Like the clothes worn, which are cut according to one’s size for a perfect fit, a haircut has its fair share of factors contributing to its success.
The face shape falls into round, oval hearts, oblong, rectangle, and diamond. When choosing a hairstyle, a person’s face shape helps the barber determine which face features should be accentuated.
Also the hair texture will determine the type of hair product used to create the style.
Benefits of Androgynous Haircuts
Androgynous haircuts come wrapped in;
Gender Expression and Identity Validation
Both feminine and masculine presenting individuals can have a haircut to symbolize identity and expression.
For instance, a dyed pixie cut evokes feminine fierceness and a masculine edge with sharp, rough edges.
Versatility for Different Settings (Professional, Casual, etc.)
A haircut that serves both a feminine and masculine front is a safe way to know where one belongs, especially in social settings.
Androgynous haircuts cut short like military make for professional settings, while those with exaggerated wavy layers can signal a good time at the beach.
Low Maintenance Options for Easy Care and Styling
The world is laden with errands, and for those who want to save time, easy haircut styling and care is deeply rooted in the history of androgynous hair.
Short-cut androgynous haircuts are easy to style, requiring minimum combing, simple repeated trimming, and moisturizing.
Ability to Experiment with Bold, Unique Looks
Androgynous haircuts add creativity by adding color to the hair, texturizing, layering, and fading for bold and unique looks.
The ability to play with hair styling, angles, chopping and color makes these haircuts immensely bold and unique for users.
Top 30 Gender Neutral Haircuts That Embrace Androgyny
Here is a complication of 30 gender neutral haircuts to help one enjoy the benefits of androgynous haircuts.
1. The Pixie Cut
The pixie cut done on the hair gradually forms a gradient face as one cuts in the mirror. The androgyny stems from this hairstyle’s short and chic simplicity.
This evokes both feminine and masculine qualities in the wearer. Keep the pixie cut fresh by low-maintenance styling that involves cream used for a smooth texture.
2. The Undercut
Recognize the undercut haircut by its lengthy top, with its sides trimmed down. The emphasis on volume at the top and the buzzed downsides to give a fresh and stand-out look.
Style the undercut by adding perms or wavy perms at the top for a more brazen expression.
3. The Buzz Cut
Defy the rules with the buzz cut characterized by its minimal maintenance. For instance, the buzz cut fade highlights the face contours with its shortly trimmed sides.
Imagine it as the military or sports guy haircut.
Thus, maintain it with masculine or androgynous routines such as combing and trimming.
4. The Shag Cut
The shag cut comes with choppy waves. Envision the rock n’ roll mussy hairstyle with chopped ends. The ends add movement and texture, making it an androgynous type.
Style the shag cut by layering or a tousled look. Also, continuous chopping makes it thicker.
5. The Bowl Cut
Giving the appearance of a bowl placed upside down on the head, the Bowl cut gives 90s vibes. The barber will chop the lower edges, leaving a bowl-like look at the top.
It is a subtle and classic androgynous haircut. Maintain the bowl using finishing serum for a more gender-fluid styling.
6. The Mullet
For a bold and casual leaning to a masculine hairstyle, the mullet makes a statement. With shorter tops and sides and a swaggering long ‘tail’ at the back, get in style with the mullet.
If volume, texture, and a natural flow are the taste, mullet delivers. Maintain by skipping daily wash. Also, style the front short hair to mold it into shape.
7. The Faux Hawk
Also known as the fohawk, the faux hawk, get this hairstyle that comes with longer, spiky hair at the top. It ends with shorter tapers or undercuts on the sides of the head.
The hawk and cut design makes it easy to pull an androgynous look.
8. The Crew Cut
One thing about androgynous haircuts is that they are timeless. One such hair is the crew cut haircut. Pull off the crew cut by cutting the upper part of the hair short.
The hair on the back is tapered to seam into the neck.
Individuals can opt for it because of its fresh-looking appearance which is both masculine and feminine. Its short and low-maintenance look takes the stage for it.
9. The Asymmetrical Bob
Opt for the asymmetrical bob for a bolder, more modern cut that enmeshes femininity and edge.
One side of the bob cut is often longer, adding a dramatic flair to the face while accentuating the jawline and cheekbones.
10. The Side Shave
The appeal of the side shave is the haircut’s ability to elongate the face shape. The haircut does this magic trick by adding volume and thinning the hair on the side.
Style it by going bold and expressive, for instance by adding wavy or curly hair.
11. The Blunt Bob
A blunt bob comes, presenting a sharp haircut that is gender non-specific. It flatters oblong faces with large foreheads, primarily due to its perfect face-framing look.
Defy men-hair norms by adding bangs for the flair. Part straight to serve a sleek look.
12. The Curtain Bangs with Short Cut
Imagine the hair short but with flowing bangs, which is part in the middle to make it the curtain bangs. This haircut presents soft bang edges, preventing them from looking too rough.
Grab the shear and frame the face with this haircut for a more fluid and balanced aesthetic.
13. The Angular Fringe
The angular fringe presents a modern haircut meant to stir the buzz. Notice it in its long upper hair cut to an angle that presents a dynamic force to all genders since it suits all face shapes.
Style the angular fringe by adding products that highlight the natural texture of the cut.
14. The Caesar Cut
The trend was set back to 100 BC by styling with the Caesar cut. It is a short haircut with even hair lengths at the back, top, and sides.
A fringe tops the upper part of the hair, creating a uniform design for the haircut. Caesar cut is versatile and can be worn straight or wavy, making it the ultimate unisex haircut.
15. The Mohawk
Crown the head with the haircut that symbolizes rebellion, the Mohawk. Both sides of the head are shaved, leaving a thin strip of noticeable long hair in the middle.
If anyone wants to give an ‘edgy’ and versatile style, then the Mohawk is the one. It is gender fluid and sits well with men with square faces.
16. The Curly Crop
The curly crop takes charge of short hair with more structure and bounce. The barber trims the hair short and, using texturizing products, adds cropped curls.
The curly crop makes for demure fashion choices for all genders.
17. The Quiff
Pinpoint this hairstyle to the barber by noticing the longer length of the upper hair, which blends with the back hair. The result is voluminous hair in its place.
Add sophistication to self-presentation with the quiff. Always use wax-based pomade to keep the style intact, clean, and intentional.
18. The Taper Fade
If the barber makes the hair longer at the head top, then tapers towards the sides of the head towards the neck, a tape fade emerges.
The goal is to thin the hair downwards until it fades into the neckline. The taper fades work with any hair type while also being feminine and masculine presenting.
19. The French Crop
Pop-out unexpectedly with the French crop. This haircut is trimmed short, and the top is textured to mimic a fading end.
Since it is short and easy to maintain, it remains timeless and versatile if one wants to look minimalistic.
20. The Modern Pompadour
The back and side hair is trimmed down. The upper part of the hair is pampered up to add volume. It has a contemporary vibe that creates a state of confidence.
Maintain by regular trimming for the retro-shape. It works well with both wavy and straight hair, making it androgynous by type.
21. The Short Afro
For those with kinky afro hair, the short afro is made by a trim down but with natural curls left intact. This short afro is one versatile haircut.
It comes with a bold and natural flair, keeping the flag of gender expression high. Maintain this hairstyle with oil for a natural shine and to add volume.
22. The Spiky Cut
The Spiky cut comes with a modern and charming look. It comes with short spiked hair gelled to create a messy and deviant look. It commands attention and admiration.
Maintain this hairstyle with gel hair products for a flawless spike. It is also fashionable and easy to groom haircuts for feminine and masculine presenting persons.
23. The Slicked-Back Hair
The slicked back hair cut is the top voluminous hair pushed to the back. The classic slick back, for instance, needs some strong pomade or a gel to keep it dry and with a firm hold.
Its androgyny comes with a gender-neutral textured upper part of the haircut. Because of the hair length, it always holds itself back, leaving little room for excessive maintenance.
24. The Shaved Head
For a powerful statement, go bald with a shaven haircut. The barber shaves off all the head hair.
It is androgynous owing to its bold look. It is also low maintenance.
25. The Fluffy Shag
The fluffy shag haircut comes with lots of chopping and layering to create a fluffy low maintenance hairstyle with volume. It can be messily worn, which makes it an androgynous choice for many.
With so many versions to create a fluffy shag, it is best worn short. Maintain by coming through to maintain the hair fluff.
26. The Side Part with Short Length
Stamp on androgyny in hair through the side part with short hair. Here, a comb separates the hair, creating neat sections.
It is a timeless yet natural haircut that fits casual and professional environments.
27. The Wavy Bob
Aside from straight bobs, wavy bobs also make it to the androgynous haircuts list that defy norms. Most people prefer the wavy bob by making it short and textured through air drying.
It creates a soft crease ideal for summer wear. Blend in the elegance and androgyny of gender expression with this insouciant haircut.
28. The High Top Fade
The barber makes the high top fade haircut by belonging the top hair and finishing it with a blunt fade towards the neck region. The hair on the sides is trimmed.
It is a top-tier version of the crew cut owing to its top quality. Charge forward with the boldness in gender diversity through this haircut.
29. The Box Cut
The box-cut haircut is the head-shaven to almost zero. The remaining little hair length is trimmed to 0.5 cm at the temples.
The back of the head has long hair at the top, forming a short square cut. It is a minimalistic, sharp haircut, ideal for gender-non-specific events and presentations.
30. The Tapered Afro
The Tapered afro is designed with a voluminous curled top. The curls are refined with a neat fade on the sides. It comes with a fine finish of sharpness and boldness.
The clean lines in the trimmed-down hair create a memorable contrast between the parted sections.
Tips for Choosing the Right Androgynous Haircut
Here are some tips for choosing the right androgynous haircut
Consider Face Shape and Hair Texture
Consider your face shape by focusing on the following metrics
● Oval face
Oval faces work well with fringe haircuts and bob haircuts as they create a focus on the jawline.
● Square face
The square face, characterized by broad edges, works well with wavy haircuts or haircuts with long layers for softening the angles.
● Round faces
Round faces work best with voluminous haircuts with cropped sides. This is because the face shape directs the eyes downwards, lengthening the face visually. Shaggy bobs also complement square faces.
● The heart face shape
The heart face shape works well with a chin-length bob and bangs as they work hard to balance the forehead. Haircuts targeting heart-shaped faces create the illusion of less at the forehead.
● Oblong/rectangular
This face shape needs haircuts that soften the edges, as this face shape tends to have a strong jawline. Haircuts with long layers, textures, and movement complement this face shape.
● Diamond face
The diamond face shapes possess high cheekbones; haircuts such as mullet with bangs accentuate this shape.
● Texture
The different hair textures range from fine to medium to thick. How each hair strand is, whether dense, thin, or medium, will affect the hairstyle.
Further, the different hair products used to texturize the hair to achieve a specific
Personal Style and How You Want to Express Your Identity
How one wants to express one’s style and personal identity will influence the type of androgynous haircut one chooses.
For instance, pixie cuts present feminine and masculine identities in one haircut owing to the multi-styling options. Hence, how a person wants to rock the pixie cut depends on their preference.
Professional vs. Casual Environments and How the Haircut Fits
While trendy in its own right as an androgynous haircut, a Mohawk is not the best attire for the workplace. As a result, it is always wise to make a distinction between the environment that one is in.
A buzzed size can work in an office environment, while a Mohawk can be used as a cultural style in native America.
Conclusion
Non-gender-specific hairstyles enmesh the features of feminine and masculine to create vast styles. Androgynous haircuts come with style and versatility that help individuals express themselves with self-confidence.
Sandwiched in feminine and masculine styling, androgynous hairstyles help one resonate with one’s identity. Feel free to take risks with haircuts regardless of face shape and texture.