Little Boy Haircuts: The Buzz Cut

My curly baby boy got his first big kid haircut recently – his very first buzz cut – and I’m all in my feelings about it. It’s such a short haircut for boys, I had no idea how I’d feel! Why do our babies have to grow up so fast? While all the cool hair trends may start with men’s haircut, it’s not long before we start seeing the latest hairstyles on our little boys…. including an adorable fade haircut for little boy!

My baby boy’s first curly haircut was just after he turned a year old to keep his curls looking tidy, but only ever with scissors. Never clippers! My son’s biracial hair has never seen clippers, and certainly not a razor, until yesterday.

I did have some concerns before my boy’s first biracial haircut. I had read somewhere that clippers could alter hair texture (although that doesn’t seem plausible) and that kids were more prone to injury with sharp electric clippers near their face. You need to stay super still when using clippers and the noise and vibrations can make young kids jumpy. My little guy is just a toddler but managed to be cooperative during his first big boy haircut.

Curly Fade Haircut for Kids

Before we entered the barber shop, we talked all about what was going to happen. He was nervous, but also excited, and as soon as we walked in he noticed the chart of various mens haircuts. We looked them over and decided on elements of two options displayed. Basically: a medium short buzz cut with a short fade to curls on top.

Related: A Guide to Lil Boy Haircuts with Curly Hair (Toddlers)

Boys Buzz Cut: How to Talk to Your Barber

The very first time I walked into a barbershop with my curly baby boy, I realized how little I knew about how to cut mixed race hair. I actually turned around and walked right out of the shop. It’s hard parting with those baby curls, I tell you!

The most important thing I’ve learned over the years is how to describe little boy haircuts to our barber, especially when talking about the “haircut number”. Buzz haircuts happen really fast, so think about this number before letting your toddler sit in the barber chair or they might not have much hair left. Once a barber starts on buzz haircuts, there’s no going back!

How to Ask for a Toddler Buzz Cut

I thought I was going conservative by asking for a 4 buzzcut on my toddler and immediately freaked out. MY BABY CURLS! One moment my boy had a full head of tresses and the next, his gorgeous mixed curly hair was gone. I got over the initial shock eventually and we moved on to short fade for the sides and back…

Buzz Cut Lengths

You’ve got to decide which buzz cut lengths you want. For this haircut, he has a 1 buzz cut fading to a number 2/3 curly top. Also, I asked our stylist NOT to “line up” his edges, which basically means to leave his hairline natural. She did edge up his ears and at the neck, but not at his hairline. It’s my personal opinion that lined up edges, especially at the hairline, look too mature for a toddler or young kid. Although classic and clean, I don’t mind my little boy looking like his age for now. We’ll avoid hard parts, designer lines, bald or skin fades and a hairline edge up for now. Maybe next time? Maybe not.

Related: The Faux Hawk: Trendy Boy Haircuts

Buzz Haircut Clip Numbers

A haircut number refers to the number clip used on the electric clippers and the amount of hair left on the scalp by that clip. Clippers can be changed throughout a hair cut to create different looks. Buzz cut lengths are determined by the hair clip used, so a 1 buzz cut will be shorter than a 3 buzz cut or a number 4 buzz cut. Buzz cut numbers will tell your barber exactly how long you want your boys buzz cut to be, leaving little to doubt of what the end result should look like.

This article has a great guide to hair clipper sizes and haircut number. The helpful chart below is from the site, too, although there are no examples of curly buzz cuts.

Natural Hair Buzz Cuts

Also to keep in mind with boy haircuts for curly hair is that shrinkage will occur. We all know about curl shrinkage in natural hair, right!? Curly buzz cuts should begin with a higher number to create long curly haircuts. The barber can always go back in to create a short fade if that’s your desired look. Essentially any boy hairstyle could be modified to be longer or shorter depending on the clip length you ask for. I love the idea of a long buzz cut for boys with curly hair!

Buzz Cut Lengths To Help You Talk To A Barber

The Buzz Cut Fade

The buzz cut fade is a super popular little boy haircut because it’s clean, fashionable and cool. The buzz fade haircut is when the traditional all-over buzz haircut transitions down to a shorter and shorter length of hair. When the simple toddler buzz cut grows up and out, getting a bit trendy big kids buzz cut is the next logical step.

Cool Boy Haircuts: The Buzz Fade Haircut for Kids

The buzz fade haircut with curls on tops is one of my all-time favorite little boy haircuts. Why? Well, for starters, because it’s SO EASY to maintain! Short sides with natural hair curls on top makes for an easy wash-n-go.

Knowing how to ask for a fade haircut starts with the basics of a clipper length numbers, which will help describe how short or long the boys fade haircut should be on the scalp. A short fade means that the hair is short before it transitions (a skin fade means taking the clippers all the way to the skin using a 1 guard) versus a long fade which has a larger number clip. A medium fade is somewhere in the middle.

Related: Collection of Curly Boy Haircuts 

There’s also the question on where the fade should begin and taper from. A high fade haircut will transition to shorter hair higher on the head, at or above the temple. A low fade curly hair cut will begin at or below the temple. Where on the head the hair begins to fade and transition to shorter hair will alter the end result of your little boy’s haircut.

Ultimately, I love the classic curly hair fade. It’s such a cute ‘do! Fade haircuts for black boys are not only stylish but the ultimate toddler boy haircuts for curly hair. They’re clean but still keep curls on top, like a typical kids crew cut. It’s one of my favorites. Perfect for a boy’s summer haircut!

5 Little Boy Haircuts for Curly Hair

A biracial boy haircut is vastly different from our mixed girl haircuts. Knowing how to cut biracial boy hair is mostly about understanding how to master the curly buzz and electric clippers. It’s really not that complicated!

Whereas our girls need layers and shape to form their long curly hairstyles, our boys with short hair can experiment with various fades, tapers, designs and soft/hard part lines.

There are so many curly mixed boy haircuts that I’m excited to try out on my little man as he grows up and below I’m listing a few.

5 favorite mixed boy curly hairstyles I can’t wait to try out…

• #1 The Buzz Fade Hairstyle
• #2 Crew Cut Boy Haircut
• #3 FroHawk
• #4 High Top Afro Fade
• #5 Little Man Bun with Curly Hair (oh yes, we’re doing this!)

My boy absolutely loves his new big boy haircut. And although its hard to see my baby growing up, I love that he’s feeling confident.

What’s your favorite haircut for boys? Do your kids love to keep their curls long or short? While I’m not sure which hairstyle we’ll be doing next, here are a few more mixed curly haircuts from over the years… so be sure to check back often!

Related: Girls First Mixed Curly Haircut