The high and tight haircut is a short type of men’s haircut. Worldwide, the hairstyle is most commonly recognized as a military haircut. Since this short haircut is low-maintenance and non-intrusive, other professionals, such as law enforcement officers, as well as everyday citizens often wear some type of high and tight haircut.

Generally, the high and tight haircut features extremely short hair on the sides and back of the head, and longer hair on the top of the head. Sometimes, the hair on the sides and back of the head is cropped extremely close to the skin, and sometimes it is completely shaved. The length of the hair on the top of the head can vary, but usually standard high and tight hairstyles feature hair no longer than 1 inch (2.5 cm) on the top. The point above the temple where the longer, top part of the hair starts is considered the “high,” and the line that separates the longer hair and the cropped hair is considered the “tight.” Different variations of the hairstyle can make the “high” and the “tight” features less severe, though.

Perhaps the two most common places to see a high and tight haircut are among military servicemen and law enforcement professionals. For some, a high and tight haircut that meets certain regulations might be required, and for others it might be optional. Individuals completing a military boot camp or a police academy, for example, might be required to have a certain short variety of the high and tight hairstyle. Once they graduate, however, they might be given more freedom regarding their haircut styles. Longer hair on the top, sides, and back of the head might be permitted, or looser regulations might allow for numerous types of haircuts.

There are several adaptations of the high and tight haircut. A couple of the most common varieties include the “horseshoe flattop,” named for its resemblance to a horseshoe, and the “recon,” named for its popularity among military servicemen. Of course, the high and tight haircut isn’t known only as a police or military haircut. Civilian variations of the haircut, known by names such as “buzz cut,” “hi-top,” “fade,” “hi-top fade,” and “skin fade” are fairly common among numerous age groups and ethnicities, especially Caucasians and African Americans. Since these individuals typically choose the high and tight haircut for personal reasons, they can also choose any style variations they like.