Broccoli & Edgar Cuts: The Teen Trend Haircuts
If you’ve got a teenage son, or you’re a student yourself, you’ve almost certainly heard of the broccoli cut and the Edgar cut. They’re two of the most requested teen haircuts around right now, powered by social media and worn by footballers, gamers and classmates alike. They look very different, but they’ve become the defining school-friendly trends of the moment. This guide explains what each one actually is, who they suit, how to ask for them, how to style them, and how they grow out, so nobody walks out of the chair disappointed.
We cut plenty of both at Orange & Teal, and the most useful thing we can offer is honesty: what these cuts really involve, and how to get a version that works for a Singapore school and our humidity. Here’s the full rundown.
What is the broccoli cut?
The broccoli cut gets its name from the shape: a mound of tight, textured curls or coils on top that genuinely resembles a floret of broccoli, sitting above short faded sides. The top is left long enough to curl up and out, while the back and sides are kept tight, usually with a fade, so all the attention lands on that curly crown.
It’s playful, youthful and unmistakably current. The look works best with naturally curly or wavy hair, but plenty of guys with straight hair get a perm to achieve the coils, which is a common request. The contrast between the voluminous top and the clean fade is the whole appeal.
What is the Edgar cut?
The Edgar cut (also called the Edgar Damian or, loosely, a takuache cut) is almost the opposite in feel: a blunt, straight-across fringe cut high on the forehead, with the sides and back faded short. Instead of curly volume, the Edgar is all about a bold, geometric line at the front. The fringe is cut flat and even, creating a sharp, box-like frame.
It’s a close cousin of the French crop and the Caesar cut, but the Edgar takes the blunt fringe further and pairs it with a high skin fade for maximum contrast. It’s a strong, confident look that reads as very deliberate, which is exactly why teens love it.
Broccoli and Edgar at a glance
| Cut | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli cut | Curly, textured volume on top over faded sides | Naturally curly or wavy hair (or a perm) |
| Edgar cut | Blunt, straight-across fringe with a high fade | Straight or thick hair; a bold, sharp look |
| Broccoli with mid fade | Softer contrast, more school-friendly | Students wanting the trend, toned down |
| Edgar with taper | Gentler sides, less severe front line | A subtler, tidier version for daily wear |
Who do they suit?
Both cuts are aimed squarely at a younger, trend-aware crowd, but they flatter different hair types and faces.
- Broccoli cut — best on curly or wavy hair. If the hair is straight, a perm is needed to get the coils, so it’s worth planning for. It suits most face shapes because the height on top adds balance.
- Edgar cut — best on straight or thick hair that holds a blunt line. It tends to flatter oval and longer faces, as the low, straight fringe shortens the forehead. On very round faces the hard line can emphasise width, so a taper softens it.
Because both are strong, distinctive looks, it helps to think about the setting. Our face shape guide is a good primer, and we’re always happy to suggest a version that flatters rather than fights the hair.
For teens and students: keeping it school-friendly
This is the part parents care about, and rightly so. Many Singapore schools have grooming rules about hair length and neatness, so it’s worth checking your school’s guidelines before booking. The good news is that both cuts can be dialled up or down.
The fade on the sides usually keeps things looking neat and within most schools’ expectations. The area to watch is the top: a very tall broccoli or a very long Edgar fringe can push the limits. A shorter, tidier version of either cut keeps the trend without risking a warning from a discipline master. If your son is in a stricter school, a textured crop gives a similar current feel with less risk. For more on this, see our guides to boys’ haircut styles and school-appropriate cuts.
How to ask for it
Trend names travel, but they can mean slightly different things to different barbers, so a photo is worth a thousand words. When you sit down:
- Bring a reference photo of the exact broccoli or Edgar you want. This is the single most reliable way to get the result in your head.
- Specify the fade height: low, mid or high, and skin or taper. This changes the whole look and how neat it reads.
- For a broccoli, say how much curl and height you want on top, and whether you’ll need a perm to get there.
- For an Edgar, be clear about how low and how blunt you want the fringe, as that line is the defining feature.
If you’re not sure how to describe it all, our guide on how to ask for a haircut in Singapore walks through the language barbers use. Honest chat beats guesswork every time.
Styling and upkeep
Both cuts are fairly low-effort once they’re in, which suits busy students well.
For the broccoli, work a little curl cream or mousse through damp hair to define the coils, then let it dry naturally or scrunch it up. Avoid heavy, shiny products that weigh curls down and go greasy in the humidity. For the Edgar, a touch of matte paste keeps the fringe flat and in place; it needs very little day to day. Our styling products guide covers good options for our climate.
Upkeep is mostly about the fade and the shape. A skin fade wants a tidy-up every two to three weeks to stay crisp; a taper can stretch to four. For the Edgar, the fringe needs re-cutting once it grows past the intended line, or the sharp look softens.
Growing them out
Trends move fast, and both cuts grow out reasonably well. The broccoli simply becomes a fuller, longer curly style as the top grows, easy to transition into a looser crop or a longer curly cut. The Edgar softens as the fringe grows down and can be blended into a textured crop or a side-swept fringe in a single visit, so nobody is stuck with a hard line they’ve outgrown. If you’d like to see the full range of youthful cuts, our haircuts menu and men’s haircut types guide lay them out.
Book the trend, done properly
The broccoli and the Edgar are brilliant fun when they’re cut well and matched to the right hair, and a little sad when they’re not, so the barber genuinely matters here. Bring a photo, tell us about school rules if they apply, and we’ll create a version that looks current and keeps everyone happy, whether it’s a kids’ haircut or a men’s cut. WhatsApp us to book at our Bedok shop. Cut. Style. Belong.
