Prince William recently debuted a dramatic new buzzcut, in what is apparently the royal family’s first-ever hair-raising move. The royal debuted his new look during a family-oriented day of official engagements. Most recently, he accompanied Princess Kate to welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. The buzzcut, now looking shorter than short, fits right into the latest cutting edge trend that’s taken over celebs and runways.
Luke Sawyer, the creative director and hairstylist at Taylor Taylor London, considers the buzzcut the “go-to easy care style.” This simplicity paired with a glamorous aesthetic has made it a favorite of A-listers. Celebrities such as Zayn Malik and Timothée Chalamet have courageously embraced the buzzcut. Their audacious decisions serve to prove the buzzcut’s adaptability and attractiveness.
In a recent Vice article, celebrity stylist Jon Hala speaks to the buzzcut’s fresh, masculine appeal, calling it a “bad-ass hair cut.” He points out that this coif is “the most low-maintenance most easily replicable cut.” This means that it’s ideal for anyone looking to create a big impact with little effort. The buzzcut, I should note, had a dramatic renaissance over the past quarter century. Above all, it becomes associated with men making it their default haircut.
The trend really took off in the early 2000s. When David Beckham buzzed off his locks, the rest of the nation immediately raced to sheepishly replicate his look. His appearance at that time etched the buzzcut’s legacy in modern men’s sartorial history. Now, with Prince William’s recent decision to adopt this style, it seems that the buzzcut continues to resonate with contemporary tastes.
For Sawyer, the continued mystique of the buzzcut comes down to its utility and evergreen quality. “The buzzcut has persisted for a good reason,” he states, highlighting its adaptability across different demographics and occasions. Aside from being a new idea for masculinity, it’s an idea about personal reinvention.
The hair change might be a portent of a more overall images shift as Prince William starts moving into his early 40s. His last public appearance with a beard last November foreshadowed this transformation into a celebrity badass. That buzzcut is a big step in an equally exciting adventure of his own. It makes visible his willingness to embrace contemporary touchstones while maintaining appropriate royal dignity.
