The “Velvet Crop” Haircut Is the Buzz Cut’s Cool Older Sister

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Rarely does an in-between hairstyle — you know, the ones that you’re relegated to when you’re trying to grow your hair out — get a legitimate moment in the spotlight, but such is the case with the “velvet crop.”

As seen on celebrities like Florence Pugh, Lupita Nyong’o, and Emma Corrin, a velvet crop is a fancy name for a grown-out buzz cut. The hairstyle puts a spotlight on the gorgeous natural texture of your hair that starts to show itself in the months post-chop. “It’s the mid-stage between a buzz cut and a short pixie,” Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK, tells POPSUGAR. “The hair becomes just long enough to allow the beginning stages of your texture to emerge.”

Ahead, Toth answers all of our most burning questions about this fuzzy yet super chic hairstyle, including how to style it and what products work best.

What Is a Velvet Crop Hairstyle?
Whether you intentionally leave behind a few inches when getting a buzz cut or are in the process of getting your length back, the velvet crop typically requires about two to three inches of hair on the head. This is because you need enough length to parse out your natural texture, such as your curl pattern. This gives your short haircut a bit of personality and creates that fun, velvety feel that we all love to run our fingers through.

“Bleaching your hair when it’s buzzed is great for this trend because as it grows out, your velvet crop will have tons of dimension with its dark roots and lighter ends,” Toth says. Additionally, the haircut allows you to rock a short style without sacrificing all of your length. “You want to be careful when doing this if the overall goal is to grow your hair,” Toth says. “You wouldn’t want to cut too short.”

To make sure your texture is emphasized, Toth recommends buying a pomade for styling. “This cut looks really great when styled with a matte clay like the Shu Uemura Nendo Definer ($46),” he says. We also recommend the Ouai Matte Pommade ($36) for finer hair textures or the Pattern Curl Custard ($28) if you have more coily hair.

The look has been seen on many Hollywood stars — if you need some inspiration for your own velvet crop hairstyle, keep scrolling.

Lupita Nyong’o’s Velvet Crop Hairstyle

Lupita Nyong’o was spotted on the red carpet at the Berlin Film Festival with a velvet crop hairstyle in tow. She stepped the look up a notch with some glitter throughout her hair.

Zoë Karvitz’s Velvet Crop Hairstyle

Before she was the queen of boho braids, Zoë Kravitz championed the velvet crop at the Emmy Awards in 2017.

Viola Davis’s Velvet Crop Hairstyle

Viola Davis wore a velvet crop hairstyle in January 2023. She kept the sides a bit more closely shaved, making the top portion appear more voluminous.

Florence Pugh’s Velvet Crop Hairstyle

For the premiere of “Oppenheimer,” Florence Pugh’s velvet crop hairstyle was on full display. Her blond tips and darker roots added a gorgeous dimension that made her hair look like the fabric itself.

Emma Corrin’s Velvet Crop Hairstyle

Emma Corrin attended the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards wearing a velvet crop hairstyle that felt laidback and chic.

Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.