Peaky Blinders Haircut for Men in 2025 (Thomas Shelby Style)

A 1920s haircut men can truly make your image elegant and unforgettable. One of the best visuals is extremely popular worldwide, thanks to the exceptional work of stylists in the Peaky Blinders series.

Nonetheless, a Peaky Blinders haircut comes in different shapes and forms:

• Your starting point is a retro undercut for a bold statement, popularized by Cillian Murphy, in particular.
• Gain an instant edge to any look, which works excellently for straight and thick hair.
• Discover our expert tips on how to ask your barber for an authentic cut in the best Peaky Blinders traditions.
• Define a perfect Cillian Murphy Peaky Blinders haircut based on your face shape.
• Learn more about what styling products to choose.
• Analyze how versatile it is for smart-casual, edgy, and vintage attire.

Let’s roll straight into the topic!

Source @taras.cuts

What Is the Peaky Blinders Haircut Called?

By structure, it is a so-called disconnected undercut — a combo of crop on top and shaved sides. Its iconic peculiarity is no blending on the shaved sides for a sharp and raw contrast.

As it accentuates their natural masculinity, its classic format is especially flattering for men with oval faces and strong jawlines. Overall, you can decide between a traditional version or play with modern twists to make it work better for different types of faces.

Originally, it was a working-class cut for men, popular in the 1920s. Nowadays, it can be upgraded to work for casual and semi-formal settings with modern barbering techniques at your disposal.

How to Ask for the Peaky Blinders Haircut at the Barber?

A real life Peaky Blinders haircut isn’t for everyone, unless you optimize its default characteristics. Let your barber know about your dos and don’ts in this regard:

• Feel free to start with the reference to highlight the exact version that is to your liking.
• Specify the sides. You can ask for a short back and sides or an undercut, namely, its disconnected or a high skin fade silhouette.
• Define the top length, from two to four inches.
• Consider how manageable you want the upkeep to be.
• Be direct about your preferences, with styling included. Tell your barber if you prioritize texture or volume on top, with a side part or a hard part line, etc.
• If you are interested in a modern twist, discuss which version will work the best in your case — a mid fade or a skin fade.
• Before getting started with the cut itself, confirm any adjustments that may be required to flatter your face type.

Source @taras.cuts

Which Face Shapes Suit the Peaky Blinders Cut?

Depending on your face type, either a traditional or a modernized version of the Thomas Shelby haircut can be tailored to your needs. Both options will work for someone with an oval face, while its skin fade styling is better for round faces.

Face Shape	Suitability	Notes
Oval	✅ Best	A great style for balanced proportions
Square	✅ Good	A nice haircut, which accentuates your strong jawline
Round	⚠️ With caution	May overhighlight your face’s width, making it look chubbier than it really is
Long	✅ Good	An effective solution to balance your proportions, making it seem visually shorter

Styling the Peaky Blinders Haircut (Step-by-Step)

For a perfect Peaky Blinders hair style, stick to these simple guidelines below:

1. Start by towel-drying your hair after taking a shower.
2. Use your favorite product for styling, be it pomade or matte clay.
3. Decide on how to style the top. It can be pushed forward or styled to the side.
4. To add texture, use your fingers and slightly “mess” with your top. In this case, there is no need for a comb.
5. With a hairdryer, add volume for a lasting hold, if desired.

Here are my top three products for a simple and effective upkeep routine for a Peaky Blinders haircut:

• Baxter of California Clay Pomade — for a natural-looking hold with buildable control.
• Hanz de Fuko Quicksand — an ultra matte finish and a high hold.
• Uppercut Deluxe Matte Pomade — for all hair types.

Source @taras.cuts

Skin-Fade vs. Traditional Peaky Blinders Cut — What’s Better?

You do you: either of the two can highlight your personality and embrace your face shape and features in the best manner possible. For a data-driven consideration between the Peaky Blinders haircut fade and its traditional analog, consider the following:

• The skin fade haircut is barbered to modern precision and perfection, while its traditional version is less blended and rougher.
• Given how less polished the traditional cut is, it may be less effective for corporate settings.
• Skin fade styling suits round or oval faces by adding sharper lines to the look. In comparison, the other option is best for angular and long faces.

Here is a cheat sheet for a quick decision with no regrets. Onwards!

Style	Look	Difficulty	Maintenance
Traditional Undercut	Vintage & sharp, for the true “Peaky” feel	Low	Weekly tidy for a neat look
Skin Fade Undercut	Modern & edgy, for its more versatile and multiple-environment-appropriate alternative	Medium	High upkeep for a polished look

Source @taras.cuts

Best Modern Variations of the Peaky Blinders Haircut

If you want the right Peaky Blinders haircut names to tell your barber about for a perfect result, here are the cuts with a modern twist to consider:

• Peaky Blinders Skin Fade — where the 1920s look meets modernity: the textured top comes hand in hand with a sharp, high skin fade.
• Peaky Blinders with a beard — as the name implies, it features a well-groomed beard and the iconic undercut from the series.
• Peaky Blinders with a side part — the strong side parting line contributes to the undercut styling.
• Curly hair Peaky Blinders style — leave your curls be and let them boldly flow over your sharp fade.
• Peaky Blinders with a hard part line — it requires barber precision for a razor-defined hard part.

For those who aren’t sure what style will work for their needs, let me share my expert take on this topic. Check the table below for a deeper insight.

Haircut Variation	Works Best For	Why It Works
Skin Fade	Men with straight or wavy hair, oval/round faces	Sharpens your features, adding a modern edge to your visuals
With Beard	Square or round face shapes	Added balance to your shaved sides, emphasizing your haircut’s structure and giving another layer to your aesthetic masculinity
With Side Part	Professionals, men with straight hair	Creates a neat, formal look that’s versatile for work and other settings
Curly Hair Style	Naturally curly/wavy hair, oval/diamond faces	Uses the natural texture of your hair for added volume while keeping your sides tidy and clean
With Hard Part Line	Straight hair, sharp jawlines	Introduces a bold statement to your profile, with more contrast for better balance

Source @taras.cuts

How to Maintain the Peaky Blinders Haircut

These expert tips will keep your undercut Peaky Blinders haircut fresh and clean for as long as possible, with a right-out-of-the-barbershop impression for everyday wear:

• Keep the cut’s lines sharp — trim your sides every two weeks.
• Don’t rely on heavy gels. Take it for granted: they don’t do justice to the authentic look.
• Make sure to thoroughly rinse the product before going to bed if you add finishing touches to your haircut with tailored grooming products. It will help you reduce the risk of issues like breakouts.
• Using a dry shampoo can refresh the style’s appeal if daily washing isn’t the best option at the moment.

Tommy Shelby definitely pulled off this look gorgeously. Follow this guide’s considerations and consult with your barber for the most tailored version of the classic Peaky Blinders haircut in your particular case.