Ivy League
Preppy · side swept
An Ivy League, also called a Harvard or Princeton clip, is a crew cut grown up: tapered sides, with the top left about one and a half to two inches at the front, enough to part and comb over. It is scissor-finished rather than clippered flat, which keeps it soft.
Who it suits
This is a conservative, interview-safe cut that flatters oval, square, and heart faces. Straight and wavy hair parts neatly at this length; tight curls will not hold the side sweep and suit a tapered crop more. It is also gentle on early thinning, since nothing is long enough to separate.
A cut every three to four weeks holds the taper. Styling is a quick comb to the side, dry or with a fingertip of cream.
Ivy League — common questions
What's the difference between an Ivy League and a crew cut?
Front length. A crew cut tops out around an inch, worn upright or brushed slightly forward. An Ivy League leaves an inch and a half or more, which is the threshold where hair can hold a side part. Same architecture, one step longer.
Is an Ivy League cut professional?
It is close to the definition of a professional cut. Banks, law firms, and the officer corps have defaulted to it for decades because it shows effort without showing styling. If a workplace has any haircut standard at all, this one clears it.
