Take A Peek At The Peaky Blinders Haircut
Chances are you have heard of the hit show Peaky Blinders which debuted on BBC in 2013 but is most well known as being internationally available through Netflix, and is also considered a Netflix Original despite also being produced by the BBC. If you don’t know what Peaky Blinders is, don’t worry you can learn a little more about it and about the stylish haircut associated with it, that you can rock whether or not you’re a fan of the show.
A Little About The Show
Peaky Blinders is a BBC drama that follows the lives of an Irish family of gangsters known as the Shelby family living and committing organized crime in Birmingham, UK as well as London after the end of World War One. The show is a period piece set in 1919 and follows the lives of the family including the main character and often the man most known for rocking this style, Thomas Shelby, who is played by Cillian Murphy. The show originally aired on BBC in the UK but found international fame when Netflix began to carry and produce it, spreading it to a worldwide audience.
Peaky Blinders Haircut
Despite its current trending success the actors on set were nervous about getting the cut, it took producers more than a week to convince the men as it was a period piece and the hair was based on that era the men were hesitant about debuting the look. The actor who plays the role of Freddie Thorne was the first of the men willing to try out the haircut, and not long after he did the other actors were on board and history was born in the form of the now infamous Peaky Blinders haircut. However, even at the start when the men were leaving the set they would wear hats and try to cover up their new look in shame, but now with the great success of the show they walk around proudly sporting their fresh cuts.
This cut was designed by the hair and makeup artist on set for the show, Laura Schiavo. She used photo books from the 1920’s to draw inspiration for the cut, including military cuts from earlier times.
FUN FACT: The book Laura originally referred to when looking for inspiration included a compilation of portraits of common criminals from the early 1920’s called Crooks Like Us.
Actor Cillian Murphy playing gangster Thomas Shelby rocking the famed Peaky Blinders Haircut
When Laura was asked what the main draw of this do was she said that it lies within the sharp edges and shaved back of the head that is meant to showcase bone structure and accentuate beards on men. Additionally, there is allure in the distinct contrast between the sharp lines of the cut and the soft waves of the top of the hairstyle.
How To Style and Get The Peaky Blinders Cut
If you’re interested in getting the Peaky Blinders haircut there are a couple of ways that you can ask your barber to do it in order to get different looks and styles that resemble whichever characters look you like the best.
The most famous look is the one rocked by the main man Thomas Shelby, when talking to your barber about this ask them for number 3 on the sides with an undercut and for the top fringe to be textured at about a medium length and swept to the side. When styling this look go for a product such as a hair clay for hold, texture and definition while giving a matte look to the hair side fringe.
Other variations include going for Arthur Shelby’s look with a number 1 on the sides of the head and disconnected undercut, leaving the top a medium length and slicking it back with a gel or pomade for a glossy finish that closely resembles that of Arthur Shelby’s style. The John Shelby also uses a pomade to create a shiny finish but for this cut, the sides are shaved to a 0 and the top is cut to a short length that has enough to it for it to be side swept and gelled. The most formal look is that based on Michael Gray which features a side part with a gentle taper to a very low fade that then goes into longer waves for the top of the head to finish it off.
If you’re interested in trying out the Peaky Blinders haircut, or any other fresh style checks out one of our many experienced barbers at any of our locations!
Visit CADMEN Barbershop to learn more.