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best of
July 19, 2013

Sixteen Excellent ‘Undercut’ Hairstyles

By Christina Han

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Photo: Getty Images

The undercut, also known as a partially shaved head, allows you the best of two worlds. With a center part and your hair down and loose, this style can be the wearer’s little secret. But flip a section over to reveal your buzzed scalp, and suddenly you’re channeling a tough, punk vibe. It gives a safe, everyday look an instantaneously rebellious, lady danger effect. Skater boys of the nineties pioneered the look, but glamourous pop stars like Cassie and Rihanna made it something we might adopt. The versatile style can also be faked with braids or shellacked with gel, but don’t confuse the undercut with a cropped, buzzy ’do like Miley’s or Tilda’s, because unlike those two, the undercut is all about not having to commit to a radical look. Click through the slideshow to see some of the best examples from the ladies of the red carpet (plus one guy).

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1 / 15 Photos
Rihanna Most Rebelle-lious. Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images
Ellie Goulding Most delicate, and therefore worthy of being in Kate and Will's wedding presence. Photo: Ferdaus Shamim/Getty Images
Avril Lavigne Most My Little Pony–fied. Photo: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images
Julie Ferrier Most un-"French girl". Photo: Dominique Charriau/Getty Images
Yolandi Visser Most zef side. Photo: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
Ke$ha Most in need of a touch-up. Photo: Jason LaVeris/Getty Images
Jada Pinkett Smith Best show of solidarity. Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images
Alice Dellal Most appropriate for a model-drummer-D.J. British rich girl. Photo: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images
Skrillex Best way to show off your ear plug. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Rosario Dawson Most likely to have been the result of getting gum stuck in her hair. Photo: Terrence Jennings/Retna Ltd/Corbis
Grimes Most art school. Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images
Cassie Most open amount of real estate. Photo: Venturelli/Getty Images
Mandy Coon Best proof of being a natural blonde. Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Michelle Williams Best transition through a grow-out. Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images
Mel B Best place to exhibit your love for sparkle. Photo: David Fisher/Rex/Rex USA
1 / 15

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  • beauty
  • undercut
  • best of
  • rihanna
  • tilda swinton
  • miley cyrus
  • ellie goulding
  • julie ferrier
  • avril lavigne
  • cassie
  • skrillex
  • mel b
  • rosario dawson
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