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Hairstyle

The edgy undercut

A truly versatile style with an edge.

Big with Hollywood’s bad boys, the undercut actually started cropping up in 1930s England. Working class guys from the mean streets of Birmingham would grease their hair back with paraffin wax for a look as dangerous as it was slick. These days, just a finger or two of Axe Messy Look: Flexible Paste will do.

Whether your hair is curly or straight, an undercut lets you make a statement with what you’ve got. Flatten your hair down with a comb, craft a classic pompadour or create a messy style: the options are endless. Whatever your style, a slick of paste will keep it fresh and lasting all day.

Perfect for:

How it began

The history

Even before it got big in England, and later the States, the undercut was making waves in 19th-century Europe. The Germans called it the ‘island cut’ because of the way the hair on top of the head like a patch of land in water. 

A guy with a quiff and a nose ring, in profile.

Timeless and versatile, the undercut is one of those repeat haircuts that you can keep going back to. 

Kieron Webb - The London Barber


HOW TO

Learn the fundamentals

  • 01

    WASH

    Wash and towel-dry your hair. Keep it a little damp for extra malleability.

  • 02

    RAKE

    Rake your hair backwards. Then blow-dry on low heat, moving in the same direction.

  • 03

    DRY

    Keep raking your hair as you dry it. Then use a blast of cold air to set it.

  • 04

    RUB

    Rub Axe Messy Look: Flexible Paste in your palms. A quick slick and you’re ready to go.