21 Celebrity Buzz Cuts That Prove the Look Is Back for 2022

 

Look, we've all gone through it over the past two years. In case your hair has gone through it, too, what better way to start fresh than with a buzz cut? Yes, you heard that right; buzz cuts are back, baby (as if they ever even really left at all). Even if you spent all of 2020 and 2021 growing out your hair while staring at yourself in a grid next to your coworkers on the computer, we could all use a little refresh. After all, we get so little control in this world, and plugging in those clippers is a choice you can actively make; more than that, it's one that just feels good. 

It's a great cut for pretty much any hair texture, works well for those with receding hairlines, and as many of us know, the shorter your hair, the easier it is to try out hair-color trends with low commitment. If you hate it, you can shave it off and start again. A buzz can also broaden your fashion and makeup choices. All that extra canvas is just waiting for you to experiment on it — you'd be surprised how much you can do with so little hair.

For those who are making the chop at home and starting with longer hair, Alex Hartnett, a stylist at Coz Salon in Brooklyn, New York, says that you'll want to prep by cutting some length off with scissors first. This way, your hair won't get caught in the clippers. Then, once you move to using clippers, "you can always start with a guard if you want to keep it to a longer buzz. But to get your cut as close to the scalp as possible, you'll want to use clippers with no guard," she says. 

And you may want to phone a friend for help. "It's always best to have someone else do it to get it more even," says Harnett. "Make sure to not only direct the clippers front to back but all different directions."

If you've been thinking about going for a buzz but have never done it, all the more reason. So join the ranks of celebrities like Saweetie, Cate Blanchett, and Zöe Kravitz, who have all had shaved heads at one point or another, and fire up those clippers (OK, it's likely they had their hairstylist make the cut for them, but same diff). And even if you don't like your new look, hair grows, so we threw in a couple of grow-out style ideas, too. At least now you'll never have to wonder, "What if?" again — at least, not about this. 

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  1/22

  MJ Rodriguez

  This close-cropped cut by hairstylist Barry Lee Moe on MJ Rodriguez carries a deep meaning. "I was holding a lot in my hair, and this was just a moment to let it all go," she write while revealing the new cut to Instagram. "I overcame the ideas of what people thought I should be and how I should move through this world. Now I can continue to walk to the beat my own drum."

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  2/22

  Saweetie

  Saweetie celebrated the 2021 holiday season by getting a blonde buzz cut from hairstylist Kendall Dorsey, which she showed off in a carousel on Instagram. This new look is a sharp departure from the long hair she's favored for a while and no surprise: She looks great with both. 

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  3/22

  Cynthia Erivo

  We always say: You may be short on hair, but you're not short on styling options. See how Cynthia Erivo took her short bleach blonde cut even further by adding an icy filled-in brow? That's the beauty of hair this short in action — you can really get creative with makeup without distracting from your overall look. 

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  4/22

  Iris Law

  When model Iris Law buzzed and bleached her long brown hair in the summer of 2021, she basically became a whole new person. She wears her bleached buzz like another accessory — and does it well. 

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  5/22

  Jordan Alexander

  Jordan Alexander, star of the Gossip Girl reboot, keeps her hair cropped extremely short. It's so short, that her makeup artist can blend her blush further into her hairline, as you see here. Just another great example of how a buzz cut can add to your makeup options.

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  6/22

  Jada Pinkett-Smith

  Jada Pinkett-Smith has been open about her experience with alopecia, which eventually lead her to shave her head with an assist from her daughter, Willow. The cut is gorgeous on her, regardless.

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  7/22

  Demi Moore

  It was a big deal when Demi Moore shaved her head for G.I. Jane, and honestly, this look is still a big deal. She's one of many iconic actors who has picked up the clippers for a role on this list, and though this photo is from 1997, it doesn't mean you can't use it as inspiration today. 

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  8/22

  Tallulah Willis

  Like mother, like daughter. Tallulah Willis, the progeny of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, also went ultra-short back in 2015. Hers is also, by the way, a good example of what your grow-out could look like you buzz it really close to the scalp at first. 

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  9/22

  Grace Jones

  Grace Jones's crop is one of historic proportions. It's now and forever a reference, and a strong option if you're going to buzz your hair low (or you've gone lower and are growing it out). It's a cut that makes an impact if you want angles, shape, and killer fade all at once.

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  10/22

  Slick Woods

  Model Slick Woods has been wearing her hair in a close crop since she hopped on the scene, which allows her to play with color as she pleases. Just another point in the "pro" column — not that we're keeping score.

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  11/22

  Ruth Bell

  Model Ruth Bell originally went for a buzz cut to distinguish herself from her twin sister, who is also in the modeling game. Since the original chop, she's occasionally played with both length and color, another reminder of the incredible versatility short hair has. 

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  12/22

  Asia Kate Dillon

  Use actor Asia Kate Dillon's look for inspiration if you'd like to play with the length of your buzz cut a little. They keep it a little shorter on the sides and back than the top, which offers some dimension. 

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  13/22

  Mei Pang

  Good thing makeup artist Mei Pang is here to let us know that a shaved head also gives you an opportunity to show off your tattoos. She looks like a video game character who has all the best special powers. 

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  14/22

  Tiffany Haddish

  Tiffany Haddish shaved her head back in 2020 to "see her scalp," and now, she's playing with both length and color. Though she's got a bit of a fade going, she's left it a bit longer on top and gone blonde as well. 

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  15/22

  Kristen Stewart

  Yes, Kristen Stewart bleached her hair and shaved her head for a role, but she also told Bustle she had "wanted to do [it] for a long time." Take this as a sign that if you've also been thinking of making the cut, your time is now — you don't need to wait for a part in a film. 

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  16/22

  Cate Blanchett

  Cate Blanchett also shaved her head for a role, an under-the-radar thriller called Heaven. Even though this photo is from 2002, it looks like it could've been taken yesterday, proving that the buzz cut is eternal.

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  17/22

  Adwoa Aboah

  Model Adwoa Aboah has since grown out her hair, but this buzz cut she had for years will always hold a special place in our hearts. 

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  18/22

  Michaela Coel 

  Michaela Coel has the face of a deity and her go-to buzz lets us better drink in her glory. The writer, actor, and producer has shown that she can wear all kinds of styles, but this one will always be top-tier.

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  19/22

  Angelina Jolie

  Angelina Jolie's buzz cut made major waves back in 1998. It looked great when she first cut it, and it also grew out beautifully into a pixie, short bob, and beyond. Use her for inspiration for short cuts at any length. 

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  20/22

  Zöe Kravitz

  OK, so this is a little longer than what we typically think of as a buzz cut, but as yours is growing out, this is another possibility to consider. Plus, you can't really do a short haircut roundup without including a photo from Zöe Kravitz's short hair phase.

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    21/22

    Natalie Portman

    Natalie Portman actually shaved her head on screen for V for Vendetta in 2005, which means she had to do it in one take to get it right. Compared to that kind of pressure, shaving your head yourself or with the help of a stylist doesn't seem so hard, does it? 

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    22/22

    Sanaa Lathan

    Sanaa Lathan buzzed off all her hair for her role in Nappily Ever After and *checks notes* looked fine as hell. "It's all off. I feel so light, I could fly away," she said when she first revealed her chop on Instagram.