Who it suits
The Caesar is very good for an oblong or long face. Two reasons. First, the fringe lies flat and forward, so it removes height from the top of your head — height is the enemy of a long face. Second, the fringe cuts a horizontal line across your forehead, and a horizontal line visually shortens the face above it. Together they make a long face look more balanced.
It works on straight and wavy hair. Thick Indian hair holds the fringe forward well. Thin hair also works, because the forward comb covers a receding front hairline better than almost any other short cut.
Avoid it if your face is round or wide — a horizontal fringe with short sides makes a round face look rounder. Avoid it with curly hair, because curls will not sit in a flat straight line. If you have a strong cowlick at the front hairline, the fringe will fight you every day.
How to ask your barber
Say: "A Caesar cut. Short all over, about an inch to an inch and a half on top, combed forward into a straight fringe."
For the sides, ask for a number 2 or 3 guard with a soft blend. Say: "Keep the sides short but leave a little width — no skin fade." A skin fade removes width, which a long face needs to keep.
For the fringe, say: "Cut the fringe straight across, blunt, sitting about an inch above my eyebrows." Blunt is correct here. This is the one cut on this list where you do not want heavily point cut ends — the straight line is the whole design.
What not to do: do not ask for the fringe to be cut while your hair is stretched flat. Wavy hair springs up after drying and you end up with a fringe an inch shorter than you asked for.
How to style it
- Towel dry to damp.
- Comb the whole top forward from the crown.
- Blow dry on low heat, keeping the comb moving forward. Do not lift the roots.
- Take a small amount of matte clay or a matte cream.
- Rub it between your palms and press it flat through the top, moving front to back to front.
- Comb the fringe into a straight line and leave it.
Use a matte clay or a matte cream. Shine products look wrong on a Caesar — the cut is meant to be flat and dry looking, not slick.
Maintenance
Trim every 4 to 5 weeks. The fringe length is what drives the schedule. Once it touches your eyebrows the straight line looks heavy.
As it grows, the fringe drops onto your brows and the top starts to lift instead of lying flat. At that point it drifts towards a French crop, which is not a bad in-between look.
Daily effort is two to three minutes. It is comfortable in Indian heat because the sides are short and the top is light. Sweat can separate the fringe, so a clay with real hold is worth it.
Variations
Textured Caesar. Point cut the fringe ends slightly so it looks modern instead of severe. Still forward, still low.
Caesar with a taper. Add a low taper at the sides for a cleaner outline while keeping side width above the ears.
Longer Caesar. Grow the top to two inches and let the fringe sit closer to the brows. More forehead coverage, more of a French crop feel.