Barber cutting man's hair, close-up of electric razor, rear view
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Double crowns are two specific hair growth patterns located on the part of the skull where it begins to curve downward toward the back of the head. If the hair is cut too short in this area, it will stick straight up in odd angles away from the head, especially if the hair is thick. These stubborn growth patterns can be controlled using hair products, but more importantly, the stylist must accommodate the growth pattern by allowing the hair to fall as it wants and not cutting it too short.

Ivy League Haircut

Wash and dry the boy's hair. Clean hair is easier to cut and will result in a more evenly textured haircut; strands of dirty or sweaty hair can clump and make the cut uneven.

Draw an imaginary line from the forehead, over the top of the ears and around the back of the head right below the crown. The hair in this area will be very short.

Brush the hair under the imaginary line up toward the top of the head with the comb. As you brush it up, cut it with the scissors aligned horizontally against the comb. Cut it very short along the back of the skull and around the ears.

Trim a semi-circle shape over the top of the ears using the comb to brush the hair down and the scissors to cut any longer strands.

Section the hair above the imaginary line using the comb and beginning on one side of the head and moving toward the top of the head. Run the comb down through each section as if you are about to brush it, but stop right before you pull it all the way through. Trim the ends of the hair with the scissors to make the ends even. Leave the hair at least 3/4 inch long, or leave it longer as desired. Comb hair toward the front of the face after you cut each section.

Run the comb through the hair on the top of the head to make it stand straight up. Work from front to back until you reach the crown and move to the back of the boy's head and work from back to front. Use the scissors to cut any longer strands that stick out past the comb as you work.

Long and Shaggy

Wash the boy's hair but don't dry it. Brush it to remove any tangles.

Comb the hair on the back of the head down toward the nape of the neck and cut it straight across at the very bottom. Leave the hair longer than one inch since it will draw up toward the skull as it dries and become even shorter as a result.

Fold the boy's ear down and cut the hair around it in a semi-circle shape. Leave the hair long enough so that it is barely touching the boy's folded ear. If it is cut too short, there will be a bald spot above the ears when the hair dries. Repeat on the other side of his head.

Angle the scissors from the middle of the ear up toward the top of the ear to cut the sideburns.

Start at the back of the boy's head and comb the hair vertically out and away from the head. Use one hand to hold the hair between your pointer and middle fingers, still aligned vertically against the boy's head. Pull the hair out away from the head and let it slip through your fingers until you reach the desired length, which should be longer than one inch or two finger widths. Trim the ends sticking out through your fingers to make them even. Repeat this process until you have cut all the hair in the back of his head.

Cut the hair on the top of the boy's head and around the crown beginning from the forehead and working your way back. Align the comb with its ends pointed toward the boy's ears and run it through the hair to make it stand straight up. Grab it between your fingers and cut the hair, leaving it longer than 1½ inches or at least three finger-widths long. The longer hair on top will keep the hair around the crown laying flat.

Tip

Cut less rather than more; you can always go back and cut more later.

Warning

Be very careful with the scissors, especially around the boy's ears.