High and tight

From Free net encyclopedia

The high and tight can be any of several very short hair styles most commonly worn by men in military service, predominantly in the United States.[1]

While many variations of the style exist, the one common denominator is that all of the hair is removed beneath a line that is always situated above the top of the ears. In some cases a sharp line delineates the boundary between the shaved and non-shaved areas, while in others a gradual, tapering effect (or "fade") is achieved. Sometimes a flattop is sported, with a "landing strip" exposing the skin in the center, which is occasionally extended all the way to the back of the head, creating a "horseshoe" effect. The length of the unshaved portion may also vary, but as a rule is no longer than a typical crew cut; sometimes the back and sides of the head are shaved completely with a razor (this is known as "whitewalls").

Beginning in the late 1980s, it crossed over into civilian life, being embraced first by mostly young African-American males, then spread to like-aged men in other groups; it has since gained wide acceptance throughout American society.