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- This article is about the hairstyle. For the Dick Tracy villain, Flattop Jones, see Flattop (Dick Tracy villain). For one of the many mountains, buttes, mesas, and hills of that name, see Flattop Mountain.
A flattop is a type of very short hairstyle similar to the crew cut, with the exception that the hair on the top of the head is styled to deliberately stand up (typically no more than an inch or two) and is cut to be flat, resulting in a haircut that is square in shape. It is most often worn by men and boys, particularly those in the military and law enforcement in the United States.
Getting a flattop haircut
Because of the relative difficulty of achieving a flat surface, flattops are usually cut by licensed barbers but some cosmetologists also have the skills to cut the style. The haircut is usually done with electric clippers to cut the side and back hair to or near the scalp, and then more intricate cutting is done on the top hair to achieve a level plane. When cutting a new flattop, the top hair is usually cut to about an inch long, then blow-dried to stand up straight, and then finally cut with clippers and scissors to achieve the final look. Typically, "butch wax" is used to stiffen the front of the flattop.
Because the shape of a flattop is, by definition, not compatible with the round shape of a human head, there is often a spot on the very center of the top that is buzzed shorter to achieve a flat surface, almost to the point of being shaved. This area is called the "landing strip," because this area of the head with shorter hair ressembles a grassless aviation landing area.
Because the haircut is so short and quickly grows out of its precisely-cut shape, maintenance haircuts are required every few weeks, though some flattop wearers get haircuts as often as once a week.
Types of flattops
The flattop haircut was most prominent in America in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In recent years, flattops have enjoyed a revival among men.
There are several varieties of flattops. One of the longest types, the "Flattop DA" (Duck's Ass) was popular in the 1950s and 1960s and featured the hair of the sides of the head being longer and combed back. At the other end of the spectrum is the horseshoe flattop, in which all of the hair on the sides and back are completely shaved to the skin (called "whitewalls"), as is the "landing strip" on the top, leaving only a U-shape ring of hair on the top of the head. The horeshoe flattop is related to the high and tight and is particularly popular with United States Marines and Army Rangers.
Famous flattop wearers
One of the most famous flattops is the one worn by Johnny Unitas, the popular football quarterback of the 1950s and 1960s, and the Super Bowl III matchup between Unitas and long-haired New York Jets QB Joe Namath is seen as one of the most pivotal games in NFL history.
Fellow NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long was also noted for his flattop in the 1980s, and still maintains the hairstyle today.
National Basketball Association players Chris Mullin, Eric Montross, and Greg Ostertag were known for their trademark horseshoe flattops.
Comedian Drew Carey famously had a flattop throughout his hit sitcom, The Drew Carey Show.
A few female celebrities, including performer Grace Jones and lesbian folksinger Phranc have also worn flattops.
External links
"Flattop"