Asking Your Barber for a Peaky Blinders Haircut

Observing the cast members should give you an indication of which look will work best for your own hair type. The series is so popular, your barber will probably be familiar with the look, but in essence, you need to ask for a disconnected undercut with no fade, or bring in your favorite Thomas Shelby haircut picture for reference.

“You need to be confident about going really short on the back and sides,” says Joshua Gibson, principal at the Sassoon Academy in London. “Decide whether you want to wear the hair away from the face or closer to the head in length and worn forwards.”

Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson), often the most violent character, has the most extreme undercut to match. Ideally you need straight, fine hair to do this, with a long section left at the top that he wears slicked back. Trying to be the respectable face of a ‘legitimate’ enterprise, Tommy himself wears it in a slightly softer crop pushed forward over his face and swept to one side. Younger brother John Shelby (Joe Cole) wears his parted straight into short, slick curtains.

Styling Tips

Assuming you won’t be hiding it under a flat cap, Gibson says the best way to style it for your hair type: “If you have a straighter hair texture you might be better to dress the hair away from the face using a pomade or wax and use a Tangle Teezer to avoid comb marks for extra sleekness.” Frizzy hair types will benefit from a light oil such as Illuminating Oil by Sassoon Professional to keep the textured crop sleek.

Gibson also recommends a textured product like a paste to bulk up blonde, fine or receding hair. With a styled look such as this, he also recommends using Nioxin Cleanser 2 to prevent build-up from using heavier products. The ‘Arthur’ and the ‘John’ require a styling pomade that adds both high sheen and hold and the ‘Tommy’ requires texture with a matte finish.