What hairstyle is characterized by short sides and back with longer hair on top?

The hairstyle characterized by short sides and back with longer hair on top is known as the undercut. This style typically features a stark contrast between the length of hair on the top of the head and the closely cropped or shaved sections on the sides and back. The longer hair on top can be styled in various ways, allowing for versatility in looks, whether it’s slicked back, left tousled, or styled into a quiff.

The undercut's defining feature is this duality in hair length, giving it a modern and edgy appearance that is popular among many, especially younger demographics. In contrast, a fade gradually shortens the hair from top to bottom rather than providing a distinct separation in length, making it different from the undercut. The pixie cut is typically a short hairstyle, often uniform in length rather than featuring longer hair on top, while the buzz cut is an extremely short haircut with no variation in length, contrasting sharply with the longer top of an undercut.