Flat top haircut

A flat top (known in Ukraine as “maidanchyk”, the little platform) is a short men’s haircut in which the hair on top stands upright and is cut into a level horizontal plane. The sides and back are short, often faded down to the skin. In profile the head looks almost square: flat top, sharp corners, open face.

A flat top (known in Ukraine as “maidanchyk”, the little platform) is a short men’s haircut in which the hair on top stands upright and is cut into a level horizontal plane. The sides and back are short, often faded down to the skin. In profile the head looks almost square: flat top, sharp corners, open face.

What sets a flat top apart from a crew cut is the plane. On a crew cut the short top follows the round shape of the head; here the barber levels the hair horizontally, as if a ruler had been laid across the crown. For the plane to hold, the hair has to stand, so it is blow-dried upward before cutting.

The name says it all. In Ukraine both the English “flat top” and the colloquial “maidanchyk” are in use, and both mean the same thing: short on the sides and level on top, as if checked with a spirit level.

The top is usually 2–5 cm, often slightly longer at the front: the front edge is raised and stands like a small visor. The sides are clippered — anything from a classic short taper to a skin fade, where the temples melt into the skin.

The flat top is one of the most technical short haircuts. A level plane on a real head, with cowlicks, a crown and uneven density, cannot be done by eye: it takes a wide comb, clippers and a practised hand. That is why at Lumberjack it is cut as a Men’s Haircut rather than a Clipper Cut.

A flat top can be classic — low, with a flat top and a short taper; modern — with a skin fade and crisp corners; or tall, like a hi-top on curly hair. Below we cover how to choose your version, how to look after it and how the flat top differs from the boxer, the fade and the crew cut.

A flat top gives you a strong silhouette, but it asks for time and discipline. Here is the plain truth: what you get and what you will live with.

A flat top gives you a strong silhouette, but it asks for time and discipline. Here is the plain truth: what you get and what you will live with.

If the cons do not scare you off, the flat top will quickly become your signature.

Pro: a recognisable silhouette. The level plane and crisp corners read from any angle.

Pro: an open face. Hair stays out of your eyes and out of the way at the gym or under a cap.

Pro: a longer silhouette. A tall flat top visually lengthens a round face.

Pro: quick styling. A few minutes with a blow-dryer and the shape lasts until evening.

Pro: works with a beard. Short sides and a beard together make a balanced profile.

Pro: beyond trends. The shape has survived several waves — from the 1950s to 1980s hip hop — and keeps coming back.

Con: frequent touch-ups. The plane loses its level in 2–3 weeks, and the fade blurs even sooner.

Con: demanding technique. Trimming a flat top yourself is next to impossible.

Con: picky about hair. On fine, soft or thin hair the plane will not hold.

Con: product is a must. Even coarse hair stands better with paste, wax or gel.

Con: everything is on show. Head shape, crown cowlicks and a receding hairline become more visible.

A flat top at Lumberjack takes 45–75 minutes — the time set for the Men’s Haircut service. The visit has four steps.

A flat top at Lumberjack takes 45–75 minutes — the time set for the Men’s Haircut service. The visit has four steps.

1. Consultation. The barber checks the density and texture of your hair, crown cowlicks and head shape, and asks how much time you are ready to give to styling. Here you agree on the height of the top and the type of transition.

2. Sides and back. Clippers set the short zone — a classic taper or a fade down to the skin. It is blended so that it runs smoothly into the corners of the flat top.

3. The plane. The top is blow-dried straight up, then cut with clippers or scissors over a comb held horizontally. The barber checks the level several times — in the mirror and from the side.

4. Corners and line-up. The corners between the top and sides are made sharp or slightly rounded, and a trimmer lines up the forehead, temples and neck. Finally — styling and a short how-to so you can repeat it at home.

Bring a photo to your first visit — flat tops vary a lot, from a low retro cut to a tall hi-top, and a picture saves minutes of explaining.

Also say which corners you prefer — sharp or rounded — and how low the fade should go. These two details change the character of a flat top the most: from strict military to relaxed everyday.

Every tool is cleaned, disinfected and sterilised after each guest, and the chair and workstation are treated before the next client.

Flat tops are cut at all ten Lumberjack barbershops in Kyiv, daily from 10:00 to 21:00. What the visit costs is set by the barber’s level — from Junior Barber to Ambassador — and you choose it yourself in online booking.