The Edgar reads as simple — short top, faded sides, straight fringe — but it's unforgiving in a specific way: there's a single blunt line across the forehead, and it's either sharp or it isn't. There's no blending your way out of a crooked fringe the way you can with a fade.
What actually makes an Edgar an Edgar
Three things, in order of importance: a near-horizontal fringe cut straight across the forehead, sitting fairly high; corners at the temples that are squared off, not rounded; and a fade underneath that's usually a mid or high fade, giving the top sharp contrast against the sides. Miss the squared corners and you've accidentally cut a Caesar with a longer fringe — a fine cut, just not this one.
Order of operations matters here
- Fade the sides and back first, before you touch the top. It's much easier to judge where the fringe should sit once the sides are already short and out of the way.
- Cut the top to one even guard — no fading up top, just a uniform length — then comb it flat and forward, directly over the forehead, so you can see exactly how much hair you're working with for the fringe.
- Mark the fringe height lightly first. It sits higher than most people expect, closer to mid-forehead than the eyebrows. Use the trimmer held horizontally and make a light guide pass before committing.
- Check level in the mirror, then commit with a second, firmer pass along the same line.
- Square the corners at the temples last — this is the step that actually defines the cut, so don't rush it.
Where it goes soft
Rounding the corners, even slightly, is the most common way an Edgar drifts into looking like a generic fringe cut instead of the specific style. It happens naturally if you're cutting freehand without a guide — your hand wants to follow a curve. Fight that instinct at the temples specifically; a straight edge there is the whole point.
Does your hair type work for this?
Straight, thick hair holds a crisp blunt line the longest without product. Fine or wavy hair will hold the shape for a day or two before it starts to soften and needs a light styling product to keep the fringe looking sharp rather than fluffy.
Quick answers
How high should the fringe actually sit? Roughly a third of the way down your forehead from the hairline — higher than instinct suggests. If it looks slightly too high while you're cutting it dry and combed flat, it's probably about right; hair always looks shorter freshly cut than it settles once styled.
Can curly hair do an Edgar? It's much harder — the blunt fringe relies on hair lying flat, which curl patterns fight against. Not impossible, but not the easiest starting point if your hair is curly; the curly-hair guide has a better first cut to learn on.
How often does the fringe need touching up? Every 2 weeks or so — it's a short line and grows out visibly fast, faster than most people expect from how small the cut area is.