Every few months, some guy sits in my chair holding up his phone with a Julian Edelman picture and says, “Can you do this?” The answer is almost always yes—but which Edelman are we talking about? The man rocked a different look practically every season, from a no-nonsense rookie buzz to championship flows that became a Patriots tradition.
Here are the 12 cuts that tracked his journey from seventh-round pick to Super Bowl MVP, and exactly how to ask for each one.
From his early Patriots days to his current media personality style, explore how Edelman’s grooming choices reflected his journey from special teams to legendary slot receiver.
Key Takeaways
- Edelman’s most iconic cut is the textured crop with mid-fade from his Super Bowl XLIX season—it’s versatile, low-maintenance, and works for most face shapes
- His signature 3-5mm designer stubble pairs well with any cut and adds maturity without hiding the jawline
- Ask your barber for 2-3 inches on top with choppy layers and a mid-fade starting above the ears for his classic look
- Matte clay or paste is the go-to product—Edelman avoids shiny finishes for that effortless textured look
- Oval and square faces have the most flexibility with Edelman’s styles, while round faces benefit from his higher-volume cuts
Who Is Julian Edelman?
Julian Edelman spent 11 seasons with the New England Patriots, becoming one of the most clutch postseason receivers in NFL history. The former Kent State q
uarterback converted to wide receiver, earning three Super Bowl rings and one Super Bowl MVP trophy. Known for his toughness and reliability, Edelman’s style evolved from practical athlete cuts to more refined looks as his star power grew. His Jewish heritage and Boston grit made him a fan favorite who embraced both polish and edge in his appearance.
Edelman’s Style Evolution Through The NFL
Edelman’s hair journey mirrors his career arc—starting with no-nonsense utility cuts as a special teamer, evolving to confident styles during his prime years, and finishing with sophisticated looks befitting a champion. His willingness to grow both hair and beard during playoff runs became a Patriots tradition. The combination of athletic practicality and California casual style created looks that worked both on-field and at press conferences.
Early Patriots Rookie Cut
Edelman’s 2009 rookie season featured a basic grade 2 buzz cut that screamed special teams grinder. This no-maintenance style let him focus entirely on making the roster.
The ultra-short length worked with his helmet and required zero styling—perfect for a player fighting for every snap. Ask for a uniform buzz at grade 2 with a slight fade at the neckline.
2011 Longer Shaggy Style
As Edelman earned more playing time, he grew out a shaggy, textured look with 2-3 inches on top. This California surfer-inspired style softened his features and showed growing confidence.
The tousled texture required just sea salt spray and finger styling. The sides stayed around an inch, creating an all-over casual length that moved naturally during games.
Super Bowl XLIX Textured Crop
For the 2014 championship run, Edelman sported a textured crop with subtle fade that became his most copied look. The top measured 1.5-2 inches with choppy layers, while sides featured a mid-fade starting at the temples.
This versatile cut looked sharp under a helmet and styled easily with matte clay. The texture added dimension while maintaining athletic practicality.
2016 Playoff Beard And Flow
Edelman’s 2016 playoff appearance introduced his famous “playoff flow”—3-4 inches of wavy hair paired with a full beard. After missing the season with injury, he returned with longer hair that touched his ears.
The beard, grown for 8-10 weeks, created a rugged warrior aesthetic. Style with light hold cream to enhance natural waves while maintaining movement.
The Signature Edelman Scruff
Throughout his career, Edelman’s designer stubble at 3-5mm became his trademark. This perfectly maintained scruff added maturity without hiding his jawline.
The key is daily trimming to maintain consistent length and clean neck lines. This facial hair style works with any haircut and provides that perfect balance between polished and rugged that defined Edelman’s image.
2018 MVP Slicked Back
Edelman’s Super Bowl LIII MVP performance featured a slicked-back undercut that oozed confidence. With 4 inches on top and tight sides at grade 1, this style required pomade for game-day hold.
The dramatic contrast between lengths created a bold, aggressive look perfect for his clutch playoff performances. The slicked style stayed intact through four quarters of championship football.
Super Bowl LIII Champion Cut
Post-victory, Edelman cleaned up with a classic side part and taper fade. This refined cut featured 2-3 inches on top with a defined part line.
The taper fade started at grade 1 and blended smoothly to the top. This championship look balanced celebration style with professional polish, requiring light pomade and a comb for the perfect part.
2019 Messy Textured Top
His final full season showcased a messy textured quiff with 2-3 inches styled upward and forward. The disheveled texture created volume while maintaining an effortless vibe.
Sides featured a low fade keeping things clean. This style needed texturizing powder at roots and matte paste for piece-y definition—perfect for postgame interviews.
Injured Reserve Long Hair
During his 2020 IR stint, Edelman grew his hair to collar-length waves, the longest of his career. This 5-6 inch length created a relaxed, recuperating athlete look.
The natural waves required minimal styling—just quality conditioner and occasional sea salt spray. This longer style showed a different side of his personality during recovery.
Final Season Fade
Edelman’s 2020 farewell season featured a tight skin fade with textured top at 1.5 inches. This clean, mature cut represented full-circle evolution from his rookie buzz.
The skin fade at grade 0 created sharp contrast, while the textured top added just enough personality. Simple styling with matte clay kept things effortless.
Post-Retirement Polished Look
Retirement brought Edelman’s most refined style—a businessman’s cut with perfect edges. The 2-inch top features subtle layers, while sides maintain a grade 2 with clean taper.
Not sure what your face shape is? Our Face Shape Detector figures it out in 4 quick questions.
This executive-ready style works for his business ventures and TV appearances. Light pomade provides natural shine without stiffness, creating approachable sophistication.
Media Personality Style
As a TV analyst, Edelman maintains a versatile medium-length style at 3 inches that can go casual or formal. The adaptable length allows for slicked-back studio looks or textured casual appearances on his podcast.
A medium fade keeps sides neat while the longer top provides styling options. This camera-ready cut requires quality styling cream and regular trims every 3 weeks.
How To Get Edelman’s Look
Start with 2-3 inches on top and ask for a textured crop with choppy layers. The sides should be a mid-fade starting just above the ears, blending to grade 2-3. For styling, apply matte clay to towel-dried hair, then use fingers to create piece-y texture pushing forward and up.
Use a blow dryer on low heat to add volume at the roots. This look requires monthly maintenance and works best with straight to wavy hair. The key detail is the intentionally imperfect texture which makes the style look effortless yet put-together.
Products For The Edelman Style
Achieving Edelman’s textured looks requires matte clay or paste for definition without shine. Start with texturizing powder at roots for volume, then work a dime-sized amount of product through mid-lengths and ends. For his slicked styles, use water-based pomade that provides hold without helmet hair.
Sea salt spray helps achieve his natural wave looks. For the signature scruff, invest in a quality beard trimmer with adjustable guards. Daily face moisturizer prevents irritation from frequent trimming.
Which Face Shape Suits Each Edelman Cut
Edelman has an oval face, which is why nearly every style worked for him. But not everyone has that luxury—here’s how to match his best cuts to your own face shape.
Oval faces get the most freedom. The textured crop, slicked back, and messy quiff all work because balanced proportions mean nothing fights the cut. Stick with whatever appeals to you.
Round faces should lean toward the 2018 slicked-back undercut or the textured crop with a mid-fade. Height on top and tight sides elongate a rounder face and create the illusion of sharper angles.
Square faces look great with the shaggy 2011 style or the playoff flow. Longer, softer textures balance a strong jawline instead of competing with it.
Oblong faces benefit from the rookie buzz cut or the final season fade—shorter styles with less height avoid making the face appear even longer. Avoid the slicked-back styles that add vertical length.
Heart-shaped faces work well with the Super Bowl LIII side part. The defined part and taper draw attention to the mid-face rather than a wider forehead.
Adapting Edelman’s Styles For Your Hair Type
Edelman has naturally thick, slightly wavy hair—that texture does half the styling work for him. Here’s how to adjust if your hair type is different.
Thick hair is closest to Edelman’s natural texture. You can replicate any of his styles with minimal modification. Use thinning shears on the textured crop to prevent bulk, and lighter products to avoid weighing hair down.
Thin or fine hair should focus on the textured crop or the messy quiff—both styles use texture to create the appearance of volume. Ask your barber to keep layers shorter and tighter. Skip the slicked-back styles, which tend to expose the scalp on finer hair. Texturizing powder is your best friend here.
Curly hair adapts well to the shaggy 2011 style and the playoff flow—natural curl gives those longer styles more body and movement. For shorter cuts like the textured crop, ask for a slightly longer grade on top (an extra half inch) so the curl has room to form without looking too tight.
Straight hair needs more product work to hit Edelman’s textured looks. Sea salt spray adds grip and wave, and blow-drying with a round brush builds the volume that straight hair naturally lacks. The slicked-back and side-part styles are easiest for straight hair since they work with the natural fall.
FAQs: Julian Edelman Hairstyles
What is Julian Edelman’s signature hairstyle?
While Edelman experimented with various cuts, his textured crop from the 2014-2015 Super Bowl season remains most iconic. This style combined a manageable 1.5-2 inch textured top with a clean mid-fade, creating the perfect balance of style and athletic functionality.
The cut became so popular that barbers dubbed it the “Edelman Special”—choppy layers on top with grade 2 fade on sides. Paired with his signature 3-5mm stubble, this look defined his championship image and inspired countless New England fans to copy the style.
How to ask for Edelman’s playoff beard?
Request a “full coverage beard at 15-20mm length” with defined cheek lines and a curved neckline sitting one finger above the Adam’s apple. Key points to mention: natural thickness through the cheeks, slightly longer at the chin for shape, and faded sideburns that blend into the haircut.
Most barbers understand “playoff beard” means fuller coverage with intentional shaping rather than pure wildness. You’ll need 6-8 weeks of growth to achieve the look, and maintenance requires weekly trimming to keep the shape while allowing length.
What products does Edelman use for his hair?
Edelman has mentioned using American Crew Fiber and Baxter of California Clay Pomade for his textured styles. For his signature messy looks, he relies on matte-finish products that provide hold without shine—essential for maintaining style under a helmet.
His routine typically includes texturizing powder for volume at the roots, followed by clay or fiber worked through with fingers for that piece-y definition. For slicked looks during media appearances, he switches to water-based pomades that wash out easily. The key is using minimal product to maintain natural movement while ensuring the style holds through physical activity.
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Khamis Maiouf is a professional barber who graduated from Hinckley College in England with a Level 3 qualification in hairdressing. With over 20 years of experience, he is an award-winning barber who has mentored numerous students and styled thousands of clients. A recognised expert featured on StyleCraze (20M+ readers).
Credentials: Level 3 Hairdressing (Hinckley College, UK) • 20+ Years Professional Experience • Featured Expert on StyleCraze • Founder of Book of Barbering