How to Wear Makeup with a Buzz Cut — A Makeup Artist Weighs In

Just about every day on the ‘gram, we find ourselves double tapping one of our fabulous followers rocking a buzz cut with fierce makeup — essentially defining the word “slay.” Whether this is you or you choose to admire it from afar, chances are you’ll agree that the right makeup products make a buzz cut look extra chic — like a bold lip color, long, voluminous lashes and a glowy complexion. For an expert opinion on the subject, we reached out to our friend, makeup artist Kasey Adam Spickard, for his best tips for wearing makeup with a buzz cut.

First things first, Spickard emphasized how wearing makeup with a super cropped haircut is all about accentuating your natural beauty. “I don’t subscribe to the idea of any real rules with makeup,” he says. “Everyone should be doing their makeup the way that makes them feel the most beautiful. If you love your eyes, then accentuate your eyes; if you have beautiful full lips, throw on a fun and daring lipstick.”

If you really want to have fun with it, there are different directions you can take it. “Lean into the masculinity and go edgier with your makeup look with a full, bushy, boy brow and a natural nude makeup look and go androgynous,” suggest Spickard. Or take things the other way. “There’s also an opportunity to go romantic and feminine with your color palette and makeup looks,” he says. “Pinks and peach tones on the eyes, lips and cheeks and fresh dewy skin. You could even experiment with a blurred red or pink lip.”

How to Get Kasey’s Ideal Buzz Cut Makeup Look:

“If I were doing a makeup look on someone with a buzzcut, I would lean toward a neutral eye and a bold lip with a nice full, defined eyebrow and lashes.”

Step 1:

Take the extra time to sculpt the face with a more defined contour and highlight. “I like the NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette,” he says. “Contouring and highlighting will build shape in the face that you may have lost when you shaved your head. On the other side of the coin, your facial features like eyes, nose, brows and lips will become more prominent as you won’t have your hair to balance those features. It’s all about your face.”

Step 2:

It’s important to define and fill the brow. “I’m currently obsessed with the Maybelline Total Temptation Brow Definers. They give really pretty precise brow strokes and blend nicely into the brows and they come with a cute little spoolie on the end to blend in the product!”

Step 3:

“Defining features is super important with a buzz cut, and this applies on the eyes as well,” he explains. IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara is his favorite right now to give voluminous, lengthen lashes without getting clumpy. “To get that extra ‘oomph,’ I like to apply 2 or 3 coats to get that falsies look,” he says.

Step 4:

“Because it’s all about the face with a buzzcut, I love a bold lip,” he says. This creates a focal point for the face and makes a statement. “I just tried the NYX Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream. It’s a creamy application and dries down a with a subtle metallic sheen which I like. As we head into Spring, I love a bright pink berry shade and the shade Paris from the Matte Metallic Lip cream collection is absolutely gorgeous.”