An induction cut, also referred to as a mighty fine, is the shortest possible hairstyle without shaving the head with a razor. The style is so named as it is traditionally the first haircut given to new male recruits during initial entry into many of the world's armed forces, but most particularly in the United States.
A member of the U.S. Naval Academy's incoming Class of 2019 gets his first military haircut on Induction Day
The induction haircut has both practical and psychological purposes. Originally, one of the reasons for the induction haircut was to reduce the chances of disease among closely quartered recruits from different geographical areas (with varying immunities), such as head lice. The haircut also has the psychological purpose of stripping recruits of their individuality and promoting the "team" mentality desirable in a platoon of military recruits.
For U.S. male recruits, the induction haircut has become a sometimes-dreaded symbolic rite of passage for entry into the armed forces and is usually performed within minutes or hours of arrival at boot camp. It is one of several techniques used to mentally shock recruits into adapting to their decision to become a member of the armed forces. Although all branches of the U.S. armed forces employ the tradition of the induction haircut, the U.S. Marines have adopted the most severe version – a "zero-length" clipper blade to the scalp, although not shorter to avoid any minor injuries to recruits' head moles or other lesions.
Some Army drill sergeants have referred to this cut as the Mighty Fine.[1] Other names for this haircut are the "buzz cut" or a "number zero", "on the floor" and "the Army's #1 haircut".
Women and the induction cutedit
Although the term "induction cut" is generally used to refer to male military haircuts, women also receive a form of an induction haircut, in that their hair may be trimmed to chin-length. The concept of an "induction haircut" has also been the focus of litigation, such as in the case of The Citadel where attorneys for the first female cadet, Shannon Faulkner, argued that the "knob haircut" (referring to the college's freshman class's traditional nickname) would "implement rules which altogether denigrate Ms. Faulkner's identity as a woman."[2]
The buzz cutedit
A buzz cut is any hairstyle where the hair is cut short to a consistent length all over using clippers. The induction cut is distinguishable by the clippers being used without any guard or attachment, resulting in the shortest possible cut. The scalp is not shaved with a razor, but only very short stubble is left. Some people[who?] may refer to this haircut as a number 0.
As with many other short hairstyles, including a shaved head, the induction cut is becoming increasingly popular as an everyday hairstyle.[citation needed] It is one of the hairstyles that balding men often choose.
In the French Foreign Legion this form of haircut, used by all recruits and many légionnaires, is termed boule à zéro (zero ball). In recent years, the U.S. military style of high and tight has also become popular in the Légion.[citation needed]
^"Military Haircuts for Men (1900s to date)". Hair & Makeup Artist Handbook. 2021-04-26. from the original on 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
^"U.S. Moves to Block Female Cadet's Haircut". The New York Times. August 6, 1994. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
External linksedit
The dictionary definition of induction cut at Wiktionary
April 11, 2024
induction, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august, 2015, le. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Induction cut news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message An induction cut also referred to as a mighty fine is the shortest possible hairstyle without shaving the head with a razor The style is so named as it is traditionally the first haircut given to new male recruits during initial entry into many of the world s armed forces but most particularly in the United States A member of the U S Naval Academy s incoming Class of 2019 gets his first military haircut on Induction Day Contents 1 Purposes 2 Women and the induction cut 3 The buzz cut 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksPurposes editThe induction haircut has both practical and psychological purposes Originally one of the reasons for the induction haircut was to reduce the chances of disease among closely quartered recruits from different geographical areas with varying immunities such as head lice The haircut also has the psychological purpose of stripping recruits of their individuality and promoting the team mentality desirable in a platoon of military recruits For U S male recruits the induction haircut has become a sometimes dreaded symbolic rite of passage for entry into the armed forces and is usually performed within minutes or hours of arrival at boot camp It is one of several techniques used to mentally shock recruits into adapting to their decision to become a member of the armed forces Although all branches of the U S armed forces employ the tradition of the induction haircut the U S Marines have adopted the most severe version a zero length clipper blade to the scalp although not shorter to avoid any minor injuries to recruits head moles or other lesions Some Army drill sergeants have referred to this cut as the Mighty Fine 1 Other names for this haircut are the buzz cut or a number zero on the floor and the Army s 1 haircut Women and the induction cut editAlthough the term induction cut is generally used to refer to male military haircuts women also receive a form of an induction haircut in that their hair may be trimmed to chin length The concept of an induction haircut has also been the focus of litigation such as in the case of The Citadel where attorneys for the first female cadet Shannon Faulkner argued that the knob haircut referring to the college s freshman class s traditional nickname would implement rules which altogether denigrate Ms Faulkner s identity as a woman 2 The buzz cut editA buzz cut is any hairstyle where the hair is cut short to a consistent length all over using clippers The induction cut is distinguishable by the clippers being used without any guard or attachment resulting in the shortest possible cut The scalp is not shaved with a razor but only very short stubble is left Some people who may refer to this haircut as a number 0 As with many other short hairstyles including a shaved head the induction cut is becoming increasingly popular as an everyday hairstyle citation needed It is one of the hairstyles that balding men often choose In the French Foreign Legion this form of haircut used by all recruits and many legionnaires is termed boule a zero zero ball In recent years the U S military style of high and tight has also become popular in the Legion citation needed See also editList of hairstylesReferences edit Military Haircuts for Men 1900s to date Hair amp Makeup Artist Handbook 2021 04 26 Archived from the original on 2021 08 12 Retrieved 2022 03 19 U S Moves to Block Female Cadet s Haircut The New York Times August 6 1994 Retrieved August 15 2015 External links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of induction cut at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Induction cut amp oldid 1139217899, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
