A definitive ranking of every Bucky Barnes hairstyle in the MCU
I've done a lot of thinking about this
Thunderbolts* finally hits Disney Plus this week. I’ve been waiting all summer. To celebrate this momentous occasion, I decided to initiate this dormant substack I made last month. I want to use this platform and this release date to focus on the most important thing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: the state of Bucky Barnes’ hair.
It’s no secret to anyone who follows me on social media that I’ve slipped into a MCU phase. And if you pay special attention to the movies I’m specifically watching, you might have also noticed that I’m doing a Bucky Barnes rewatch (which means, yes, I suffered through Infinity War for his 15 minutes of screentime). I can’t control what my brain decides it’s fixated on, and apparently in August 2025, it’s Bucky Barnes.
2010s nostalgia is in right now, so maybe my brain longs for simpler times.
I’ve roughly categorized Bucky’s Distinct Hair Looks, with each movie appearance specified, and ranked them below. Disclaimer: Sebastian Stan is a very handsome man, so all of these looks are good looks. Some are just better than others. Please enjoy this very scientific analysis.
15. Wakanda Jesus Blowout (Avengers: Infinity War)
As a general rule of thumb, I think Bucky looks best with both long hair and scruff. But this is too much in both directions. The fact he looks like he just stepped out of the salon makes it particularly funny to me. I guess when recovering from Hydra brainwashing one wants to prioritize self-care! I like the idea that the Wakandas gave him a day of rest and relaxation to celebrate because you know that man needs some time in a sauna.
14. Wakanda Jesus But Wet (Black Panther post-credits)
I’m more fine with this look when he’s wet and pathetic about it.
13. Tony Stark’s Funeral (Avengers: Endgame)
He got a trim! Gotta keep those split ends healthy. Still not working for me though. I think it’s the beard.
A brief interlude…
Why have I latched onto Bucky Barnes in this time of my life? I actually have a few theories about that. One is that Thunderbolts* was the last movie I saw for Polygon and I only was able to write one of my ideas for it. By the time I even felt able to write again, the window for any pitches about Thunderbolts* had long passed. I had some bigger observations about this summer’s superhero blockbusters, but I haven’t been able to place them anywhere — no one’s fault! It’s the name of the game and even though the pitch was good, timing is everything. I get it!
I’m still hoping to place that idea at the end of the year, because I do think it makes a good year-end retrospective. So in order to fill my gnawing obsession… we have this!
12. Sarah Rogers’ Funeral (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
Too shiny. It’s giving Balloony.
11. Slicked Back Congressman (Thunderbolts*)
I appreciate that he’s trying to make an effort to be more polished, but I stand by the fact that Bucky looks best when he’s disheveled.
10. Last Day Before Shipping Out (Captain America: The First Avenger)
Cute! A classic! I would swoon if this man approached me and asked for a dance.
9. World War II Disheveled (Captain America: The First Avenger)
EVEN HOTTER.
8. The Thunderbolts Lob (Thunderbolts*)
I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, I’m happy they gave Bucky his long hair back. On the other, there are some angles where it looks like a bowl cut and others where he looks like he’s about to speak to the manager. The scruff saves this look. When it gets messy and those front-framing pieces hang in front of his face, it’s REALLY GOOD THOUGH. (When selecting photos, I audibly went arf! when I found this one so there’s that).
7. Prime Winter Soldier Era (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
Iconic.
It’s funny to me that Hydra made sure his beard didn’t get overgrown but let his hair get all long. Isn’t that a bit annoying when he’s trying to aim? Doesn’t the hair get in his face when he runs?
The whole look is stupid hot, though, so I’ll let it slide.
Another brief interlude…
I was Bucky Barnes for Halloween in 2014. It was a good costume! However, it was a couples costume with an ex and maybe that’s the reason I’ve downplayed my attachment to Bucky. When I was showing off some fanart I did (because that’s how deep I’m in right now lol), one of my Trusted Internet Friends Who Knows Too Much About Me expressed mild surprise because she never even realized the depths of my devotion.
Did I suppress that fictional crush because of how that relationship ended? Is it because I’m feeling so down now that I’ve decided to brush it off and fully embrace it?
6. Congressional Campaign Hair (Captain America: Brave New World)
This is storytelling! The short look from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier clearly didn’t work out for Bucky, so he’s growing it back. It’s almost that 90s-era Don Bluth fringe that made me fall in love with Dimitri from Anastasia. But also if you squint it could be a bowl cut so let’s not get our hopes up too high.
5. Extreme Makeover: Falcon and the Winter Soldier Edition (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier)
After the Wakanda Jesus look, this was such a breath of fresh air. And unlike the other Short Haired Bucky Looks, he has scruff in this one. That really elevates it. I appreciate that Bucky’s trying something new and expressing a dramatic life change by cutting off all his hair.
But while it looks good on Sebastian Stan the actor, it’s also not quite the Bucky that we know and love.
4. Civil War Era Hair Plus Scruff Combo (Captain America: Civil War)
For me, this look is basically peak Bucky because it’s disheveled, but not totally on the bottom of the barrel. He’s on the up here, reclaiming his life slowly. Still, he’s desperate and on the run, which means he doesn’t have time for a trim or a shave.
3. Post-Credits Dyson Blowout Bucky (Thunderbolts*)
God, they knew what they were doing. I’m not going to survive Avengers: Doomsday.
I absolutely think this hair upgrade came directly from Valentina herself. She’s out to get me.
2. The Baseball Cap and Red Henley Combination (Captain America: Civil War)
I really had to include the red Henley here, because I don’t know what it is about that shirt but it’s making me foam at the mouth. And the baseball cap just makes the long hair look EVEN HOTTER. This is basically 3, but with hat, I know. But consider: hat.
1. About to Go Back into Cryrostasis (Captain America: Civil War)
Confession: As I was looking for photos for this list, I stumbled upon this look. I originally just lumped it in with the Civil War-era Bucky, but after looking at it over and over again, I decided not only to include it, but to make it number one. It’s everything I love about the Civil War look, but he’s clearly had a shower. And there is HOPE in his big sad eyes. I’m loving the little curl of his hair too.
A final interlude…
This is peak “everything will be okay” energy. And you know what? I really need that right now.
Thunderbolts* is out on Disney Plus on August 27. All the other Bucky Cinematic Universe movies and TV shows are also on Disney Plus. If you somehow know my personal Tumblr and AO3 account, you’ll find a lot more content there too. I’m not sharing those though.
Will I update this Substack more? I hope so! I hope to use this space to write completely wacky, outdated things that I have no chance of pitching anywhere for actual real people money. Maybe I’ll post some fiction too! We’ll see where the road takes me. For now, you can subscribe so that you get the next Sparkly Scrap delivered right to your inbox.