David Cassidy Hairstyle: The Original Men’s 70s Shag

by JATAI Academy, 05 Dec 2025

Let's take a look at the famous David Cassidy hairstyle popularized in the 70s. This Partridge family icon made the men's shag haircut a fashion statement for the times. In this tutorial you will learn how to cut the original classic 70s shag that David wore and bring it back to life, not the modern version of it. Why? Because sometimes learning how to cut classic styles can inspire new creativity in your haircutting as the techniques are totally different from modern haircutting.

Watch this David Cassidy 1970s shag haircut tutorial and follow along with the transcript below.

David Cassidy Hairstyle Tutorial:

Welcome back to Jatai Academy. I'm Russell Mayes, Director of Content. Today we're going to be doing a study of the original 60s-70s man shag made popular by David Cassidy. His hair was iconically 70s and made the shag popular.

Now this is the original version of the shag, not the modern reinterpretation of it where it's really highly textured. This is going to be the original. So, we make sure that we get the layering in it really short to get fullness on top. Make sure you get some bangs in it.

Get the feathers because the feathers are very, very important. They're imperative to have in this shape. So, we're going to show you how to do all that. So, let's get started.

Pulling Everything Up

So, let's go through and section everything out before we even start cutting to make sure that we can work as cleanly as possible. Take a center section to the crown from the high point of the head to the top of the ear. Then in the back half of the head, I'm going to take the center section out. It's probably about a 3-in wide section.

I'm using my Feather Styling Razor. This is the one with the guard. And the blade is very, very sharp on these Feather Styling Razors. So, I can work with a very large, thick section of hair as long as I'm patient as I go through and use my razor motion.

I'll cut that right at the top of the crown. I'll continue on taking section by section and pulling that into my original section. So, the first section was held straight up at the crown. Everything else is going to be pulled up into the crown as well. So, by pulling everything into the crown and having a stationary guide, that's actually going to give me an inconsistency in my elevation.

So the first section's held at 90° straight up and then everything else gets held at a greater elevation. So that allows me to build up an increase of length very very quickly, but it also gives me an inconsistent weight distribution which will cause the shape to collapse.

So I'll get a lot of fullness at the crown, but as it continues onto the perimeter, the shape is not going to be as round and as full. So, it's going to be fuller on top, less full on the sides, which is really iconic of the 70s type of look for this type of classic shag.

So, we're going to continue section by section, pulling everything straight up into my original section and just being patient with the razor. I'm not trying to force and muscle the razor through the hair.

David Cassidy Hairstyle - Center Section

I'm allowing the razor to do the work by just laying it against the sections of hair. So, it's the razor motion that's actually doing the cut. It's not me pressuring it against the hair. If I start pressuring it against the hair, I'll actually start pushing the hair and it's going to dull the blade fairly fairly quick. So, just the razor motion is what's cutting it.

Pulling everything up to the center again until I run out of hair. Now, we're going to go through and take the center section, split that in half, use one half of the center as my guide for the left and one half for the right.

Starting at the top again, right at the crown. Pulling everything straight up into the crown. Using my center section as my guide and cutting that straight across. Everything gets pulled up. The same sort of methodology I was doing in the back. And just using my guide and trying to be right on top of the guide as I cut that forward.

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Now, we got our last section right here on the left side. Pulling everything up and just following my guide and making sure everything blends where I've cut the original guide at the top.

Checking out my layering on both sides. And I think we got that short enough. Now, we're going to go through and take a center section using the guide at my original crown section that I cut. Pull that straight up into the center of the head and then cut that forward.

Now, when I cut this section, I cut it too long. I didn't feel like it was short enough. So, I've gone back on this and cut it about an inch shorter. So, it's important to kind of monitor your lengths and make sure that they're appropriate as you're working towards the finish of the haircut because once you get finished, you don't want to go back and do the whole haircut again.

So, I'm going to try to check and make sure I cut it the right lengths as I'm going through step by step as opposed to trying to catch it at the very end. Now, we're going to continue working down towards the the perimeter of the head, pulling everything straight up into the center, following my original guide, and cutting that short.

Now, when I'm layering this, it is quite a bit shorter than I would layer most hair for this particular length. It feels a little uncomfortable, but practicing on a doll head really helps you get over that fear of cutting it too short, which is something that's been instilled in us since beauty school, the fear of cutting everything too short.

Now, we're going to continue to pull everything straight up into the middle of the head. There's my guide from underneath. And continue to cut everything that hangs over that off.

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Continuing to work that forward until I run out of hair. After I've cut the other side, I'm going to go back and now I'm going to cut the perimeter shape.

Cutting the Perimeter Shape

David Cassidy Hairstyle - Establishing the Perimeter

I'll take a horizontal section across the nape area. Hold that straight down. Wherever I want this length to be, that's what I'm going to cut straight across.

Using the razor to give me just a little bit of texture on the ends to soften it up, but I'm still keeping this shape fairly blunt. You know, I'm trying to keep it with the original feeling of the 70s shag. And it was a blunt shape. It was a blunt cut. It wasn't real overly textured.

I'm putting a little bit of texture in it to keep it a little more modern, but I want the shape to be really representative of what the original haircut was, which was overly layered on the top, very, very blunt but with a lot of movement to it.

So, we're holding everything down. Once we get our perimeter length cut, then we shall move on to the front. One more little piece right there we go. Perfect.

The Bangs

Now, we're going to section out our bang section. I'm going to take about half of that so I can start face framing our bangs here. I'm going to comb that first center section straight down with no tension at all. Cut that right at the bridge of the nose.

I'll take a blunt little shape and then put a little bit of softening into it as I cut that shape across. So, it's giving me a blunt shape, but then that one razor stroke really softens it up a little bit, but I'm not trying to make the whole thing real super soft.

I want to keep a solid shape but give it a little bit of airiness so that one long razor stroke helps lighten it up without it getting too piecey or too light. There we go. We've got that. I like the lengths there.

Now, we're going to continue and see if anything else hangs over. And anything that hangs over, we're going to cut off. Holding that straight down just like I cut the original section. Anything that hangs over. Boom. There we go. Got that off.

Now I'm going to go through and take a little bit in the center underneath and just lighten this piece up because I noticed that in a lot of the photos that I studied that he had a little bit of lightness right at the center where it kind of feathered back. So I'm taking a little bit of that bang out and making it lighter.

Blending

Now, we're going to take a diagonal section. I'm going to pull everything on the side of the head straight forward. I'm not worried if this blends in with my perimeter length. If it does, great. If it doesn't, that's okay. We're going to keep it disconnected.

But I want to make sure that I pull everything straight forward and cut that off. And this is where my feathers are coming from is because I'm pulling it all straight forward and blending it in with the bangs. If I don't blend it in with the bangs, it tends to not really have that feathery look to it. So, it has to blend with the bangs. After I've pulled everything forward, I'll comb everything straight down. And anything that gets revealed from the underneath hairline, I'll go through and make sure that that blends through.

Pulling everything straight forward from the back and seeing if anything hangs over, which it doesn't look like there's a whole lot. So, we're just going to make sure that that all blends through. There we go. Perfect. I like that.

Now, let's blow everything dry. Pull everything forward and blow it back. And then lean his head over and blow everything dry to get it nice and full and voluminous. Then use a vent brush just to polish everything off and get it all moving righteously.

Final Look

And here's our end result. And I think that we're looking pretty good. We got the key elements of the shape and we got the proportions right. You know, the key things are over layering it more on top than you think you need to, pulling everything forward on the sides and cutting that nice and short and so that you have this, you know, disconnect right here at the top of the ear. And it makes everything feather back.

And we got just the right amount of texture to it. And because of the way we layered it, it makes this top really full, but then collapses the weight on the sides. And by collapsing it, it forces the bottom to flip.

So this is a very versatile shape. If you have someone that wants really short full layers on top and wants it kind of out of their face. Sometimes a study of the old classic shapes can really break you out of your creative box because this really will test you because if you're used to doing modern shapes, they're not anywhere close to this.

This breaks a lot of modern rules by layering it so short and by pulling everything forward and feathering it all back. But I still think it looks pretty good. I think it's really cool. If I had hair, I'm telling you, this is what I'd be wearing. I think it looks great. Feathers are very, very important. You have to have the feathers if you're going to do a 70s hardcore shag.

Anyway, please check out the Jatai Academy. There's all kinds of fantastic information on there that will make you better hairstyles and barber. Also, let us know what you'd like to see in the future. Thank you so much for watching and we'll see you next time.

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14 Back to School Haircut Inspiration Ideas for Kids

by JATAI, 23 Aug 2023

When it comes to kid's hair, sometimes it's easy just to cut their hair at home if it's a simple trim. But sometimes having a professional do the work is necessary and maybe a fun splurge or even a back-to-school look. Without being over the top, here are some cute inspirational cuts for kids that set the tone for a fun, fresh look for the kiddos. Girls @halcyonsalonshelby What's more classic than some curls. This cutie looks ready for her first day back to school with her hair color and beautiful curls on point. It's not too short but not super long either. This is a great look for any little girl. @impactbeauty_byshay A simple bob is always in style. Sometimes a little girl just doesn't want to fuss with long hair. With a one length pretty bob that's curled at the end, this little girl is rockin' it. It's low maintenance, can be styled in various ways and shows off her youthful, feminine energy. @topnotchbeautycorner Adorable, trendy and cute. This little girl has got it going on in a stylish, fun way. The small details like the gold crown trinkets and gold coil around the braid make any little girl look and feel like a princess. @definitionssalonspa Say yes to the curtain bang. Simple curtain bangs that frame the face add some style and depth to long straight hair. Part the hair down the middle for curtain bangs or style them for a side swept bang with a side part to change it up. The curtain bang is versatile! @hairby_angelina_ine This little girl is beyond her years with this asymmetrical bob that is to die for. And with straight one length bangs, her look is sassy and fun. It's sure to catch a lot of adoring attention...from the parents. @balayagemary A heavy chunky bang is always super cute on little girls. They can somehow pull it off much better than adults. Why is that? Combine it with some waves and you've got a feminine, sweet look. It's easy to maintain and very versatile. @holykale.hair Is she growing up too fast? This little girl looks like she has an adult haircut. With a cute French bob, highlights and slight wave, she's letting everyone know she's the queen of trending hair. Maybe not easy to maintain, but it sure is cute! Boys @luiselbarber Doesn't he look sweet? This gentleman's...or should we say gentleboy's haircut is clean, classic and tidy. It's short on the sides with a little length on top and combed to the side. This little man is ready for school. @salonsuccess This little guy is just cool. While it's temporary, a little hair art shows off his creative side. This kid has great hair so having his hair very short on the sides but longer on top makes his look more edgy and stylish. It's a bit higher maintenance, but it's fun! @machitong Can we say mullet? It's not for every little boy, but they sure look cute with one, much cuter than adult males. This kind of cut looks best when the hair is naturally a bit textured. He's pulls it off well. @xv.josh How cute is this little boy? That smile is adorable and the precise and clean lines of his haircut are on point. The extra design at the top just set this hairstyle off. A bit high maintenance, but it's mainly just the outlining that needs regular attention. @hairbiz.withizz Scroll through all the images and you'll see this haircut is more than it seems. At first it looks like a pompadour, but when you look at the back, it's a whole other story. This look works well on a boy with a great head of hair. It's edgy, relatively easy to maintain and stylish. @a1errthing This little boy looks so happy and he should be! This haircut fits him perfectly. It's clean and stylish at the same time. He definitely looks school ready with his perfectly razored outlined hairline and simple hair design in the back. @hairbyscheila For a more tidy, classy look, try a side hard part. It's easy for any barber to create with a razor and it gives an extra pop to any boy's hairstyle. Comb the top of the hair to the opposite direction of the part and use a little product. He's ready to go!

The Evolution of Hairstyles Throughout the Decades

by JATAI, 16 Aug 2023

Hairstyles have always been a significant aspect of human culture, reflecting the trends, values, and social norms of different eras. Let's explore the history and evolution of hairstyles over the decades: 1920s The Roaring Twenties introduced a major shift in women's hairstyles. The iconic bob haircut became popular, characterized by short, straight hair that was often worn with a side parting. This style symbolized women's liberation and a break from traditional gender roles. 1930s The 1930s saw a transition from the boyish bob to more feminine and glamorous looks. Soft waves and curls were fashionable, and women often used hot rollers or pin curls to achieve the desired effect. The Hollywood influence played a significant role in popularizing these glamorous hairstyles. The most popular look was the Hollywood wave which has continued to be a popular look in the 2020s. 1940s The World War II era influenced hairstyles as practicality and functionality became essential. Victory rolls were popular among women, involving rolling and pinning sections of hair to create a prominent wave at the front. Shorter, cropped hairstyles were also prevalent due to the practicality of working women. The victory roll is a popular hairstyles for pinup girls of today. 1950s The 1950s embraced femininity and elegance. Women's hairstyles often featured voluminous curls, poodle cuts, and the iconic bouffant. The advent of hair spray helped maintain these elaborate styles. Men's hair was often slicked back or styled into a pompadour. 1960s The 1960s brought about a revolution in hairstyles, influenced by the counterculture movements and the rise of British pop culture. Women started to experiment with shorter haircuts like the pixie cut and the mod bob. The beehive hairstyle, popularized by icons like Audrey Hepburn, was also a notable trend. 1970s The 1970s showcased diverse hairstyles influenced by the hippie movement and disco culture. Women embraced long, flowing hair, often with center parts. The Afro hairstyle gained popularity among African-Americans as a symbol of pride and identity. Men's hairstyles became more relaxed, with longer hair, shaggy cuts and facial hair. 1980s The 1980s were characterized by bold and dramatic hairstyles. Big hair was in, with women teasing their hair to achieve volume and using copious amounts of hairspray. Perms, mullets, and feathered hairstyles were all the rage. Men also sported voluminous hairstyles, including the famous "mullet" style. 1990s The 1990s witnessed a more casual and grunge-inspired approach to hairstyles. The "Rachel" haircut, popularized by Jennifer Aniston's character on the TV show "Friends," became incredibly trendy. Short, pixie cuts also gained popularity among women. Men's hairstyles ranged from long, unkempt looks to shorter, textured styles. 2000s The turn of the millennium brought a mix of hairstyles. Straight, sleek hair became fashionable, often achieved through the use of straightening irons. Emo and scene subcultures popularized asymmetrical cuts, choppy layers, and bold colors. Men's hairstyles varied from buzz cuts to spiky hair. 2010s The 2010s embraced a diverse range of hairstyles. The ombre trend gained popularity, with hair transitioning from dark to light colors. Buns, braids, and top knots became go-to styles for women. Men's hairstyles incorporated undercuts, fades, and more intricate beard grooming. 2020s And finally, we reach the modern day hairstyles. The 2020s have seen a diverse range of popular hair trends. These trends reflect a blend of past styles with contemporary influences and individual expression. These types of cuts and looks have all been popularized so far. Natural Textures There has been a growing emphasis on embracing natural hair textures and celebrating diversity. People with curly and wavy hair have been encouraged to let their natural textures shine, leading to the popularity of hairstyles like the curly afro, twist-outs, and braid-outs. Bob and Lob Haircuts The bob and lob (long bob) haircuts have remained popular in the 2020s. These versatile styles can be customized to suit different face shapes and hair textures. The blunt bob, textured bob, and asymmetrical lob have been particularly trendy. Pixie Cuts Short pixie cuts have made a comeback in the 2020s, offering a bold and chic look. This style allows for low-maintenance haircare routines and can be customized with different textures and lengths to suit individual preferences. Curtain Bangs Curtain bangs, also known as Bardot bangs or '70s bangs, have gained popularity. This style features long, face-framing bangs that are parted in the middle, creating a soft and romantic look. Curtain bangs can be paired with various hairstyles, from long waves to updos. Shag Haircuts The shag haircut, inspired by the '70s, has been a popular choice in the 2020s. This layered cut adds texture and movement to the hair, often with feathered or choppy ends and best achieved with a razor. The modern shag offers a versatile and effortlessly cool aesthetic. Balayage and Face-Framing Highlights Balayage, a technique that creates soft, natural-looking highlights, has continued to be a sought-after trend in the 2020s. Face-framing highlights, where lighter tones are strategically placed around the face, have also gained popularity as they can brighten and accentuate facial features. Sustainable and Low-Maintenance Styles With increasing environmental awareness and thanks to the pandemic, sustainable and low-maintenance hairstyles have become popular. Effortless, air-dried looks, minimalist haircuts, and styles that require minimal product usage have gained traction. This trend aligns with the desire for a more eco-friendly and time-efficient approach to haircare. Throughout the generations, hairstyles have changed dramatically. Every generation has been characterized by different looks and styles. As people continue to express their creativity with their hair, as new products are developed and as social and political climates change, these all influence how we decide to express ourselves through our personal styles. While some trends have lasted for decades, others have come and gone. Who knows what the rest of the 2020s or 2030s will bring. Whatever it is, we're sure it's going to be memorable.

Bobs, Bobs and More Bobs: The Trend of 2023

by JATAI, 24 May 2023

It seems 2023 is starting off with some fun looks. After a couple years of shagadelic haircuts and mullety styles, the trending looks are taking a more classic approach these days. While shags and mullets may have had their run, the bob is turning out to take centerfold. The great thing about a bob is that it's so versatile. There are many ways to cut and style a bob to match a personality or persona. Bobs can be long or short, blunt or textured, curled or straight with or without bangs. The creative possibilities are endless! Let's look at 10 popular bob styles that get the most love. The Graduated Bob The graduated bob is a type of bob with stacked layers in the back with longer strands in the front. The back of the hair tends to be more curved instead of a hard angle. It is it a difficult haircut to achieve but it looks great when done right. It's a very common and popular short haircut. It can be achieved by using scissors or a razor. A-Line Bob Alternatively, the A-Line haircut refers to the perimeter of the haircut. It is the same as a graduated bob in that the hair is shorter in the back and longer in the front. However, it does not have the stacking of layers in the back. And the front is usually more pointed than a graduated bob. Asymmetrical Bob This type of bob's distinct characteristic is that one side in front is longer than the other. It can have layers or no layers and it can be stacked or not stacked in the back. There are different renditions of an asymmetrical bob, but it's usually a style for someone who wants a little edge to their bob style. French Bob The French bob is a classic bob hairstyle characterized by very short hair, either at the chin line or above. Sometimes it's paired with short bangs too. Think of the movie Amelie and you'll know what this looks like. It usually has lots of layers and texture for a choppy look. For the extra texture, a razor works well. Italian Bob Similar to a French Bob, the Italian bob is slightly longer, usually grazing the chin or below but above the shoulders. It's sophisticated and elegant and has a blunt straight edge. The Italian bob carries weight at the bottom with a lot of volume. It can be achieved by using scissors or a razor...or both at the same time. Lob Lob stands for 'long bob' so the hair generally skims the shoulders or goes slightly past it. This is a popular look in modern times as it gives a happy medium between having short and long hair. When curled it can look shorter and resemble a traditional bob, but when straightened it can look more like medium length hair. Straight Bob A classic, simple no frills bob is the straight bob. With no layers, no texture, no curls or stacking, this look is very basic. It can be cut with bangs if desired, but the general look is one of sleek sophistication. The look is completely symmetrical and lays flat against the head. It can look quite sultry and sexy if done right. Layered Bob This style is also known as a textured bob. Simply stated, this type of bob has more body and movement to give volume. While the straight bob has no layers or volume, the layered bob is all about the extra lift. The extra texture is often achieved by using a razor. Curly Bob With even more texture is the curly bob. The curly bob is full of bounce and volume. It could be layered but it doesn't have to be. This bob is fun and full of life and energy. The curls could be natural or intentionally made with a curling iron or curling tool. The curls can be tight and small or big and loose. There are so many ways a curly bob can look! Modern Bob The modern bob is so 2023. It's what has been trending for bobs in the last few years. And it's THIS bob. While it won't last forever, it is the 'it' style as of late. The modern bob is characterized as casual, cool, soft and feminine. It usually has a slight curl in there and a little volume. It's a simple yet stylish bob that's attractive and eye catching. It's no wonder the modern bob has become so popular. So that's it! 10 bob hairstyles for 2023. Although most of these bobs have been around for many many years, it just goes to show how classic the bob really is. It will never go out of style and there will always be new innovative ways to cut and style a bob. Here's to short hair in 2023. Hair Trends, Women

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David Cassidy Hairstyle: The Original Men’s 70s Shag