The Iconic Keanu Reeves Hairstyle is the John Wick Haircut

by JATAI Academy, 21 Oct 2026

Arguably the most iconic Keanu Reeves hairstyle is the John Wick haircut. The long hair, the natural style and cool vibe makes this haircut work for his character. While the Keanu Reeves buzz cut was popular from Speed as well as his longer hair in the Matrix, the John Wick hairstyle always remained long. And in real life, he has maintained the longer hairstyle to this day. Watch this Keanu Reeves haircut tutorial and follow along with the transcript.

Keanu Reeves Hairstyle - John Wick Tutorial

Welcome back to Jatai Academy. I'm Russel Mayes, Director of Content. Today we're going to be doing one of Keanu Reeves hairstyles, the one he wore in the movie John Wick. It's cool. It's long, but it's got some layering around the front. It's got a lot of movement, but the key element is the texture. It's not a stringy piecey texture. It's still a solid shape with just that right amount of texture to give it a soft lived in, I don't care, my hair just naturally looks cool. So, let's get started.

Establishing the Length

We're going to start with a center section all the way down to the nape. I'm going to separate from the occipital bone to the mastoid. That separates the entirety of the flat in the back. We're going to take that into smaller sections to make it easier to cut.

And then I'm going to go through and apply a little bit of Jatai Blade Glide all over to make my razor glide through the hair so much more effortlessly. It compacts the cuticle and makes it smoother.

Then we're going to use our Feather Styling Razor. I'm using the fancy silver one with my Standard Blade with a guard. This goes through and allows me to cut fairly quickly without any kind of worry of cutting myself. Now, we're going to measure where that's hitting below the jaw. I want that kind of shoulder length-ish.

So, I'll determine the length, hold that straight down, and then take a small razor stroke just to cut the length off. I'm going to cut everything one length and kind of a bob shape, but I want to keep that bob shape soft. I want it to have an effortless, lived-in type of texture, and this gives me that.

And so, I can go through and control how much softness I want on the perimeter shape by how broad of a razor stroke that I use. If I go and use a scissor to cut this and then try to texturize it, it's going to be very, very hard to get that super blunt line out of it. And this haircut, this shape is not about blunt lines. It's about I haven't had a haircut in a long time, but I still want it to look cool. So, this gives me that kind of lived-in texture to it.

I'm going to continue working my way up the back of the head, and I'm just going to comb everything down, following my original guide, and cut everything one length. After I get everything cut one length like I want, I'm going to check and see how it looks. And I feel like it's still a little thick.

Adding Texture

So, as opposed to going through and taking a broader razor stroke, I'm going to separate this section into two because it's just too much hair to deal with in one section. And after I section it into two, then I'm going to go through and use my Feather Styling Razor, but I'm going to use the Texturizing Blade.

So, this blade gives me like little guards across the blade that prevents it from cutting. So as I cut, it almost channel cuts for me, but since I'm laying it flat against the surface of the hair, it just gives me a nice amount of texture and a softness to it, and I can control exactly how much I take out.

As I lay the razor against the hair, I'm laying it flat against the head and just taking one stroke from about midway all the way down to the ends. I'm not going to go through and do a lot of back and forth motion. I want as seamless of a cut as I can get in one motion if I can. If I need to, I'll go back in and touch that up a little bit. But I want to make sure that when I apply the texture to this section that it's just one even movement from the mid of the length all the way down to the end.

So, I want to be mindful of how much pressure that I put on the razor because the more pressure that I put against it, the more it's going to cut. And I don't want to remove the shape. I just want to soften the shape. And this does a great, excellent job of just softening the shape.

Now, I'll go through and be very diligent to not over texturize one area more than another. I want to keep everything as methodical as possible. Now, we'll check our shape. And I feel like that's going to be a much softer kind of shape and a much more fluid shape.

Rinse and Repeat

Now I'm just going to continue to do the same methodology all the way up the head. I'll take parallel sections to my first section that I took. Hold everything down. Cut my perimeter length by going through and using my regular Styling Razor. And then after I go through and use my regular Styling Razor, then I'll go through and lay a little bit of texture on it.

So it's just very very methodical in my application even though the end result is going to be very very soft and almost haphazard almost grown out type of look. So that's what I'm doing. Now here, after I've cut my perimeter length, we're going to go through and apply my texture as methodically as I was doing before. Just one section. Move it out of the way. Texturize the next section. Move it out of the way. Texturize the next, being as consistent as I can.

Now, if I run across a section of hair that's a little thicker, yeah, I'll go back in and put a little bit more texture into it, but I want to be mindful of that. I don't want to over texturize it.

Here we've finished all of our perimeter shape. I'm just combing everything down and cutting anything that hangs off over my perimeter shape and just fine-tuning and cleaning that up. There's not a whole lot to cut on this particular doll head, but there was a lot underneath, but not a whole lot on top. Now, we're going to go through and apply our texture just like we were doing for the rest of the cut.

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Now, we just continue to go through, make sure that we've got the right amount of texture. If it doesn't need any texture, then it doesn't get any texture. If it needs a little bit, we give it a little bit. If it needs a little more, we'll give it a little bit more.

This is where your creative approach and your opinion comes into play. Every head of hair is going to be a little bit different. So, it needs a little bit different of an approach. Some hair may need less texture. Some hair may need more.

Addressing the Front

That brings us to the end of cutting our perimeter length right there. And that looks pretty good. So now let's go through and separate the hair around the front. I'll take the first bump of the head right around the bang section to the top of the ear. I'll pull that forward and then determine what length I want right there by the chin. I'll cut everything exactly like I was cutting the perimeter length before.

Just cut everything one length, laying the razor flat against that section. Cutting my perimeter length around the front. And we're going to continue to pull everything forward and blend my front little bang section into the length right by the ear. So the length right by the ear is my cutting to length right there. And then the shortest piece that I cut in the center right in front of the bangs is my short piece. So I go short to long. And then I'm going to do that on both sides to make sure that we have a nice roundish shape around the front.

So, the whole idea around this is that with it shorter around the front, when he pushes it back out of his face, it tends to stay out of his face, but I still want the length to have that kind of cool factor that long, messy hair has.

Take my next section, pull that forward using my original guide, and just follow that methodology through. I did not thin the first section that I took. I will go through and thin this section, but I didn't thin the first one because I don't want to make it more difficult to control any kind of loose hairs that get out around the front. So, when I brush it back, I have less shorter hairs that I have to worry about. Pulling everything forward, following my guide exactly the same way as I was doing before.

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Texturing the Front

Now, my second section that I've already cut my perimeter length for, I've already cut the length. I'm going to go through now and add my texture to it. This is just surface texture. I'm not going all the way through the section.

If I did that, I would have no shape left. And I'm just methodically applying a little bit of texture like I did through the back just to soften the weight up and to keep it mobile and fluid. So when I push it back out of the face, I have less resistance.

Being very very methodical about this and thoughtful as I go through and apply my texture. This is the Texturizing Blade. So it gives me a little bit of safeguard of over razoring it as if I did it without a guard on it. This gives me that extra guard to give me the texture that I want. There we go. Pulling everything forward. That's looking pretty good.

Now, let's brush this around and see if we've got enough texture to it and how the shape is falling. And I think that we've got the right texture. This haircut is all about getting the right texture. The lengths are really kind of irrelevant. As long as you've got this longer hair, it's all about getting the right texture.

So the right texture is a blunt-ish type of shape with just softening throughout. I'm not creating any kind of channeling to force it to separate into little pieces. I just want it lighter and airy on the ends to provide a lot of movement. And the movement doesn't come from me creating separation from channeling it.

Now we've got all of our cutting done. Let's look at it and see what we got and make sure we got the right texture. And I think that looks pretty good. I like that we can tuck behind the ear on this mannequin head a little bit. And the texture is really good. It's that kind of Walking Dead John Wick type of texture. And I think that this is going to be very very popular coming up.

Final Look

Here's our Keanu Reeves hair cut end result. And I think we're looking pretty good. I think we really captured the essence of what the shape is all about where it's long, it's layered around the front a little bit, it's got the right amount of texture to it that really walks that tight rope of not enough to where it looks overly thick and solid, but not too much to where it just starts to look like a stringy mess.

And I think that it still has that effortless cool that the character really demanded. And I think he pulled it off really well. And I think that we really captured that with this haircut. So, it's about getting the right amount of texture.

And I think that the Feather Styling Razor Texturizing Blade gives us that perfect amount of texture with one easy stroke across removes enough to give it some texture and removes some weight, but not so much that it starts to get separated and stringy.

Check out Jatai Academy. There's all kinds of information on there that will make you a better hair stylist or barber. Let us know what you'd like to see in the future. Thank you so much for watching and we will 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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The Iconic Keanu Reeves Hairstyle is the John Wick Haircut