Ultra Short Bob Haircut Tutorial

by JATAI Academy, 08 Apr 2026

When it comes to bob hairstyles, short bobs have a certain edgy style that can also be structured and clean. This bob haircut creates very short hair with no layers or curls. Nor does it have any added texture or volume. It's completely straight.

It's probably not the best look for fine hair or very thick hair, but it can compliment certain face shapes. The ultra short bob is cut fully with scissors with some razored bangs. Very little beauty products are used to style the hair. Watch the video below and follow along with this transcript.

Ultra Short Bob Haircut Tutorial:

Welcome back to Jatai Academy. I'm Russell Mayes, Director of Content. Today we're going to be doing a super short bob with bangs. The bob that has the perfect balance between edgy and cute. It's going to be so short, shorter than a French bob, but not so short that it gets into bowl cut territory.

I'm going to show you how to section it properly. I'm going to show you how to make sure you get a clean line, and we're going to throw in some super soft bangs. So, let's get started.

We're going to start with a natural or center part. We're going to take just above the occipital bone to about the middle of the ear on each side. This is going to section out the nape section where I'm going to taper this in nice and clean.

Cutting the Length at the Nape

I'm going to start with my Jatai Tokyo Scissor. This is my favorite scissor for doing scissor over comb with, which we're going to get into in a little bit. I'm going to start cutting it finger length right at the nape. And then I'm going to follow that slowly up the back of the head.

So I'm going to cut everything the same length in the nape section through here. So each section I'll go a little bit higher following my guide from underneath and just working that all the way up and out. That way, if I have a lot of hair, this allows me to get rid of the bulk of that hair without having to worry about being real meticulous and real precise with my tapering.

This is more of let's just remove this excess hair that will allow me to dial it in much cleaner and I won't have to fight it when I start doing any kind of scissor over comb work that I'm going to do or in areas that I want to taper really nice and clean.

I'll cut a basic shape, get rid of the length, and then start to fine-tune the shape. Now, we're going to go through with my scissor over comb. And with this, I want to trace what I've already put in. I'm not going to go through and cut everything finger length and then go back and lay the comb against the head and cut everything the length of the comb. That's just doubling the work.

So I go through and cut it finger length to build up the length that I want. And then I go back in with my scissor over comb and fine-tune the shape. So the idea behind fine-tuning the shape is I want to trace what's already there. And anything that sticks out beyond what I'm tracing gets cut off and allows me to clean up the shape with each pass.

After I get the shape done closely like I want, then I'll go through and start cleaning up the perimeter shape. And then also this little perimeter area right behind the ear. Be very delicate through there. And just go through and start to clean up my perimeter. Now, any hair that's kind of sticking out and porcupining out, I'm just going to go through and scissor just like I would cut a hedge.

I'm just...anything that cuts, anything that sticks out, I'm going to cut off. Gently laying my scissor against the hair and just tracing what's already there to clean up the shape.

Cutting the Rest of the Length

Now, we're going to move on to my next section. And I'm taking about an inch section as I go up. I'm now I'm going to switch to my Jatai Kyoto Scissor. The reason I'm switching scissors is this is the sharpest, heaviest bladed scissor that I have. So that when I go through to cut a really clean line, this will give me the cleanest line with the least amount of scissor push that I can have of all of my tools.

So when I want a really, really clean line, I'm going to use my Kyoto Scissor. I'll cut the initial length. Look at where that that falls on the ear. And if that needs to be a little shorter, I'll cut it a little shorter. So, I'm looking where it's going to the ear because I want this to hit the bottom of the ear. I don't want it to be longer than the ear, but not quite in the middle, but I want like the earlobe-ish length.

So, I'll start in the center and slowly work that line towards the ear. When I'm combing each section down, I am using zero tension. The only tension that I have is whatever the comb has given me. So, I have to be very, very mindful that as I'm combing this down to not lay my fingers and drag my fingers across the section so that I introduce any sort of tension, which is going to cause the hair to spring up and graduate

After I get my initial line like I want, I'll take my next section as I move up the head. Start in the center exactly the same way I was doing before. Comb this nice and clean from the roots all the way to my fingers. Then once I get to the length that I want to cut it, clamp my fingers down, go through, cut everything perpendicular to the hair.

You'll notice that I'm not flipping my fingers up. I'm keeping everything held down low and perpendicular to the section. If I start to roll my fingers up, that's going to give me a little bit of graduation and cut the top layer a little shorter than the underneath layer. And it's going to really, really show on a simple haircut like this.

Since this is such a simple line, it's going to magnify any little mistake, any little graduation that you get. Now, I'm not going to be super neurotic about making sure that everything is absolutely flawless and work myself to death, but I want to maintain proper technique. So, it gives me the best chance of success that I can get.

So, it requires, it will require, let me get that straight, less clean up. The less I clean up afterwards, the better. Now, I could sit here all day and clean this line up and clean it up and cut it and clean it up and cut it, but then I'll end up with no hair left. So, there's a certain amount of diminishing returns of cleaning it up. I can only clean it up so much before I have no hair left.

So, now we're going with our next section. The same methodology I was using before. Comb everything clean from the root, zero tension, clamp my fingers, and then cut straight across. This will give me the least amount of graduation and the cleanest straightest line that I can possibly get. The thing about cutting one length is it will show all of your technical flaws.

Are you combing it straight? Are you cutting it perpendicular? Are you flipping your fingers? Are you flipping the scissor? Are you cutting it directly on top of your previously cut guide or shorter or longer? A simple shape reveals all of your flaws. So, you have to pay attention to that.

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Now, we're going to go through here with our last section. Again, no tension. The more tension that you apply, the more graduation that you're going to get and the more it's going to spring up. Especially on thick springy mannequin hair like this or with someone that has a lot of cowlicks. Tension will make a cowlick spring up and it will be Alfalfa all over the place. So make sure as least amount of tension as possible.

Here we're coming to our last section. Looking pretty decent there. Now I'm not trying to get it perfect when it's wet. After it's dry, I can go through and clean it up a little bit more. That's looking pretty good. I like the length there. It's just showing a little bit of the bottom of the earlobe, which I like.

Razored Bangs

Now, I'm going to use my Feather Styling Razor, and I'm using the Standard Blade, and I'm going to take my bang section, comb everything straight down. Now I'm holding in my left hand with a lot of tension so I can keep that real taunt and then gently applying the razor to the top surface of the of the section so I can cut everything off to the length that I want.

I'm taking a pretty broad stroke so I can keep this very very soft. The broader the stroke, the softer the end result. The shorter the stroke, the cleaner and more blunt that the end result's going to be. And I'm liking that.

So now we're going to continue on to the right side of her hair and then comb that down following my guide from the middle gently running my razor across the section and clean up as needed.

So even though I'm taking a broad stroke, I still want a straight line across the face. So I'm keeping my left hand stationary so that my line doesn't drag or waver and get longer towards one side or the other. I'm trying to keep that as even as possible.

Now, even though I've used a really long stroke, sometimes I have a little bit of weight buildup somewhere that I don't want. So, I'm going to comb everything down and then just take the razor and gently comb across the top of the hair.

And that way, I'll start to remove a little bit of length. And it won't be introducing any kind of separation. It's only going to thin it out nice and evenly across the entire section. Gently apply the razor. Don't get aggressive with this. So, you end up with patches. You'll end up with patches. Looking good.

Now, let's go through and blow it dry. I put a little bit of cream on it to help smooth it out. Using my Du-Boa Brush to get everything nice and smooth.

Softening the Line

Now, I'm going to use my Jatai Tokyo Scissor. This is a nice thinning scissor that has the perfect amount of blend and the perfect amount of weight removal.

I'm going to start at the bottom and trace my line that I've already cut. As I go up into my bob line, I'm only texturizing the very, very tips of the section. What that's going to do is that's going to give me a softening of my line. It's not going to change the shape. It's just going to soften that edge.

And you can see right through there how it softened and beveled that line just a little bit so it doesn't look so lumpy and it doesn't look so overly thick. It softens up the back of the shape.

But since I still have that hard edge line right around the sides, this blends perfectly with the hair as it transitions into the side of the head. Now in the bottom, I'm just going to go through and retrace what's there as I get into my bob line, just the very eighth inch of the tips to just soften that edge up. And that's looking pretty smooth. I like how that's beveling that edge just a little bit.

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And we just keep working until everything is polished and finished exactly like we want.

Final Look of the Very Short Bob Haircut

Here's our end result of this short short bob. And I think that this looks pretty good. I really like this hard line that we have here on the sides and it being at an uncomfortably short length for most people that are going to wear a bob. This is going to be too short for them.

So, I think because it's shorter than common, it adds that kind of edgy aesthetic to it. But at the same time, because we've beveled this line in the back, but still have a good solid line. It softens the shape up, especially from the back. And then these super short 'kawaii' cute bangs I think really add to it overall. Gives us the perfect balance between edge and cute. I like it.

So add the technique of no tension one length cutting to your repertoire. I think that will go a long way towards enhancing your overall skills.

Also check out the JATAI Academy. There's all kinds of fantastic information on there that will make you a better hair stylist and barber. Let us know what you'd like to see in the future. Comment below. Thank you so much for watching. 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

Women

Ultra Short Bob Haircut Tutorial