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Messy taper
Mateusz Banaszek1h 44minShort

Messy taper

Creative men's haircutting course: "Messy Taper". Learn how to transform thin, straight hair into a hairstyle with an aggressive taper, disconnection, and strong texture in a punk-skate style.

Result and process

  • Messy taper - photo 1
  • Messy taper - photo 2
  • Messy taper - photo 3
  • Messy taper - photo 4
  • Messy taper - photo 5
  • Messy taper - photo 6

About the course

Messy Taper is a creative men's haircut built around three visual elements: an aggressive taper weight line, disconnection between the sides and the top, and a heavily texturized square on top with an elongated back in a short-mullet style. The course shows how to take thin, straight hair that the client can't style on their own and build a hairstyle with dynamic movement and a distinct, everyday punk-skate character.

Mateusz Banaszek walks you through the full process step by step: from the consultation and reading the head's internal frame, through consciously simplifying the parting into two areas (top + side and back), to selecting the length with a stationary guide on top. Work on the side is done with diagonal sections around the head, where a single section connects the temple to the back, using different elevation and finger angles within the same movement to build round graduation perfectly matched to the head shape.

In this course, you'll see

  • The full process of building the taper step by step: 6 mm → 4.5 mm → 3 mm → 1.5 mm, plus the shaver for a bright, polished zero line
  • A conscious division of the head into two areas (top + side and back), and when simplifying the parting is a decision, not a shortcut
  • The "Holy Grail" rule - a single taper weight line you must never cross without redoing the entire effect
  • Deep notching, 2 cm into the hair, and triangular cuts that act as scaffolding to lift thin, straight hair
  • Working from the wrist with the elbow and shoulder locked - why this is essential for a taper to actually be a taper, not a fade full of mistakes
  • Building the top as a separate panel - a square horizontally and a circle vertically to achieve weight and dynamic movement
  • The full final styling: diffuser with heat, matte paste, and a finger mess-up to lock in the texture created by the cut

After watching this course, you'll be able to control the taper's weight line with intention without having to redo it, use disconnection as a composition tool, and turn deep texturizing into a genuine craft skill on thin, straight hair that clients usually consider "unmanageable."

What you will learn

  1. 01How to build an aggressive taper step by step, from a 6 mm guard down to zero.
  2. 02How to intentionally simplify the head's parting into two areas: the top, and the sides and back.
  3. 03How to create texture and volume on thin hair using deep notching.
  4. 04How to work with diagonal sections around the head to perfectly match the graduation to the head shape.
  5. 05Why the taper's weight line is critical, and how to avoid crossing it.
  6. 06How to create intentional disconnection between a heavily texturized top and the sides.

Before you start

This course assumes you already have:

What's inside

Full access with the course
  1. Messy taper - Hairstyle vision - a strong taper2:00

    01Hairstyle vision - a strong taper

    I want to use the clippers to create a strong, distinct taper that will have that shine.

  2. Messy taper - Creating lightness at the back with high elevation15:01

    02Creating lightness at the back with high elevation

    It lets me keep the hair light while shortening the inner length. That's very important.

  3. Messy taper - Cross-check - verifying the graduation triangle31:07

    03Cross-check - verifying the graduation triangle

    An even cutting line, with a triangle subtly building up at the top - so the graduation is there.

  4. Messy taper - Clipper technique - the diagonal approach44:00

    04Clipper technique - the diagonal approach

    If I go in horizontally, I'll get a square shape, but I want that semi-circular one.

  5. Messy taper - A creative decision to skip the line-up53:13

    05A creative decision to skip the line-up

    There won't be a line-up on this side at all - only above the ear.

  6. Messy taper - Protecting the weight line during graduation1:05:48

    06Protecting the weight line during graduation

    We never go above this weight line. That's sacred to us.

  7. Messy taper - Deep notching that creates scaffolding1:22:32

    07Deep notching that creates scaffolding

    These small triangles will give the hair, put simply, some scaffolding.

  8. Messy taper - Final correction in a natural position1:31:55

    08Final correction in a natural position

    Remember to check the head straight-on, naturally, just as it sits day-to-day.

FAQ

Will this technique work on thin, straight hair?
Yes, this course is specifically designed with thin, straight hair in mind. It shows you how to give it structure, volume, and dynamic movement through the right cutting approach and texturizing techniques.
What tools do you need for this haircut?
You'll need scissors, clippers with guards (this course uses 6, 4.5, 3, and 1.5 mm), a shaver, a razor, and a comb. A diffuser will come in handy for styling.
Does the course explain how to blend the taper with the longer top?
Yes, the course covers this in detail. The key is intentional disconnection - the top is treated as a separate panel. Mateusz also shows how to soften the transition using the scissor-over-comb technique.
Is this course suitable for beginner barbers?
This course is aimed at barbers who already have the fundamentals of haircutting down. The technique is creative and requires precision, especially when building the taper's weight line and working on texture.
How long is the full video?
The course runs 104 minutes and covers the entire cutting process step by step, from the client consultation through every stage of the cut, all the way to the final styling.
Does Mateusz Banaszek explain how to create the taper itself?
Yes, building the taper is a core part of this course. You'll see the entire process, from setting the weight line with a 6 mm guard, through each successive length, all the way to finishing with the shaver for that final polish.

Details

Duration
1h 44min
Season
Season 3
Hair length
Short

Educator

More courses
Mateusz Banaszek

Mateusz Banaszek

Educator · 4 courses

One of the pioneers of barbering in Poland, creator of the educational project Future Classic and co-creator of the BARBERGROUND trade fair. In his teaching, he emphasizes solid foundations and in-depth analysis - from head shape to the client's overall silhouette - which he considers the key to creativity. His approach combines classic techniques with a modern, holistic view of working in the salon, styling, and building an image.

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