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Rockabilly Pompadour
Mikołaj Maćkowiak1h 5minShort

Rockabilly Pompadour

Watch Mikołaj Maćkowiak build a classic pompadour with a taper fade, creating a versatile shape that styles from a slickback to rockabilly.

Result and process

  • Rockabilly Pompadour - photo 1

About the course

Rockabilly Pompadour is a classic men's cut from the '50s with a modern twist, where volume and the fringe line contrast with a flat-styled back and a clean, high taper fade on the sides. The course shows how one precise haircut can build a versatile shape that the client can style in several ways - from a tightly slicked-back look to a dynamic pompadour with character.

Mikołaj "Podcięty" Maćkowiak guides you through the entire process, starting with the foundation - building the shape with clipper-over-comb and blending it with scissors into the top. You'll see how to intentionally separate the top section from the sides in two ways, and how the memory guide on the side becomes the reference point for the whole haircut. The key element is styling where the back and sides stay flat, while all the volume work is focused solely on the fringe, creating a distinctive contrast.

In this course you'll see

  • The full process of building a high taper fade step by step - from zero at the nape through the 1.5 mm, 3 mm, and 4.5 mm guards.
  • Clipper-over-comb work at a 45-degree angle as the foundation for the entire shape, before the scissors come into play.
  • Two ways to precisely separate the top from the sides - based on a right angle or on the natural growth pattern at the temples.
  • Intentionally lengthening the fringe while blending it with the memory guide at ear height.
  • The key styling principle - how to keep the back and sides as flat as possible, so all the volume and character of the haircut is built into the fringe.
  • The technique of cleaning up the blend with a trimmer over a wide-tooth comb for a smooth, clean fade.
  • How one haircut allows for styling as a classic pompadour, a slickback, or rockabilly.

After this course you'll start building classic shapes with a modern finish, with intention. You'll understand how precise scissor and clipper work creates a foundation that allows for styling freedom, giving the client the ability to change their look depending on the day and mood - from an elegant slick-back to a rebellious rockabilly.

What you will learn

  1. 01How to precisely separate the top section from the sides in two ways.
  2. 02How to build the foundation of the haircut using the clipper-over-comb technique at a 45-degree angle.
  3. 03How to blend the top with the sides, intentionally lengthening the hair in the fringe section.
  4. 04How to style the hair to achieve a contrast between a flat back and volume at the front.
  5. 05How to create a high taper fade step by step, starting from zero at the nape.
  6. 06Why one haircut allows for styling from a slickback to rockabilly.

Before you start

This course assumes you already have:

What's inside

Full access with the course
  1. Rockabilly Pompadour - A signature method for finding the part2:34

    01A signature method for finding the part

    I check where the growth pattern ends at the temples, and that's where we start.

  2. Rockabilly Pompadour - Clipper-over-comb technique4:13

    02Clipper-over-comb technique

    We rest the comb at a forty-five-degree angle and pick up the hair.

  3. Rockabilly Pompadour - Verifying the symmetry of the cut11:31

    03Verifying the symmetry of the cut

    We pull it out at the center. We check whether the left side matches the right.

  4. Rockabilly Pompadour - Blending the top with the memory guide18:48

    04Blending the top with the memory guide

    Anything that goes beyond the outline of our memory guide, we try to trim off.

  5. Rockabilly Pompadour - Creating the memory guide on top21:40

    05Creating the memory guide on top

    I pull it out to ninety degrees, and we start creating our memory guide.

  6. Rockabilly Pompadour - The Rockabilly styling concept30:18

    06The Rockabilly styling concept

    I'll play around with just the fringe, pulling it forward to create that rockabilly pompadour look.

  7. Rockabilly Pompadour - Creating a modern Taper Fade44:16

    07Creating a modern Taper Fade

    We start creating our taper fade. We'll cut it from zero at the nape.

  8. Rockabilly Pompadour - Creating a natural contour51:51

    08Creating a natural contour

    We try not to cut too aggressively, but to follow the natural line.

FAQ

Is this course suitable for beginner hairdressers?
The course showcases professional techniques such as clipper-over-comb work and building a taper fade from zero. It's designed for hairdressers and barbers who want to refine their skills in classic men's cuts.
Does the course show in detail how to create a taper fade?
Yes, Mikołaj guides you step by step through the entire process of creating a high taper fade. He starts from zero at the nape and then uses the 1.5 mm, 3 mm, and 4.5 mm guards, explaining each stage in detail.
What tools are essential for creating this haircut?
The key tools are clippers with a set of guards (including 1.5 mm, 3 mm, and 4.5 mm), a comb for clipper-over-comb work, scissors, and a trimmer. For styling, you'll need a hairdryer and a brush.
Does this technique only work for a pompadour style?
No, Mikołaj shows how to create a versatile haircut. The same base can be styled in several ways - from a tightly slicked-back look, through a classic pompadour, all the way to a rockabilly-style haircut.
Does this version of the pompadour require very long hair on top?
No, the course presents a shorter version of the pompadour. The technique involves gradually lengthening the fringe, but the hair on top doesn't need to be very long, which makes the haircut more universal.
How long is the course and what exactly does it show?
The course is 64 minutes long. You'll see Mikołaj's complete workflow, from sectioning, through clipper and scissor cutting, to detailed styling and the final finish of the haircut.

Details

Duration
1h 5min
Season
Season 1
Hair length
Short

Educator

More courses
Mikołaj Maćkowiak

Mikołaj Maćkowiak

Educator · 2 courses

Mikołaj Maćkowiak, known as Podcięty, is a barber with 6 years of experience and owner of a barbershop in Szamotuły. Since 2019, he has been running courses, focusing on classic, old-school men's forms. He specializes in techniques such as flattop, pompadour, and rockabilly, which he has also showcased on stage in Cyprus and Athens. In his teaching, he focuses on practical, everyday working methods and building precise shapes.

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