Graduated haircuts - types and examples

Every hair length can benefit from a graduated haircut, which gives movement and volume to any ensemble. This method can be customized to fit your unique style and face shape, regardless of the length of your hair—whether it is short, medium, or long. It is a well-liked option for people who wish to add layers and a modern look without drastically cutting length.

A graduated haircut looks beautiful because it adds dimension and texture to your hair, giving it a fuller, more vibrant appearance. It’s a great choice for people who wish to update their appearance without going too bold. It’s a sensible option for busy lives because it’s also simple to style and maintain.

This post will discuss several graduated haircut styling methods and offer styling suggestions based on the length of your hair. A graduated haircut could be the perfect way to update your style, whether you’re going for a subtle shift or a striking new appearance.

Technique	Hairstyle Ideas
Layered Graduated Cut	Perfect for adding volume and movement to medium-length hair.
Textured Graduated Cut	Great for short hair, giving a modern, edgy look.
Soft Graduated Layers	Ideal for long hair, creating a gentle, flowing style.
Choppy Graduated Cut	Works well for a bold, messy style on short to medium hair.
Blended Graduated Cut	Best for those who want a seamless, natural look on any hair length.

Contents

What is a graduated haircut
Who are graduated haircuts suitable for
Types of graduation

For short hair
For medium hair
For long hair

Questions and answers
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What is a graduated haircut

A hairstyle made with the grading technique is called a graduated haircut.

NAILS Publications Graduation, also known as graduation modeling, involves cutting the hair at an angle ranging from 1 to 89 degrees with respect to the head. Consequently, the hairstyle is stepped, meaning that there is a 1-2 mm difference between adjacent strands.

This is how a graduated haircut with natural hair position looks: the length of the upper strands stops short of that of the lower ones, giving the surface of the hairstyle the appearance of an active, complex texture.

It is crucial to clarify that graduation does not entail a particular hairstyle or haircut. The technique can be applied to a variety of hairstyles, including long hair cascades and short pixie cuts.

A great way to hide the features of your face, head, or hair structure is with a graduated haircut. Such a modeling technique, for instance, can be used to visually correct a "tilted" back of the head.

Who are graduated haircuts suitable for

Graduation is an all-purpose technique that works for women with various face shapes and hair types. It aids in oval correction, volume addition, and softening of angles. Because of this, graduated haircuts never go out of style; instead, new trends replace them. For example, the graduated Olympia hairstyle of the 1980s has given way to a chic pixie or a whimsical shag.

Olympia’s haircut, on the left, features both a vertical and horizontal graduation. Right: elongated Pixie with graduated

Graduation is a universal technique, but there are specific contexts in which it is particularly helpful and appropriate. Professional stylists advise giving women and girls graduated haircuts:

With a square or rectangular face. In this case, a graduated haircut will soften rough features, lighten the oval, and make the face visually less massive.
With a round face. Certain graduation techniques allow you to reduce volume while maintaining length. This technique will visually stretch your face and make it closer to an oval.

With prominent cheekbones. Graduation will help smooth out the cheekbone area, making it visually softer.
With thin and sparse hair. Due to graduation and layering strands one on top of another, the curls appear visually thicker, fuller and healthier.

Without natural volume. With graduated haircuts, the volume shifts to the top of the head, where it is often lacking. As a result, the hairstyle looks more voluminous.
With fluffy hair. Porous, fluffy hair can look unhealthy, especially at the ends. Graduation will rid you of problematic ends, and at the same time smooth out excess fluffiness, without depriving your hairstyle of volume.
With very thick and heavy curls. Due to graduation, the "excess" thickness is removed – this makes the hairstyle easier, and not only visually.

For those who want to look younger. Graduated haircuts make the face look more toned, and the overall image – active and a little childish.

It looks like a graduated haircut is a miracle tool for fixing flaws. And it’s true that these hairstyles have a lot of benefits.

The haircut turns out original. 1 in 1 it is almost impossible to repeat the hairstyle on different girls.

Volume appears at the top of the head. Graduation is a great way to add volume on the crown and at the same time hide the fluffiness of the ends.
The hairstyle is easy to style. Even on problematic hair prone to fluffiness, it is enough to dry the curls with a hairdryer and a brushing comb. You don"t have to dance with a tambourine in front of the mirror and try to tame the haircut.
You can correct imperfections. Correct the oval of the face, the shape of the head, hide the imperfection of the hair – all this can be done with the help of graduation.

Of course, the hairdresser must select the proper cutting angle, strand-separating technique, and extension line in order to achieve all of the aforementioned benefits.

There have to be drawbacks if there are advantages, right? Additionally, they have been compiled into a different list:

Graduation requires skill. This is one of the most popular methods of hair styling, but not the easiest. A hairdresser performing a haircut must take into account all the nuances: from hair type to head shape. Mistakes in choosing can highlight flaws, rather than hide them.
Correcting a haircut if something went wrong is difficult. Especially if the graduation is deep and individual strands were shortened significantly. There are two ways out: either get a short haircut or wait until the hair grows out.
You need to frequently update your haircut. You need to go to the hairdresser on average once every 2-3 months to refresh the ends. Regrown and split ends will spoil the appearance of the hairstyle. And it’s good if the hair grows out quickly – otherwise, with each such correction, the curls will become shorter.

It’s difficult to find a hairstylist who can do a graduated haircut well, and doing the graduation yourself is not a recommended option. It is best not to experiment if you are not an expert, are unfamiliar with the nuances of creating hairstyles, or are hearing the term "sliding cut" for the first time.

Types of graduation

There are various graduation classifications. Two categories of graduation are included in the most widely used basic classification:

Internal graduation – turning the strand and cutting away from you.

External graduation – turn the strand and cut it towards yourself.

The inner layer of hair is shorter than the outer layer in the first instance. In contrast, the inner hair in the second example is longer than the outer one.

Apart from the fundamental classification, there is an additional one that establishes the approaches and strategies employed in crafting a graduated haircut.

Graduation with horizontal partings with a change in the angle of cutting. Each subsequent strand is pulled under bOlicher angle. Work with a haircut angle allows you to change the volume and silhouette of a haircut for customer requests.

Apply makeup. I. Yu. Odinokova and T. A. Chernichenko are the authors. KP — Control Strand here and going forward

Vertical partings with a change in the angle of the cut. The greater the angle between the strand and the fingers, the more expressive the volume appears at the top of the head.

An illustration from the book "Hairdressing Technology." I. Yu. Odinokova and T. A. Chernichenko wrote this.

Vertical partings with a change in the angle of pulling the strands. Strands are pulled up or down. In the first case, the volume of hair and length are preserved, in the second, the length is preserved, but the overall volume of the hairstyle decreases.

An illustration from the book "Hairdressing Technology." I. Yu. Odinokova and T. A. Chernichenko wrote this.

Vertical partings with a change in the angle of combing. This technique allows you to change the line of extension: if the angle of combing changes to the back of the head, then the extension will be to the face. And if you increase the angle of combing to the face, then, accordingly, the line of extension will be to the back of the head.

Diagram from "Technology of Hairdressers" book. I. Yu. Odinova and T. A. Chernichenko wrote this.

For short hair

With short hair, layering is done from the back of the head to the face, getting longer with each new strand of hair when creating a graduated haircut.

To maximize the impact, adhere to these basic guidelines:

parting should be on the side;

strands on the back of the head – shortened;
in some cases: side elongated bangs.

In this instance, you must consider the face’s shape, the skull’s structural features, the features, and the type of hair.

Which graduated hairstyles work best for short hair? Here are some possibilities:

With layers that add volume, movement, and texture to hair of any length, a graduated haircut is a chic and adaptable option. Regardless of your hair length—short, medium, or long—this technique can be tailored to fit your face shape and personal style, which makes it a popular choice for people who want to update their appearance with a contemporary and striking twist.

For medium hair

A graduated haircut softens the features of the face and gives the appearance of a cloud on medium-length hair. However, the middle strands continue to be a good foundation for ponytails, buns, and even braids long after graduation. Naturally, however, a lot relies on the length’s transition angle, cut quality, strand-by-strand shortening, and other factors.

Chic graduated hairstyles for people with medium-length hair:

Cascade

Extended bob
Extended bob
Retro haircut "Debut"

For long hair

For women of all ages, long graduated hair is a universal option. However, certain trends do appear: young girls are more likely to wear long hairstyles, while adult women tend to prefer shorter haircuts.

However, as we say again, a long graduated haircut looks good on women of all ages, so ignore the opinions of the majority if you choose to get one.

Graduation can be used in haircuts on long hair:

Cascade
Ladder

Extended bob
Asymmetry
Fox tail.

There’s no need to follow any set protocols. Together with the master, you can discuss the desired outcome and combine styles, techniques, and haircut methods to create something truly original.

Questions and answers

How does one distinguish between layers and graduation?

In contrast to graduation, which requires pulling hair at an angle of 1-89 degrees, layers require pulling hair at an angle of 90-180 degrees.

What makes graduation hair different from hair thinning hair?

Thinning is a hair processing technique, and graduation is a haircut technique. Its goal is to reduce the density and give the hairstyle a lighter, more airy appearance.

What is the reason behind your hair thinning?

Thinning aids in smoothing out the hairstyle’s irregularities and thins out the individual strands. Consequently, the haircut looks polished and finished.

Pointing is a technique for thinning where the ends appear to have a "fringe." Pointing keeps the haircut looking nicer for longer by retaining the shape as the hair grows out. This hair is sliced at an angle rather than uniformly, as in traditional thinning.

A hair processing technique called tussivka is intended to produce a seamless change from short to long hair strands. Shading is most frequently used to "shade" the change from short temples and the back of the head to a longer center in short men’s and women’s haircuts.

What distinguishes a graduated bob from a bob-caret?

A bob-caret has rounded edges and clean lines, making it a more conservative hairstyle. A graduated bob’s stepped cut allows for a little carelessness and a certain amount of freedom.

How should a graduated haircut be cut?

We advise against cutting your own hair because proper haircutting requires basic hairdressing knowledge and consideration of the features of the head, face, and hair in order to create a lovely graduated hairstyle. We advise getting in touch with a hairdresser to make sure that your expectations and your hairstyle align and that the final product is fashionable and appropriate for you.

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Any hair length can look good with a graduated haircut, from long layers to short bobs. It gives your hair a contemporary style while giving it more body, movement, and texture. Any style, from dramatic to subtle layers, can accentuate your inherent beauty with a graduated cut.

You can also experiment with different styles with this haircut. For a more playful look, add curls and waves, or keep it sleek and straight. If you want to update your hairstyle without going too bold, it’s a great option.

A graduated haircut can be customized to your face shape and hair type with the correct technique and a talented stylist, guaranteeing that you leave the salon with a look that is all your own. It’s a classic look that is easily updated to reflect current fashions.