Burst Taper

The Burst Taper is a modern men’s haircut that combines rounded layers on top with a high, rounded taper on the sides. This course demonstrates how to use the contrast between dark roots and light ends on color-treated hair with roots to create a hairstyle with dynamic texture and a deliberate disconnect at the fringe. This technique is for clients who want to turn their roots into an intentional styling element.

Vadim Futowsky guides you through the entire process, starting with sectioning the head and creating a triangular shape at the top, which, once styled, results in a square silhouette. Step by step, he demonstrates how to prepare the sides for blending by working in gradations with horizontal layers, and then how to create the taper itself—starting with larger sections and working downward, until marking the zero line with a trimmer and blending upward from the open blade.

In this course, you'll learn:

• Create a triangular shape at the top to achieve a square silhouette when styled on a round head
• The complete process of building a burst taper: from 6 mm down to shaping, then working from scratch upward for a smooth transition
• How to use the contrast between dark roots and light ends to highlight texture and shading
• Preparing the sides for tapering by grading in horizontal layers—without the need for diagonal divisions
• Using only your wrist when shading with a clipper – the key to precision and clean transitions
• Customize the fade using thinning shears and straight scissors to remove dark patches and create a soft look
• Final styling without a comb—use your fingers with a matte paste to bring out the texture and hold the strands together

After this course, you’ll start consciously creating a square silhouette on a round head, using regrowth as a compositional asset rather than a problem to hide, and crafting clean, high tapers with character. This haircut will allow you to offer your clients a modern, bold style that looks great for everyday wear and stands out in photos.