Chapter 16
Haircutting Learning Objectives
• Identify the reference points on the head and understand their role in haircutting. • Define lines, sections, elevations, and guidelines. • List the factors involved in a successful client consultation. • Explain the uses of the various tools of haircutting. • Name three things you can do to ensure good
posture and body position while cutting hair. (continues) Learning Objectives (continued)
• Perform the four basic haircuts. • List the multiple ways to section and cut the bang (fringe) area. • Discuss and explain three different texturizing techniques performed with shears. • Explain a clipper cut. • Identify the uses of a trimmer. Introduction
• Foundational skills start with being educated in the principles of haircutting and precision haircutting methods. • Precision haircutting is about the application of a systematic plan when cutting hair • When it is combined with the principles of haircutting, you will have a better understanding of how to approach any haircut. • However, first you must know the rules before you break them. You will need to have an understanding of the techniques and tools of cutting.
Understand the Basic Principles of Haircutting
• Reference points – Parietal ridge – Occipital bone
(continues) Understand the Basic Principles of Haircutting (continued) • Apex
• Four corners
Areas of the Head
• Top • Front • Sides • Crown • Nape • Back • Bang area Lines, Sections, and Angles
• Lines • Types of Straight Lines
(continues) Lines, Sections, and Angles (continued)
• Straight Lines – Horizontal – Vertical /Shutterstock.com
– Diagonal EvaStory © © and © Flora© Borsi/Shutterstock.com Used the with permissionof the authors, Martin Gannon and Richard Thompson,asfeatured in their book Mahogany: Steps to Cutting, Colouring Finishinghair.Martin © Gannon and Richard Thompson1997.
(continues) Lines, Sections, and Angles (continued)
• Sectioning – Horseshoe section – Pivoting section – Profile section – Radial section Elevation
• Elevation – angle at which hair is held from head
• Graduation – layers described in degrees
• Shrinkage – hair contracts as it dries Cutting Line
• Cutting line – angle at which fingers are held when cutting Guidelines
• Stationary guideline – does not move
• Traveling guideline – moves as haircut progresses Overdirection
• Comb the hair away from its natural falling position. • Used mostly in graduated and layered haircuts. Conduct an Effective Client Consultation for Haircutting • What does client want? • Does she have time available for maintenance? • What is his or her lifestyle? • Is classic or trendy preferred?
The Face Shape
• Pull hair back or wrap with towel. • Note length and width of face. • Note balance of features. • Weight and volume. • Profiles. • Determine parting. Hair Analysis
• Hairlines and growth patterns • Hair density – hairs per square inch • Hair texture – diameter of a hair strand • Wave pattern – amount of movement in the hair strand Show Proper use of Haircutting Tools
• Haircutting and • Straight razor texturizing shears
(continues) Show Proper Use of Haircutting Tools (continued)
• Clippers • Trimmers • Sectioning clips • Wide-tooth comb • Tail comb • Barber comb • Styling/cutting comb All About Shears
• Steel – Gauging hardness – Rockwell hardness
• Cast shears
• Forged shears Parts of a Shear
• Cutting edge
• Pivot
• Adjustment knob
• Finger tang
• Ring-finger hole
• Thumb hole Shear Maintenance
• Daily cleaning and lubrication
• Daily tension adjustment and balancing
• Weekly cleaning and lubrication
• Disinfecting shears
• Sharpening shears Left-Handed vs. Right-Handed
• There is a difference between a right-handed and a left-handed shear. Simply taking a right- handed shear and turning it over does not make it appropriate for a left-handed cutter, because the blades of the shear need to be reversed. Purchasing Shears
• Know how the shear was manufactured. • Ask about the steel quality. • Decide on the right blade edge. • Decide on the best handle design for you. • Be sure of fit.
(continues) Purchasing Shears (continued)
• Hold shears in hand. • Swivel thumb shears. • Learn about service agreement. • Ask about warranty. • Analyze cost. • Determine how many needed. Fitting the Shear Correctly
• Fitting ring finger • Fitting thumb • Relaxing grip • Correct finger position and alignment Holding Your Tools • Holding shears Holding the Shears and Comb Holding the Razor
• Method A – Open razor so handle is higher than shank. – Place thumb on thumb grip. – Place index, middle, and ring fingers on shank. – Place little finger in tang. – Position razor on top of subsection.
(continues) Holding the Razor (continued)
• Method B – Open razor so handle and shank form a straight line. – Place thumb on grip and wrap fingers around handle. Handling the Comb and Tension
• Both the wide and fine teeth of the comb are regularly used when cutting hair. • The wide teeth are used for combing and parting hair, while the finer teeth comb the section before cutting. • Tension is the amount of pressure applied when combing and holding a subsection.
Understand Proper Posture and Body Position
• Position the client. – Sitting straight – Legs not crossed
• Center your weight. – Knees slightly bent, not locked – Bend one knee to lean slightly
• Stand in front of section being cut. Hand Positions for Different Cutting Angles
• Cutting over fingers
• Cutting below fingers
• Cutting palm-to-palm Maintain Safety in Haircutting
• Palm shears.
• Do not cut past second knuckle.
• Take care around ears.
• Be careful when working with a razor. Cut Hair using Basic Haircutting Techniques
Blunt haircut
• Also known as a Salonand Vanis
one-length haircut. for
• Hair comes to a single Donnelli hanging level, forming
a weight line. IN.Makeup Malone Amyby and Gretchen Wilson. Scheveville Photography by Tom Carson, Hair by Laura Laura by Photography Carson,Hair Tom by Spa,Day Graduated Haircut
• Build up of weight. • Caused by cutting the hair with tension, low to , hair stylist for Above
medium elevation, or Morosi overdirection. • The ends of the hair appear to be stacked. Photography by Tom Carson. Hair by Antonio by Photography Carson.Hair Tom by and Beyond Salon, Vermillion,Ohio. Laura Hall,Color for Above and Beyond Salon,Vermillion, Ohio.Hall. Laura Makeupby Layered Haircut
• The hair is cut at higher elevations, usually 90 degrees. • Layered haircuts generally have less weight than graduated Salon e' Spa, haircuts. Carmen
• In a layered haircut, the for Carmen Charlotte, NC ends appear farther Carmen by Photography Carson,Hair Tom by Cutrona apart. Long-Layered Haircut
• Gives more volume to hairstyles. • Can be combined with other basic haircuts. • The resulting shape will have shorter layers at the top and increasingly longer layers toward the perimeter. Photography by Tom Carson General Haircutting Tips
• Partings • Lines and sections • Crown and neck area • Around the ears • Tension • Head position • Moisture
(continues) General Haircutting Tips (continued)
• Guideline • Cross check • Use the mirror • Check both sided • Stand in front of your section • Curly hair The Blunt Haircut Procedure
• Precision haircut • Head position • Elevation • Tension Other Blunt Haircuts
• A-line • Longer blunt haircut • Blunt haircut on curly hair Gramly iStockphoto /Chris © © Graduated Haircut
• Basic haircut that works with a side or middle part. Nadeika iSotckphoto / © © Graduated Haircut Procedure
• Versatile Haircut • Stationary and traveling guide used • Hair Texture • Neck line • Tension Uniform-Layered Haircut
• Uniform layers © © Stock Avalanche/Shutterstock.com Uniform-Layered Haircut Procedure
• Interior traveling guideline • Shape • Length • Vertical sections reduce weight Long-Layered Haircut
• Volume • Texture and density • Traveling or stationary guideline • Length Long-Layered Haircut Procedure
• Length • Length in top sections Understand other Cutting Techniques
Cutting Curly Hair • Shrinks more than straight hair • Minimal tension (wide-tooth comb) • Naturally “graduates” itself
• Expands more than Global Yellow Strawberry by Photography Carson,Hair Tom by Salon, Sarasota, FL. straight hair Cutting the Bangs
• The bang or fringe area includes the hair that lies between the two front corners. • Be sure the hair is either damp or completely dry. • Do not use tension, allow for the natural lift of the hair. • The five basic types of fringe. Asymmetric Bang (Fringe)
• Start by placing an offset triangular section of hair at each corner of the eye. • Take a 1/2-inch (1.25 centimeters) subsection at the narrowest part of the offset triangle, elevate at 90 degrees, and cut 2–3 inches (5–7.5 centimeters) (or longer) in length—this will become a stationary guide. • Continue taking 1/2-inch (1.25 centimeters) subsections, elevate to 90 degrees, and overdirect to the stationary guide or, for thick hair, overdirect to the previously cut section. • Finish by blowdrying with a flat brush or comb. Using your comb for precision and angle, cut to desired length. Side Swept Bang © dinkat/Shutterstock.com© Versatile Bang impulseglamour © iStock.com/ © Short Textured Bang Ploter © iStock.com/ © Square Bang © Mayer Mayer © George/Shutterstock.com Razor Cutting
• Gives a softer appearance than a shear cut. • The razor is a great option when working with medium to fine hair textures. • When working with a razor, the ends are cut at an angle and the line is not blunt. • This produces softer shapes with more visible separation, or a feathered effect, on the ends. • Guide above fingers. Razor Cutting Tips
• Avoid using on coarse, wiry, or damaged hair. • Always use a guard. • Always use a new blade. • Keep hair wet. • Hold razor at an angle; never force. Slide Cutting
• Used to cut or thin hair.
• Blends shorter hair to longer.
• Useful in texturizing.
• Only on wet hair. Scissor-Over-Comb
• Hair held in place with comb.
• Shear tips remove length.
• Method used to create short tapers.
• Works best on dry hair.
• Lift hair with comb; comb acts as guide.
(continues) Scissor-Over-Comb (continued)
• Do not hold hair between fingers.
• Shears and comb move up head together.
• Strive for continual motion. Texturizing with Shears
• Point-cutting and notching
(continues) Texturizing with Shears (continued)
• Free-hand notching
• Effilating or slithering
• Slicing
• Carving
• Carving the ends Texturizing with the Razor
• Removing weight
• Free-hand slicing at midshaft Texturizing with Thinning Shears and Razor
• Remove bulk or weight. – Section as for haircut. – Comb subsection from head. – Cut 4 to 5 inches from scalp. – Stay farther from scalp for coarse hair.
• Remove weight from ends.
(continues) Texturizing with Thinning Shears and Razor (continued) • Thinning shears-over-comb
• Other thinning shears techniques
• Free-hand slicing with razor
• Razor-over-comb
• Razor rotation
Basic Haircuts Enhanced with Texturizing Techniques • Diagonal forward blunt cut • Graduated cut • Uniform layered cut for Azouz Nico Vitaly/Shutterstock.com Valua © © Photography by Tom Carson. Hair Poole.Vickie by Makeup by for ElonSalon, Marietta, GA. Photography by Tom Carson. Hair by Michelle by Photography Carson.Hair Tom by Tangles Salon, WichitaFalls,TX. Effectively Use Clippers and Trimmers
• Electric or battery-operated tools that cut the hair by using two moving blades held in place by a metal plate with teeth. • Mainly used for cutting shorter haircuts and can be used to create a taper. Tools for Clipper Cutting
• Clippers • Length guard attachments • Haircutting shears • Thinning shears • Combs Clipper-Over-Comb
• Stand in front of the section. • Comb placement. • Hold the comb stationary. • Stop to cut. Clipper Cutting with Attachments
Using clipper guards • Quick • Easy • Creative Men’s Basic Clipper Cut
• In this cut, the hair is cropped close along the bottom and sides and becomes longer as you travel up the head. Using Trimmers
• Using trimmers around the ears • Using trimmers at the neckline • Using tattoo trimmers Trimming Facial Hair
• Using tool-over-comb method • Cutting against comb • Using length guard • Brow and ear hair Summary and Review
• A good haircut serves as the foundation for numerous other services. • The more familiar you become with basic haircutting and shaping techniques and with haircutting implements, the more solid that foundation will be. • If you understand the anatomy of the head, elevations, angles, and degrees, you’ll be able to deliver consistent haircutting results for clients Summary and Review (continued)
• A client consultation allows you to understand the client’s desires, needs, and lifestyle so you can make appropriate choices and recommendations for the client. • The five characteristics of hair play an important role in your ability to create a quality haircut. • As with any service, proper disinfection procedures for haircutting services are very important Chapter Review Questions
1. What are reference points and what is their function?
2. What are lines, sections, elevations, and guidelines?
3. What are important considerations to discuss with a client during a haircutting consultation?
(continues) Chapter Review Questions (continued)
4. What are a razor, haircutting shears, styling or cutting comb, and texturizing shears used for?
5. Name three steps to ensuring good posture and body position while cutting hair.
6. Name and describe four basic types of haircuts.
(continues) Chapter Review Questions (continued)
7. What is another name for bangs? When should you avoid cutting bangs? Name five basic types of bangs.
8. Name and describe at least three different texturizing techniques performed with shears.
(continues) Chapter Review Questions (continued)
9. What is a clipper cut?
10. How is a trimmer used?