POSTURE
Raising and lowering your chair as needed
Why: Proper posture while cutting, you should be cutting between your chest and waist. This will maintain your health and professionalism and eliminate strain on your back, shoulders and neck.
Use one end of the comb, laying it flat and drawing it to your index finger, using thumb to control the hair while combing away
Why: this allows for creating an efficient, clean, accurate line the first time, ensuring customers comfort
Lay shears in the groove of your fingers
Why: Using the groove of your fingers to guide your shears creates even tension and accuracy by keeping the line you are cutting straight. You have better control and greater ability to cut from your guide every time
When layering use angled, overlapped pinch partings. Check at the same angle the hair was cut in the groove of your fingers, working in the opposite direction removing a minimal amount, only 1/4"-1/2"
Why: This ensure the hair we remove SHOULD be removed; no guess work. With checking, you are going in the opposite direction the hair was cut, against gravity, this makes the hair fall into the shears, removing what you need efficiently.
Complete the design line first
Why: The design line becomes the foundation and guide. The design line is the length and shape and is the most creative part of the haircut. Creating this first eliminates guesswork it also contributes to making sure the interior will be balanced
Use two hands to tilt the customers head away when creating the design line or layering when removing weight
Why: professional approach, customer comfort. Tilting the head away when creating design lines creates a flat surface for cutting, allows you to hold the hair closer to the body, allows you to see what your doing and where your going and will reduce strain on your neck, shoulders, arms and back.
When layering sections should be no wider than the width of your comb
Why: This keeps the hair combed straight up/out from where the hair grows when layering, preventing over direction and balanced layers
Take short quick snips, using 1/4"-1/2" of the tip of your shears
Why: Cutting with short quick snips creates a clean and accurate line the first time. The most tension is at the tip of the shears
With one length and elevated design line techniques, use pinch partings holding the hair parallel to where it was cut, returning to the cutting position to make any adjustments
Why: With a one length and/or elevated, we will visually check using pinched partings. We will hold the hair parallel to where the hair was cut to ensure the guide was met. Should any adjustments be needed we will return to the original cutting position, to remove the hair that was missed. This will eliminate mistakes as the adjustments are made at the same angle and level the hair was originally cut
When combing techniques, complete one prior to starting the next
Why: Completing one technique before starting the other ensures organization, efficiency and accuracy
Arm reflects the angle to be cut
Why: Positioning your arm to reflect the angle to be cut will create a straight line, ensuring the correct angle you are trying to achieve the first time
Maintain control of the section being cut
Why: This allows you to comb only once, twice when needed. It allows you to keep your guides in view and maintain proper tension
Guides LARGE enough to see yet SMALL enough to adjust
Why: When guides are large enough, you can see and work from your guide, which supports accuracy. Because they are small, you may adjust your guide if needed, ensuring the correct length
"C" shaping complete every haircut
Why: They expose any hair that travels beyond the design line due to growth patterns. "C" shapings ensure a precision cut every time
BONUS/CUTTING: Cut to second knuckle
Cutting to the second knuckle allows you to maintain even tension. Even tension allows you to cut straight, clean and accurate lines.
Maintain even tension
Why: Even tension ensures that all the hair will be cut even, thereby creating accurate, clean lines and balance, also ensuring minimal clean up.
When layering, comb away from both sides of the section being cut
Why: This will create organization, eliminate guesswork, always knowing where we are at and going
Cut from shortest guide to longest guide
Why: Cutting from the short guide to long guide preserves the length you are connecting to, and it eliminates guesswork. You can see both guides in this position ensuring you connect the first time
BONUS/POSTURE: Wrist neutral when cutting/clippering
Why: Keeping your wrist in a neutral position allows you to reduce the strain on your wrist, fingers and hand.
BONUS/CUTTING: Use comb as an extension of the fingers for visual aid/ruler
Why: Using a comb as the ruler ensures accuracy. It's a perfect visual guide allowing you to eliminate guesswork. Us the comb as an extension of your fingers to guide you in the right direction when you: Have only one guide, have two physical guides to connect or when working with facial guides, your comb will be used as an extension to ensure successful connection. The comb is also used to check balance of guides you created.
Comb ONLY once or twice if needed
Why: For efficiency and control of the section being cut. Portrays confidence with the customer.
Overlap Sections
Why: Taking 1/2 of your previous section with you ensures all hair is being cut while in the cutting position and supports minimal cleanup when checking
When layering the higher you elevate your elbow, the more weight will be maintained. The lower your elbow the more weight will be removed
Why: The level your arm that's holding the hair to be cut determines where the weight and length will be maintained or removed. Texture, density, form and desired end result will determine your angle
BONUS/COMBING AND DAMPENING: Comb toward you
Why: This gives you control of the section being cut, allows you to bring the hair straight out/up from where it grows when layering, eliminates over-direction, and has less tendency to over comb
BONUS/CUTTING: Always work with guides in view
Why: Working from your guide(s) will eliminate guesswork, ensure accuracy, and eliminate cleanup when checking by allowing you to get the weight, shape and length of the hair right the first time.