Theory Basics
What elevation creates a one length haircut?
0 degrees
What are the 3 haircutting shapes?
Round, Square and Triangle
What is a fade?
A gradual blend from short to long hair
You’re doing a fade and notice a dark line between two guard lengths. What should you do?
Go back in with a lower guard or use clipper-over-comb to blend it out.
What technique softens a blunt line?
Point cutting
What elevation creates a graduated haircut?
45 degrees
What is elevation?
The angle the hair is held from the head when cutting
What is a guard used for?
To control hair length when using clippers
What tool could you use if a client wanted lots of texture and movement?
A razor
What are thinning shears used for?
Removing bulk
What elevation creates layers?
90-180 degrees
What is overdirection?
Combing hair away from its natural fall before cutting
What is shorter: a #1 guard or a #4 guard?
#1
A client says, "I don't want layers," but their hair is very thick and heavy. What could you do?
Remove bulk internally without obvious layers (point cutting, thinning, internal layering)
Why is tension important during cutting?
It keeps the haircut even
What does overdirecting forward do to the length?
Gets longer towards the back of the head
What is cross checking?
Checking the haircut in the opposite direction (ex: Check a horizontal section with a vertical section)
What technique can be used to blend between clipper lengths?
Clipper over comb
Your layers look uneven. What may have been inconsistent?
Elevation or tension
Why is cutting past your second knuckle risky?
You lose control & precision.
As elevation increases, what happens to weight?
Weight is removed
What is a guideline?
A section of hair used as a guide for cutting the rest
What causes a visible line in a fade?
Not blending properly
Why would you choose scissor over comb instead of clipper over comb?
For more control, softer blending, or when refining detail work.
What are the 3 different hand positions when haircutting?
Overhand, underhand and palm to palm