5 Ways to Cut Hair

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-19 22:11

Cutting your hair can be an exercise in creativity, an attempt to save money or the result of an ugly hairstyle all week. Here are some basic haircuts, based on professional cosmetology training, to get you started.

Step

Method 1 of 5: Preparing the Hair

Step 1. Wash your hair

Just as an artist starts with a new canvas before painting, you start by cleaning your hair before cutting it. Hair that is dirty or full of hair products won't give you a true finish once you're done.

Use shampoo and conditioner for certain hair types. There are products that cover all your needs – color treatment, dry hair, damaged hair, thinning hair and lack of volume – so choose the one that works best for your hair type and needs.
If your hair tends to tangle, use a tangle-free conditioner or spray on a frizz-free product. You don't want your comb to get caught when you comb hair that has clumps or tangles.

Step 2. Wet the hair if you are going to use scissors or a razor to cut it

You can see very well how the hair falls naturally when it is wet. Wet hair also makes it easier for you to follow the direction of the haircut, so your cut is more precise.

Remember, this can only be applied to straight hair. Trimming curly or wavy hair properly, when the hair is wet will be more difficult, because the water will temporarily make the hair flat and straight. Not being able to see how normal curls/waves look, will inadvertently cause your haircut to mismatch and create an uneven hair shape (the end result of the cut on your curly hair will be half perfect while the rest is messy, resulting in part of the hair looking not straight equally).
For frizzy hair, be sure to cut it dry.
Wet hair will stick together, which will help it stay in place when you cut.
Keep a water bottle with a spray nozzle close to you, so you can wet your hair if it starts to dry out while you're still cutting it.

Step 3. Cut hair when dry under special conditions

Make sure your hair is dry if you want to use scissors or if you want to thin your hair carefully to make sure you don't waste too much hair.

Cut dry hair straight away if you just want to get rid of split ends as they are easier to see when your hair is dry.
If you have limited time, cut your hair dry to save time during washing and drying.

Method 2 of 5: Choosing a Hairstyle

Step 1. Determine the shape of the face

The hairstyle will match the shape of a person's face and complement their face shape.

oval. Oval face shape is considered as one of the face shapes that fits all types of hairstyles.
Round. The tiered top gives the impression of full, tall hair and the thinned hair below the cheekbones serves to make the face look long on the face and give the illusion of a thinner chin line.
Heart shape. Choose a style that offers fullness at the bottom of the hair and thin at the forehead.
Rectangle. The goal is to give the face a softer feel, so light bangs and wavy hairstyles help create this effect. It's best to avoid straight lines, straight bangs and straight or flat hair for this face shape.
longitude. Consider wearing bangs, especially bangs that are slanted to create the illusion of a shorter forehead for people with long faces.
Diamond. Choose a layered hairstyle (layer). Avoid bangs unless they are directed away from the center of the forehead.

Step 2. Get detailed instructions for the special haircut you are planning

You don't want to "improvise" in creating a hairstyle. There are many sources that can give you the step-by-step instructions you need to create the hairstyle you want.

Watch the linked video. Check out YouTube and sites dedicated to hair videos that show you the steps in creating the hairstyle you want. Make sure the person demonstrating it is an experienced stylist.
Open a hairstyle magazine. Some magazines provide tutorials with photos that will show you how to cut your hair.
Check the hair product company's website. Companies that manufacture and/or sell hair products often include “How-to” tutorials on their websites.

Step 3. Familiarize yourself with the terms

You should understand some of the specific terms that stylists use when talking about the haircut process, so you can follow the instructions easily.

The angle indicates the position of the scissors when cutting hair; You can hold it vertically, horizontally, or at a 45-degree angle.
The height refers to which direction the hair is pointing when you hold it for a cut. When the tip is pointing to the floor, the height is considered to be zero degrees. When the direction is sideways and parallel to the floor, forming an angle of 90 degrees. When the hair is held until the ends point to the ceiling, it means 180 degrees.
Razoring is a technique for creating thin layers or for reducing volume and thinning hair.
Layering means creating an irregular length of hair through a planned cut. Longer layers give the illusion of length and shorter layers create volume in the hair.
Graduation is a haircut style in which the hair that is cut further back gets shorter, creating a wavy shape.

Method 3 of 5: Cutting

Step 1. Separate the hair into sections

Cosmetology courses teach the standard division technique known as the 7 halves. Divide the hair into seven parts: the top, the right, the left, the right crown, the left crown, the hair on the right nape, and the left nape. Leave a half-inch band of hair around the hairline.

Start by making a cleavage line from the end behind the ear on one side to the same end on the other side. Then make parting lines on each side of the head along the parietal area to separate the hair on the top of the head.
Comb your hair towards the center of the part at the top of your head and roll your hair into a bun and pin it with a butterfly pin to hold it in place. Do the same on the right and left sides of the head.
Now draw a dividing line in the middle of the back of the head. Separate the right and left crowns by parting the hair in rows, from behind the ears to the center of the part you just created.
- These horizontal halves should meet to form a straight horizontal line at the back of the head.
- Comb to straighten this section and curl and tie the hair like the previous section.
The remaining two parts-the left and right nape of the neck-can easily be separated into two rolls.
Once the entire section has been tied, return to the top of the head, section by section, remove the half-inch ribbon at the outer edge (or what we know as the outline) and roll back and tie a section of hair.

Step 2. Follow the style instructions

In some cases, you will work from the back of your hair to the front; in other cases you will start from the front; in still other cases, you'll cut around the edges of the hair and continue from there. Each style is different and requires a different plan to get started.

Step 3. Start slowly

Keep in mind that salon appointments can usually last from half an hour to an hour and a half. You are not a professional stylist, so it will take longer to complete your cut. Do not rush. Uneven hairstyles can probably be fixed by a professional and only time can fix a hair “cut” that is too short.

Step 4. Recheck your cut

Take a section of hair from the same position on each side of the head and bring it to a central point. Sections of hair should be the same length from one side to the other. If not, your cut is uneven and you'll need to fix it.

Method 4 of 5: Shaping

Step 1. Understand the purpose behind texturizing

Shaping is thinning hair to remove excess hair. Special scissors for shaping, regular scissors and razors can be used to remove hair.

Step 2. Use point cutting

End trims are typically used on medium to long hair to smooth rough cuts, shape and add or subtract sections of hair. It's also great for shaping curly hair.

Comb and lift the thin sections of hair; The hair should be held between the fingers and perpendicular to the scalp.
Aim your scissors into the interior of the scalp and cut at a steep angle to "point" and create a shape.
The width and depth of your points will determine if the effect is thinner or thicker.
Parallel end cuts use the length of the blade to reduce thickness, creating a “tiered” shape without actually creating a grade.

Step 3. Learn about the V shape (notching)

The V-shaped cut is the same as the end cut; the difference is that this cut is used in short, straight hairstyles to create wild or sharp ends.

Step 4. Try a freestyle V shape cut

To use this technique, take your scissors and randomly snip each strand of hair to remove excess sections and reduce thickness. A freestyle V cut is done further up the hair shaft than a V-shaped cut, which focuses on the ends of the hair.

Step 5. Use the slithering technique

This is the best option if you want to get rid of the excess part of the long ends of your hair.

Hold the hair perpendicular to the scalp and leave the scissors slightly open.
Tuck your scissors along the length of your hair, away from your scalp.

Step 6. Use the slicing technique

Slicing adds movement and shape by reducing hair thickness. This technique is done when the haircut has been completed and can be done on wet or dry hair.

Hold your scissors open (cut in a free style) and slide the scissors along the hair shaft, slowly opening and closing the blades all the way to the ends of the hair.
The more you open and close the scissors, the more your hair will be wasted.

Warning: Be careful not to completely cover the blade or you will cut the entire side of the hair

Step 7. Try the scissor technique on the comb

This technique is often used to cut men's hair. This technique allows you to cut close to your head and create a softer style than you would with scissors.

Starting at the hairline, lift sections of hair with your comb.
With the bottom scissor blade parallel to your comb, trim the hair that comes out of the side of the comb.
Keeping the blade on your scissors moving, stopping in the middle of the cut will make a small notch.
Make most cuts with the center of the blade rather than the ends, which can result in sloppy and uneven cuts.
After you cut the first section, lift the hair that has been cut along with the next section you want to cut as your guide. Don't cut hair from your previous cut – this hair is just your guide. Work around the hair using this technique.

Step 8. Cut with a razor

The razor can remove excess parts. In some cases, a razor is used instead of scissors to complete the entire haircut.

Divide the hair vertically in the middle and horizontally around the middle of the back of the head. Pinch the top two and leave the bottom one; this is your starting point.
Use a fine-toothed comb to pull the hair at a 45-degree angle and slide the razor blade (also held at a 45-degree angle) in short, cutting motions, from the roots to the tips of the hair.
Work along the back of the head, then along the sides. If the hair is short, it's okay to shave the top of the head as long as this section is covered by more unshaven hair.
Do not use the razor on fine, wavy or curly hair; You will make this hair droop, rough and fly.

Method 5 of 5: Final Touch

Step 1. Sweep the haircut

Before starting to dry your hair, you should sweep the hair that falls on the floor first. That way, the rest of the haircut will not fly everywhere.

Step 2. Dry the hair

You won't be able to see the actual end result of a haircut until the hair is dry and styled. Once your hair is dry, you can see and balance the uneven ends or shorten the long bangs or the overall style

If possible, let your hair dry about 70-80% and let the rest dry on its own.
Put your dryer on the coldest setting, keep the dryer 6 inches away from your hair and move it constantly.
Despite the bad news about hair dryers, one study found that using a hair dryer at the correct distance and temperature can actually reduce damage than letting your hair dry on its own. Water causes hair to swell. The longer your hair stays wet and bouncy, the more stress it puts on the brittle proteins that keep the hair intact, causing it to break even more.