The Art of Freehand Cutting
Freehand hair cutting and coloring techniques are designed to customize and cater to the uniqueness of every client, even to the extent of their individual hair strands.
We are pushing these freehand techniques and working with the hair’s natural texture, whether curly or straight. So the end result is that air grows out better and is easier to maintain.
The best thing we can do for our clients is to not only listen but hear their desires. They will guide us to what’s fashionable. INDIVIDUALITY.
As hairdressers, we always want to change, but the unique canvas we are given — with its imperfections — can be the most beautiful thing about them.
Freehand cutting
Freehand cutting is a different way of looking at the approach to cutting hair. It is less rigid than the way hairdressers are initially taught when they first learn the art of cutting. We are usually taught to keep the hair wet, and that by cutting straight lines, we create the foundations. This is very important because it gives us a good understanding on how to build a solid shape.
Then we learn to combine the different forms of layering and graduation cutting to enable us to create other shapes. This form of cutting is generally done in a fairly technical manner, and is easy to put into a blueprint, which makes it reasonably easy to teach others.
With freehand cutting, the hair is often dry, which allows you to see the hair for what it is. Sometimes you use scissors without a comb, leaving one hand free to move the hair around. This may be where the term “freehand” comes from. Observing the natural textures of the hair is what it’s all about to get the most out of it.
Like most things we do, the more you practice this approach, the more you begin to really understand it. To the untrained eye, it can appear that the cutter is randomly cutting without any real logic or sense, moving around the head in an unconventional away. This is because you are looking at the haircut as a whole as opposed to looking at it in small sections, moving the hair around to reveal areas that appear to weak or to strong. You are looking at the balance of your shape as a whole in relation to the face and body, as opposed to pulling pieces of hair from either side of the head to see if they are the same length.
When you first start to use this form of cutting, it can feel very unusual and leave you feeling uncertain as to where to cut and what to look for. It is important to have a strong idea in your head of what you want to achieve.
It can take time to “train your eye to see,” and have a good vision as to where you want to end up. The journey can often change while you’re cutting, so having a good vision as to how to keep things on track is essential. Be honest with yourself and move the hair around to truly see that the cut is working from all angles. The bottom line is that once you have fine-tuned this technique of cutting, the client needs do very little to her hair to achieve a great shape because it has been sculpted with the scissors and not the dryer.
Everyone’s hair grows differently, with different growth patterns, textures and thicknesses. Allowing the hair to dry while cutting allows you to see this better and work with what you think of as the imperfections
Sometimes you may wash and dry the hair before you start the cut, and sometimes you may start the cut before you wash. There are no set rules, if your client shows up with her hair pulled back, it is difficult to see what is working with the previous haircut and what is not. Educate your client to come in with their hair free so that they will get more out of your consultation. It will be much clearer what needs to be done.
I have had clients with curly hair who I’ve asked to wash their hair a few days prior to coming in because that’s when their texture works best, leaving me more time to cut there hair in the appointment time given. Again, educate your client how to get the most out of you.
At the end of the day, they are paying for the appointment time and not a wash, cut and blow dry, so the way you use that time to get the best result is up to you.
I personally believe that the so-called imperfections in hair are what give haircuts character. It’s just a matter of knowing how to make the haircut work in a way that it has good character. Relying on the blow dryer or flat iron to make the haircut behave a certain way can be an easy trap to fall into. While good styling techniques are an art, relying on those skill to make an average haircut look like a great one can shift the emphasis away from the cut.
Let’s face it, how often does a client comment they can never get their hair to do what the hairdresser does?
Buy your hair styling shears today from Shiro Shears
Tips and Tricks: Taking Care of your Hair Styling Shears
How to Maintain your Shears – Tips and Tricks:
- Clean them every day with dish soap/hand soap and warm water. This will clean any chemicals, hair, and dust stuck to the steel.
- Check Tension Daily: Make sure your tension is not too loose or too tight. If they are too loose, they will not cut; but if they are too tight, they will become dull much faster.
- Storage: Always keep your shears in a scissors case. We have seen far too many stylist with shears piled up in a drawer where they get easily damaged.
- Never use disinfectant spray on your shears, and don’t ever put them in Barbicide. These harsh chemicals will destroy the steel and cause it to rust.
Properly maintained hair styling shears will last you for years. Hair cutting shears are a hair stylist’s most important tool. As a stylist, you pay way too much for your shears to just let them become a victim to improper care.
Written by Shiro Shears
The 411 on Hair Cutting
In the design process, you must have a vision of what you want to create before you ever put the scissors in the hair. Anyone can make hair shorter. A true designer and artist will start with a strong and complete vision.
BULLET-POINT YOUR VISION
Think through each aspect of your vision. Where do you want to create weight? Where do you want to remove weight? How do you want the length of the hair to flow, from front to back or from back to front? How will the fringe frame the face in terms of length and movement? You simply won’t end up with something fabulous unless you’ve clearly visualized every path that will lead you there.
TALK THE TALK
Your vision is developed from the conversation between you and the client. No matter how well you believe you understand what the client wants, you can avoid a lot of complaints by double-checking. As the final step in the consultation, repeat back to the client what the two of you have decided to do. For example, confirm length to be removed by using your comb to show the client precisely what an inch means to you. You may discover that your concept of an inch does not match the client’s mental image.
Clients consistently ask for “a change,” so you must dig deeper to determine exactly what that means. You want to make sure that clients will be comfortable with the amount of change theysay they want. Try asking a question using an analogy. For example: “If we were making a change to your living room, would you be looking for a complete remodel that includes knocking down walls, bringing in all new furniture and possibly switching out the furniture style? Or, do you simply want to rearrange what you already have in a new way?” This type of questioning will give you insight into your client’s personal comfort and clue you into what she really means by “change.”
PARTINGS STRAIGHTEN YOUR THOUGHTS
Partings are a fantastic way to stay organized while you execute your haircut. It is easy to get lost in the hair and off track, but using strong partings will help you stay focused on where you are in the haircut. They also communicate to your client that you are professional and skilled. Clean partings are a sign of discipline.
SYSTEMIZE THE PROCESS
As part of your fundamental training as a hair designer, you should have learned a hair cutting system. If this was not provided at your cosmetology school or during a training period at your salon, take a class with a product line. Many haircare companies offer great systems.
A cutting system gives you an approach to use to execute your hair design. It teaches important details such as clean combing, partings, terminology, techniques and elevation. Learning a system will allow you to translate any hair cutting demonstration you observe into actions you can use to recreate what you’ve seen.
A HEADS UP ON POSTURE
As you proceed with the cut, stay aware of your body as well as your client’s body. Remember: You will always bring your work toward yourself, so make sure you are in the right position. Keep your work square to your body. If you are working a traveling guide while layering, make sure your body is moving with the direction of your sections.
It is just as important for your client’s body to be properly positioned. Develop these good habits:
- Instruct your client to keep her legs uncrossed when you are working on your baseline.
- Turn your client’s head when you are working on hair past the shoulders to avoid adding unintentional elevation on the sides.
- When you are creating a shorter baseline, such as a classic bob, you have to allow for the recessed curve at the nape of the neck, so tilt your client’s head slightly forward until you incorporate the side sections.
Author Joelle Ray owns Samuel Cole Salon and Salon Moxie in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ray personally trains her staff.
NOTE: Make sure you always use the highest-quality styling shears available. Great deals are available now, *<CLICK HERE>*
Encouraging Your Hairdressing Team and Improving Salon Business
In such a competitive industry salon owners can find it increasingly hard to keep their salon business growing. With most high-end districts offering a selection of hair and beauty salons, gaining the edge can prove difficult. A few simple points to remember can help salon owners head in the right direction and continue towards running a successful salon business.
As hairdressing is such an interpersonal profession your company image, ethics and ultimately its success are often completely in the hands of the salon’s employees. Therefore it’s crucial that a sound hairdressing team is established first, regardless of its size. It goes without saying that the whole team should be well-mannered, enthusiastic and reliable as well as being passionate about hairdressing. Staff will encounter customers from all walks of life and the ability to engage with them all is of the utmost importance whether you’re a salon manager or a weekend assistant. (more…)
Hair Stylist Money Saving Tips
If you are like me, you’re all about saving money. Well, here is a great idea to help you out.
Most hairdressers go to the beauty shows to buy their Styling Shears. You book a flight or fill up the tank for the road, pack up your bags and get your fellow stylists together for the annual trip to the big Beauty Show. Many stylists are prepared to spend up to $800 or more on a single pair of Styling Shears that they were convinced are some sort of special steel that is the best that money can buy. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but 9 out of 10 Japanese Styling Shears are made from the same type of steel.
The steel used is called 440C, we use it here at Shiro Shears. Sure, we could go to the beauty shows, pay thousands of dollars for a booth, and try to sell our products for 3-4 times what they’re worth. But we would rather extend our discount to the consumer by offering REALISTIC prices on all our Japanese Styling Shears online. Our prices online are always less than what you would pay in stores or in the field. Even our distributors don’t sell them for these low prices. Stop paying $500 or more on Hair Cutting Scissors, and buy the best quality at the lowest prices online. www.ShiroShears.com
If I were you, I would take a look at the Sale page at http://www.shiroshears.com/products/sale-categories/ and pick out one or two pair. There is no risk involved in purchasing our products, they are 100% backed up by our Warranty! You can buy them from our website, try them for up to 30-Days, and if you don’t like them just return them for a full refund. Our Sale items are extremely low priced right now and they will not last so buy yours today.
By Justin Whitesell (Owner of Shiro Shears Co.)
Contest Winner Announced
Winner of Free Hair Cutting Scissors!
We are proud to announce our contest winner Timothy Poisal. He entered our CONTEST and won a Free pair of Shiro GV-55 styling shears.
All he had to do was fill out his name and e-mail address to enter. Anyone can enter this contest by going HERE. We are so confident in the quality of our products, that we are giving away one pair of Shiro Shears (of your choice) for every 1,000 entries. We know that Stylists love our Styling Shears and once they try them, they will love them.
Follow Shiro Shears on Twitter http://twitter.com/ShiroShears
Are your Shears Sharp Enough?
Do you know how you can tell? When was the last time you replaced your old Shears?
It is a little known fact that one of the major causes of Split-Ends is that stylists use dull shears. (See: Split-Ends: A Stylists Guide) I know what you’re probably thinking, “I don’t do that.” But whether you realize it or not, you are probably using dull shears.
Most beauty schools pay little or no attention to Scissor care and Maintenance, so it really isn’t your fault that you were never taught the proper way to take care of your shears. As a professional stylist, you know hair. But do you know when to replace those old shears? What about the low quality shears you received in beauty school? Are you still using them? At Shiro Shears, we know Shears inside and out. We are not only a Scissor company, we are educators. Just ask students of Paul Mitchell Academy (Various Locations), amongst many other Cosmetology schools nationwide.
The Sanek-Strip Test:
- Using a piece of Sanek-Strip and a spray bottle (about half a piece will do), spray the Sanek with water until nice and wet. Then, without applying pressure or “torquing” the blades; try to cut the Sanek-Strip
- A sharp pair of Shears will have no problem cutting the Sanek-Strip the full length of the blade without tearing it.
- Dull Shears: You will see tearing towards the tip or base of the cut, or it will simply tear the Strip. Sometimes it will not cut it at all.
Shiro Shears has a vast social network, a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, and we provide great customer service for the life of your shears. Don’t wait for the next beauty show, buy online today and save!
New Hair Cutting Technique
New Hair Cutting Technique: How to turn the shears over for point Cutting.
A lot of customers are asking us, “What’s the best way to use my new Swivel-Thumb Shears,” from Shiro Shears?
By turning the blades upside down as demonstrated in the video; you can save your hands, arms, shoulders and neck from fatigue and pain. As most stylists cut hair, they tend to lift their arm up to at least shoulder height and turn their whole arm over when they do point cutting with the blade facing down. Now you can stop lifting your arm up and down all day by just turning the shears over in your hand and do your point cutting from this position.
Watch the video, it demonstrates the technique of turning the blade over in your hand using our Model GV swivel-thumb Scissors.
Hint: You can also get a Swivel-Thumb texturizer. This is the smoothest pair of texturizing shears we’ve had the privilege of offering. Follow us on Facebook for deals and offers!
Buy Swivel-Thumbs and try it yourself!
Swivel Shears: http://shiroshears.com/products/styling-shears/model-gv-55/
Swivel Thinning Shears: http://shiroshears.com/products/shiro-shears/model-gv-523ct/
5 Reasons to Buy your Shears Online
1. Can you trust the website you buy from?
Look for the company Return policy and Warranty. If the company you are buying from does not offer a 30-Day trial period and Lifetime Warranty, don’t trust them. At Shiro Shears, you get a 30-Day trial period and Lifetime Warranty! You can get a great deal and trust that you can try them out before you are committed to keeping them. If you aren’t satisfied, simply return them for a full refund. Now that’s what I call risk free buying.
2. What type of steel are you buying?
Make sure that you know what type of steel you are buying. Many companies claim their shears are from Japan, but the reality is…Most of them are from other countries such as Korea or Pakistan, and they use a lower quality steel called J2 or 420. The best steel type for styling shears is 440C stainless steel. Most scissors made with this Japanese steel are around $300.
3. How long should they last?
Quality styling shears will last a long time when properly maintained. Clean them and keep them in a case and they will last much longer. As a general guideline, you should do about 700 haircuts in between sharpening.
4. Security?
Buying products online can be frustrating at times. At Shiro Shears, we ship items within 24hrs. Our purchase process is 100% secure, we do not store any financial information. Paypal is one of the most recognized payment processors around, and their security is unmatched.
5. I want to feel the shears in my hands before I buy, why should I buy from a website?
The prices we offer online are not available anywhere else. Buy a pair of Shiro Shears. Try them for 30-days, and if you are not satisfied for any reason, we will refund the full purchase price.