Hair Cut | Hair Stylist 101

If you are a beginner, you might have noticed how strict some customers are with time. Hence, you now find yourself looking for tips on how to cut hair faster. Don't worry, because most beginners struggle with the same problem - how to speed up the process without compromising quality. You sure don't want to be labeled as a slow hair stylist, as this can hurt especially when building your clientele. Always keep in mind that the best and easiest way to master hair cutting is to perfect basic techniques. In addition, you can improve your skills on how to cut hair faster by following tips below. All you need to do is to keep on practicing because as we all know, practice makes perfect. Or in this case, practice makes cutting faster. Now, let's start discussing the tips to improve your skills as a hairdresser. Tip #1 Use the right tools This is the most basic knowledge any hairstylist should have, and also the most important. Using the right tools will not only help you achieve the perfect cut, but it will also save you a ton of time. On the other hand, not knowing which hair cutting tool to use could cost you a lot - time, effort and even your client. So the number one rule is to master the use of cutting tools by heart. Most Common Haircutting Tools Haircutting shears This is sharper than your common scissors, and specifically designed for haircutting. You have to master the art of holding this properly. Thinning shears Also called texturizing shears, its main function is to thin or texturize the hair. Thinning shears only cut about half of the hair. Instead of having two regular blades, one side (sometimes both) is replaced with teeth blades that look like a comb. Haircutting razors Did you know that you can use razors to cut both men and women's hair? Razors are usually used for thinning the ends and creating textured hair. Hair clippers The key to using hair clippers is knowing when to use the guards or blade attachments. Basically, the longer the hair, the longer the blade to be used. Start cutting from the base of the head moving to the top. Cutting Combs Cutting combs are the perfect aid to cutting shears. A good hairstylist would have a wide collection of cutting and razor combs consisting of different sizes for various uses. Tip #2 Master hair cutting techniques The main goal of every hairstylist is to make their customers loyal. To do this, your client must both look and feel good after the service. Sometimes, clients leave all the discretion to you as their hairstylist, However, a lot of clients also have a specific style in mind. Your goal is to do according to their instructions. If you have a great mastery of haircutting techniques, not only would you be able to cut hair faster, but you could also give tips and style suggestions confidently. Basic Foundations of Hair cutting Texturizing the hair Texturizing is simply the layering of hair so as not to look flat and lifeless. This is perfect if the client is looking for a casual look. This also looks great for those who want to cover part of their thinning hair, as added texture gives a thicker effect on the hair. Expert hacks: One of the most common ways to do this is by twisting the hair and gently cutting it using a razor. It is better if you could practice how to texturize hair using shears, razors, or both. Use hair wax in styling to help achieve the desired look. Slide cutting This is a cutting technique wherein you glide or slide the fingers and slightly opened shears along the edge of the hair. It is also called slithering, ultimately removing the bulk of the client's hair. Expert hacks: Make sure to have steady fingers. This method works best for clients with long and straight to wavy hair. Never use this for those with curly hair. Point cutting This is a method of adding texture to the hair by cutting it vertically. Hair is divided into thin sections and held up at an angle before cutting. This works best for clients with short hair. Expert hacks: The goal of this cutting technique is to add texture, not remove length, so patience is key. One of the tips to cut hair faster using this technique is to slightly tilt the shears to remove more hair. However, be careful not to cut yourself. Shear-over-comb As the name suggests, the comb is used to hold the hair while the tips of the shears are placed over the comb. Proper comb placement is essential in this cutting method. By applying this technique, stylists are able to cut hair from very close distance to the head. Expert hacks: Use shears with longer blades. Try to stand at either side of your client, and not directly behind to get the full view. You must know when to apply horizontal, vertical or diagonal comb angles. Smooth cutting Smooth cutting is basically thinning hair using a professional haircutting razor. It is almost similar to the slithering or slide cutting technique, except for the tool required. Expert hacks: To cut hair faster in this method, tips include having steady and light hands. You must have full control to avoid chopping off the entire segment of hair that you are holding. Tip #3 Be updated on the latest hair trends A good hairstylist is always updated with the latest trends. One of the best tips to cut hair faster is to be familiar with various cuts and styles because you would already know what tools and techniques to use. Popular Haircuts for Men When it comes to grooming men's hair, there is very little room for error. Men usually stick to their favorite barber so you have to know what they want and do it right the first time. Undercut This is a haircut in which the upper part of the head has long and parted hair, while the lower part is shaved or kept very short. You will be using blades or razors, clippers, and shears. Pompadour Picture Elvis Presley and you now have an idea of what a pompadour hairstyle is. Your client may ask for either a classic take on this look or a modern extreme version. The latter is done with the lower part of the head being shaved to make the look more catchy. Buzz Cut Some men prefer the buzz cut as very short hair means low maintenance styling. It is a classic haircut and also great for those with receding hairlines. Use hair clippers with the right guard size. Helpful notes When deciding how to cut men's hair, helpful tips to do it faster include styling according to segments. For instance, the top part of the hair can be layered, thinned, or razored. The neckline can be rounded, blocked, or tapered. The cut for the arches can follow its natural position or can be a bit higher. For the sideburns, the length can vary from top to bottom of the ear. Just ask your client what he prefers. Popular Haircuts for Women Most women have long hair, so as a women's hairstylist, you have more room for creativity. Right now, there are a lot of tips on how to achieve different hair shapes and cut hair faster. Again, it helps if you know the basic and most common haircuts. You can give the look a different feel by adding twists here and there. Layered Hair Easily the most popular hairstyle for women because it gives the effect of a longer and more voluminous hair. As the name suggests, you will cut the hair into layers. The hair at the back layers is the longest while the hair gets shorter as you go to the top. To cut layered hair faster, the best tips would be to divide hair into segments and cut it using blended elevation. Shaggy Hair Shaggy literally means unkempt. In haircutting, this translates to unbrushed, care-free hairstyle. Shaggy hair is also characterized by layers, but what makes it different from the layered hairstyle is the length. So when someone mentions a shaggy hairstyle, picture short to mid-length (up to the shoulders) hair. Blunt Cut This refers to a straight cut. While it seems pretty straightforward, it is actually not that easy to execute. The key to cut straight hair faster lies on holding the shears precisely so follow expert tips and keep on practicing. Pixie Cut For women looking for edgy hairstyles, you could suggest a very short hairstyle know as the pixie cut. To make sure your client would look good with this cut, you have to know and understand her face shape. Be creative by adding bangs or fringes, a shaved undercut, or even adding highlights to the hair. Bangs Every now and then, a client would request for bangs or fringes. Worry not, because there are various types of bangs that could work well with different face shapes. Full, side-swept, blunt, micro, parted, and wispy bangs are just a few styles that you could master. Tips to cut bangs faster include knowing how to frame the face and cut the hair at an angle. How to become a better hairstylist? Now that we've discussed the tips to cut hair faster, we need to go to the details of becoming a better hairstylist. Let's face it, there is always a room for improvement no matter how good you are right now. Continuous training Take formal classes on advanced haircutting techniques. There are a lot of barber schools or hairstyling schools to choose from. You can even display your certificates as proof of your hairdressing skills and abilities. On the other hand, informal classes can be done with a group of friends or co-workers. Think of it as a fun practice and learning session. Keep in mind that you can always gain something from training - new skills and new friends! Invest in haircutting tools and equipment If you can afford quality tools, don't skimp on it! Just think about how many times you are going to use that pair of shears or electric clippers. It is also better to invest in quality tools that can last for years instead of having to buy new ones every so often. Read reviews on different brands before deciding which to buy to get the best out of your money. Be up to date with fashion We can not stress this point enough! Knowing the latest trends in fashion will give you an edge as a hairstylist. Clients would be disappointed if the hairstylist is not familiar with the requested hairstyle. Remember that clients do not choose stylists just based on who can cut hair faster, but they also prefer those who give tips on something new for them to try. Develop people skills As a hairstylist, you don't want to be too intimidating to clients that they become afraid to ask for what they want. Try to maintain a friendly atmosphere while doing the service. Your goal is to make your clients feel relaxed and comfortable. Be professional In trying to be friendly with your client, being professional is something that you need to work hard on. Remember your boundaries and don't snoop too much on your client's lives. Let them talk to you but don't ask leading and intriguing questions. Some clients would also prefer a quiet environment. Give them the best service from consultation to the actual haircutting session. Being professional also means that you are available on the scheduled appointment. Don't be late or make sudden cancellations. Listen to your client To be able to give the best service, you have to actually listen to your client. Take time to understand how they take care of their hair, what their problems are, and what kind of styling they want to do achieve. Only after listening should you give your opinions and suggestions about their hair. Lastly, the client still has the final say. Love what you do Clients can sense if you like what you are doing. Normally, if you are passionate about your work, you are also able to give better customer service. This passion will also motivate you to keep on improving your craft. How to get more clients for my salon? If you are a business owner, you probably are searching for tips to cut hair faster and how to become better hairdressers because ultimately, your goal is to have a jam-packed salon with a solid customer base. However, not everything depends on the skills and speed of hairdressers. It is also very important to have a good marketing campaign. Here are some tips on how to attract more clients. Promotion There are two types of promotion. The first one is called organic or word-of-mouth promotion. This is highly dependent on the level of satisfaction of clients, and if they are willing to tell others about it. The second one is inorganic and comes with a cost. One of the most popular ways to promote is the introduction of loyalty cards to customers. They get perks for being loyal so it is a win-win situation for both parties. Another option is to sponsor a local fashion show. Offer to do the hairstyles of the participants for free or with a huge discount. Make sure that the name of the salon is listed in the official posters and other promotional materials. To get more people to try the salon, offer discounts or packages for two or more people coming together. Alternatively, give rewards to old clients who bring in new customers. Utilize social media It is important to have an active Facebook page for the salon. People leave reviews and ratings to the page so the customer service both in the actual and online world should be great. In Instagram, remember to always post professional-looking photos. If the hair photos look great, more people will notice and be aware of the services. Learn when it is best to post photos to get higher reach and the most reactions from people online. Don't forget to use relevant hashtags in all posts. Find your specialty It is best to find a niche or specialty that you can offer to clients. You can specialize in doing bridal looks and offer wedding packages. This way, your salon will always be an option whenever there is a wedding. You can also specialize in doing hair colors. Market the salon as the best place to visit for balayage hair. With the help of social media, expect more people to come in. Do not overcharge Sometimes, going to the salon is a luxury. Good hairstylists can command their rates but make sure that it is on par with competitors. Salons that deliver good quality work at an affordable price is likely to get more repeat customers. If there is really a need to increase fees, do it gradually.