5 cutting techniques every hairdresser should know
Published
04th Jun 2020
by eleanor
Whether you’re an apprentice starting out or an experienced hairdresser, there are five key cutting techniques every hairdresser should know, according to four-times British Hairdresser of the Year, Akin Konizi from HOB Salons.
“Using the right cutting techniques can add movement and dimension to a hairstyle,” says Akin. “Once you know the right techniques to use, you can create any shape or texture. It’s about using the right techniques to help you develop your cutting skills.”
Cutting Techniques Every Hairdresser Should Know
1. Layering
“The most important technique but often the most underestimated. Good layering helps you create the material for all your shapes. You can use it for every shape, texture and hair type,” says Akin.
2. Graduation
“Graduation is used to build up weight, with geometric lines either with or without tension and will form the outline of any shape you create,” he says.
Make sure you have the right hairdressing scissors for the job to create the desired effect on your client.
3. Reverse Graduation
“This is the best kept secret in hairdressing,” says Akin. “It’s the opposite of each section getting shorter; each section is getting longer. It was used a lot in the 80s to create hard, strong geometry.”
“The modern version is to use it on one-length styles. Use it on one-length styles to combat graduation,” he says.
4. Texturising
Texturising isn’t taken seriously enough, says Akin. “It’s about cutting shorter lengths into your longer lengths to create an internal shape in your haircut that will work as a structure to your styles,” he says.
“Sometimes it will give a softening effect, or it can be used to thin out the hair. Texturising offers a whole world of possibilities and potentials by manipulating weight.”
5. Precision Cutting
“Precision cutting is not just for geometry. It’s how I do all my cuts,” says Akin. “It’s about doing your work precisely; if it’s a messy haircut, you still cut it with precision. If you want to create texture or choppiness, you still use precision.”