We know stylists are juggling a lot right now! Including how to squeeze in all of the services your clients are asking for in a shorter amount of time and with fewer clients allowed in the salon. So we asked one of our educators to provide tips for dry cutting and styling in order to help you speed up “cuts only” clients. Christina has been a hairstylist for 23 years and leads our education curriculum for Sebastian and SEB MAN in North America. Christina is known for her cutting and styling skills and was happy to offer this advice: Why is knowing how to dry cut so important, especially right now?
I believe dry cutting is so integral to our everyday lives in salons now because so much has changed. Because salon capacity and timing has been so significantly reduced (lost time cleaning in between clients, no double booking, etc), we have to work smarter. Understanding and growing our arsenal of techniques with dry cutting will enable us as professionals to still be creative and design looks for our clients that give them a sense of confidence and joy.
What are five dry cutting techniques stylists should be doing in the salon?
- Back cutting with shears – I love this technique because it creates seamless layering and movement.
- Point cutting with shears – This is a technique that I use in almost every haircut that I do. It gives a more lived-in feel and I have flexibility on how deep I want to point cut which helps customize for clients.
- Slide cutting with shears – slide cutting is a technique that I use often around the face and crown area to give a soft finish.
- Skimming with a feather blade – I am a hairdresser that loves using a feather blade on dry hair! I always make sure to have a fresh, sharp blade when cutting on dry hair. Skimming is my go-to for about 90% of my haircuts. It helps remove weight and adds texture, movement, and detail.
- Filtering with texturizing shears – when filtering, the key is to point cut with your texturizing shears. Never go in horizontally with this technique!
Three Must-Have products for stylists?
- Potion 9 – I mix Potion 9 and Dark Oil in my hands together and apply to wet hair. This is a personal favorite of mine and a styling cocktail that I use literally every. single. day!
- Dark Oil- I mean, the fragrance alone is an obsession! It is also the most magical oil on the market. It literally disappears in the hair but yet you get the benefits of an oil (smoothing, moisture, and de-frizzing).
- ReShaper – This hairspray is a staple in my kit. It’s flexible but can be layered for more hold. It’s also humidity resistant.
Potion 9 has always been ahead of its time…which is why it is celebrating 30 amazing years as a beloved product! It’s probably the best leave-in treatment styler ever made. If you have clients getting those 90s chunky highlights, give them the perfect product to product those highlights with Potion 9!~Christina, Sr Education Manager