Stylist Terminology
Blunt Cut: A haircut with no layers, cut straight-across where the weight falls on the bottom of the hair. Also known as a solid or heavy cut. A stylist that uses scissors to create sharp, graphic lines will deliver this sort of cut. If your hair is thin, fine, or fragile, ask for this when you want a haircut that preserves the density and overall integrity of your hair.
Point Cutting: Cutting hair with the scissors positioned vertically to add the lightest bit of texture to the hair ends. Very light point cuts create a softer edge.
Dusting: The term I use for describing my clients who really mean just a trim. It’s when you literally just cut the ends of the hairs that are split or broken—nothing else to it.
Inch: An inch is an inch.
Layers: Layers are separate from your overall hair length, they are shorter pieces of hair that seamlessly fall together and give your hair volume and dimension. They can be on the surface of your haircut or within it. You can't get one layer here and there or just three layers, Instead, you should use a reference spot for your shortest layer, and then all your layers will fall from there to where your overall hair length is.
This cutting technique is used to remove varying amounts of hair weight or volume. Longer layers leave more weight in the hair, while short layers take more out. A side benefit for men: if your hair is thinning, layers can give the appearance of thicker hair.
Short layers are used to create a choppy cut. Flowing, blended, and seamless for anyone with longer hair desiring the undone, effortless, beachy look. By keeping the layers—both face-framing and throughout the back—long and seamless, this effect is achieved.
Weight Line: The part of your hair cut that holds the most weight (think of it as the base).
Graduation: The hair graduates from longer to short. This can relate to graduating the back of a bob or 'forward grad' refers to layering around the front of the hairstyle.
Bangs (aka Fringe): Face-framing layer of hair cut over the eyes. Can be side-swept and blended into layers with the rest of your hair, blunt and heavy, cut straight-across, or light and wispy/choppy through point-cutting.
Carve and Slice: Individual curl-cutting technique where the hairstylist assesses each curl and carves out the haircut piece-by-piece rather than just taking length off from the bottom, which in turn could lead to a stacked pyramid effect.
Dry Cutting: Typically, this is a second-round of hair cutting done when hair is already styled and dry, but it can also be used as a primary cutting method that's great for attention to shape and detail. It also allows a hairstyle to be cut the way you prefer to wear your hair texture.
Bob: A haircut with the weight line at your chin/just below the ears.
Lob: is a slightly longer version of the bob, with the weight line grazing the collarbone.
Disconnection: Not connecting main sections of the hairstyle through seamless layers. When picked up, there will be a clear difference between the front and back of the hair or general sections.
Pixie: Short haircut close to the scalp. Not long enough to be considered a bob.
Blocked: For a blocked look, I will cut a straight line across your natural neckline. The result should resemble a square block. Guys with skinny necks can benefit from a blocked neckline; it gives the appearance of a wider neck.
Choppy: A choppy cut involves “point cutting” different lengths into your hair. This helps product to do its magic, and can help your hair look fuller.
Clipper: The electric razor that the stylist may use to cut your hair.
Nape: Simply, the back of your neck. The nape is where your neckline cut choice comes to life.
Notch: Your notch (or “arch”) is the space between your ears and your hairline. It can be cut in two ways: high or natural. A higher cut over the ears can make small ears look bigger, and vice versa.
Razoring: Using a straight razor to trim the ends of your hair instead of scissors helps hair lay flat and reduces puffiness. This is especially beneficial with curly hair.
Rounded: A rounded neckline is basically a blocked neckline (see above) with the corners taken off, making for a more – you guessed it – rounded look.
Shears: The scissors I use to cut your hair. There are a few types of specialized shears, including the thinning shears (see below).
Taper: A haircut style where the hair gradually gets shorter the closer it gets to the neckline or sides. This term can refer to both necklines and the sides of the head. It’s also known as a “fade.” Most men’s cuts have some kind of taper.
Texture: Many modern styles use some kind of texture or layering. Getting the right texture means knowing your hair type. Is it really thick and voluminous? I can help you tame it by thinning it out. Have curly hair? Razoring the edges (see above) can make your curls a whole lot easier.
Thinned: Thinning is for men and women with extra thick, bushy hair. I will use thinning shears to remove some of the volume from your hair.
Feathering: Feathering is a cutting technique I use to take hard lines out of the hair. By cutting into the hair softer lines are created
Hard Part: is a shaved line in the scalp for an ultra-defined look. the shaved part provides a striking contrast that works well with undercuts, fade, spike, and comb overs
Mohawks: are classic short mohawk, also liberty spike
Fohawk: is a mohawk, but instead of a “real” mohawk where you shave the sides of your head, you just glue up the middle part of your regular hair so that it is in the style of the mohawk. also known as fauxhawk.
