Between the outgrown layers, cut up ends, and awkward bang lengths, there’s no denying that lockdown has seen its fair proportion of unhealthy hair days. Whether or not your native salon has closed, you’re underneath lockdown, or just attempting to maintain social interactions to a minimal, it may be time to take issues into your individual palms and begin reducing your hair. Should you’ve been hesitant to choose up the scissors, know that the consultants say you may completely do it your self—so long as you’ve the best instruments of the commerce.
To seek out out extra, we hit up L.A. movie star hairstylist Clayton Hawkins, with a star-studded shopper checklist that features Elizabeth Olsen, Dakota Johnson, Emma Roberts, and Elizabeth Banks. Having labored on high-profile occasions like The Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Emmys, and Grammys, Clayton has been perfecting his hair-cutting craft since he was a teen. He’s right here to provide the lowdown on reducing your individual hair, together with the very best hair shears to make use of at residence.
The very first thing to remember is that not all hair shears are created equal. Superstar hair stylist Clayton Hawkins cautions in opposition to utilizing common family shears you may need mendacity round the home.
“Don’t underneath any circumstances minimize your hair with workplace scissors until you need frayed, damaged ends,” Clayton says. “You don’t have to interrupt the financial institution to discover a high quality pair of hair reducing scissors.”
What to search for in your hair reducing scissors
When buying on your excellent pair of shears, there’s a number of necessary issues to remember. You’ll wish to contemplate the fabric, form, blade and deal with sort, in addition to the scale of your scissors. Good hair reducing scissors ought to match comfortably in your hand and glide by way of hair seamlessly.
So far as thumb and deal with design go, ergonomic is best. In accordance with Clayton, it’s solely as much as your choice, though “the longer the thumb and deal with, typically it’s simpler to make use of.” Nevertheless, the form of your scissors doesn’t matter as a lot because the precise blade materials. Relating to the standard of metallic, Japanese metal is essentially the most coveted. They normally have a sharper convex edge, which is particularly good for reducing bangs.
“It doesn’t get higher than German or Japanese metal,” says Clayton. “These choices are definitely pricier, however I’d contemplate them an funding that can final a very long time.” German shears normally function an opposing deal with, which is prone to really feel higher in a non-hairdresser’s hand. For these of us balling on a price range, Clayton says that American chrome steel will even undoubtedly get the job carried out.
By way of dimension, an excellent rule of thumb to comply with is for scissors to be so long as your prolonged palm. Something longer is fitted to specialised reducing strategies, reminiscent of slide reducing or deep level reducing. Clayton recommends a medium scissor that’s roughly 4 to 5 inches in size. “You probably have tremendous lengthy fingers, you may go for a 5 to 6 inch pair. However typically this dimension is best for novice hair cutters to have management and grip whereas trimming their very own hair.”
You’ll additionally wish to contemplate the scale of finger and thumb holes within the scissors. Utilizing shears which are too massive can put a pressure in your hand and even result in damage with extended use. In case your scissors aren’t becoming snugly, you may at all times connect some small, detachable finger rings to make them narrower.
The 7 finest hair scissors and shears to purchase
1. The Equinox Skilled Razor Edge Collection 6.5”
Referred to as the “excellent newbie’s pair of shears” by Clayton, the Equinox Razor Edge Scissors are among the many finest you should purchase. Not solely have they got over 11,000 five-star evaluations on Amazon, however additionally they are comparatively cheap. The bevel blade is sharp all through, which helps keep away from frayed, cut up, and broken hair. The crane design additionally helps a pure grip, which implies you may comfortably use them for prolonged durations of time.
2. Sanguine Skilled 5.5” Hairdressing Shears
Comprised of Japanese metal, these Sanguine shears are sharp, small, and intensely sturdy. The compact dimension offers you loads of management when reducing bangs and different difficult spots.
3. ULG Hair Thinning 6.5” Scissors
It’s at all times a good suggestion so as to add a pair of thinning shears to your hair-cutting equipment. This ULG pair of highly-rated chrome steel scissors might help soften traces, take away weight, and mix layers immediately. To not point out that there’s finger safety to maintain you comfy whereas trimming.
4. Jaguar Lane 5.5 Inch Scissors
Clayton recommends these scissors “if you wish to spend money on a pair that can final you at the very least a decade.” Jaguar scissors are broadly thought to be being the most effective hair reducing scissors available on the market, identified for his or her balanced weight and clean reducing motion. Moreover, the premium metal blade has a tip reducing angle for max sharpness.
5. Tweezerman Spirit 2000 Styling Shears
Designed for rookies, the Tweezerman Hairdressing Shears function micro-serrated edges to provide you extra precision and management. The looped deal with is comfy for many hand sizes. And at simply $22 on Amazon, this pair of starter scissors gained’t break the financial institution.
6. Cricket Shear Xpressions
Delicate to sound? The Cricket Shear Xpression scissors have a built-in silencer that stops them from making that terrible metal-against-metal noise. The chrome steel development, ergonomic deal with, and detachable finger rings are simply the cherries on high.
7. Feather razor
As a bonus choice, Clayton recommends a feather razor for reducing hair extensions. “If you wish to minimize your Luxy Hair extensions, there isn’t a higher choice than a feather razor. The blade must be changed fairly steadily, however razoring your clip-ins will make them look a lot softer and extra life like than reducing them with precise shears.”
How one can minimize your hair at residence
In case your hair is crying out for a trim, it may be time to carry the hair salon residence. If it’s your first time giving your self a haircut, it’s finest to begin small and go shorter in increments. Use sharp hair reducing shears, together with a large tooth comb to assist obtain a fair minimize. Listed below are some pointers for reducing hair at residence:
1. To trim your hair (and do away with cut up ends)
After washing and conditioning hair, let it dry utterly earlier than beginning to minimize. Snip with the ends of the hair scissors, as a substitute of the complete blade size. Use clips to assist separate hair into manageable sections. Ensure to test that the size is similar on either side. When reducing off cut up ends, be sure you preserve your chin up. Should you’re trying down, you could possibly find yourself taking off an excessive amount of size.
2. To chop face-framing layers
Begin along with your common half after which vertically part hair, bringing it to the entrance. Comb this part inch by inch, directing ahead at a 40 diploma angle. The underside of your first inch mustn’t raise increased than the nook of your eye. Level minimize a small part at a time, following the form created by your hairstylist (if attainable).
3. To chop curly and wavy hair
Start by letting hair air dry, then type into your required form. Solely minimize items of hair that appear to be misplaced. It’s finest to chop half of what you initially deliberate to chop, since reducing off 1 inch will appear to be you chop off 2 inches. The shorter your hair is, the lighter and springier the curls might be.
