Between the outgrown layers, cut up ends, and awkward bang lengths, there’s no denying that lockdown has seen its fair proportion of dangerous hair days. Whether or not your native salon has closed, you’re beneath lockdown, or just attempting to maintain social interactions to a minimal, it is perhaps time to take issues into your personal palms and begin chopping your hair. For those who’ve been hesitant to choose up the scissors, know that the consultants say you possibly can completely do it your self—so long as you will have the fitting instruments of the commerce.
To seek out out extra, we hit up L.A. celeb 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 youngster. He’s right here to provide the lowdown on chopping your personal hair, together with the most effective hair shears to make use of at dwelling.
The very first thing to bear in mind is that not all hair shears are created equal. Celeb hair stylist Clayton Hawkins cautions towards utilizing common family shears you might need mendacity round the home.
“Don’t beneath any circumstances reduce your hair with workplace scissors except you need frayed, damaged ends,” Clayton says. “You don’t have to interrupt the financial institution to discover a high quality pair of hair chopping scissors.”
What to search for in your hair chopping scissors
When procuring on your excellent pair of shears, there’s a couple of essential issues to bear in mind. You’ll need to take into account the fabric, form, blade and deal with kind, in addition to the scale of your scissors. Good hair chopping 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 desire, though “the longer the thumb and deal with, usually it’s simpler to make use of.” Nonetheless, the form of your scissors doesn’t matter as a lot because the precise blade materials. With regards to the standard of steel, Japanese metal is essentially the most coveted. They normally have a sharper convex edge, which is particularly good for chopping bangs.
“It doesn’t get higher than German or Japanese metal,” says Clayton. “These choices are definitely pricier, however I might take into account them an funding that may 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 funds, Clayton says that American stainless-steel may also undoubtedly get the job completed.
By way of dimension, an excellent rule of thumb to observe is for scissors to be so long as your prolonged palm. Something longer is suited to specialised chopping methods, similar to slide chopping or deep level chopping. Clayton recommends a medium scissor that’s roughly 4 to 5 inches in size. “You probably have tremendous lengthy fingers, you possibly can go for a 5 to 6 inch pair. However usually this dimension is best for novice hair cutters to have management and grip whereas trimming their very own hair.”
You’ll additionally need to take into account the scale of finger and thumb holes within the scissors. Utilizing shears which might be 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 possibly can at all times connect some small, detachable finger rings to make them narrower.
The 7 greatest hair scissors and shears to purchase
1. The Equinox Skilled Razor Edge Sequence 6.5”
Known as the “excellent newbie’s pair of shears” by Clayton, the Equinox Razor Edge Scissors are among the many greatest you should buy. 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 possibly can 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 provides you loads of management when chopping bangs and different tough 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 stainless-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 snug whereas trimming.
4. Jaguar Lane 5.5 Inch Scissors
Clayton recommends these scissors “if you wish to put money into a pair that may final you at the least a decade.” Jaguar scissors are broadly considered being top-of-the-line hair chopping scissors in the marketplace, recognized for his or her balanced weight and clean chopping motion. Moreover, the premium metal blade has a tip chopping angle for optimum sharpness.
5. Tweezerman Spirit 2000 Styling Shears
Designed for freshmen, the Tweezerman Hairdressing Shears function micro-serrated edges to provide you extra precision and management. The looped deal with is snug 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 forestalls them from making that terrible metal-against-metal noise. The stainless-steel building, 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 chopping hair extensions. “If you wish to reduce your Luxy Hair extensions, there is no such thing as 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 real looking than chopping them with precise shears.”
How you can reduce your hair at dwelling
In case your hair is crying out for a trim, it is perhaps time to convey the hair salon dwelling. If it’s your first time giving your self a haircut, it’s greatest to begin small and go shorter in increments. Use sharp hair chopping shears, together with a large tooth comb to assist obtain an excellent reduce. Listed below are some pointers for chopping hair at dwelling:
1. To trim your hair (and do away with cut up ends)
After washing and conditioning hair, let it dry fully earlier than beginning to reduce. Snip with the ends of the hair scissors, as a substitute of your entire blade size. Use clips to assist separate hair into manageable sections. Make sure that to examine that the size is identical on all sides. When chopping off cut up ends, you should definitely maintain your chin up. For those who’re wanting down, you can 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 greater than the nook of your eye. Level reduce a small part at a time, following the form created by your hairstylist (if potential).
3. To chop curly and wavy hair
Start by letting hair air dry, then model into your required form. Solely reduce items of hair that appear to be misplaced. It’s greatest to chop half of what you initially deliberate to chop, since chopping off 1 inch will appear to be you narrow off 2 inches. The shorter your hair is, the lighter and springier the curls will probably be.
