Hair Care and Haircutting
Hair fundamentals
Know the cuticle as the protective outer layer, the cortex as the strength and pigment layer, and the medulla as the center, which is not always present. Growth cycles include anagen (active), catagen (transition), and telogen (rest and shedding). Before service, assess porosity, elasticity, density, scalp condition, and client history. Shampoo lifts dirt and oil; conditioner lowers friction and improves manageability. Wet hair stretches and may shrink after drying, so tension and length checks matter.
Haircutting
Use clean capes and neck strips, and sanitize tools. Establish a guide, section consistently, control elevation and tension, and cross-check. Elevation controls graduation and layers: low elevation builds weight; high elevation removes weight. Blunt shears cut cleanly; dull shears crush or bend hair. Razors and clippers require correct tension and blade care.
Traps
Uneven results often come from inconsistent subsection size, wet-cutting without accounting for shrinkage, cutting before consulting, excessive tension, or skipping cross-check. Do not diagnose scalp disease; refer suspicious conditions.
Worked example
For a uniform layer: part a central vertical section, take a mobile guide at 90 degrees, cut parallel to the guide, work side to side with the same elevation, then cross-check diagonally. If one side is longer, re-establish the guide rather than chase the line.
Rule of thumb: keep subsections no wider than your comb, and let elevation and the guide do the work.