Hair Cutting – SS2 Beauty & Cosmetology Lesson Note (First Term)

Hair cutting is the shaping of hair to fit a person’s face, using scissors (shears) and clippers. The stylist divides the head into sections, cuts a small guide line to the desired length, and uses it as a map for the rest. Tools must be cleaned, disinfected, oiled and sharpened regularly.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain why hair is cut in sections and what a guide line is;
• hold a pair of scissors correctly and describe the “still blade” and point cutting;
• state the effect of clipper guards and the taper lever on hair length;
• describe the over-the-comb and palms-to-palms techniques;
• list four ways of cleaning and maintaining cutting tools.

What is hair cutting?

Hair cutting is more than just making hair shorter. It is about shaping the hair to fit a person’s face. Before you pick up a tool, you must understand how hair falls.

• Sectioning: We never cut hair all at once. We divide the head into sections (top, sides and back). This keeps the work organised.
• The “guide line”: This is the most important concept. You cut one small piece of hair to the desired length, and then you use that piece as a “map” to cut the rest.
• Posture: A good stylist stands straight. If you lean or bend too much, your lines will be crooked.

How do you use scissors (shears)?

Scissors are used for precision and for creating soft, natural looks. They are not like kitchen scissors: they are much sharper and balanced differently.

• How to hold them: Place your ring finger in the top hole and your thumb in the bottom hole. Your pinky finger should rest on the “tang” (the little hook on the handle). This gives you total control.
• The “still blade”: When you cut, only your thumb should move. The other blade stays still. This ensures the cut is straight.
• Point cutting: Instead of cutting straight across, you snip into the ends of the hair with the tips of the scissors. This removes weight and makes the hair look textured rather than “chopped”.

How do you use clippers?

Clippers are the “engine” of the barbershop. They are used for removing a lot of hair quickly and for creating “fades” or “tapers”.

• The guards (attachments): These are the plastic pieces you snap onto the clipper.
  1. Low numbers (e.g. #1 or #2): Cut the hair very short.
  2. High numbers (e.g. #4 or #8): Leave the hair longer.
• The taper lever: The little handle on the side of the clipper.
  1. Closed: Cuts the hair closest to the skin.
  2. Open: Leaves the hair slightly longer (helpful for blending lines).
• The “C-stroke” motion: To avoid leaving harsh lines in the hair, you “flick” the clipper outward in a “C” shape as you move up the head.

What are the basic cutting techniques?

Every good haircut is built on these two moves:

1. Over-the-comb technique: You use a comb to lift the hair and then cut the hair that sticks out of the comb using scissors or clippers. This is how you blend the short hair on the sides into the long hair on top.
2. Palms-to-palms: When cutting with scissors, your palms should face each other. This keeps your hands out of the way and helps you see the guide line clearly.

Safety check: Always keep your fingers at least an inch away from the blades. One moment of distraction can cause a nasty cut.

How do you keep cutting tools clean and in good condition?

Your tools are your livelihood, so look after them.

• Cleaning: After every haircut, use a small brush to remove hair from the clipper blades and scissors.
• Disinfecting: Use a professional disinfectant spray (like Barbicide or Clippercide) to kill germs. This prevents “barber’s itch” and other skin infections.
• Oiling: Put two drops of oil on your clipper blades every day. This keeps them from getting hot and pulling the client’s hair.
• Sharpening: Never use dull scissors. If they fold the hair instead of cutting it, they need to be sharpened by a professional.

Classroom practical exercise

1. Dry run: Practise the “C-stroke” motion with the clippers turned off to get the wrist movement right.
2. The grip: Show the teacher how you hold your scissors using the “still blade” technique.

Identification: Look at a set of guards and identify which one will leave the most hair on the head.

Evaluation

1. What is a guide line, and why is it used?
2. Explain the “still blade” and point cutting.
3. State what happens to the hair when the taper lever is closed and when it is open.
4. Describe the over-the-comb technique.
5. Give two reasons for disinfecting and oiling cutting tools.

Assignment

Write short notes on the four ways of cleaning and maintaining clippers and scissors (cleaning, disinfecting, oiling and sharpening). For each one, say why it is done.