Have you ever gotten your hair cut but not been happy with the result? A lot of the time, it can be tricky to explain exactly how you want it cut or what you want it to look like.
Stylists cut hair using both scissors and clippers, but these two methods are used for very different specific designs.
It’s important to know the difference in both techniques and when you should use them for both clients and professional stylists.
Scissors
The majority of people might be more familiar with cutting hair with scissors rather than clippers. Most women have their hair cut with scissors and they are more specifically used for styling both men and women.
Scissors can cut almost any length of hair over half an inch long and is mainly used to add texture. Scissors create a choppy and highly textured cut for any hair. They’re also able to cut smaller, more precise hairs to make sure the length is even and all falls together correctly.
Clippers
Hair clippers are seen more in barber shops and used mainly on men or shorter haircuts. They cut closer to the shape of the head and are great for cleaning up hairlines and shearing a lot of hair all at once.
You should only use clippers if you’re trying to cut a few inches at most, as they’re not the best for cutting hair longer than two to three inches. However, hair clippers are consistent and able to cut a large amount of hair the same length.
Clippers aren’t just for shearing though. You can get more creative with designs and styling with clippers than you can with scissors. While scissors are great for creating layers in hair, you can get a great tapered short haircut with clippers by using different guards. The guards on clippers range in how short they can cut hair. These allow for designs like fades and high & tight haircuts.
You can also combine both clippers and scissors for a more stylized look. Trimming some parts of the head with clippers and other sides with scissors is very popular and creates unique styles.
For Stylists
The majority of people might be more familiar with cutting hair with scissors rather than clippers. Most women have their hair cut with scissors and they are more specifically used for styling both men and women.
Scissors can cut almost any length of hair over half an inch long and is mainly used to add texture. Scissors create a choppy and highly textured cut for any hair. They’re also able to cut smaller, more precise hairs to make sure the length is even and all falls together correctly.
Obviously, if you’re a stylist, you need to listen to what your client asks for when it comes to their haircut. So knowing what kind of device to use to create what they want is essential.
Be sure to know their lifestyle and how much time they will put into their hair every day. You want to cut it so that they are able to maintain it they way that they want to. Cutting hair with clippers naturally lends itself to a lower maintenance haircut that men and women can style easier.
If you’re a stylist who wants to learn more about the difference in scissors and clippers and when to use them, contact Patrick the Groomsmith for details about one of his upcoming educational workshops.
