Jeryl E. Spear

Haircutting For Dummies


Скачать книгу

line; overly tightened blades cause bunching and extra wear on the blades. To make sure that your scissors are properly adjusted, hold them parallel to the floor with the finger ring facing down. Release the finger ring. If your blades open all the way, they are too loose; if they open to within an inch (2.5 centimeters) or so of entirely being open, they are just right.

       Have your scissors sharpened any time they’re not cutting like they did when they were fairly new. Send them to a service center recommended by the manufacturer. If you have an inexpensive pair, it’s time to purchase a new tool and use your old pair for practicing your cutting moves on a mannequin head.

Photos depict trimmers versus clippers.

      Style Craft (www.stylecraftus.com)

      FIGURE 2-3: Trimmers versus clippers.

      

When people try to use trimmers to do clipper haircuts, chances are excellent that the trimmers will have a mechanical meltdown.

      Trimmers work better and last longer when you properly maintain them. The maintenance process includes putting two drops of oil across the top of the blade while it’s running (at the end of each cutting day) and keeping debris from building up by frequently removing the blade and brushing away the snippets of hair. (For a more detailed step-by-step on how to maintain your trimmers, check out Chapter 8.)

      GETTING CLIPPER HAPPY

      Clippers are the grown-up version of trimmers. They are used for classic barber cuts, tight blending, or fading techniques, trendy haircuts, and to shorten the perimeter length of one-length hair.

      Clippers are popular power tools with stylists, barbers, and home haircutters. Doing clipper cuts is also a specialty skill that deserves its own chapter. Check out Chapter 8 to get a good grasp on clipper basics and perform easy tutorials, as well as throughout Part 4.

Nickel-cadmium (ni-cad) batteries power many cordless trimmers. This type of battery has a memory — if you only partially charge your trimmers most of the time, the battery will eventually only partially charge before you have to recharge it. To prolong the life of your trimmers, completely discharge the battery at least once a month by unplugging the charging base and turning on the trimmer until the battery is completely dead. Then fully recharge it according to the manufacturer’s directions.

      You can find these handy machines at nearly all retail stores carrying blow-dryers and curling irons, beauty supply stores, and online. While not all trimmers are created equal — some are more powerful and cut closer to the skin — you can still purchase a fairly decent model for less than $20.

      There’s a good reason why styling stations include several drawers. Haircutting requires some tools and supplies that you need, and a few more that you just want to have around. Table 2-1 lists the bare minimum you should have on hand before having your spouse, your little cuties, or your friends sit in your chair.

      

In case you’re wondering, some of my extra goodies that aren’t on this list: hand sanitizer, nitrile gloves, scissor oil and a microfiber cloth, breath mints, hand lotion, hand mirror, and an emergency protein bar for when lunch has been scratched in favor of accommodating a friend or family member.

      

Some of the best haircutting towels are waiting for you at the back of your bathroom cupboard. You know the ones: too good to call rags but too worn to hang out in the open. The profile of a perfect home haircutting towel is one that is older, thinner, and lies flat around the neck and shoulders.

Tool Where You Can Find It What It’ll Cost You
Haircutting scissors and/or clippers Retail stores and beauty stores, and online $15 and up
Trimmers Retail stores, beauty supply stores, and online $9 and up
Styling/Cutting combs Retail stores and beauty supply stores, in person and online $1 to $15
Wide tooth/Detangling comb Some retail stores, all beauty supply stores, and online $1 to $5
Tail comb or pintail comb Some retail stores, all beauty supply stores, and online $2 to $15
Cutting capes (adult and child) Some retail stores, all beauty supply stores, and online $5 to $15
Assorted hair clips Some retail stores; best choices sold at beauty supply stores in person and online $1 to $5 per pack
Spray bottle with mist setting Most retail stores; best choices are sold at beauty supply stores $1.25 to $4
Haircutting/Salon towels Sold at beauty supply stores and online; worn-out hand towels work great! $1.25 and up each
Floor covering (such as newspaper) Sold at newsstands, coffee shops, and various stores $1+

      While there’s a dizzying array of combs on the market, most of them are for styling the hair. (Check out Chapter 19 and Chapter 20 for the lowdown on styling tools preferred by stylists, as well as many ways to make the hair bend to your will.) Table