How to Texturize Hair With Scissors
May 17, 2021Not all clients know how to describe it. They tell you they want bounce and body and do the thing with their hands. Lucky you know they want – a textured cut.
Texturizing hair with scissors takes some practice and the right tools. But once you’ve mastered it, your clients will return to order the ‘same again’ like they’re sitting in a bar.
Best Methods For Texturizing Hair With Scissors
Texturizing is cutting hair so it adds movement and interest to the style. It’s perfect for clients who want that volume and texture to give the hair an effortless look when really it’s been days since they washed their hair.
Hair cut on the straight and narrow is a bit boring. But cut it into choppy or feathered layers, hello texture. Clients notice the difference. They walk out of the salon thinking they’re a modern day Meg Ryan.
Texturizing Techniques
There is an entire range of techniques hairdressers and barbers use to achieve a textured cut.
Chipping
Snipping little slices of hair with the scissors held vertically to the hair’s direction to give a smoother finish rather than a blunt edge.
Point cutting
Snipping little slices of hair with the scissors held vertically to the hair’s direction to give a smoother finish rather than a blunt edge. To remove more hair, hold the scissors at an angle (more perpendicular) to the hair being cut. You can read more about this technique in our article on point cutting.
Razor cutting
This technique often brings in the big guns – a razor over scissors. A comb guard reduces the amount of hair cut then the razor lightly slides over sections of hair from the mid-lengths to the ends. A fluid motion is needed to shorten and thin out the hair evenly.
Slicing
Don’t be put off by the name. It’s an ideal technique for thick hair to thin and add volume so it doesn’t look flat. With a light grip on the scissor handles, gently slide the blades out from the mid lengths of the hair to the ends.
Weaving
This technique involves using a tail comb to weave through a section of hair in an m-shaped motion moving up and down quickly through the hair, similar for applying foils. The small slices of isolated hair are cut to thin it out.
Twist cutting
Who doesn’t like a little twizzle and turn? To achieve this technique, sections of hair are twisted tight and cut with scissors to texturize. The scissors contact the hair twisted at different lengths to gain an even thinning effect. It’s ideal for thick hair and to soften blunt tips.
Which Technique Do you Choose?
The technique used will depend on the hair type you’re working with and the look you’re after. For fine hair, you’re best to use the smooth or twist cutting technique while thick hair responds best with slithering and chipping techniques.
How to Texturize Hair with Scissors
How to Texturize Medium to Long Hair with Scissors
Lift a section of damp hair from the top. Look for the middle of the hair shaft and point cut small sections of hair along the width. With the hair still lifted move your hair scissors to a slightly higher level and again take small pieces out of the hair shaft.
Repeat the same technique by lifting a circular section around the crown. This is an area of hair that usually goes very flat when hair is long. Do the same again with sections of hair in the back. The shorter areas of texturized hair will give your look more lift, volume and movement.
How to Texturize Short Hair with Scissors
While a razor will give you a textured cut as it thins and feathers the hair, a pair of scissors offers you more control. Scissors also cause less damage to the hair than razors do.
Short haircuts often have a strong shape. But you’ll want to create the shape without compromising on a softer, diffused edge. Instead of using a straight shear and doing lots of little point cuts, it’s quicker and easier to use a blending shear.
Determine how much length you want to remove then following the contour of the head shape, cut the hair. You’ll achieve the desired length and be left with a soft edge rather than a hard straight one. Continue with more sections moving around the head until you have the desired length.
Texturizing Curly Hair with Scissors
Take small sections of hair and slide cut with the shears at a 45 degree angle inside the hair shaft rather than the ends like you would a men’s cut. Section off another part of the head and repeat. Don’t start the slide cutting too high up the hair otherwise you will have pieces that stick out.
Hair naturally bends so cut below the bend. For touching up after the hair has been blow dried, walk the scissors down rather than sliding the scissors down. With some of the weight removed, there is more room for the curls to form.
What is the Difference Between Texturizing Scissors & Thinning Scissors?
Texturizing scissors are different to thinning scissors because they have wider teeth with more space between each one. The extra space means they take out a thicker piece of hair than thinning scissors to create layers that add volume and texture.
Thinning shears are designed to blend the lines left by hair scissors. They soften the edge of hair and cut away some hair so there’s more movement in the style.
Heavy coarse hair can benefit from both texturizing and thinning. The combination techniques thin and add texture to the ends and mid-section of the hair.
Thinning Scissors - Our Selection
Buy the Best Hair Thinning and Texturizing Shears
Sure it takes good hairdressing skills but to texturize hair properly a hairdresser or barber needs the right tools to do their best work.
After much searching, Scissor Tech has put together a range of shears that can only be described as precision instruments. Made from premium-grade Japanese steel, their ergonomic, sculpted handles provide maximum control and maneuverability.
They work as an extension of your hand ensuring they do the hard work, not your body. We have a range of hair thinning scissors in beautiful finishes including classic steel, rose gold, matt black, rainbow chrome and printed styles.
Treat yourself and buy a new pair of scissors or contact one of our scissors experts anytime if you have questions.