To texturize the ends of your hair with scissors, the most common and effective technique is point cutting. This method involves cutting into the ends of the hair at an angle to remove bulk, create softness, and add movement, rather than cutting straight across.
Understanding Hair Texturizing
Hair texturizing is a cutting technique used to reduce the density of the hair, remove weight, and create visual movement and texture within a haircut. It's particularly useful for thick hair to prevent it from looking bulky and to allow natural flow. When texturizing the ends, the goal is often to soften blunt lines, blend layers, or create a wispy, lighter finish.
Preparing for Texturizing
Before you begin texturizing, ensure your hair is:
- Clean and Dry or Slightly Damp: While some stylists prefer damp hair for precision, dry hair allows you to see the true fall and movement of the hair, making it easier to assess the texturizing effect as you go.
- Combed Through: Ensure there are no tangles.
- Tools: You'll need sharp professional hair-cutting scissors. Dull scissors can damage the hair, leading to split ends.
The Point Cutting Technique for Ends
Point cutting is ideal for texturizing ends as it allows for precise removal of hair while maintaining length and adding a soft, textured finish.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Section Your Hair:
- Start by sectioning the hair you wish to texturize. It's often easiest to work with small, manageable sections, especially around the perimeter or specific areas like bangs or layers.
- You can clip away the hair you're not working on to keep it out of the way.
- Isolate a Section:
- Take a small section of hair, about 1-2 inches wide, from the area you want to texturize. Hold it straight out from the head or in the direction it naturally falls, depending on the desired effect.
- Position Your Scissors:
- Hold your professional hair-cutting scissors vertically or at a slight angle (around 45 degrees) to the ends of the hair. Avoid holding them horizontally, as this will create a blunt line.
- Perform the Cut (Point Cutting):
- Using just the tips of your scissors, make small, quick snips into the very ends of the hair section.
- The deeper you cut, the more hair you remove and the more dramatic the texturizing effect will be. For subtle movement and softness, only cut about 0.5 to 1 inch into the hair.
- As highlighted in professional texturizing techniques, the aim is to "give it more movement." When performing this technique, you don't have to go crazy if the hair is not extremely thick. You may go through the ends an extra time or two, or even a lot, depending upon the hair's thickness, to achieve the desired movement and softness.
- Work your way around the entire perimeter or the specific sections you wish to texturize, always taking small sections and point cutting into the ends.
- Check Your Work:
- After texturizing a section, comb through it and observe how the hair falls. Shake your head slightly to see the new movement.
- Compare both sides of your hair to ensure symmetry and balance in the texturizing. You can always go back and remove a little more if needed, but you can't put hair back once it's cut.
- Style as Desired:
- Once you're satisfied with the texturizing, style your hair as usual to see the full effect of the added movement and lightness.
Tips for Effective Texturizing
- Start Subtle: Always begin by removing less hair than you think you need. You can always take more off, but you can't put it back.
- Use Sharp Scissors: Dull scissors will push the hair, leading to uneven cuts and split ends.
- Work in Small Sections: This allows for greater control and precision, especially when working on yourself or someone else.
- Consider Hair Type:
- Thick Hair: Can handle deeper point cuts and more aggressive texturizing to remove significant bulk.
- Fine Hair: Requires very minimal and shallow point cutting to avoid making the hair look sparse or stringy. The goal is just to add light movement.
- Angle Matters: The more vertical your scissors are, the softer the cut will be. A more angled cut (closer to horizontal) will remove more bulk but still provide a softer line than a blunt cut.
By following these steps and considering your hair type, you can effectively texturize the ends of your hair with scissors, achieving a lighter, more dynamic, and softer look.
