Top 5 Tips for Condensed Cutting Curly Clients

by Ivan Zoot/The Clipper Guy on Monday, August 30, 2010

Ivan Zoot is the director of education and customer engagement for the Andis Company and the founder of Zoot! Hair professional hair care products. Ivan identifies, recruits, trains and manages Andis’ team of professional beauty industry educators. Ivan continues to be a featured presenter at industry shows and events, sharing his unique blend of information, education and enthusiasm for clipper cutting and the entire professional beauty industry. Ivan’s background includes experiences ranging from salon ownership to achieving 3 Guinness World Haircutting records.

We have explored how curly hair is different from a cutting perspective. This time, let’s look at one of my favorite curly cutting techniques. Condensed cutting has benefits for all hair types. It works great on curly hair. Your clients will love it and you will, too.

Traditional hair cutting relies on small sections and precision distribution of hair. Condensed cutting is a technique where multiple sections are gathered together, condensed, and cut as one. This creates movement and texture vastly different form traditional sectioning and cutting.

Here are my top 5 tips on why condensed cutting is ideal for curly clients.

1. Movement: Condensing sections creates increases and decreases in hair length across the curve of the head. These changes in length create movement in the hair design. This is great for curly hair.

2. Texture: Curly texture is best maximized when we do not section, distribute and cut with tension and precision. Hair behaves more naturally. Natural texture is played for all it is worth.

3. Timing: Condensed cutting reduces the time needed to cut. Turn your chair and turn up your profits.

4. Tools: Take your pick. Clippers, scissors and razors all bring interesting added dimension to condensed cuts. Try all your tools and experience the differing results.

5. Sales: When you bring new ideas and techniques to your chair, you bring energy and excitement. Our industry thrives on selling the new and the hot. Position this and other techniques to differentiate yourself and your craft. Clients will flock to your chair.

Try some condensed cutting this week and share your experiences. I look forward to learning of your successes.

Happy cutting.