How to Do Hair

Why Learn How to Do Hair?

Learning how to cut and style hair is a useful skill, even if all you learn are how to do basic trims and simple styles. The price of a trim or cut ranges from $10 to over $45 depending on the specific salon, included treatments ( washing, conditioning, etc.), and intricacy of the style. Following the recommended guidelines of trimming hair every 6-8 weeks, it is possible to save from $60-$400 or more per year by learning to do the style yourself. If you use your new skills on others, such as children or a spouse, you can save even more, or you may want to consider starting your own business to make money from your talents.

Another reason to learn about cutting and styling hair is that the knowledge will give you greater control over your style. Simply being able to converse with your stylist about the length and angling of layers, how to balance face shape, or which shade of highlights will best accent your skin tone can help you make suggestions for new styles that will suit your needs and personality. If you cut your hair yourself, you can have even more flexibility with the style by knowing how to properly create different looks.

As you learn how to do hair you will also acquire knowledge about how to care for a style and keep it looking great in different conditions. Understanding the chemical processes behind perms, for example, can help you understand how to adjust the treatment timing to create the curls you desire. Knowing the genetics behind red versus brunette hair will help you adjust styles to meet your needs, and understanding military guidelines can help you fashion a trendy and practical short style. Regardless of your ultimate goal, understanding what goes into a great style from the root to the tip will help you enjoy every strand of your hair.

Tips for How to Do Hair

Learning how to style, cut, color, and otherwise manipulate your hair may be a quick process for a simple look or it may take months of study to learn about complex styles. Great resources for learning about hair include:

• Reading style magazines and how-to books with detailed illustrations
• Attending a workshop or class at a local beauty school
• Asking your stylist for a running commentary as they do your hair

Whether you are interested in crafting specific styles or would just like to learn how to cut hair effectively, there are certain tips that can help make the process easier.

Styling

If you just want to learn how to style hair without cutting, consider the following tips.

• Start with simple styles to learn basic techniques before progressing to elaborate looks.
• Watch the style created at a salon, preferably on someone else so you can observe from all angles.
• Refer to pictures frequently while styling so you can make adjustments as you go.
• Don’t skimp on products, particularly dyes, sprays, gels and other styling chemicals. Professional products deliver professional results.
• Practice on a wig if possible before styling your own or someone else’s hair.

Cutting

When learning how to cut hair, remember the following:

• Damp hair stays together more easily and can be cut more smoothly without loose strands.
• Hair stretches when it is wet and dry hair will be shorter than wet hair, so cut less initially than desired. You can always take a bit more off if needed.
• Work with small sections of hair but continually compare them to surrounding locks to ensure continuity.
• Use the proper cutting tools for the desired style – clippers provide a very different cut than scissors.
• Keep cutting tools sharp for easy trimming but always keep them carefully stored away from children.

Equipment

Always use the proper tools.

When learning how to do hair, the most common mistake is to not use the proper equipment. Professional-grade tools such as hair dryers, curling irons, various sizes of brushes, and superior hair care products deliver noticeably different results than less expensive, generic brands. Even the best skill in the world cannot compensate for a curling iron with uneven heating or a shampoo that weighs hair down. While products and equipment alone will not create a stellar style, using the appropriate tools helps the style look as stunning as it would in a salon.

Making How to Do Hair a Career

Once you learn how to do different styles and looks, you may find that you thoroughly enjoy the creativity and skill involved in styling hair. Becoming a professional stylist, however, takes more than just personal study and practice. Consider enrolling in a local beauty academy or styling school for advanced classes that can lead to a professional license and certification. On the other hand, you could opt for a home hair-trim business encompassing just family and friends, but be sure to investigate local and state regulations for hair stylists before starting a new career.

Knowing how to do hair can have both personal and professional benefits. Not only can you save money and hassle, but learning new skills can lead to more stunning styles and even a new career as a professional stylist.