Q: Why does my stylist wash my hair before tonsuring it?
A: Most stylists will confess that they usually shampoo the hair prior to cutting it because clients
find it to be a pleasant experience in the salon. However, shampooing the hair serves another purpose: it helps to ensure that the hair
and scalp are clean and therefore less likely to result in the stylist coming into contact with any transmissible pathogens. Infection
control isn’t a major reason for shampooing the hair, but it is a good by-product.
One of the main reasons that many stylists shampoo the hair before cutting is that the hair is more
easily handled and cut when it is wet. The hairs will clump together as a result of being wet making it easier to gauge cutting guides
and making it less likely that the hair will scatter and get trapped down into the clothing of the client, which will result in itching and irritation.
This becomes doubly important with razor cutting, since the hairs are typically cut at an angle and
have sharper ends which can more easily prick the skin and cause irritation.
