Razor Cuts

Long razor cut hair with bangs
Long razor cut hair - Photo: Sam D Cruz/Shutterstock
Q: Tell me the good and the bad about razor cuts. Who should get them; who should not?
 
A: Razor cuts have grown in popularity again as the long, straight styles came back into fashion. They are excellent for giving the hair soft-looking straight styles, adding texture and shaping the hair into smooth layered styles.
 
Razor cuts are great for women (and men) with straight to moderately wavy hair, especially if you prefer a softer looking style. Individuals with tightly coiled hair, curly hair, and African-American hair types are not candidates for razor-cutting. Using a razor on these hair types only leads to frizzy looking styles, generally.
 
Razor-cutting can be used as a technique to actually create the haircut, or simply as a technique to add softness and texture to scissor-cut hairstyles. However, you want to make sure that the stylist who is going to perform a razor cut on you is experienced in using the razor to cut the hair. This is not a case where you want to volunteer to be someone’s “first time”. These blades are very sharp and can result in accidents when the stylist isn’t confident and comfortable in their use.
 
There are many salons who offer razor cuts, and I’ve heard it said that if you go to a stylist who uses the “guard” on her razor, you should not let her cut your hair. I disagree completely. Given the danger in having such a sharp blade near my scalp, I would always prefer that my stylist have safety foremost in mind when giving me a service. I’ve known stylists who have used razors for cutting for decades who wouldn’t think of approaching a client with an unguarded razor.
 

And it should be noted that most State Licensing agencies REQUIRE that razors have blade guards on them during the licensing tests. These tests are to assess a stylist’s knowledge of safety and sanitation protocols as much as hairdressing skill. If using an unguarded razor were such a sign of “skill”, the agencies would want to make sure that the stylist could use them in that manner. Otherwise, it would be akin to judging someone’s ability to ride a bicycle with training wheels on.
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
How to use a razor tool
 
Is there a difference between getting a razor cut and a scissors cut?
 
Could frizziness or damage occur while using a razor?
 
Trimming long hair with razored ends
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