Have you ever felt that a few days after getting a haircut, your hair doesn't look the same as when you walked out of the salon?
Surely, you've had thoughts like these:
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"Am I incapable of styling my own hair? I just went to the hairdresser!"
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"Could it be the shampoo or conditioner I'm using?"
These thoughts may push us to either rush back to a safe place (the salon) or buy more and more expensive hair care products, emptying our wallets in pursuit of the perfect look.
However, this may not be the real solution; dry hair cutting might be! More and more master hairstylists are switching to this technique, and here are some opinions from them.
Renowned hairstylist and master of dry hair cutting, Kristan Serafino, believes that this type of cutting is the only way to see how your hairstyle will really look after the stylist is done. Dry hair cutting is suitable for everyone but is especially recommended for those with curly hair.
"When the hair is wet, the follicles are filled with moisture, making it unnaturally plump, and wet hair gradually thins out, potentially leading to cutting off more than necessary," she says. "That's why with wet hair cutting, the final result can only be guessed. Cutting hair while it's dry is the only way to observe the hair's natural fall and adjust our scissors accordingly."
Let's take a look at both cases:
It's no secret why hairstylists have been choosing wet hair cutting for so long – "it allows for the most precise lines," explains Julien Farel, the creative director and owner of Julien Farel Restore Salon and Spa at NYC's Regency Hotel. "Due to condensation, wet hair cutting is ideal for achieving precise lines, such as an A-line or a very blunt bob, or even a fringe. Another reason why Farel prefers cutting wet hair is because of its greater flexibility. 'Wet hair cutting provides much more freedom and variety compared to dry cutting; we can create more creative shapes.'"
Now, let's focus on dry hair cutting! Farel points out that he can see the hair's movement better, especially where most of the volume and mass is located, or where it thins out the most, making it possible to determine exactly how much needs to be cut.
"This technique is an ideal choice for thin and damaged hair," he adds. "The hair ends are also more visible when the hair is dry. Everything is visible, from density to damage, which must be taken into account for the best cut."
Dry hair cutting largely depends on the face shape and features as well. "Every haircut must always consider the face shape," says Millard. "If you cut wavy/curly hair in a place where it naturally falls on the client's head, it provides visual shape to the cut and frames the face well." For curly hair, cutting it dry prevents excessive length loss. Dry hair doesn't shrink after drying, so the end result becomes immediately visible. "Any hair type can be cut dry if properly prepared," says Gia Wendt, the leading stylist at SPACE by Alex Brown in Chicago, IL. "For example, if someone has very curly hair, it should be straightened before cutting, but it can be cut dry afterward."
