HomeUnderstand the Basic Principles of Haircutting Good haircuts begin with an understanding of the shape of the head, referred to as the head form, also known as head shape. Hair responds differently on various areas of the head depending on the length and the cutting technique used. Being aware of where the head form curves, turns, and changes will help you achieve the look that you and your client are seeking. Reference Points Reference points on the head mark where the surface of the head changes, such as the ears, jawline, occipital bone, or apex. These points are used to establish design lines (figure 16-1). An understanding of head shape and reference points will help you in the following ways: Finding balance within the design, so that both sides of the haircut turn out the same. Developing the ability to create the same haircut consistently. Showing where and when it is necessary to change technique to make up for irregularities (such as a flat crown) in the head form. Standard reference points are defined below: Parietal ridge (puh-RY-ate-ul RIJ). This is the widest area of the head, starting at the temples and ending at the bottom of the crown. This area is easily found by placing a comb flat on the side of the head: The parietal ridge is found where the head starts to curve away from the comb. The parietal ridge is also referred to as the crest area (figure 16-2). Occipital bone (ahk-SIP-ih-tul BOHN). The bone that protrudes at the base of the skull is the occipital bone. To find the occipital bone, simply feel the back of the skull or place a comb flat against the nape and find where the comb leaves the head (figure 16-3). Apex (AY-peks). This is the highest point on the top of the head. This area is easily located by placing a comb flat on the top of the head. The comb will rest on that highest point (figure 16-4). Four corners. These may be located in one of two ways. One is by placing two combs flat against the side and back, and then locating the back corner at the point where the two combs meet (figure 16-5). The second is by making two diagonal lines crossing the apex of the head, which then point directly to the front and back corners (figure 16-6). You will not necessarily use every reference point for every haircut, but it is important to know where they are. The location of the four corners, for example, signals a change in the shape of the head from flat to round and vice versa. This change in the surface can have a significant effect on the outcome of the haircut. For example, the two front corners represent the widest points in the bang area. Cutting past these points can cause the bang to end up on the sides of the haircut once it is dry, creating an undesirable result. Areas of the Head The areas of the head are described below (figure 16-7): Top. By locating the parietal ridge, you can find the hair that grows on the top of the head. This hair lies on the head shape. Hair that grows below the parietal ridge, or crest, hangs because of gravity. You can locate the top by parting the hair at the parietal ridge, and continuing all the way around the head. Front. By making a parting, or drawing a line from the apex to the back of the ear, you can separate the hair that naturally falls in front of the ear from the hair behind the ear. Everything that falls in front of the ear is considered the front. Sides. The sides are easy to locate. They include all hair from the back of the ear forward, below the parietal ridge. Crown. The crown is the area between the apex and the back of the parietal ridge. On many people, the crown is flat and is the site of cowlicks or whorls. Because of this, it is extremely important to pay special attention to this area when haircutting. Nape. The nape is the area at the back part of the neck and consists of the hair below the occipital bone. The nape can be located by taking a horizontal parting, or by making a horizontal line across the back of the head at the occipital bone. Back. By making a parting or drawing a line from the apex to the back of the ear, you can locate the back of the head, which consists of all the hair that falls naturally behind the ear. When you have identified the front, you have also identified the back. Bang area. also known as fringe area. The bang area is a triangular section that begins at the apex and ends at the front corners (figure 16-8). This area can be located by placing a comb on top of the head so that the middle of the comb is balanced on the apex. The spot where the comb leaves the head in front of the apex is where the bang area begins. Note that the bang area, when combed into a natural falling position, falls no farther than the outer corners of the eyes

Understand the Basic Principles of Haircutting Good haircuts begin with an understanding of the shape of the head, referred to as the head form, also known as head shape. Hair responds differently on various areas of the head depending on the length and the cutting technique used. Being aware of where the head form curves, turns, and changes will help you achieve the look that you and your client are seeking. Reference Points Reference points on the head mark where the surface of the head changes, such as the ears, jawline, occipital bone, or apex. These points are used to establish design lines (figure 16-1). An understanding of head shape and reference points will help you in the following ways: Finding balance within the design, so that both sides of the haircut turn out the same. Developing the ability to create the same haircut consistently. Showing where and when it is necessary to change technique to make up for irregularities (such as a flat crown) in the head form. Standard reference points are defined below: Parietal ridge (puh-RY-ate-ul RIJ). This is the widest area of the head, starting at the temples and ending at the bottom of the crown. This area is easily found by placing a comb flat on the side of the head: The parietal ridge is found where the head starts to curve away from the comb. The parietal ridge is also referred to as the crest area (figure 16-2). Occipital bone (ahk-SIP-ih-tul BOHN). The bone that protrudes at the base of the skull is the occipital bone. To find the occipital bone, simply feel the back of the skull or place a comb flat against the nape and find where the comb leaves the head (figure 16-3). Apex (AY-peks). This is the highest point on the top of the head. This area is easily located by placing a comb flat on the top of the head. The comb will rest on that highest point (figure 16-4). Four corners. These may be located in one of two ways. One is by placing two combs flat against the side and back, and then locating the back corner at the point where the two combs meet (figure 16-5). The second is by making two diagonal lines crossing the apex of the head, which then point directly to the front and back corners (figure 16-6). You will not necessarily use every reference point for every haircut, but it is important to know where they are. The location of the four corners, for example, signals a change in the shape of the head from flat to round and vice versa. This change in the surface can have a significant effect on the outcome of the haircut. For example, the two front corners represent the widest points in the bang area. Cutting past these points can cause the bang to end up on the sides of the haircut once it is dry, creating an undesirable result. Areas of the Head The areas of the head are described below (figure 16-7): Top. By locating the parietal ridge, you can find the hair that grows on the top of the head. This hair lies on the head shape. Hair that grows below the parietal ridge, or crest, hangs because of gravity. You can locate the top by parting the hair at the parietal ridge, and continuing all the way around the head. Front. By making a parting, or drawing a line from the apex to the back of the ear, you can separate the hair that naturally falls in front of the ear from the hair behind the ear. Everything that falls in front of the ear is considered the front. Sides. The sides are easy to locate. They include all hair from the back of the ear forward, below the parietal ridge. Crown. The crown is the area between the apex and the back of the parietal ridge. On many people, the crown is flat and is the site of cowlicks or whorls. Because of this, it is extremely important to pay special attention to this area when haircutting. Nape. The nape is the area at the back part of the neck and consists of the hair below the occipital bone. The nape can be located by taking a horizontal parting, or by making a horizontal line across the back of the head at the occipital bone. Back. By making a parting or drawing a line from the apex to the back of the ear, you can locate the back of the head, which consists of all the hair that falls naturally behind the ear. When you have identified the front, you have also identified the back. Bang area. also known as fringe area. The bang area is a triangular section that begins at the apex and ends at the front corners (figure 16-8). This area can be located by placing a comb on top of the head so that the middle of the comb is balanced on the apex. The spot where the comb leaves the head in front of the apex is where the bang area begins. Note that the bang area, when combed into a natural falling position, falls no farther than the outer corners of the eyes

Understand the Basic Principles of Haircutting

Good haircuts begin with an understanding of the shape of the head, referred

to as the head form, also known as head shape. Hair responds differently

on various areas of the head depending on the length and the cutting technique used. Being aware of where the head form curves, turns, and

changes will help you achieve the look that you and your client are seeking.

Reference Points

Reference points on the head mark where the surface of the head changes,

such as the ears, jawline, occipital bone, or apex. These points are used to

establish design lines (figure 16-1).

An understanding of head shape and reference points will help you in

the following ways:

Finding balance within the design, so that both sides of the haircut

turn out the same.

Developing the ability to create the same haircut consistently.
Showing where and when it is necessary to change technique to make

up for irregularities (such as a flat crown) in the head form.

Standard reference points are defined below:

Parietal ridge (puh-RY-ate-ul RIJ). This is the widest area of the head,

starting at the temples and ending at the bottom of the crown. This

area is easily found by placing a comb flat on the side of the head:

The parietal ridge is found where the head starts to curve away from

the comb. The parietal ridge is also referred to as the crest area

(figure 16-2).

Occipital bone (ahk-SIP-ih-tul BOHN). The bone that protrudes at

the base of the skull is the occipital bone. To find the occipital bone,

simply feel the back of the skull or place a comb flat against the nape

and find where the comb leaves the head (figure 16-3).

Apex (AY-peks). This is the highest point on the top of the head. This

area is easily located by placing a comb flat on the top of the head.

The comb will rest on that highest point (figure 16-4).

Four corners. These may be located in one of two ways. One is by

placing two combs flat against the side and back, and then locating the

back corner at the point where the two combs meet (figure 16-5). The

second is by making two diagonal lines crossing the apex of the head,

which then point directly to the front and back corners (figure 16-6).

You will not necessarily use every reference point for every haircut, but

it is important to know where they are. The location of the four corners,

for example, signals a change in the shape of the head from flat to round

and vice versa. This change in the surface can have a significant effect on

the outcome of the haircut. For example, the two front corners represent

the widest points in the bang area. Cutting past these points can cause the

bang to end up on the sides of the haircut once it is dry, creating an

undesirable result.

Areas of the Head

The areas of the head are described below (figure 16-7):

Top. By locating the parietal ridge, you can find the hair that grows

on the top of the head. This hair lies on the head shape. Hair that

grows below the parietal ridge, or crest, hangs because of gravity. You

can locate the top by parting the hair at the parietal ridge, and

continuing all the way around the head.

Front. By making a parting, or drawing a line from the apex to the

back of the ear, you can separate the hair that naturally falls in front

of the ear from the hair behind the ear. Everything that falls in front

of the ear is considered the front.

Sides. The sides are easy to locate. They include all hair from the

back of the ear forward, below the parietal ridge.

Crown. The crown is the area between the apex and the back of the

parietal ridge. On many people, the crown is flat and is the site of

cowlicks or whorls. Because of this, it is extremely important to pay

special attention to this area when haircutting.

Nape. The nape is the area at the back part of the neck and consists

of the hair below the occipital bone. The nape can be located by

taking a horizontal parting, or by making a horizontal line across the

back of the head at the occipital bone.

Back. By making a parting or drawing a line from the apex to the

back of the ear, you can locate the back of the head, which consists

of all the hair that falls naturally behind the ear. When you have

identified the front, you have also identified the back.

Bang area. also known as fringe area. The bang area is a triangular

section that begins at the apex and ends at the front corners

(figure 16-8). This area can be located by placing a comb on top of the

head so that the middle of the comb is balanced on the apex. The spot

where the comb leaves the head in front of the apex is where the bang

area begins. Note that the bang area, when combed into a natural

falling position, falls no farther than the outer corners of the eyes.