For most textures, Tripodi actually recommends trimming hair while it's slightly damp. "If it's towel-dried and a lot of moisture is taken out of the hair, but you can still see its natural texture, that's a generally good time to cut it," she explains.
It's best to cut your hair when it's dry, suggests Jamie Stevens, hairdresser and owner of Jamie Stevens Hair. 'Wet hair will change shape and also become shorter when it dries,' he explains. Ensure that your mirror is a comfortable height and you have a plan in mind.
Cutting the hair when it's already dry allows the stylist to trim just the right amount off – and eliminates the shock factor that can come right after a cut, when it can bounce up way more than anyone expected.
Both experts agree, however, that dry cutting hair can be risky because any mistakes made are way more visible and harder to fix. According to Groover, wet cutting is good for seamless layering but requires more detail. She explains that cutting wet hair will result in a healthy renewal of the overall shape and style.
Wet Hair Cutting
It allows the stylist to trim your hair accurately and give a precise shape to your style. It is also helpful while doing foundational haircuts. The moisture in the wet hair acts as a lubricant that helps in detangling the hair, making it easy to part while cutting.
Dripping wet hair is pretty much impossible to cut properly with clippers, so don't even try. A good towel dry helps prevent the clipper blades rusting and makes it much easier for you to achieve the style you want.
Yes and no. If you're getting a cut, we'll typically wash your hair for you, but if you've already showered and have wet hair then that's perfectly acceptable. However, if you're getting your hair colored, you'll want your hair to be dry so our stylists can best assess your needs and apply the color.
"The hair is elastic, so when you cut it wet, the ends can fray a little more," said Arturo. "When the hair is dry and you're using dry cutting scissors, you get a much cleaner cut on the ends of the hair, so they don't split and fray as much."
Not sure how much to tip your hairstylist? We asked three etiquette experts, two salon professionals and a certified financial planner. Most of these experts suggest leaving 15% to 20%, depending on the service and your satisfaction. Going with 20% is nice for the stylist and you because that math is pretty simple.
Sharper styles tend to grow out better, meaning you can wait a little longer for a trim. If you want to keep your hair at the same length, get it cut every 6 to 8 weeks. But if you want to grow it a little longer, cut it every 8 to 12 weeks.
People with fine, wavy, straight, thin, curly, and dyed hair are the most likely to benefit from air-drying. “It's healthier for people with this hair type because [air-drying] lacks heat, and it's not directly on the scalp,” Sturdivant-Drew says.
The best and most effective way to deal with unsightly split ends is to cut them off completely. Cutting also prevents them from rising further up the hair shaft and causing more damage. “It's almost like stopping a tear on a piece of fabric,” says Kei. “If you don't get rid of it, it'll only get worse.”
If you trust your stylist and she is educated and is giving you what you want, then why question it? “It's not rude to ask your stylist, but it's rude to tell her she's overpaid if you don't agree with a reasonable response.
Using 20% as a tipping baseline, here's what you'd expect to pay for the tip: $20 haircut - $4 tip. $25 haircut - $5 tip. $30 haircut - $6 tip.
Remember the golden rule: "You should tip 20 percent on the entire service cost, not per individual," says Schweitzer. So if your haircut and blow-dry cost $40 total, and your color was $60, your total service cost comes to $100. That means you should tip $20 divided between the colorist and stylist.
"Hair dusting is a technique in which you don't get rid of any hair length, but only the damaged hair tips. This can be done by snipping the very bottom of each hair strand. Think of it in terms of removing fuzz from clothes," Los Angeles-based stylist, Sal Salcedo, explained to Refinery29.
Conditioning your hair is one of the best things you can do to help get rid of split ends. When you have split ends, your hair needs more hydration than ever. “[Conditioners] coat wet hair so it's easier to detangle, which can lead to less damage and make it softer and more manageable,” Aral says.
The only real disadvantage of dry cutting hair is that it can be difficult to create precise lines. If you're looking for an A-line or very blunt bob, you're probably better off getting your cut while your hair is wet.
Not only is it hygienic, but showering before a haircut will also improve the quality of the cut. When your hair is clean, it's easier to work with. The barber will have a much easier time cutting it, and the results will be better.
Many hair salons won't ask you to do much to your hair before you step in the door, but when visiting a salon or stylist that specializes in dry cutting, you may be asked to arrive with freshly washed, air-dried hair. Don't be alarmed by the ask: This service is in your favor.
Anything wet is hard for the razor to get through and it will ruin your clippers,” Capizzano explains. If you're a beginner and cutting your hair with scissors and a comb or your fingers, however, the pro recommends doing it while hair is wet because it'll be easier to work with. “Wet hair is moldable.
20% of the Total Services
“It really depends on the service,” notes MCH Global hairstylist Daniel Kim. “Typically, I say 20% of the total for the services. If it's a free service, like bang trims and such, I would say $10 to $20 is pretty good.”
$50 service = $10 tip. $100 service = $20 tip. $150 service = $30 tip. $200 service = $40 tip.