How to Thin Hair with Scissors

Three Ways to Thin Hair - Tips and Instructions

The main techniques used in thinning the hair with scissors are called

- Point Cutting
- Notching
- Slithering

These techniques are done using a regular haircutting scissor and are all similar because they use the scissors to remove a portion of the hair. They are different from each other in the amount of hair you remove when you use them and the angle that you use when you cut the hair.

Point Cutting is used to create choppy looks and soften a layered cut, usually one that is mid-length to longer. You hold the hair section perpendicular (at a right angle) to the head and you use the thinning shears to cut inward at a steep angle. This technique is good for texturing curly hair especially, with the angle being adjusted based on the size of the curl.

Notching is done the same way as Point Cutting, but is usually done on much shorter, straight hairstyles. Notching is great for a spiky, wild look. It also allows the hair to have added texture and movement.

Slithering is generally used for long, straight or wavy styles to remove bulk from the ends of the hair and give a soft finish. In slithering, as with the previous techniques, the hair is held out perpendicular (at a right angle) to the scalp, but instead of cutting into the hair, the scissors are held slightly open and slid along the length of the hair away from the scalp. Another term for this is slide cutting.

Each of these techniques thin the hair but do it differently, creating different looks. These looks can actually be done much easier and faster with thinning shears and razor tools.

Nadine Visscher is the author of The Beginner’s Guide to Cutting Hair (http://www.youcuttinghair.com) and has a large selection of haircutting scissors, dvds and ebooks at http://www.haircuttingsite.com.

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