Should you cut wet or dry hair?

Are you a hairdresser looking for the best way to cut your clients' hair? Cut on dry hair or damp hair? What are the differences between these two cutting techniques?

Welcome to Myciseauxcoiffure. Here we have the answer to your questions. Cutting hair concerns everyone but especially hairdressers. Although most of the time the cut is done on damp hair, there are other cutting techniques.

When it comes to cutting hair, there are two schools: cutting wet hair and cutting dry hair. Ease of cutting, better vision of the final result… Let’s take stock together!

In this article we will talk about:

• The best way to cut your clients' hair
• The differences between a cut on dry hair and wet hair
• The advantages and disadvantages of a cut on damp hair
• The advantages and disadvantages of a cut on dry hair
• Our expert advice for cutting your clients' hair

Without further ado, here we go!

1) Cutting on damp hair

In general, at the hairdresser, you will probably be offered a shampoo and then a cut with wet hair. This is the most common method in hair salons .

And for good reason, the latter has several advantages to its credit… But also disadvantages. We will see all this in more detail

Advantages of cutting on damp hair

Let's see together, first of all, the many advantages of a cut with a wet base on the hair.

1) The most common technique

This method being very common, it has been completely mastered for a long time by hairdressers... It is also on this basis that all apprentices improve in hairdressing schools! So you can be sure that your hairdresser will always feel comfortable with your wet hair and will have no difficulty achieving the cut of your choice.

2) Clean hair

Who says washed hair, necessarily says clean hair. Styling on a wet basis allows, with a shampoo beforehand, to get rid of all the residues as well as any styling products that you may have on your scalp.

Thus, the cut will be even more pleasant for your hairdresser who will work on a clean, healthy base and free from any foreign interference.

3) The natural fold

Wet hair is easier to cut because no hair curls when wet and tends to take the natural bend, allowing for cutting based on the way it falls.

4) More easily styled

Wet hair is easier to style, due to the fact that it is not electric and does not escape under scissors for example. They remain perfectly positioned. Note also that pieces of wet hair do not cause itching when they come into contact with the skin.

5) Speed ​​on cuts with mass

Who says damp hair... Says saving time for your hairdresser, especially on hair with a lot of mass! This said mass, with wet hair, will be much more "united" and therefore more easily culpable. A much quicker and less unpleasant job to do.

6) Cleaning surfaces

Yes… It’s important! Wet hair will be much easier for your hairdresser to clean after your visit. They'll stay to themselves instead of twirling all over the place and attaching to your clothes, making it easier to sweep.

Disadvantages of cutting on damp hair

Now that we've seen all the positives, let's look at some of the negatives of cutting wet hair.

1) Dry hair is shorter!

When cutting on wet hair, it is important to always remember that once dried, the hair will be shorter. Yes, damp hair looks much longer than it actually is.

You could have a bad surprise... But don't panic! A good hairdresser is well aware of all this and will always carry out your cut with the final result on dry hair in mind. But it is important to know nonetheless.

2) More complex finishes

It will always be more difficult to finish with damp hair which does not show the final result. This is why, in order to even out a cut, to work on a spike or a fringe for example…

Your hairdresser will always dry your hair beforehand. This is also when the mower finishes will be done. In any case, wet hair or not, you will always need a pair of high quality scissors .

2) Cutting on dry hair

Now we're going to look at dried hair when cutting. As with damp hair, we will look at the positives as well as the negatives.

Advantages of cutting on dry hair

1) Precision / Finishes

Unlike damp hair, having dry hair allows you to optimize finishes in the best possible way.

When you see a photo of a model with the perfect hairstyle, you know her hair was probably dry cut! Indeed, symmetry and precision are easier to achieve with dry hair.

If you have fine hair, a dry cut is also a good option. In fact, when hair is wet, hair tends to swell and create the illusion of more volume than it actually is.

2) More reassuring for the customer

With this technique, you immediately realize the final result of your haircut, step by step. You therefore have the final result without going through the hairdryer stage, which helps avoid unpleasant surprises.

3) The cut is based on the nature of the hair itself

With dry cutting, your hair is natural, which allows the hairdresser to know exactly what to do and adapt to your needs in real time.

4) Recommended on curly hair

This cut is recommended when your client's hair is curly. You can't imagine how curls "behave" when wet. However, when you dry cut them you can see how they fall and you will get the perfect cut for your client.

Disadvantages of cutting on dry hair

It is now time to finish this comparative article with the weak points of a cut on dry hair.

1) Difficult for hairdressers

In fact, it is more difficult for a hairdresser to cut hair on dry hair than on wet hair. For what ? Simply because they require more time and precision. When wet, the hair forms small clumps, so cutting is much faster.

2) Folds

Sometimes your hair can become creased, which will hinder your hairdresser's task. Nothing dramatic, but this problem really exists and is avoidable with wet hair.

3) Residues

If your hair remains dry, it's because you haven't gone through the shampoo box at your hairdresser. As a result, residues such as hairspray or hair oil will remain present and this will complicate the work of your hairdresser.

4) Cleaning

It is well known that dry hair is more difficult to clean from the floor than wet hair. They spin a lot more and you will have to use the vacuum cleaner, where a broom will suffice for wet hair.

Now you know if you should cut your hair when it is wet or dry

In conclusion, there is no one technique better than the other, it all depends on your needs and the desired result.

Thanks to this article, you finally have the answer you wanted. You now know all the ins and outs of each of the two techniques in order to make the best decision during your next appointment with your hairdresser.