i've even seen hairdressers who have long haired clients either have the client stand up, or they get on there knees and cut.

Get on their knees? I'ver never seen this and frankly no client nor cut is important enough for anyone to do it. Have some self-respect. If anyone is getting to their knees it's got to be the client, thanking me for my talent.

sometimes cutting a straight line is the hardest thing to do, not surprising, many great artists can't draw a straight line.

I always have the client stand up arms down at their sides and I turn the cape around backwards on them. I also never move from my spot, I have the client turn for me. Then I always sit them back down to do the finishing stuff, like bangs or if they want angles etc. Check out their back and arms, try to get a good solid invisible line in your head and don't try to cut across all at once. you'll end up pushing the hair and get one side longer than the other or choppy looking line. Cut in little sections at a time while constanly combing the hair flat before you cut again.

after years of practice sure they probably could, brit. Just ASK the artists you know if they could/can draw a straight line without a ruler. Most can't, I know this stuff because I'm a truly gifted by nature artist. I can draw, paint, sculpt just about anything either right off or after a few tries. but a straight line? I really need to concentrate or use a ruler to get a good one. (note I'm not talking about 2" here obviously, since the lines we are cutting are much longer than that. Anyone can draw a 2" line straight- artist or not.)

I'm not stuck or stagnant in any way, My range is huge. I can do the most child-like whimical or abstract stuff to realistic.

Something I can do though that maybe some of your artist friends can also do is write words or a sentence in a straight line without watching what I'm writing. Most people cannot do this without the words either going up or going down eventually.

I think we can probably find basis for what I've written in that most artists are right-brain thinkers. Sometimes theoretical or non-abstract aproach such as drawing a perfectly straight line is beyond them.

Here's my theory on straight lines and why people in the hair trade believe that it's so hard...

When you arrive at Beauty School the first cut you are taught to do is a blunt all one length cut which is a straight line across. Of course it seems hard, you have never done it before and the teacher always tells you that it's the hardest thing to do to make you feel better about yourself and build your confidence, I've often done this myself.

Don't allow yourselves to be suckered by this simple ruse, it's really not as difficult to do a blunt cut as it is to layer or graduate or stack or...well you get the picture, it's just that you will have developed some basic skill and a feel for the tools when you move on so you don't notice that it's more difficult.

Again, where's the data to prove that most artists can't draw a straight line?

Here's my theory on straight lines and why people in the hair trade believe that it's so hard...

When you arrive at Beauty School the first cut you are taught to do is a blunt all one length cut which is a straight line across. Of course it seems hard, you have never done it before and the teacher always tells you that it's the hardest thing to do to make you feel better about yourself and build your confidence, I've often done this myself.

Don't allow yourselves to be suckered by this simple ruse, it's really not as difficult to do a blunt cut as it is to layer or graduate or stack or...well you get the picture, it's just that you will have developed some basic skill and a feel for the tools when you move on so you don't notice that it's more difficult.

Again, where's the data to prove that most artists can't draw a straight line?

 think we can probably find basis for what I've written in that most artists are right-brain thinkers.

I do not believe in the so-called right-left brain theory. I'm left handed yet can write more legibly and beautifully than most right-handed people, despite the fact that most languages are created for right-handed writers as are all tools, unless specifically created for left-handers.

Most of the research done into left-handedness shows that there is no real differences between the hemispheres but what's most often mis-understood is the places in the brain where certain functions reside. Left-handed people often recover their ability to speak and write after strokes because of this placement and this is often mistaken for right-left brain business.

Sometimes theoretical or non-abstract aproach such as drawing a perfectly straight line is beyond them.

Good for you vallygrrl.....May I just add that when I do the blunt, I taking sections for more precision and when I do the nape, I flaten my comb against the head and leave it there while I cut.....creates a great guide.  Then the top couple of sections, maybe more (depends on the consult) I stack ever so slightly to give it that finished look and a little extra body. But, however, if the really want that totally blunt look then I shatter the interior just a little for movement. 

Good days for all!