3 Cutting Fundamentals To Relearn For A Booming Business

Fundamental Haircutting Lessons To Build A Business

Are you a seasoned stylist feeling at a standstill in your career—or fresh out of cos school looking for guidance? Well, you’re both in the perfect spot to focus on nailing your fundamentals skills. Get ready to go back to the basics: Read on to learn why you shouldn’t be afraid of viral haircut names, how to break down trends into your basic foundational skills and enhance your business through a variety of resources.

1. Why Relearning A Layered Haircut Could Change Your Business 

Have you gotten a client request for the butterfly cut this year? Whether you knew the trend name or not, social media-born haircut names can feel intimidating to execute. But, guess what? These trendy haircut names are your foundational cutting skills.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @ahappyjustin

Take Ulta Beauty Design Team Member Justin Toves-Vinicilione (@ahappyjustin), for example. Justin has gone viral, been put on stages across the country and educates hairstylists in and out of the salon from a classic, rounded layer haircut tutorial: “Butterfly Haircut in 15 Minutes or Less”

Get his process, from start-to-finish, below:

1. Take a triangle section at the fringe and create a guide at the center partline by cutting the first layer below the chin.

2. Take a large vertical section from the center partline to above the ear, overdirect the section forward and cut the length to match your guide. Pro Tip: Rehydrate with water or your favorite cutting aid as you work.

3. Take another large vertical section behind your previous section and cut the length to your previous section. Repeat on the other side.

4. Take a large section from the crown to the nape, overdirect the hair forward and cut the length, using your previous section as your guide.

Pro Tip: When overdirecting, wrap the hair on top of the ear to create a blunt perimeter; or, comb the hair over the ear to maintain length.

5. Next, create a parting down the center back, overdirect the hair forward and cut the length using your previous section as your guide. Repeat on the other side.

6. Prep the hair for styling with a blow-dry primer and mousse; then, blow-dry the hair with a round brush to accentuate the butterfly look.

Photo Credit: Instagram via @ahappyjustin

Refreshing core skills is for your entire career, not just the beginning—that’s why Ulta Beauty is focusing their 2024 education on core skills. Every Ulta stylist is expected to master six core services that they can execute on any hair type.

2. Customizing Basic Skills Will Set Your Work Apart  

Once you’re overly confident in your core skill set, things get fun. Now, you’re ready to expand your “second nature skills” into artistic interpretations, like Justin does so effortlessly: Find multiple variations of the classic butterfly cut below and get ready to take notes of their points of difference. 

Customizing For Shoulder-Length Clients

To create a shorter version of a layered cut (the butterfly cut) you need to know when to cut the perimeter length.

As demoed below, Justin leaves the length out until the sides of the head are layered to avoid over-texturizing the nape and losing the shoulder-length goal. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Justin Toves-Vincilione (@ahappyjustin)

Adding Shorter, Shaggy Layers

The shaggy flare added to the butterfly cut comes from a simple change in elevation: “You can see here that by blunt cutting lines at a 45-degree of elevation, the butterfly cut gets a little revamp,” Justin explains.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Justin Toves-Vincilione (@ahappyjustin)

Creating A Softer Butterfly Cut

Suited for clients with medium-length hair, this version of the butterfly cut maintains a long, strong perimeter and appears softer because the layers are less blunt. Remember: “Slide cutting softens and elongates,” Justin explains.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Justin Toves-Vincilione (@ahappyjustin)

The Butterfly With Bangs

Once finished with the butterfly cut, you will dry and wet cut the fringe, utilizing overdirection and small subsections for precision.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Justin Toves-Vincilione (@ahappyjustin)

If you’re needing a push in your career or want to rework your salon life, click here.

3. Own Your Business Beyond Just Hair

There’s always room to grow, whether you’re looking to increase profits, create a better budget, learn how to save or improve your salon culture.

Do you feel overwhelmed to put the accountability and research on yourself?

If you’re looking for guidance, every Ulta stylist has a dedicated team members to support all aspects of stylist development. Want paid-for education on the latest techniques and trends and endless growth opportunities, too? Ulta is always hiring—click here to learn more!

To get started today, check out the free resources BTC has to help you build your salon community, increase your income and more:

• How to build a strong salon culture: 5 steps to take
• New to budgeting and investing? Get the basics here
• Want to make six-figures? It’s possible—learn from stylists who did it
• Grow your profit: 6 saving and investing tips you need

Getting paid to learn doesn’t have to be a dream—click here to make it your reality.

This content is sponsored.