3 Texturizing Techniques For Shags & Layered Haircuts

Create Texture Using A Straight Razor, Scissors & Texturizing Shears
Whether it’s mastering a new technique, learning how to work with different tools or simply keeping up with the trends—you can really never get too much cutting education! That’s why we hosted our first cutting-only show, BTC’s One Night Stand, in our hometown (Chi-Town!) to dish out LIVE education from the best cutters on Instagram. Here’s what we learned about texturizing with three different tools: a straight razor, scissors and texturizing shears!

Missed One Night Stand? No worries! Watch the full playback HERE.

Products Used

Oil

Treatment

Moroccanoil®

Styling

Bed Head Motor Mouth™ Mega Volumizer With Gloss

TIGI® Professional

1. Razor-Cutting Internal Layers

Shall we shag now or later? Here’s how BTC Team Member Briana Cisneros (@brianacisneros) creates strong structure and soft texture to achieve the heavily-layered trend.

Get The Steps

1. Apply Moroccanoil® Treatment as a cutting lotion.
2. Then, section the hair following the head shape and create concave layers using a straight razor, working from the bottom to top. This will help collapse the shape and any unwanted heaviness.
3. Working up the head, continue to open the razor stroke more (and more!) to build texture. Every new section should be slightly longer than the previous section—this will build a strong structure for the top layers to fall on top of, and the open stroke will create softness throughout the cut.

Tip For Consistent Razor-Cutting:

Look for negative space to check the consistency of your stroke pattern. After cutting a section using the razor, hold the hair and look for a consistent line—checking to see if the longest points are in line with one another.

2. Slide-Cutting On Short-Haired Clients

On short-haired clients, avoid removing too much length when texturizing. Here’s how TIGI master cutter Joel Torres (@joeltorresstyle) creates a piecey effect!

Get The Steps

1. Apply TIGI Bed Head Motor Mouth™ Mega Volumizer With Gloss as a cutting lotion.
2. Take a radial section at the crown, elevate the hair and slide-cut (opening and closing the shears) to create drastic separation and movement without removing too much.
3. Joel recommends cutting the hair using the part of the shears that’s furthest away from the point and closest to the screw. This will help maintain control and high tension when slide-cutting.

3. Progressive Dry-Cutting

You’ve heard all about dry-cutting on Instagram by now. Here’s how BTC Team member and Matrix Educator Philip Wolff (@philipwolffhair) adds additional texture to a midlength haircut after it’s dry!

Get The Steps

1. Blow-dry the hair. Once completely dry, Philip recommends refining and detailing by dry-cutting each section from top to bottom to create maximum texture throughout.
2. Taking each section, use a progressive-cutting technique with texturizing shears, starting on the inside and working your way out. Body position tip: Stand behind the client for progressive-cutting and use the mirror to check your work.  
3. Here’s the technique: Elevate the hair the opposite way and over-direct each section, only working through the last third of the length. Cutting from underneath the section, progressively cut rows, scooping out weight and moving toward the ends.