4 Fast Men’s Cutting Tips

Working on upping your men’s grooming game? Who better to take advice from than Jamie Stevens, British Hairdresser of the Year nominee in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017?! We caught up with Jamie at Matrix Destination 2018 and he gave us some quickie tips for stylists trying to master their clipper game. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Clippers—They’re Like Scissors
“Typically, the longer the blade, the less control you have, and the shorter the blade, the more control you have. So, for precision cutting, you would use a shorter blade.” Remember this: when working with a clipper, just like with scissors, the closer your finger and thumb are to the blade, the more control you have.

2. Body Position—Be Mindful Of It
Jamie suggests keeping the clippers in the center of your chest. “It’s not wrong to hold them any other way, it’s just easier and you’ll get better end results if you keep the clipper in line with the center of your body,” he shares. That means, always keep your body position open and move around the head as you work.

3. Creating A Fade—Don’t Do Extra Work
If someone is going to do a fade with a pair of clippers, they tend to start from the bottom and work all the way up—but that means you’re repeating steps. “I only do the area that I want to do, so I do a grade four where I want it to be a grade four. Then I move a half inch down and go in with my grade three,” says Jamie.

Watch the video below to see what we mean.

4. Your Chair, Your Rules—Always
Don’t be afraid to keep your hand on your client’s head. “It’s my chair, so it’s my rules. Wherever I want my client’s head to be is where it will always be,” says Jamie. Why does he work this way? Because if working with a native blade, and if the client sneezes or moves unexpectedly, all of a sudden you have no control.

Watch this video to get a few more quick tips from Jamie!