Dictionary to help you understand your hairdresser’s language: the cuts

At Jean Louis David, to avoid any misunderstandings, our stylists work with lots of images. This means you can show your stylist exactly what you want, so that they know exactly which technique to use to leave you feeling satisfied with your hair. But this doesn’t mean you can’t learn a few basic terms!
 
Short cut: your neck and ears are on show. You don’t need to use any more treatments than you would on other styles, but you do need to visit your hairdresser every 6 to 8 weeks for a trim. Short hair grows fast!
 
Bob: this classic, timeless cut suits people of all ages and is usually chin-length. It can sometimes be longer, but never past the shoulders. It is considered a short cut. There are many different versions of the bob: one-length, layered, straight, curly…
 
Mid-length cut: shoulder-length styles. Just like the bob, there are many different versions of this cut. It all depends on your hair type and the style you’re after. If you go for a mid-length cut, make sure you take good care of your ends. Hair this length tends to rub against your shoulders, which can often be a cause of split ends. So keep them well-hydrated and get them trimmed regularly.
 
Layered cut: when the hair is not all one length, we call this a layered cut. Layering involves cutting varied lengths of hair throughout the head to add shape and volume. In terms of style, this all depends on the type of layering you go for.
 
Thinning: the purpose of this cut is to reduce the thickness of the hair. For example, if a client wants thinner ends, we use this technique. However, thinning does not refer to the amount of hair that is cut off. This technique is often used as a way of adding volume. Note that the thinning technique is rarely used on fine hair, as this can cause damage.
 
One-length cut: this simply means that all sections of your hair are the same length. If this is not the case, then your hair is layered. A one-length cut gives the hair thickness, but hair must be “light” enough so that it doesn’t end up looking weighed-down and lifeless.
 
Fringe and lock: as opposed to popular belief, there is no difference between these two words. We can talk about long or asymmetrical fringe but the term “lock” can also be used.
 

 

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The expert Jean Louis David

Laura Superbi

Trainer in Paris

Laura Superbi