Mastering the Art of Head Shaving at Beauty College
Often, shaving is considered the anti-hairstyle; however, as with most designs that look simple, every detail counts. Barber and beauty schools teach students that shaving is a much more intricate process than simply removing the hair. There are specific techniques that attain the best results.
Advising Clients on Their First Head Shave
Clients who have never had a shaved head do not know how the style will suit their face shape and features. Cosmetology school teaches you how to advise customers on how this style will affect their appearance.
There are several steps involved in a successful shave:
- Trimming
- Wetting hair
- Applying shaving lubricant
- Performing the shave
- Caring for skin post-shave
Trimming
Barber school teaches you to always clip a customer's hair short before shaving it. Even if you are only performing an electric clipper shave, or hair is not particularly long, even results are easiest to obtain with a short base.
Wetting the Hair
Most stylists use shampooing to wet the hair. Cosmetology school explains that the shampooing process is a good opportunity to massage the scalp, both relaxing the customer and increasing the flow of blood and nutrients to the growing hair. The hair should be wet for at least two minutes, with warm water for best penetration, to help soften the shaft and reduce the possibility of razor bumps and ingrown hairs. If you prefer not to use a lot of water, a hot towel can have the same effect on the hair shaft.
Applying Shaving Lubricant
There are different formulations of shaving lubricant, including mousses (most commonly used in home facial shaving), creams, gels, and oils. Oils and gels are recommended by most professionals. They should be worked in extremely well, ensuring that all of the hair shafts and every inch of scalp are covered completely. Having the razor catch on dry areas is a leading cause of cuts and razor bumps.
The Shaving Process
Most people have a barber shave their hair instead of doing it at home because of the superior closeness achieved with the right skills, tools, and lighting. A barber can see the bumps and curves of the scalp and angle the razor accordingly, without cutting. It is crucial to ask customers about the sensitivity level of their skin: Sensitive scalps will not tolerate shaving done against the grain, whereas non-sensitive skin can handle this and therefore gets a closer shave. Shaving over each area only once produces less irritation. Shave the softer, lighter hair areas first to give the lubricant more time to soak in to the coarser areas.
Post-shave Head Care
An aftershave solution with a mild, non-stinging formulation is advised. Also, clients should perform daily washing, use sunscreen as necessary, and schedule regular shave appointments for as long as they want to keep that hair-free style.
Featured Schools
Train for the real-world skills that help you launch a successful technology or healthcare career with a degree, or diploma from Florida Career College.
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Do you have a passion for beauty and an artistic edge? Would you like to add sparkle and style to your career path? If you aspire to work in the spa and salon world as a hair designer, skin care specialist, make-up artist, manicurist or more, consider an education at Euphoria Institute.
For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo
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Get the skills and training you need for a great career at Fortis Institute. * Programs vary by location * Please contact each individual campus for accreditation information * Fortis Institute- Indianapolis advertising code is AC-0163.
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The John Casablancas Institute (JCI) provides job-ready training for makeup artists, fashion stylists, and hairdressers.
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