Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1511260
THE TAKEAWAY In the end, you have to fall back on the basics of what you know for short haircuts and for everything else too. Even if the methodology or technique seems irrelevant to what's going viral today, none of it is new. Our jobs are to know technique, but also to know how to revive fundamental concepts into something more modern and better catered to current lifestyle habits. My biggest piece of advice is not to get caught in the technique trap. Don't operate the same step- by-step method on anyone who sits in your chair because you're more concerned with the clock. Let it be personal. Let the technique become an afterthought. And let the details that set your client apart be the same thing that sets their short haircut apart. In the stylist-client relationship, we are not the most knowledgeable ones, although I know we all love to think so. This work is a collaborative effort. Trust what your client is telling you, even if it's hard to believe. Paying close attention to their language and working to understand each other is the ultimate outcome—it's the only way to reinvent the wheel. The Stack For those looking to layer a short haircut, consider the stack. This cut can be sharp or soft depending on your cutting technique and the client's desired outcome. "The emphasis is to create volume and shape," Tran says. A great pairing for the bob, you can blend the layers into what's historically been called a graduated bob, with longer layers in the front. "A deep point cut will give you that softness." The Octopus The octopus translates to numerous short, disconnected layers. "Focus around the crown," Tran suggests. "It's about heavy crown layers and tapered ends." Garcia adds that it's a great pairing for the pixie cut because it creates a unique and intricate texture. "Adding it to the shag with a heavy curtain bang would also work really well." Variations of The Stack Variations of The Octopus Anh Co Tran Anh Co Tran Jennifer Alden Jennifer Alden Julie Facer Julie Facer