A haircut can be confusing before the cutting even starts. You’re holding a comb in one hand, scissors in the other, and the hair seems to move in every direction. Clean sectioning gives the work a calmer starting point. Instead of attempting to control the entire head of hair at once, it divides the hair into smaller sections that can be clipped, checked, and controlled one section at a time.
Sectioning involves more than just creating neat lines with a comb. It provides visual cues for the boundaries of the nape, side sections, crown area, and fringe area. When these areas are clearly separated, it’s easier to keep the cutting guide because excess loose hair doesn’t drift into the guide section. An uneven parting or a poorly placed clip can alter the result before the first cut is made, especially with hair that has a high density or a different hair texture, which can make the section feel heavier than you expected.
A great way to practice the fundamentals of sectioning, without trying to worry about the cutting length, is to work with a mannequin head, cutting comb, spray bottle, and sectioning clips. The hair should be lightly misted with a spray bottle to allow the comb to pass through the hair. Once the center parting is in place and the side sections are in place, each section should be secured with a clip to ensure hair is moved out of the way of the area you’re observing. Speed is not the goal; the goal should be to have partings that are clean, allowing you to see a clear scalp line, so you know where the hair in each section belongs.
It is very easy to miss an uneven parting when your focus is on how the final haircut will look. One side section may end up being slightly larger, or the clip may be holding slightly too much hair from the crown area. When this happens, it can make the tension on each side section different. Because the tension is different, it can make your hand pull on one section more tightly than another, creating an uneven shape, even when the way you hold your hand to cut the hair looks good enough. If you slow down during the sectioning phase, you can catch and fix this problem much more easily than if it hides until the mirror check.
Clean sectioning also helps prevent awkward handling of the tools. A smaller section of hair will allow for more room for the comb to move through the hair, your fingers to hold a section of hair at a more comfortable spot, and scissors to cut a cleaner line. If too much hair is loose, you often find yourself trying to hold it more tightly, changing your posture, or raising your elbow to an awkward angle. If you have cleaner clips and work on smaller section sizes, you should be able to hold yourself in a more relaxed position and focus your hands on one cutting line at a time.
If you’re practicing, you should stop and look for three things at the end of each section. Is the parting line clear and distinct? Is all of the remaining hair secured and secured away from the section you’re working? Are you taking the same size of hair on either side? This is a simple task that takes only a moment to do; however, when done, it will train your eye to see a well-organized section before you go and try to correct it, as well as train you in the habit of making sure each task is in its best position before you make the next cutting choice.
Clean sectioning will not make every haircut perfect, and it will not replace practice with a good instructor’s guidance. But it will make the practice of a beginner much easier to understand. If your sections are clear, you will be able to see mistakes better and know what you’re doing when it comes to whether or not you’ve made a bad choice with your parting, your tension, your guide section, or your cutting line. This kind of insight is the first real step in making the practice of hairdressing calmer and less overwhelming.