Has there ever been a time when you got a haircut and felt that it did not match your face? Well, you are not alone. To avoid this from happening, hairstylists use a technique called face framing.
Face frame haircuts are a popular hairstyling technique that involves creating layers and shaping the hair around the face to make a person’s features more prominent and enhance their overall look. These haircuts are skillfully designed by hairstylists to frame the face, bringing attention to the eyes, cheekbones, and jawline. Every person is unique and everyone has different prominent features. While performing a face framing haircut (or any variation thereof), hairstylists must give attention to a person’s prominent facial features.
Face frame haircuts are not only trendy but versatile, making them a go-to choice for hairstylists worldwide. They can be used to create movement, and offer a fresh appearance to the client. Hairstylists employ their expertise to customize these cuts, ensuring that clients leave the salon with a look that perfectly suits their style. Whether it’s for a soft look or an edgy style, face frame haircuts are a transformative tool in the hands of skilled hairstylists
Quick Question: What is a Face Frame haircut?
Face Frame haircut is a haircut which perfectly suits your face type. This hairstyling technique involves shaping and layering the hair around the face to enhance and accentuate an individual’s unique facial features, providing a flattering and customized look.
Do You Have What it Takes To Give The Perfect Face Frame Haircut?
For hairstylists, preparation is the key. Before you begin a face-framing haircut, it is important to ensure that you have professional-grade hairstyling shears at hand. If you are a beginner and looking for the best high quality shears, try Hanzo products.
Hair clips are essential for securing sections in place as you work your magic. Keep a spray bottle with water or a lightweight styling product within reach for optimal control. Your workspace should be well-lit, and a large mirror is essential for assessing the haircut from various angles. Lastly, you need sharp hair cutting shears for the perfect cut. If you are wondering how to keep your shears sharp, Hanzo has you covered.
Now that you have everything ready, let’s start cutting.
Understanding the Client’s Unique Face Type
For hairstylists, recognizing the customer’s face shape is essential because it helps us create a haircut that highlights their best features . It’s all about giving our clients a customized look that suits them perfectly. There are different face shapes: (1) oblong, (2) diamond, (3) rectangular, (4) oval etc. Each face requires a slightly different face framing techniques – beginner hair stylists take notes:
- Round Face: Imagine a client with a round face who wishes to visually elongate their facial appearance for a more balanced look. In this case, hairstylists would recommend a face frame haircut that incorporates layers starting near the jawline and extending downward. Side-swept bangs would be the ideal choice to create the illusion of length, making the client’s face appear less round.
- Oval Face: When a client has an oval face, hairstylists have the flexibility to enhance their best features and experiment with various styles. For example, a client with an oval face seeking a face frame haircut may opt for layers that add texture to their hair. The hairstylist can customize the length to the client’s preference, ensuring they leave with a flattering look.
- Square Face: A client with a square face shape may visit a hairstylist wanting to soften their angular features for a more balanced appearance. In this scenario, the hairstylist would recommend adding layers and angles around the jaw and cheekbones. Side-swept bangs and longer layers can be introduced to create a softened, harmonious look.
- Heart-Shaped Face: This face type is the hardest of all and requires excellent precision. Consider a client with a heart-shaped face who aims to balance their wider forehead with their narrower chin. The hairstylist would suggest a face frame haircut with layers that start at or below the chin. Side-swept or textured bangs could be included to achieve a balanced, flattering effect that enhances the client’s unique face shape.
- Diamond Face: A client with a diamond-shaped face, characterized by wider cheekbones and a narrower forehead and chin, may seek a face frame haircut to soften their angular features. Hair Stylists in this situation would add layers around the cheekbones and jawline to achieve a more balanced and flattering appearance.
- Rectangular Face: Picture a client with a rectangular face who wishes to add softness and volume to their overall appearance. In response, the hairstylist would recommend a face frame haircut with layers and bangs that emphasize the cheeks and forehead, creating a softer and more balanced aesthetic.
Adapting the face frame haircut to the client’s unique face shape is essential to enhance their natural beauty and create a flattering, harmonious look. Hairstylists carefully consider these variations to provide a personalized and attractive outcome. Adopting the wrong technique for the wrong face type can be potentially disastrous.
How to Incorporate Point Cutting and Layering in Face Framing?
Face Framing incorporates two popular hair cutting techniques, namely point cutting and layering. Before moving on to more advanced techniques like face framing, hairstylists need to perfect these two techniques. Let’s see how hair stylists can incorporate these two techniques in face framing:
Layering
When it comes to crafting bangs, the layering technique is an invaluable tool. To begin, ensure the hair is dry and styled as desired. Carefully delineate the bangs area, ensuring it aligns with the client’s preferred width and thickness. Hold the hair at a 45-degree angle and execute horizontal cuts with precision using sharp scissors. It’s important to note that cutting directly across is discouraged, as it can result in overly blunt bangs. Instead, maintain a slight distance from the ends, creating a softer, feathered appearance. Continue this process systematically, in small sections, all the while maintaining the 45-degree angle, until the desired length and texture are attained.
Point Cutting
The point cutting technique serves as an additional, sophisticated method for achieving textured and stylish bangs. Initiate the procedure with dry, impeccably styled hair. Isolate a small section of the bangs, holding it perpendicular to the hair. Using sharp scissors, perform small, upward-pointing cuts on the hair’s ends. These cuts contribute to a textured, feathery effect, preventing the bangs from appearing excessively heavy or blunt.
Progress methodically across the entire section, starting from the center and progressively proceeding towards the sides to maintain a natural curvature. The fusion of layering and point cutting empowers hairstylists to create bangs with dimension and a refined, personalized aesthetic, ensuring clients depart with an impeccably styled, flattering haircut. Dedication to practice and precision in these techniques is integral to achieving exceptional results.
Common Mistakes While Face Framing
Face Framing is a fun technique to master but there is plenty that can go wrong. For starters, there are five common mistakes that happen when face framing:
- Uneven Layers: Inconsistent layering can result in a haircut with noticeable irregularities and an uneven finish. It’s crucial to maintain precision when creating layers to achieve a balanced and polished look. Hairstylists should strive for evenness and smoothness.
- Over-Thinning: Beginner hairstylists often make this mistake. Excessive thinning or texturizing can leave hair looking fine and lacking in volume. Over-thinning should be avoided to ensure the hair retains its natural body and manageability. If you are still unsure about your texturizing skills, check out our texturizing guide.
- Inadequate Consultation: A rushed or incomplete client consultation can lead to misunderstandings regarding the desired style. Taking the time to thoroughly discuss the client’s preferences and expectations is essential for a successful outcome.
- Neglecting Face Shape: Failing to consider the client’s face shape when designing the face frame can result in a haircut that doesn’t complement their features. A tailored approach that takes face shape into account is vital for achieving a flattering look.
- Blunt Edges: Cutting layers too bluntly can create a heavy, dense appearance, which is contrary to the soft and textured effect typically sought in face framing. Ensuring that edges are feathered and softened is key to achieving the desired outcome.
Recommended Shears for Face Framing
Hanzo has a wide range of high quality hairstyling shears to choose from. Whether it is point-cutting or texturizing, we have the right tools to get the job done. For face framing specifically, we recommend you to use HH1 Kamikaze or the HH6 Kime – while for texturizing, go for the HH40T Mazeru.
If you have specific questions or need help picking the perfect shears, we’re here to help – Contact us.
