Will A Razor Cut Be Good For My Hair?

Razor cuts! Some of us love them, and some of us hate them. When is a razor cut a good choice for a haircut? In this post I respond to common questions often asked about a razor and razor cuts.

What is the razor that hairstylists use?

When we say razor or razor cuts, we don’t mean clipper cuts. And we typically are not referring to a straight razor used to shave beards either!

The razor that hairstylists use is also referred to as a “feather razor.” This razor has a guard on it so it’s basically impossible to cut yourself with unlike a straight razor which is lacking the guard.

We change out the blade after each use so that it is freshly sharp and sanitary for each client.

Why do hairdressers use a razor to cut hair?

Razors are used to add texture, volume, and movement to the hair.

When hair is cut with a razor the ends are cut at an angle, which creates a bevel on the end of the hair strand. When hair is cut with scissors, the ends are cut perpendicular, or like a cross.

The hair that has a bevel on the ends has the ability to achieve more volume because the hair can actually climb up the other strands of hair.

The hair cut with scissors has a harder time balancing on the other hairs, so it tends to lay flatter. When done properly, this can be a game changer for a hairstyle.

Should a razor be used on wet or dry hair?

Razor cuts should be done on wet, not dry hair. When the hair is dry, the razor can actually frizz the ends of the hair and cause breakage or split ends.

It is important to make sure the hair is wet, not even damp before being cut with a razor. I typically spray my clients with water often during a razor cut to ensure an even porosity in the hair.

Is it better to cut hair with a razor or scissors?

Both! The choice of tool is dependent on the hair type and the look desired. A razor will give a more textured, lived in look while scissors will give a more blunt uniform look.

If you like blunt lines, and a smooth and uniform style, then a razor cut is probably not for you.

Often times I will actually use both a razor and scissors on my clients to get the texture where we need it but also keeping it uniform and controlled.

I don’t want to say one is better than the other because they are both great tools, it’s like they say, apples to oranges!

Is it bad to cut your hair with a razor?

Let me start off by answering directly, no! I frequently use a razor when cutting my clients hair. But the thing is you do not want to use this on everyone’s hair. Some hair takes great to a razor cut, and other hair doesn’t take as well.

Curly hair, or hair that is prone to fizziness does not always take well to razor cuts. Razor cuts produce more texture in the hair which is something that curly thick hair typically already has a ton of.

Using a razor on curly thick hair can sometimes make the hair appear frizzier than it already is due to the added texture.

But for many, especially thin haired clients, the added texture is a huge bonus.

Have you had a bad razor cut?

I’ve had several new clients express their fear for me to use a razor on their hair. It typically goes something like this:

“Oh, I’ve had a stylist use a razor on me before and she butchered me! My hair was all different lengths and it was the worst haircut I’ve ever had. I’m still trying to grow out the trauma from it.”

In this case, the stylist that performed the cut probably didn’t know what she was doing.

I typically don’t like to use the razor while texturizing the hair, because it can take huge chunks out and cause problems in the foundation of the cut.

Razors can be used for texturizing or interior layers, but the stylist must be trained well before attempting this. I personally use regular scissors for my dry texturizing because you have a little more control over the hair that is being removed.

If you still aren’t sure if a razor cut would be a good choice for you, I recommend finding a stylist in your area that either specializes in razor cuts or that is known for giving great razor cuts, and giving it a shot!

If you don’t like it, it is only hair and will grow out. But it’s definitely worth giving a shot because many of my clients won’t go back!

Hopefully this answered some questions you may have had regarding razors and razor cuts, and if it didn’t leave them for me in the comments! Be sure to subscribe below to make everyday a good hair day!

Last updated 10/10/2022