Vent: Coarse hair blends are suddenly my biggest challenge

I had a walk-in yesterday with hair like steel wool, wanted a sharp fade. My usual method with the trimmer and foil shaver just left a harsh line. No matter how many passes I made, it wouldn't soften up. The guy was patient, but I could tell he wasn't thrilled. After he left, I rewatched some old training videos and noticed I've been holding the clipper at the wrong angle for dense hair. Started practicing on a mannequin head today, focusing on slower, overlapping strokes. It's frustrating when something that used to be easy trips you up. Any tips for dealing with super thick, resistant hair?

3 comments

3 Comments

avery_barnes271mo ago

dude same, my cousin's beard texture changed after he went on some medication last year and it threw me off for weeks. Felt like cutting through wire brush every time.

wyatt_sullivan401mo ago

Wait, you said steel wool? That's a wild texture to run into. Gavint26 is right that you shouldn't freak out, but man, that specific description makes me cringe just thinking about the feel of those clippers grabbing. Slowing down and overlapping is the only thing that works on hair that fights back.

gavint261mo ago

Chill out for a second and ask yourself if this is REALLY that big a deal. So you messed up one fade on some tough hair, it happens to everyone. You already figured out the angle thing and are practicing, which means you're fixing it. People act like every bad haircut is a crisis but most clients just move on with their day. Keep your cool and it'll come back to you faster than you think.