Living for Face Frames and Long Layers
When Houston-based haircutter Lenina Yin (@lenina_yin) went from a salon in the ‘burbs to a salon in the city, she transitioned from cutting mainly bobs and lobs, to haircuts featuring face framing with long layers. On her Instagram Highlights bar, she organizes some of her cuts into medium lengths, long hair, pixies, and the through line with almost every cut is how she incorporates texture, movement and creates flattering face framing layers into the final look.
Becoming a Cutting Specialist
“When I first started working in the city, it pushed me out of my comfort zone, which has been good,” she says. “Today, I’d say my signature cut is layers. And I give a face frame to nearly everyone. Face framing is very customizable to the length and density of the hair.”
Yin, a SoCal native who moved to Texas for beauty school and trained in the Woodlands at an Aveda Salon, ended up staying and making her career in the Houston area. Working out of Rev Salon, she often collaborates with salon owner and colorist Eric Vaughn (@realericvaughn). “My haircuts are typically 45 minutes, but I will take an hour with a bob because I like to be precise and take my time,” she says. “When I collaborate with a colorist, the color comes first unless we’re on a tight schedule, then the cut comes first.”
Her shears of choice are from Sensei and Arc. “Sensei Shears are so good and so affordable. They were my first pair of regular shears when I first got on the floor eight years ago and they are still going strong.”
Creating Texture in Every Cut: A Q & A with Lenina Yin
Do texture shears help you work faster?
“Yes, I cut my layers and then I go in with a texture shears and I blur all the lines and it is so much faster than the straight blade. There are a lot more teeth and it covers more surface. And I create a lot more movement in the layers with the texture shears.”
Do texture shears give the illusion of point cutting?
“I always point cut with my texture shears, I never chomp into the hair with them. So many clients, new clients, will say I don’t want you to use the texture shears. And I say, you like my haircut right? Well, using texture shears is how I achieved it so you have to trust me.”
What hair texture would you use texture shears on?
“On any texture. It is all very customizable to my client. For very fine baby hair, I would point cut the perimeter of my face framing to break up that line.”
Favorite technique to debulk but layer all at once?
“I tease with my shear—it’s like a tease but cut. I’m cutting into the hair but I’m pushing the hair down as I lightly cut into it. I am using either texture shears or my straight blade shears.”
Final words?
“I love what I do. I love that there are many different ways to have an outcome with a haircut and that haircutting is never boring. I feel like I get paid to have fun, to do what I love and to meet interesting individuals every day.”
See more of her work at @lenina_yin
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