Pureology Artistic Director Michelle Patton @michelleleep breaks down the hair cut that’s exploding on social media right now.
Before.
Prep: Cleanse and condition the hair with Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo and Conditioner. For maximum conditioning, apply a quarter sized amount of Hydrate Superfood Mask and process for 15 minutes. Rinse, mist hair with Pureology Colour Fanatic Leave-In Treatment Spray and comb through.
STEP 1: To section, isolate the fringe area with a triangular section that begins in the high recession on each side and travels back to the high crown. Separate the top of the head with a horseshoe parting that begins at the high recession and travels back, following the high partial ridge to the mid crown. Isolate the sides with a slight diagonal forward parting from the horseshoe to the front of the ear. Separate the back of the head from the nape with a horizontal parting at the top of the ear.
STEP 2: Beginning in the nape, take a 1-inch vertical section in the center. Elevate the section to 90° and cut the section square, allowing the hair below the occipital bone to fall out. Continue with vertical subsections through the nape, keeping the cutting line square to the head.
STEP 3a: Release the back sections. Create a half-inch wide diagonal forward subsection in the center back. Elevate the section to 45° and, using a guide to length from the nape, cut the section to follow the head shape. Take a 1/2-inch diagonal forward section to the left of center section. Elevate the section to 90° and, using a guide to length to the nape, cut the section to follow the head shape.
STEP 3b: Continue with diagonal forward partings, alternating the elevation with each section to create texture in the interior.
STEP 4: Release the horseshoe section. Working on each side of the triangle, elevate the hair to 45° and cut to follow the guide in the crown. Release the sides sections. Due to the fine density of the guest’s hair, the disconnection created by not cutting these sections will preserve density in the perimeter.
STEP 5: Release the triangular section and subdivide it in half with a vertical parting. Create a small triangle section in the front hairline that begins at high recession and travels back 2 inches. Create a vertical guide in the center of the section. Elevate it to 90° and cut to follow the head shape so the hair sits at the brow. Over-direct both sides of the section to the stationary guide.
STEP 6a: Take the remaining hair from the original triangle section and over-direct it to the center.
STEP 6b: Using a guide to length from the fringe, visually blend the remaining hair with internal feathering.
STEP 7: Dampen hair with Pureology Colour Fanatic Leave-In Treatment Spray, working the product through with your fingers. Apply Pureology On the Rise Root Lifting Hair Mousse in 2-inch subsections, from roots to ends. Using a natural bristle round brush, blow dry sections, rotating the brush to create a bend. Alternate the direction of the rotations to create variation.
STEP 8: Mist the hair with Pureology Beach Waves Sugar Spray. Using a 1-inch marcel iron, curl ¼-inch sections vertically, twisting the hair to create a coil curl. Alternate directions as you curl.
STEP 9: For added texture, mist the hair with Pureology Wind Tossed Texture Spray and work through with your fingers. Apply a dime-sized amount of Pureology Mess It up Texture Paste to fingertips and pinch random sections for definition. Finish with Pureology Style + Protect Soft Finish Hair Spray for medium hold and shine.
Fnished look.
There has never been a time when the shag hair cut wasn’t cool, and right now is no exception. This rock-inspired trend has been fine-tuned to perfection and is now one of the most flattering haircuts around, especially when it’s done on a trendy lob, enhanced with a lash-grazing fringe and finished with messy waves. Pureology Artistic Director Michelle Patton @michelleleep has created the perfect shag cut—a combination of sass and class. Here are her cutting and styling how-tos.
Discover how Pureology products and education can help elevate your cutting and styling skills!
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