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SEARCHThe station top mirror is a fundamental tool of men’s haircutting. Proper use of your mirror can improve your haircut quality, your haircut timing and your bottom line.
The station top mirror is a fundamental tool of men’s haircutting. Proper use of your mirror can improve your haircut quality, your haircut timing and your bottom line.
Here are my top tips for mastering the use of your mirror for men’s haircutting.
Ivan Zoot
Consult in the mirror – Discuss elements of his haircut in the reflection. Reach consensus for key elements of the cut by indicating points on the head like sideburn length, fade heights and weight areas. He needs to see it to make sense of it.
Stand to the side – We work behind the chair, but we stand to the side of it. Standing to the side of the chair and cutting on the section of the head facing you allows you to view surfaces in perspective in your mirror. This improved ability to assess silhouette, contour and outline will improve your cutting and efficiency.
See both sides – Fade and taper evenly by working one side with the other reflected in your mirror. Alternate sides so as to see both sides of the head at the same time.
Back off – Turn guys away from the mirror to cut nape lines. Look over your shoulder and see their head in your mirror. The mirror is five feet away. This provides the distance and perspective to assess your line without backing away from your chair.
Balance burns – Turn your guy’s finished sideburn towards the mirror to match the outside burn to the inside one by viewing both sides at once: one on the outside, one over the top seen in the mirror.
See both sides – Fade and taper evenly by working one side with the other reflected in your mirror. Alternate so as to see both sides of the head at the same time.
Your mirror is one of four environmental tools you must understand and master to build your men’s haircutting business. Click back here next time to learn about tool number two.
Happy clippering.
Ivan.
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