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If you’ve gotten your hair cut before, you may notice that some barbers and hairstylists like to cut your hair while it’s dry, while others prefer to cut it when it’s wet.
Either way, you’ve probably never questioned it and just allowed them to work their magic.
Then, they present you with the hairstyle that you requested.
You’ll be surprised to learn, that there’s probably a reason why your barber/hairstylist is choosing one way over the other –
some trims work better with dry hair while others work better with wet hair.
What happens to your hair when it’s wet?
When your hair is wet, the weight of the water will change both the density as well as the visual length of your hair. Water causes hair to stretch up to 50% past where it naturally falls.
Hence, when your barber is cutting your hair wet, he or she should take into consideration where the shrinkage might occur.
Some barbers/hairstylists have mentioned that they’re able to assess the potential problems of your hair better when it’s wet.
Since your hair stretches, they’re able to see the natural lie of your hair and how elastic it is.
After assessing your hair condition, your hairstylist can provide advice on how to style your hair and what products you should be using.
Haircuts for wet hair
Straight Cut
If you have thinner, straighter hair with a blunt edge, cutting your hair while it’s wet will suit you better.
However, your barber/hairstylist would have to take into account any shrinkage as your hair stretches while it’s wet.
This is especially crucial if they’re cutting bangs – leave them about an inch longer and see where they sit once it’s dried.
After all, you wouldn’t want to have bangs that are too short!
Blunt Lob or Pixie Cut
Aside from thinner, straighter hair, if you want a cut that’s roughly all one length like a blunt lob, this would be ideal.
With wet hair, your hairstylist can cut lines that are both clean and precise.
It’s also good for pixie haircuts because you can cut straighter lines with damp hair which minimizes the chance of mistakes.
Easier to cut
Wet hair is easier to cut in comparison to dry hair.
While your hair is wet, the strands bunch up together, thus making it easier to cut.
It’s also quick to cut without sacrificing quality.
Dry Hairstyles
Curly or Wavy Hair
If you have curly or wavy hair, a dry cut would be best suited for you.
With a dry cut, your barber/hairstylist can pay extra attention to the patterns of your curls and be able to cut in a way that enhances them.
If you have curly or wavy hair, it’s a lot harder to know where your curls are going to lie when your hair is wet.
With dry hair, your barber/hairstylist will know exactly where to slice and dice, and that can make a huge difference.
Thick or Coarse Hair
If you have hair that’s thicker, coarse or textured, a dry cut would be the way to go.
With thicker and coarser hair, it has different levels of porosity.
Hence, it looks very different from when it’s dry to when it’s wet.
A small cut on your damp hair could end up looking uneven after your hair dries.
If you also happen to have hair that’s thicker on one side than the other, your barber/hairstylist can better troubleshoot these issues with dry hair.
Gentler on fragile, thinning hair
If you already have fragile, thinning hair, cutting it while your hair is wet wouldn’t be ideal.
Since wet hair is more delicate and elastic, your hair could be prone to snapping from being combed over and over again during a wet cut.
You’ll also be more likely to shed hair during a damp cut, and this can be concerning for individuals that are worried about breakage or thinning hair.
Fewer Surprises
Since hair is stretchier when it’s wet, it’ll look much longer in comparison to hair when it’s dry.
This is especially evident for individuals that have very curly hair.
If your barber/hairstylist works on your hair when it’s already dry, they would be able to trim off the right amount and eliminate the shock factor that could come right after a haircut.
After all, what you see is what you get, and I’m sure nobody wants to receive a nightmare of a haircut.
If your barber is performing clipper work or blending on you, this is also done best with dry hair.
While your hair is wet, it will be difficult to see the lines and hard to tell how the hair is going to fall when cut.
However, you can use clippers on wet hair for shear and razor work.
Conclusion
So, should hair be cut wet or dry? While it does seem like having a dry haircut is the way to go, it depends on the hairstyle and what you’re trying to achieve.
Before your haircut, you should be familiar with your hair and the type of hairstyle you’re looking for.
It also wouldn’t hurt to research and find yourself a stylist that would be able to determine the best technique to cutting your hair.
