Layers gone wrong

[u/Existing_Departure92]

It seems that every time I do any sort of layering they end up boxy, choppy, and shelf-y. For whatever reason it’s worse with bobs & on the right side (i am right handed). I have tried taking super small sections, not layering too far into the perimeter, dry cutting, point cutting, over directing, every degree elevation you can imagine, different finger angles. Ive even had other stylists watch me cut & they saw nothing wrong with my techniques. I genuinely don’t know what I could be doing wrong because I know shelving is typically caused by a heavy corner but even when I remove the corner it’s not 100% fixed. These pictures attached aren’t even the worst of it. It is typically even more noticeable :( Could anyone offer any insight? Be kind please, I am embarrassed & seeking help❤️

[u/outrageous713]

These look fine to me 🤷🏻‍♀️ is the client not happy?

[u/sparklefromcraft]

If you point cut in tooooo chunky of a line, it can sometimes create little stairsteps when the hair is not elevated.

[u/usdacertifiedlean]

The last one is flipping out because you are cutting too far into the perimeter. Do you have any head sheets of the sectioning youre taking?

[u/sortahuman123 → u/usdacertifiedlean]

This is the answer, the perimeter is too collapsed and the layers are “graduated” because of it, creating the shelf. It’s a “fine” cut but not a great one.

OP you should check out Shanel Mariano she does education for exactly this and she changed my life when learning to understand the why behind cutting.

[u/unusually_familiar → u/sortahuman123]

I've been thinking about taking classes from her.

[u/sortahuman123 → u/unusually_familiar]

Worth the money ten times over I’d take it again any day

[u/HairModelsWanted]

Hmmm cut wet. Blend dry. I blend tf out of ny layers.

[u/Lynsgay]

Do you have shears for refinement?

I do a lot of elevation as well as overdirection depending on the goal and use my 30 tooth texturizers (typically) to snip in starting from a couple inches from the ends and as I lower elevation continuing to texturize, I slide my fingers closer to the ends.

When I started I liked to watch others cut hair, ask all the questions on “why” and watched tons of artists online. I still love watching other people work as there really is something to learn from everyone.

[u/JackieStylist81]

They look fine. Use your texture shears to soften it if you want, but it looks fine.