Notching & Soft Notching Control
Precision bulk removal patterns tuned for Australian textures, climate realities, and ROI targets.
Source baseline: ScissorPedia technique archive and JapanShears training notes — Cross-check drills against the internal technique SOP before publishing.
Who This Playbook Serves
- Modern influencer: Wants controlled, lived-in texture for short-form content without blowing out the silhouette.
- Business owner: Needs a consistent framework to train staff on bulk removal for thick coastal clientele.
- Apprentice: Learning interior texturising while protecting the perimeter and managing tension.
Keep the texture shear guide, budget planner, and brand validation log handy—the ROI examples below assume you log every upgrade and sharpening run.
Tool & Setup Checklist
| Persona | Preferred Shear | Sharpening Cadence |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Influencer | 30-tooth blender (Juntetsu VG10) + 5.75" convex detail shear | Every 4 months in metro humidity; alternate pairs on filming weeks |
| Business Owner | Dual-notch thinning shear (Jaguar White Line) + semi-convex cutter | Quarterly rotation logged in maintenance SOP; tension checks weekly |
| Apprentice | Entry 28-tooth blender (Mina) with finger inserts for control | Every 10 weeks under mentor supervision; record practice sets |
ROI Snapshot
- Upgrade: $480 premium blender → $55 texture add-on × 12 clients/week @ 35% attribution = ~6.2 week payback.
- Soft notching package upsell ($25) on 40% of textured crops adds ~$300/month gross per chair in coastal shops.
- Sharpening budget: $50 per quarter; build into the ROI planner so texture services never run on dull teeth.
Technique Steps
- Section & assess: Work on dry or barely damp hair so bulk is visible. Map density hotspots around crown, parietal ridge, and fringe.
- Classic notching pass: Elevate a 1–2 cm panel, insert the thinning shear at a 30–45° angle, and close halfway to remove approximately 25–30% of the strand weight. Stagger cuts to avoid parallel lines.
- Soft notching variation: Open and close the shear in micro pulses while gliding toward the root for soft volume shifts. Keep the comb as a guard to protect the perimeter.
- Blend & audit: Comb down, shake the section, and inspect under cross lighting. Repeat only where weight still resists the desired silhouette.
- Finish detail: Switch to a 5.5" convex cutter for surface point cutting if fringe or neckline needs refinement.
Climate & Maintenance Adjustments
- Coastal humidity: Oil teeth after every service and store with silica packs—salt air accelerates corrosion on micro-serrations.
- Inland dust: Blow compressed air through the teeth before oiling. Dust behaves like grinding paste and will flatten the notch pattern.
- Tropical wet season: Rotate two texture shears daily so pivots fully dry overnight. Log each rotation in the maintenance SOP.
Coaching Drills
- Density ladder: Mark mannequin zones at 25%, 50%, and 75% removal targets. Time each run and compare to mentor benchmarks.
- Soft sweep reps: Practice soft notching on curled sections to learn pressure control—log clip counts and adjustments in your training journal.
- Salon simulation: Pair apprentices with senior barbers to perform live audits on coastal vs inland clients and document climate-specific tweaks.
Troubleshooting & Safeguards
| Issue | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Choppy ledges | Repeated cuts in the same plane or over-closed teeth | Re-section, shift angle by 15°, and finish with soft notching or point cutting. |
| Frizz or fluff | Cutting on damp curls without product or dull teeth | Apply lightweight grooming spray, sharpen shear, and work from mid-shaft out. |
| Flat silhouette | Notching too close to the root on fine hair | Restrict root passes to coarse zones; switch to soft notching on fine textures. |
Next Steps
- Update your ROI planner with the new blender costs and attribution percentages.
- Log the shear’s distributor, warranty, and sharpening partner in brand validation log.
- Capture before/after shots for testimonial outreach and add quotes to the testimonial outreach plan.
- Sync the team on cadence and drills during your next coaching block.