Core Shear Cutting Foundations

Pillars of strong shear work

Focus on five fundamentals before layering creative technique:

1. Sectioning discipline — clean, consistent sections set the haircut up for success.
2. Elevation control — determines weight distribution and silhouette.
3. Finger angle & tension — drives precision and balance between sides.
4. Body position — keeps cutting line parallel to the floor or intended angle.
5. Shear mechanics — smooth opening/closing without over-gripping.

Daily drills (20 minutes)

Drill	Duration	Notes
Sectioning grid on mannequin	5 min	Use horizontal, vertical, diagonal sections; repeat until clean
Elevation ladder	5 min	Cut guideline at 0°, 45°, 90° angles; observe weight shifts
Tension calibration	5 min	Compare loose vs taut tension; log difference in final line
Mirror posture review	5 min	Check shoulder, elbow, wrist alignment; adjust stance

Record drills in your training log (see Training Map).

Guideline management

• Establish strong perimeter guideline first; protect it during layering.
• Use traveling guidelines when creating gradual weight changes.
• Razor-sharp guidelines require the right shear length—see Blade Length Selection.

Consistency hacks

• Work in consistent zones (left back, right back, left front, etc.) to avoid skipping sections.
• Use clip color-coding for different elevation levels.
• Pause every 10 minutes for a mirror check to ensure balance.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Likely cause	Fix
Uneven perimeter	Inconsistent body position or tension	Recut using mirror alignment and proper finger angle
Heavy weight on one side	Elevation varied	Recreate section, match elevation using level or comb reference
Lines collapsing	Over-direction or tension too tight	Loosen tension, cross-check opposite side

Next steps

1. Film yourself performing the drill set; watch at 1.5x speed to spot posture issues.
2. Share footage with a mentor or peer for critique.
3. Once confident, progress to Blunt Cutting Precision and Point Cutting.