This Japanese Razor Is the Secret to Idiotproof Bangs
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During my brief stint as a hair model in 2021, I received my dream makeover: a short French bob with bangs. I sat in hairstylistJayne Matthews’sairy Oakland studio, freshly shampooed and ready for the big chop. Earlier that day, I had scrolled through her Instagram — a grid of painfully chic people with shags, bobs, and pixies — and eagerly awaited my transformation. She started cutting withher razor. I closed my eyes and felt the crisp slice of the blade, the soft prickle of little hairs falling on the nape of my neck and brow. When I looked in the mirror, Ilovedwhat I saw. I felt like Asian Amélie. My thick hair was shaped into a perky bob with Jayne’s signaturepetal-like bangs.They were imperfectly perfect, with subtle chips and wisps along the edge. Soft, yet defined. My burning question for Jayne was obvious: “How the hell do I replicate this at home?!” She smiled and recommended a cheapfeather styling razor, assuring me that I could achieve similar results myself.
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Feather Styling Razor
A few weeks later, it was time for a DIY trim. My initial nerves led me to watch dozens of YouTube videos on razor cutting (which, in retrospect, wasn’t necessary at all). I took a deep breath as the razor hovered over my damp bangs.Trust the process, I thought to myself. It turned out better than I could have imagined. There was no divot or strange choppiness, no wonky gradient — unlike my previous at-home trims. It’s been three years, and this razor still gives meperfect salon bangsevery time. They never turn out looking jagged or blunt (or worse, having people wonder if you fell victim to Trauma Bangs).
Unlike scissors, you won’t feel as much resistance when you cut the hair. Instead,this razor glides smoothlyas it cuts with minimal tension, creating an effortlessly soft edge to the bangs. The teethlike ridges along the blade of the razor allow for a high margin of error. Even if you have a slightly unsteady hand, this feature offers a blurring effect that makes your missteps appear intentional. Finally, I appreciate how easy it is to control the razor. It’s lightweight and easy to maneuver. After you develop a bit more confidence, it truly feels like an extension of your hand. The razor is deceptively sharp and does most of the work for you. (The best way to learn is to just try — perhapstry cutting a thin strandof hair you won’t miss to know what the blade feels like.) A flick here and there, and you see the bangs taking shape again. So next time you’re down a Brigitte Bardot/Jane Birkin rabbit hole on Pinterest thinking,Those bangs would change my life, you might not need a whole hair appointment. You probably just need this razor.
In the video below, Viv shows us how she uses the razor.
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