There are many shaving razors available on the market. There are cartridge razors which often have multiple blades and are used at home for both men and women for shaving legs, arm pits, face and more. Then you have the double edge razor or safety razor which gets a closer shave than a cartridge razor and it operates on a single blade. It's more eco-friendly and the blades are cheaper than cartridge blades. But it has a bit of a learning curve. And finally, you have the straight razor which gives the closest shave of the three. The straight razor uses a single blade. The handle either folds or has a straight handle. The straight razor is what's used by barbers to do shaves, lineups, sideburns and to create crisp lines. There are many brands that carry a version of these 3 types of razor handles. But then there is the Feather Nape & Body Razor. This razor is unique in that it does not easily fall in any of these three types of razors. It's most closely related to the straight razor. However, it's not meant to do full face shaves. The Feather Nape & Body Razor is a small-bodied folding shaving razor which houses a guarded blade. Its small nature allows it to be very useful for detailed work and to address small areas. This razor is called the Nape & Body Razor because it's meant to shave the nape area and small areas of the body such as sideburns, eyebrows and even bikini line. The razor only uses guarded replaceable blades so it can be used by hairstylists. Great for using on short men and women's haircuts around the neckline or stray hairs around the face, this razor does the final touches that can make or break the haircut. Everyone who has short hair loves to feel their neck after a haircut. And they love it when their neck is super soft and smooth. While the Feather Nape & Body Razor is generally used by professionals in the salon or shop, it's possible for home users to use it at home to clean up their own neck or small areas that need maintenance between haircuts. Because the blades are guarded, this makes it safe for anyone involved. Whether you're shaving yourself or someone else, the guard helps prevent unnecessary cuts and nicks. But don't get us wrong, the blades are sharp and will shave smoothly. The blades and handle are made in Japan and come as 10 blades per cartridge. To use, simply spray JATAI Blade Glide or other shaving lotion or clear shaving gel over the skin. If you don't have a clear shaving gel, be sure to wipe before you shave. Then, shave the area. Always use some sort of lubricant when shaving to avoid skin irritation. You should never shave on dry skin with any razor. Some people use the Feather Styling Razor to clean up the nape area. While this works, if you want a much closer shave, a Feather Nape & Body Razor would be a better choice. Barbers who don't want to use a traditional straight razor can also opt to use the Nape & Body Razor. The Feather Nape & Body Razor is a unique razor with a specific purpose. Its beauty lies in that it's very good at one thing...detailed shaving in small areas. If you're looking for a razor that can do these things, look no further. The Feather Nape & Body Razor can be purchased by itself or in a kit. The kit includes the handle, a pack of blades and a 2oz. bottle of JATAI Blade Glide shaving lotion.   Product, Shaving Razors

At the age of 21, I poked out my left eye. While the surgeon saved my eyeball, the eye is different now in that I can only see in 2D. My inability to have any depth perception has affected me significantly. So I had to adapt and make various adjustments. Because of my injury I avoided eye contact for years. But at the time, it didn't matter to me because I worked in a tool and die shop and didn't have to make a lot of eye contact.   But then I lost my job at the plant. I sat in my car in the parking lot for maybe five minutes before realizing it was time to scratch my long time itch of becoming a hairdresser. So I did it! I went to school and became a hairstylist. While in school, there was a cutting class by Vivienne Mackinder during which I was allowed to assist her. She used this wonderful tool: the JATAI Feather Nape & Body Razor. She created beautiful texture in all her cuts and spoke of not just cutting hair but also of sketching and drawing. I graduated and got my first job at a high-end salon working under Barsoum Bashar, my mentor. I learned so much from this man, but most of all, purpose! I knew my place was not doing color, keratin or just doing what most hairdressers do. Within six months of working there I began seeing the same thing over and over again, long sections of hair in the crown. This would always attract my eye to the top of their heads. I had finally become comfortable with eye contact, but now my eye was being drawn away from theirs and instead fixated on the top of the head. The hair was taking away from the person. I wanted to change the experience, particularly for short haired clients.   I noticed the hair whorls, it was all I could see. But I decided to never fear a hair whorl again. I chopped the suckers off! By keeping the front of the hair longer, it drew the eye away from the back of the head and focused it toward the front. Eye contact was easier as there was now a focal point. It worked, but I noticed clients were returning every three weeks. It felt too soon. How could I get more longevity out of my work? I used texturizing shears the way I was trained to. I blended and removed weight the way I was trained to. But there they were every three to four weeks back for another cut. Most hairdressers would be cool with this, but I was not. I wanted to provide value to my clients. I was charging premium rates so I wanted to give premium service.   The same problem areas would arise: the parietal ridge and the back hair whorl. I began to think of the meaning of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. I looked at my texturizing shears and it just clicked. I was blending but that was creating the problem. The hair that was cut was creating lift. But how would I remove hair from the scalp without cutting my clients, and still give a great cut? If only I could draw out weight with a pen. That was my lightbulb moment. Remembering Vivienne talk about drawing and sketching, I immediately grabbed my JATAI Feather Nape & Body Razor and drew on paper. No cut. Then my arm. No cut. And then my head. I didn't cut myself but it removed hair. I hit the ground running. I began drawing into cowlicks, whorls, and into the parietal ridge and the results were awesome. Then I simply combined the focal point technique with the razor and it all felt right.   Suddenly, my clients came in every six to eight weeks. The value I was giving turned into a massive influx of referrals. I really did not think the focal point technique I developed was all that special; I simply wanted to do better for my clients. One day, a fellow hairdresser named Marisa commented about my clients grow-out. I gave the credit to the razor, but she disagreed with me. Marisa asked me to teach her this technique which I did. She also encouraged me to name it. We named it on the road from the ABS hair show in Chicago: The Focal Point Technique!   You can see how I do the Focal Point Technique on JATAI Academy's Education CONNECT. But basically, it consists of three main parts and is used to cut very short hair: Creating a focal point by cutting the hair very short at the crown which gradually becomes longer toward the front. The front becomes the focal point for the eyes Cutting the hair at the parietal ridge for better blending so that the haircut grows out nicely. This extends the life of the haircut and adds more value to your haircuts Using the JATAI Feather Nape & Body Razor to seamlessly remove weight like a pen. This tool is preferred over the Styling Razor or Plier Razor because it's small for greater control, has guarded blades so you won't cut yourself or your client and you can easily hold it like a pen for drawing and sketching.   We opened our own business because of this tool. Marisa married me. I can't give the razor all of the credit for that one, but I do have a big black Harley because of it. The JATAI Feather Nape & Body Razor, Vivienne Mackinder, Barsoum Bashar, Marisa Reinhold, and all of my wonderful clients have given me the greatest life I only could dream of.   This is my before and after look using the Focal Point Technique. You can read more about it on my Artistry Connect post. Tips & Techniques

Blades. They are a necessity for barbers and hairstylists on a daily basis. Whether you're a barber offering shaving services with a Feather Artist Club Razor, or a busy stylist who turns to your Feather Styling Razor or Plier Razor for today's textured cuts, nothing is worse than running out of blades. Avoid those last-minute dashes to the beauty supply store with JATAI's Subscribe & Save Service! Now you can save time AND money by subscribing to JATAI's blade replenishment service on a variety of Feather Blades. Automatically save up to 35% on Feather's top shaving and haircutting blades and never worry about running out of blades again. Choose between a reoccurring subscription of 3, 6 or 10 packs of blades and the frequency of shipping that best suits your needs: monthly, every 2 months, every 3 months, every 4 months, every 5 months or every 6 months. You are guaranteed to receive authentic Feather product and can cancel at any time. Plus, every order ships free! Subscription is available for both Feather haircutting and shaving blades including: Styling Razor Standard, Standard R Type, and Texturizing Blades Plier Blades Nape Blades Artist Club Professional, Pro Guard, Pro Super, Pro Light, and Pro Soft Blades   We also provide subscriptions for JATAI Blade Glide Plus Haircutting and Shaving Lotion as well as Fuji Paper end papers. Need help choosing the best type of blade for your shave? Check out this video detailing the four top selling Artist Club Blades:   Learn the difference between the three Feather Styling Razor Blades:   Product, Haircutting Razors, Artist Club Razors

Not all hair professionals are equal. Some are all about the trendiest styles, some only do color, some focus on short haircuts while others specialize in updos. There are a variety of hairstylists and barbers that provide unique and fun experiences and then others that do your basic run of the mill styles.  Whatever the case may be, there are certain characteristics that make clients fall in love with their hair professional that they come back repeatedly. What is this secret sauce? It's not a secret at all but people often forget to pay attention to certain qualities that can make them go from good to great. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, here are 7 reasons clients fall in love with their stylist or barber.   7 REASONS YOUR CLIENTS LOVE YOU 1) Technical Ability The first and most obvious quality of a great hair professional is their technical ability. They have a thorough understanding of haircutting techniques, the tools of the trade and the science behind haircare.  A great stylist or barber can cut hair with precision, symmetry and consistency producing a hairstyle that is both stylish and functional. They should also be proficient in a variety of cutting techniques using scissors, razors and clippers in order to cater to a wide range of clients. They should know how to use color properly and haircare product to achieve the best styling results. Technical ability can be seen through photos and video. Having great technical ability can be seen in the shape of the hair, the clean lines (or no lines), the symmetry of the haircut, the precision of the cutting and color of the hair (if color is involved).   2) Creativity While technical ability is more of a systematic skill, creativity is a human imagination skill. This is unique to every individual which makes creativity so fun and interpretive. It's important for a stylist or barber to have creativity in this profession because they need to have an eye for style and the ability to translate the customer's vision into a practical and stylish haircut. They should be able to draw inspiration from current fashion trends, classic hairstyles and their own imagination to create unique and personalized haircuts for each customer. This creative flair sets a great haircutter from a merely competent one, as it allows them to create haircuts that are not only functional but also stylish and memorable. Creativity is one of the most attractive qualities that initially captures a client. It's what they see on Instagram or TikTok. It's the way the images were captured that leave potential clients wanting it themselves. The way the hair is styled, the lighting and angles all express creativity and it makes the haircut more attractive.   3) Communication Skills Being able to communicate is underrated. Communication is the cornerstone of any human transaction. In this case, a barber or stylist should be able to listen and understand the needs and desires of their clients.  The consultation, which is the initial conversation between the professional and the client to determine what is to be done, is crucial to the overall success of the cut. They should be able to ask the right questions, offer advice and recommendations. Ultimately, the haircutter should be able to repeat back to the client exactly what they want and have a clear idea of what is expected. They should also be personable and be able to ease their clients and make them feel comfortable and confident in their abilities. Having good communication skills takes practice but it's essential to all aspects of the experience with each client. Good communication skills also extend to the way hair professionals communicate with their colleagues (other barbers and stylists) as well as management. They should be able to work as part of a team if necessary. Communication also translates into social media, appointment apps and other forms of technology. Providing clear information on websites, appointment apps about services, location, pricing and other relevant info is all part of the communication process.   4) Professionalism Being professional is a desirable quality of anyone. This means wearing clean and professional attire and maintaining a well-groomed appearance. However, some hair professionals tend to just wear whatever they want and can get away with it because of their status in the industry. Perhaps part of their popularity is due to their appearance and how they put themselves together. But many places of work have an expectation that you dress a certain way in their facility. Also, maintaining a professional attitude, treating customers with respect and courtesy, providing a welcoming and relaxing environment are all important. Using sanitary tools, keeping the chair and the space around it clean, adhering to health and safety regulations are all areas that clients pay attention to. Professionalism also revolves around being punctual with your appointments and not making the next client wait too long.   5) Attention to Detail Anyone that truly cares about their work will care about the details. When it comes to hair, details are very important. Is the haircut finished to the highest standards? Are the tiniest details addressed? Did they shave the neck on a short haircut? Small details can make a big difference in the quality of the overall haircut. If the hair is styled or cut in a way that complements their facial features and the hairs are all in place, this is a good sign. Paying attention to the details mean there is true love for the work and the desire to do their best.   6) Adaptability Many people don't really think about adaptability, but it is an important quality that hairstylists and barbers should have to stay relevant. Being able to work with a variety of hair types and textures is a skill. And being able to adapt to the changing needs and preferences of their clients while trying new techniques and styles to stay current are all a part of being adaptable. Without growth, there is only stagnation so getting advanced education and constantly learning in the profession of hair is critical to ongoing success. 7) Customer Service To fall in love with a hairstylist or barber is to fall in love with their customer service. This goes hand in hand with communication skills. Customer service makes the client feel valued, appreciated and comfortable. Clients want to feel good about getting a service and a lot of that has to do with customer service. Being considerate of people's time, giving them a refreshment while they wait and treating then with respect are all ways to provide customer service and comradery with clients. During the booking process is it easy and seamless? If making an appointment is difficult, it already puts a bad taste in the client's mouth. Think about the customer journey and where clients can be made to feel heard and respected. Technical ability, creativity, communication skills, professionalism, attention to detail, adaptability and customer service are key areas that any hairstylist or barber should work on throughout their career to be their best. When hair pros encompass these qualities, clients are likely to stay, return and fall in love.     Industry Advocacy, Business