5 Steps to Master the "Cross-Hatch" Styling Technique

My colleague Chris Baran developed a great technique that uses the Textur® tool to create a temporary tattoo on the hair, which is very popular with young and trendy clients. We demonstrate this “Cross-Hatch” technique on our Artificial Texture DVD, and I can explain it here in five steps.

1. Brush the hair back into a ponytail, but let a 2-inch horizontal slice drop out on top. Place that slice in front of the ear.
2. Spray the dropped-out section with Redken Fabricate 03 from a distance, so that you hit the hair without totally wetting the section.
3. Place the Textur® iron on the dropped-out section at a 45-degree angle and compress. This will imprint texture that looks like railroad tracks.
4. Overlay that imprint with another one in exactly the opposite direction to create a textured, X pattern that resembles a tattoo. It looks absolutely beautiful!
5. Finish with Redken Forceful 23, a super-strength finishing spray.
   

It’s up to the client if she wants you to leave that section loose, tie it back into the ponytail with the rest of the hair or maybe wrap it across the top to the opposite ear like a headband. Once you start playing with these looks, there are so many things you can figure out to do!

You can achieve this cross-hatch technique anywhere on the head, and you can let your imagination run wild in how you use the Textur® iron. For example, an upstyle looks great when you cross-hatch the section right above the forehead to add character. It will become the main subject of discussion as people ask your client how she got her hair to look like that. That’s letting your clients and your work create buzz for you.

I really believe that in today’s world you can’t rely on just satisfying your customers. You have to go the extra mile so that every client becomes your “raving fan” who will become your sales force and tell people, “You have to go see my hairdresser. He does things I’ve never seen before, and he teaches me how to do all sorts of things with my hair.” Then their coworkers, family and friends will become more raving fans to continue the process. It can take just one person to tell 20 other people and snowball your clientele. You never know who that person will be, so give top service to every client. Word of mouth is what will build your book.