Question for hairdressers - what exactly is a dry cut?

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

Most hairdressers I know won't do a dry cut, only cut and blow. Reasons I've been given in the past include: 'I can cut it better when it's wet' and 'we want you leaving the salon looking good'. Both of which I can understand, but occasionally when a hairdresser can't fit in a cut and blow, they might be able to fit in a dry cut, or if I don't have time for the full works - but they won't, without charging the full price for a C&B anyway.
So far, so understandable. But my current salon, where I have 2 different stylists, depending on availability, dry my hair first and then cut it - which rules out the cutting when wet reason. They then style it with straighteners, which takes minutes and could be done on my hair after a dry cut. Am I missing something?

To be clear, mostly I don't mind but just occasionally when I don't have much time myself, or they could squeeze in a dry cut but not a C&B, a dey cut would be useful. I don't get it - other than obviously more revenue - which I also understand.

(Not a TAAT, but promoted by advice n a money saving thread to go for a dry cut to save money - no salon I have ever used near me offers this.)

I'm a hairdresser, I don't cut many peoples hair dry. Only very fine. It's hard to describe but it's MUCH easier to make mistakes that I also can't really describe unless I take you to college for about a week, could show you the ins and outs then.
By that time you would wonder why anyone ever offers it.

Reading again, the person that dry cuts it, there are specialists that do this, it's very hard and I don't know why people bother. I think at times it's to set them apart from others.

Without seeing it I dont think anyone could tell you, you are right it is confusing

Yes it's really confusing. I can appreciate it's easier when wet, but then they dry it themselves first. They're a decent salon, but I wouldn't say they are specialists in cutting dry hair (or anything different to be fair)!

AND to be more confusing, I have fine hair and my stylist offers dry cut

She sprays it down and blasts it off, the blow dry and a blast look the same on me!

Also, we he blow dry tests if the style works out, you can see it better than it being blasted off (I mean just rough dry) so it's a final check for the stylist to see if it sits okay. Etc

My hairdresser will do a dry cut on me (sprays it a bit to make it a bit wet) but I have shoulder length blunt cut with no layers so it’s easier. I can totally see why a layered or complicated cut would be much harder to do when dry

My ds gets a dry cut but they do spray it with water rather than washing it first

That seems very unusual OP. Do they dry it so it's bone dry?

I go to a cheap walk-in place like Supercuts and they do dry cuts. It's fine on my straight lob.

Isn’t a dry cut what barbers do on most men? Spay bottle snip or sheers then vacuum off the dry bits.

My hairdresser washes and cuts my hair, but doesn't blow it as I don't want it done, and charges less because of that.

I only have dry cuts. I arrive with very clean & straightened hair and my hairdresser cuts about half an inch off for me!

Mind you, he emigrated just before lockdown so I haven't had it cut for years now. This is partly due to the pain of trying to find someone who won't insist on washing my hair first!!

Dry cuts are preferable for most curly/wavy hair, but you have to find someone who is trained. I don't think it works quite the same way for straight hair.

My hairdresser washes and cuts my hair,dries it then finishes off the cut while it's dry.

Supercuts always did dry cuts if they're still around?

I have very fine, very straight hair and I've never had a hairdresser cut it while wet. If I get highlights, they dry it straight after, then cut. After lockdown, when you had to have it washed regardless, they would wash and then dry and cut. Now I sit in the chair, she sprays and then cuts, blasts it dry and off I go.

Maybe change salons? Ring around to see if any offer dry cuts. I'm much happier having my hair washed because I don't go to the hairdressers often, so it feels like a bit of luxury having someone wash it for me, but my hair is also very porous and takes forever to dry, so it's time consuming.

I suggested a dry cut on that other thread to save money. I took dd to get her hair cut last week, was expecting £40+ because whenever I get mine done I'm looking at £100 approx for cut and colour. Took her to a different salon to mine and they just cut it dry - took off all the ratty bits at the bottom and shaped it round the front. Dd has long, slightly wavy hair and is growing out an undercut, so maybe that makes it easier, but they quoted the price before they even saw her. £17. I guess because they aren't wasting time washing and blow drying?

I don't understand the justification for washing hair if they're going to dry it before cutting anyway. Men don't get their hair washed at the barber and they have dramatic cuts sometimes rather than trims. £12 done. Obviously im not a hair dresser so maybe this isn't possible for women with complicated hair but a lot of us are pretty straightforward.

Thick, straight hair. Mobile hairdresser, quick spray, quick cut. Comes regularly. Charges £6. No faffing. That's my idea of a dry cut.

Bloody love my hairdresser.

I think hairdressers are working themselves out of a profession because there is less and less customer service. So many hairdressers don’t know how to cut hair properly, dry or wet. They barely do a bit of styling with straighteners or curling wands which you could just do at home. It seems to be all about colouring and balayage these days with little regard for a proper technical cut and what the average customer wants/ needs in their daily life (rather than the Instagram crowd who want hyper styled wavy balayages). What happened to classic hairdressers?

Yes, hence no idea why they won't do a dry cut!

@ImAvingOops it was your comment that prompted this thread, along with a conversation I had with a group of girlfriends. We all go to different salons, none of which will do dry cuts.
I'm not overly bothered as I love having my hair washed by someone else and a lovely scalp massage, and am lucky that I don't need to watch the pennies too closely. More curious that they cut my hair dry anyway!

I was surprised too, when I took dd. I assumed they'd wash her hair because that seems to be standard. Her hair looks nice though and I was happy to get away with £17

I get a sort of dry cut but I have curly hair
So she cuts it dry, washes it, styles and dries it and cuts it again

^ "...advice on a money saving thread to go for a dry cut to save money - no salon I have ever used near me offers this^"

I think people (and some hairdressers too) use 'wet cut' and 'dry cut' a bit Interchangeably, when all they mean is they are not going to wash it + blow dry it.
They'll just give you a cut, often they prefer to spray the hair a bit, etc.

That should be a bit cheaper, as obviously you're taking less of their time. But I did have hairdressers recently saying they'll charge the same as it wouldn't make a difference to them.

I have been having a dry cut/ wet cut for years. More people are aware of it now and it's not as cheap as it was before.

I've just had a mobile hairdresser today (for the first time ever). I asked just for the cut (which on social media she advertised as costing 20), at the end of the cut she asked for 25. Of course I paid up with a smile, but I remember not long ago paying £15 at a salon for the same thing.

I've checked on their website recently and if I'm right it said they only do dry cut as a trim and only an inch or so and for taking off longer you need to book wash, cut and blow dry.

Will be interesting to hear if someone has used them for a dry/wet cut recently.