I have very very thick hair and I absolutely must find someone who is experienced with doing layered cuts. And, even tho layering can be done with scissors, I is a lot easier and faster to use a razor comb.
However, it’s getting increasingly difficult to find someone experienced with razor layering because it’s just no longer in fashion these days and many beauty schools don’t teach it.
The reason layering works so well, especially for shorter hairstyles, is because it reduces the volume and makes everything lie smoothly.
In my younger years, I didn’t know all this. All I knew was that if my hair was cut with scissors, I ended up looking like the little kid on the Dutch Boy Paint can. That’s because the person using scissors just basically blunt cut it. Horrible.
But if it was done with a razor comb it looked infinitely better and behaved itself.
It wasn’t until years later after my sister had graduated from beauty school explained layering to me and that it was possible with scissors but it just takes a whole lot more time because of the need to do it layer by layer, which means putting significant sections of hair up out of the way with clips multiple times. Thus, more time and work.
When I do find a hairdresser skilled with a razor I tip very very well.
So, obviously quite familiar with using this technique for thick hair which is apparently the opposite of yours. But what @JLeslie wrote makes sense.
@jca
Whenever I need to find a new hairdresser (usually due to moving) I spend quite a bit of time checking out the haircuts of all the women I see as I go about my daily business. When I see one who has a really great looking short haircut, I’ll approach and ask her for a reco of who she went to. I’ve found some great hairstylists that way :)