now that you understand what lines sections angles and elevation are we move on to understanding cutting lines guidelines and / direction our learning objective is to be able to define cutting lines guidelines and / direction cutting lines are the angle at which the fingers are held when cutting the line in the subsection of hair that creates the end shape cutting lines are also known as cutting angles finger limes finger angles holding limes and holding angles a cutting line is the angle at which the fingers are held when cutting the hair in the example of a zero Degree haircut the hair is not elevated or left hanging in its natural fall position to cut the hair our fingers would be holding the hair between the index and middle fingers of our non-dominant hand our fingers would be positioned horizontally or parallel to the floor we would then ensure that our cutting line or finger angle is straight and then cut the hair below our fingers if my fingers are angled in any position other than horizontal or if I elevate the hair I completely change this haircut in the example of a 45 degree haircut the hair is elevated to a 45 degree angle to cut the hair our fingers would need to hold the hair between the index and middle fingers of our non-dominant hand our fingers would be positioned diagonally to the clients head we would then ensure that our cutting line or finger angle is straight and then cut the hair below our fingers if my fingers are angled in any position other than diagonally or if I elevate the hair too much or too little then I completely change this haircut in the example of a 90 degree haircut the hair is elevated to a 90 degree angle cut the hair our fingers would need to hold the hair between the index and middle fingers of our non-dominant hand our fingers would be positioned vertically or parallel to the clients head we would then ensure that our cutting line or finger angle is straight and then cut the hair above our fingers if my fingers are angled in any position other than vertically or if I elevate the hair at any angle other than 90 degrees then I completely change this haircut in the example of a 180 degree haircut the hair is elevated to a 180 degree angle to cut the hair our fingers would need to hold the hair between the index and middle fingers of our non-dominant hand our fingers would be positioned horizontally or parallel to the floor we would then ensure that our cutting line or finger angle is straight and then cut the hair above our fingers if my fingers are angled in any position other than horizontally or if I elevate the hair at any angle other than 180 degrees then I completely change this haircut guidelines are a small subsection of hair that determines the length to which the hair will be cut typically it is the first section of hair to be cut there are four types of guidelines you should become familiar with the perimeter guideline is the guideline that is the outer or perimeter line of the haircut it generally follows the natural hair line the perimeter guideline is used primarily in 90-degree haircuts or an over directed haircuts the interior guideline is the internal guideline of the haircut these guidelines are used primarily in the 45 90 and 180-degree haircuts or in haircuts where all of the hair is over directed to a central location stationary guidelines are generally used for perimeter guidelines stationary means does not move in haircutting this means that all hair still needing to be cut will be directed to this one previously cut section of hair once an uncut section has been guided to this cut section the uncut section will be cut to match the length of the cut section stationary guidelines are used primarily in 0 and 180 degree or / direction haircuts travel and guidelines are used in both perimeter and interior guidelines traveling means mobile or movable this means this guideline will move with you or that you will take this guideline with you as you progress through the haircut once you have an established guideline you will take your guideline with you to the next uncut section of hair once you have matched the length of the uncut section to the cut section the new cut section becomes your guideline that you will take with you to the next uncut section you will then match the new uncut section to the previously cut section each new section becomes your new guideline as you move throughout the haircut travel and guidelines are used primarily in 45 90 and 180 degree haircuts / direction as directing the hair away from its natural fall position to either a stationary interior guide or a stationary perimeter guide you should not confuse over direction with elevation elevation is when the hair is being moved upwards from its natural fall position in / direction the hair is being moved to the far left or far right away from its natural fall position / direction is used to create gradual to dramatic length increases in the shape of the hair