I don't think "section" as a verb is unnatural in this context. I've certainly heard it in hair tutorials on youtube by plenty of different native speakers.
Though I have heard it by itself, "section off" sounds more natural to my ear.
"Section off two equal pieces of hair at the forehead/b...
Pieces is natural in the context. I wouldn't necessarily use it to describe someone else's completed hairdo, but in instructions for creating a hairstyle, it's perfectly fine.
I would say "take two sections of hair in front" is fluent enough, but not helpful as an initial instruction. I might expect it after a first instruction that says something like "Divide the hair into six sections, three on each side of the center part. Take the two sections of hair in front and..."
It depends on context. If someone said "She saw pieces of hair on the floor" it would sound cut off. If someone said "She had a piece of hair blowing into her face" I would think it was hair attached to her head. In the context of instructions, I wouldn't interpret it to mean "cut off."
I would say "portions" and "sections" are really good choices for written instructions or in conversation, while "pieces" is a little more informal.
Discussion between It's about English…
Discussion between It's about English…