You’ve probably heard the horror stories of people who tried to cut their own hair at home and ended up with uneven, choppy, or disastrous results. Maybe you’ve even been one of them.
But cutting your own hair doesn’t have to be a nightmare. In fact, with the right tools, techniques, and guidance, you can achieve salon-level results at home and save yourself some money and time.
Whether you want to trim your split ends, add some layers, refresh your bangs, or go for a drastic change, there’s a way to do it yourself without ruining your hair.
Of course, nothing can replace the skills and experience of a professional hairstylist, but if you can’t make it to your favorite Raleigh hair salon or want to try something new, you can follow these tips and tricks for cutting your hair at home.
What You’ll Need?
Before snipping away, ensure you have the right tools for the job. You’ll need the following:
- A pair of sharp hair-cutting scissors. Don’t use your kitchen or craft scissors; they can damage your hair and cause more split ends.
- A comb. A fine-tooth comb is best for creating clean sections and partings in your hair. A wide-tooth comb is good for detangling curly or wavy hair.
- Some clips or hair ties. You’ll need these to section your hair and keep it out of the way while you work on one area at a time.
- A spray bottle with water. If you have straight or wavy hair, you’ll want to cut it while it’s damp so that you can see your hair’s true length and shape. If you have curly hair, you’ll want to cut it while it’s dry, so you can see how your curls fall naturally.
- A mirror. Ideally, you’ll want to have two mirrors: one in front of you and one behind you, so you can check the back of your head and make sure everything is even.
How to Cut Your Hair Straight?
If you want to cut your hair straight across, without any layers or angles, follow these steps:
- Start with damp hair. Spray your hair with water until it’s slightly wet but not dripping. Comb through your hair to remove any knots or tangles.
- Part your hair in the middle. Use a comb to create a straight line from the center of your forehead to the nape of your neck. This will divide your hair into two equal sections.
- Bring your hair to the front. Bring one section of your hair over your shoulder so it’s in front of you. Repeat with the other section.
- Cut your hair at an angle. Hold one section of your hair between your index and middle fingers, keeping them parallel to the floor. Slide your fingers down until you reach the point where you want to cut. Then, angle your scissors slightly upwards and cut along your fingers. This will create a slight U-shape at the back of your head and prevent a blunt line across your neck.
- Repeat with the other section. Do the same thing with the other section of your hair, making sure to cut at the same angle and length as the first one.
- Check for evenness. Use a comb to smooth out your hair and check if both sides are even. You can also use a second mirror to look at the back of your head. If you see any uneven spots, trim them carefully with scissors.
How to Cut Long Layers into Your Own Hair?
If you want to add some movement and dimension to your long hair, you can cut some layers into it yourself using this method:
- Start with dry hair. This will allow you to see how much length and volume you’re removing with each cut.
- Part your hair where you normally do. Whether it’s in the middle or on the side, part your hair where you usually wear it.
- Section your hair into four parts. Divide your hair in half from ear to ear, and then divide each into two sections: one from the part to the top of your ear and one from the top to the back of your head. Clip or tie each section to keep it separate.
- Cut the back section. Take one of the back sections and comb it straight down. Hold it between your index and middle fingers, keeping them perpendicular to the floor. Slide your fingers down until you reach the point where you want to cut. Then, angle your scissors slightly downwards and cut along your fingers. This will create a soft V-shape at the back of your head and add some layers. Repeat with the other back section, making sure to cut at the same angle and length as the first one.
- Cut the front section. Take one of the front sections and comb it straight down. Hold it between your index and middle fingers, keeping them perpendicular to the floor. Slide your fingers down until you reach the point where you want to cut. Then, angle your scissors slightly upwards and cut along your fingers. This will create a face-framing layer that blends with the back section. Repeat with the other front section, making sure to cut at the same angle and length as the first one.
- Check for evenness and blend the layers. Use a comb to smooth out your hair and check if all the sections are even and blended. You can also use a second mirror to look at the back of your head. If you see any uneven or choppy spots, trim them carefully with scissors.
How to Cut Your Curls?
If you have curly hair, you’ll want to cut it while it’s dry, so you can see how your curls fall naturally and avoid cutting too much length or volume. Here’s how to do it:
- Start with dry hair that’s styled as usual. Don’t brush or comb your hair; this will disrupt your curl pattern and cause frizz.
- Section your hair into four parts. Divide your hair in half from ear to ear, and then divide each into two sections: one from the part to the top of your ear and one from the top to the back of your head. Clip or tie each section to keep it separate.
- Cut one curl at a time. Take one section of your hair and release one curl from it. Hold it between your index and middle fingers parallel to the curl. Slide your fingers down until you reach the point where you want to cut. Then, snip off the end of the curl with scissors. Repeat with all the curls in that section, making sure to cut only a little bit at a time.
- Repeat with the other sections. Do the same thing with the other sections of your hair, cutting one curl at a time and checking for evenness and balance.
- Shake out your curls and style as usual. Once you’re done cutting, shake out your curls gently with your fingers and style them as you normally do.
How to Cut Your Bangs?
If you want to cut or trim your bangs at home, here are some tips to follow:
- Start with dry hair that’s styled as usual.
- Use a fine-tooth comb to create a triangular section of hair at the front of your head, starting from where you want your bangs to begin and ending at where you want them to end on each side.
- Clip or tie the rest of your hair back to keep it out of the way.
- Comb your bangs straight down and hold them between your index and middle fingers, keeping them parallel to the floor.
- Slide your fingers down until you reach the point where you want to cut.
- Cut your bangs slightly longer than you want them to be, as they will bounce up when they dry.
- Cut with vertical snips rather than horizontal ones, creating a softer edge and avoiding a blunt line across your forehead.
- Check for evenness and adjust as needed.
Conclusion
Cutting your own hair at home can be a fun and rewarding experience if you follow these tips and tricks for different hair types and styles. However, remember that nothing can replace the skills and expertise of a professional hairstylist, so if you’re unsure about what you’re doing or you want a more complex or drastic change.
