Are you tired of paying for haircuts? Do you want to be able to cut your own hair at home? In this blog post, I will teach you how to cut your own hair like a pro. I’ll cover everything from choosing the right tools and products to actually cutting your hair. So whether you’re looking to save money or just want more control over your hairstyle, keep reading for my tips on how to cut your own hair.
Contents
How to Cut Your Hair at Home
Guaranteed easiest way to cut your hair at home!
- Scissors and Trimmers
- Hair Cutting Tips
- Trimming Basics
- Tips for Long Hair
- Tips for Short Hair
- Tips for Curly Hair
- Tips for Kids’ Hair
- Tips for Bangs
So you want to cut your own hair, huh? Well, there’s certainly a lot of information out there on the subject. You could spend hours scouring the internet for tips, or you could just follow these simple instructions. First, find a pair of sharp scissors. Second, cut your hair as short as possible. Third, enjoy your new haircut!Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more complex than that, you might want to invest in some professional haircutting tools. But why bother when you can just hack away at your hair with a pair of regular old scissors? After all, it’s not like you’re trying to look good or anything.
Is it better to trim hair wet or dry?
There’s technically no right answer here, since cutting your hair wet or dry is all about personal preference. Brown says that since wet hair appears longer than dry hair, she recommends cutting your hair dry, so you can get a more accurate idea of how much length you’re trimming—especially for curly hair types, which will shrink and look shorter when they dry.
But if you’re going for a blunt bob hairstyle, some pros recommend cutting your hair wet (or damp) to get the cleanest edge possible. Be cautious about how much you cut the first time though. “When hair is wet, it stretches, so you always want to take less off than you think to avoid cutting too much,” says hairstylist Meri Kate O’Connor.
How to cut long hair at home
Here, Johnson shares his step-by-step guide to cut long hair at home:
1) Make sure your hair is dried and straightened, as this will ensure the hair is perfectly even. Sit on a balanced chair in front of the mirror.
2) Divide your hair into a parting down the centre of your head, splitting your hair into two.
3) Using a comb, slide your fingers down one half of your hair – keeping the comb level in a horizontal line. It is important you keep your head level and your body still, as any movements can cause an uneven cut. This is why you shouldn’t even cross your legs in the salon chair.
4) Keeping your fingers and comb level, use your chosen scissors – ideally sharper than kitchen ones – and trim the ends of your hair using a point technique. This technique cuts into the hair, not across, leaving the line more forgiving and textured. If you’re feeling confident, trim across for a solid blunt look. But remember, it’s important we only cut the ends, this is a trim, not a cut.
5) Repeat on the other side.
6) To measure whether you’ve achieved an even cut, sit level and close your eyes. This is because our sense of sight can sometimes throw us off.
Run your hands down each side of your head from top to bottom, keeping the hair in-between your fingers and your hands parallel. Your hands should finish at the base of your hair at the same time – this means it’s a balanced cut. If not, don’t panic, just trim the longer side accordingly to meet up.
How to cut a bob at home
“One thing I would keep in mind is to make sure the bob is even,” says Johnson. “But, I would actually avoid trimming a bob at all costs. They require real skill to cut and, unfortunately, are best left to professionals.”
“If your bob is grown out, avoid trimming it and instead play and experiment with newly grown out styles.
“To cover up any outgrown styles, use accessories such as headbands and hair scarves to jazz up your hairstyle.
“Don’t forget, just because you’re not used to it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t look good. Sometimes the unfamiliar can create new, exciting looks.”
How to cut mid-length hair at home
“The best trick I could teach you to manage split ends is a technique called dusting,” says Dom Seeley, celebrity hairstylist and Color Wow ambassador. “This involves taking the split ends away from the surface of the hair which will help to promote healthier hair and tide you over until your next salon appointment.”
Here, Seeley runs through his guide to dusting:
1) Take a clean, neat 1/2 inch-wide section of the hair.
2) Ensure you have a good grip on your hair. The best way to do this is to wrap the section of hair under your index finger, over your middle finger and then back under your ring finger – sandwiching the hair like a figure of three. This makes the split ends easier to see and ensures that you won’t chop major lengths off.
3) Reach for a smaller pair of scissors, such as nail scissors, as they allow for a more precise and fluid cut.
4) Run your fingers down your hair, maintain the figure three and trim any split ends that poke up.
5) You want to repeat this process until you are satisfied with the outcome. Note that it is best to trim clean, dried hair as products or natural oils will cause the split ends to lay flat so you won’t be able to see them clearly.
How to cut a pixie cut at home
“If you have a pixie cut and you’re desperate to trim your hair, make sure to proceed with caution,” says Seeley. “My advice would be to leave the length that you have on top and what frames your face until you can get a professional cut. These parts are vital in keeping a pixie cut feminine and soft, so don’t cut this away.”
Here, Seeley shares his tips for cutting a pixie hairstyle:
Perimeter cutting
“Trim around the perimeter of your hair/hairline. Cutting around your ears and into your neckline in a point cutting motion (using your scissors to cut vertically into the hair) will create a softer appearance.”
Twist cutting
“If you have to cut any major length off your pixie, a good technique is to ‘twist cut’. Twist small strands of hair section by section and again, point cutting into the twist. This will create an easy blend but also acts as a guard to stop you from cutting too much off.
“If you can, get a family member or friend to help you with this. Otherwise, make sure to use mirrors and even your phone camera to give you a 360 view while cutting.”
Make sure you have the right hair-cutting tools
Most importantly, if you’ve ignored my advice (rude) and decided to cut your own hair, make sure you have proper hair-cutting shears. Not your kitchen scissors, not your craft scissors, sharp hair shears only. “Hair shears are much sharper and can give you a precise and accurate cut,” says Brown. “When people don’t use proper shears, they tend to go over the same spot over and over again because it’s not a clean cut—and then they’re just cutting unevenly and losing length.” Sound like your worst nightmare? Good. Get some shears. Here’s what else you’ll need:
- Double-edged comb: Look for something with wide and fine teeth, which will help you section off your hair.
- No-slip hair clips: These bbs will make it super easy to slowly work in sections.
- Flat iron: Optional (but encouraged) for getting a smooth finish before you cut.
- A spray bottle: To keep your hair damp if you choose to cut your hair wet.
How to trim your natural hair without heat
How to trim your hair wet
How to trim long layers
How to Trim Your Hair
Be conservative. Focus on trimming your hair—don’t try to completely restyle it. When in doubt, you can always wait and book an appointment with your favorite stylist once you’re fully vaccinated and they have time to see you. Below is our best trimming advice, along with some links to tutorials that will help you with the basics.
Wash and condition your hair, and then let it dry completely, because hair shrinks as it dries. This will help you avoid taking off too much. Work out any tangles using a brush before getting started. If your hair is unruly, you can mist it with water, but try to avoid getting it too saturated.
Make sure you have your shears or clippers and a comb on hand. Use clips to help section your hair into manageable segments. Snip with the ends of the shears rather than with the full length of the blade.
For Long Hair
Divide your hair and clip it into sections. Bring one section forward at a time, and determine how much you want to take off—we suggest a quarter of an inch to half an inch. (Cut a little less than you think you should.) Trim off the length and then snip the ends to add texture and blend everything out. Watch this video for more in-depth instructions.
For Short Hair
Short hair is an instance where having damp locks may help you out. We suggest having someone else do the job for you. Less is more. If you’re using shears, have your assistant start at the sides and work around your head. They can use a comb to help guide the shears and determine where to cut. Be extra careful when trimming around the ears. This video is a good tutorial for a classic short cut using shears.
If you’re using clippers, this is a helpful basic tutorial. And to cut your own short hair, try this video tutorial, and consider using a special self-haircut kit to make the process a little easier.
For Curly Hair
The type of trim you’ll want depends on your curl type (check your curl type here). For looser 2A to 3B curls, you can probably follow this tutorial, where you work with dry hair and trim curl by curl at an angle to ensure voluminous results.
For tighter curl types ranging from 3C to 4C, try sectioning your hair, gently detangling, and using firm pressure to keep it from moving too much as you trim. This tutorial and this tutorial are both great options for highly textured hair.
Depending on your curl pattern and your hair shape, you may want to find a video more tailored to your desired end result. YouTube is your friend. Remember that curly hair has a mind of its own, so be patient and work in small sections.
For Kids’ Hair
If you can get kids to stay still, a haircut isn’t too hard. This is a good guide for blending short haircuts and dealing with cowlicks, and here’s a tutorial for classic shaggy toddler haircuts. When in doubt, you can always use a mixing bowl (or a headband). Just don’t use this method when they’re older. By high school, a bowl cut is not going to help their social standing. The nineties might be back in style, but not to that extent.
For Bangs
If you already have them, and they’re getting too long, this is a great tutorial for trimming bangs.
So, if you’re in a pinch and can’t make it to the salon, don’t fret – we’ve got you covered. From trimming your layers to snipping your split ends, we’ve rounded up the best instructional videos on how to cut your own hair like a pro. For more tips and tricks on giving yourself a quick fix at home, check out our blog post on DIY haircuts. How do you feel about cutting your own hair? Leave us a comment below!
