Going to a beauty salon for a haircut is okay for special occasions, but it can be said to be expensive if we go every 6 weeks. Save some money by doing your own hair at home! You might be a little nervous at first, but once you get used to it, you'll be glad you learned it! Keep reading for instructions on how to trim your long, short, even bangs.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cutting Long Hair
Step 1. Buy a pair of sharp scissors
The first step in trimming your hair at home is having the right equipment. You will need a sharp trimming shears (not the old scissors you have in your house) and a fine serrated comb.
- Trimming scissors are available at beauty supply stores – you can find them for quite a bit, ranging from $25 to $50. If you don't want to buy trimming scissors, cloth scissors are fine too - just make sure they're "very" sharp.
- Using blunt scissors is not good because you will find it difficult to trim your hair and make your hair split – which makes cutting your hair a waste!
Step 2. Wet your hair, but don't blow dry it
Wet hair is easier to trim than dry hair, so be sure to shampoo and apply conditioner before you start trimming.
- Fully comb your hair when you're done showering – your hair needs to be as smooth and tangle-free as possible. Use conditioner if your hair tends to be frizzy or unruly.
- If your hair is fairly long or thick, there's a good chance that part of your hair will start to dry before you trim it. To fix this, fill a spray bottle with water and a little conditioner. So you can wet your hair whenever you need to!
Step 3. Trim the top of your hair
Depending on the thickness, expect to work several sections of your hair, starting at the bottom layer and working your way up.
- Use an elastic band or bobby pin to divide your hair into sections. Just make sure that the split hair doesn't come out of the section – otherwise it will interfere with your trimming process.
- Once you're done with the bottom layer of hair, you can start removing the other sections.
Step 4. Look for split ends
If you want to trim your hair a bit to get rid of damaged hair, you need to first figure out how much hair to trim.
- Pay attention to the ends of your hair. If it looks thin or curly, or has split ends, it may be damaged and needs trimming.
- Trim hair about 0.25 inch (6 mm) stop above the damage. This will keep your hair in good condition.
Step 5. Measure the place where you want to trim
For an accurate trim, grab a section of hair with the index and middle fingers of your non-dominant hand.
- Pull your finger down the hair, until it reaches a point slightly above where you want to trim your hair. Make sure the hair is not tangled or curled between your fingers – hair should lie perfectly flat/straight.
- Your hair will look shorter when dry, so be careful when measuring how much you need to trim. This is especially important for people with curly hair.
- Remember – you can trim it shorter later, but you can't get it back if you trim it too much the first time.
Step 6. Smooth the edges
When you're ready to prune, hold the scissors just under your fingers, parallel to each other. Try to apply reasonable pressure to the hair between your fingers.
- Tidy gently, letting the trimmed hair fall with your fingers (and the hair being held) steady and in a fixed position.
- If you want your hair to be blunt, just trim it straight and leave it on. If you want a softer finish, hold the scissors vertically (perpendicular to your fingers) and trim the hair straight away, until no sharp edges remain. This will give the ends of your hair a feather-like look.
Step 7. Make sure the edges are the same
Once you've finished styling a layer of hair, make sure the ends are the same. Grasp the ends of each end with your hands, using your thumb and forefinger.
- Pull both fingers down the hair at the same speed. Whichever hand reaches the end first is the shorter hair.
- Tidy up in such a way as to be equal. Double-check the length until you're satisfied, then move on to the next layer of hair.
Step 8. Trim the layer (may be yes, may not)
Managing the layers, especially if you have thick or curly hair, is best left to a professional. But, if you really need a quick fireplace for the look on your face, use these techniques:
- Hold the ends of the layer of hair between your fingers as much as possible, then trim the hair as short as possible, holding the scissors “slightly” downward.
- In other words, trim the hair at an angle from the jaw on the side of the face to the shoulders on the same side.
- Use the softening technique described above to equalize the size of the ends of the hair, then even layer on each side of the face to ensure they are the same size.
Step 9. Recheck hair when dry
Once your hair is dry (the way you normally would with either a natural blow dryer or a hairdryer), check your barber for any bulging discrepancies.
- Use a mirror to check the hair on the back of your head or, better yet, ask a trusted friend to check it for you.
- If you find any imbalance, pick up your scissors again and, being very careful, try to even out, trimming as little hair as you can.
Method 2 of 3: Cutting Hair Short
Step 1. Gather the tools
Most short haircuts are made with an electric shaver and a pair of scissors. Make sure you have the guard you want for the razor (which will determine how much hair you will trim) and sharp scissors.
Step 2. Start with wet hair
You can wash it off, or wet it with a spray bottle before starting. Wet hair is easier to trim, and makes cleaning easy.
Step 3. Start with your top head
For a traditional Men's haircut, the hair on top of your head should be slightly longer than the sides and back.
- Then, starting at your forehead, trim your top hair by moving the shaver back into the natural arc of your head.
- Find the spots you missed in these two areas.
Start 1 or 2 inches above your ear, and follow the line around the back of your head to the other ear, moving the shaver straight up
Step 4. Trim the back and sides
Wear a shorter guard for your shaver. Starting with your sideburns, move the shaver up. Trim to the point where you started using the longer guard earlier.
- Behind your head, turn the shaver at the neck and move it upwards, again stopping where you trimmed with the longer guard.
- Don't worry about the length difference for now – that's what scissors are for.
Step 5. Use scissors to blend the two hair lengths
Using the index and middle fingers of your non-dominant hand, grab the section of long hair above where you switched.
- With the scissors, carefully arrange your hair so that the two hairs of different lengths blend together.
- Do this all over your head until the 2 sections look well together and there is no difference between the two protruding lengths.
- Have a friend re-examine the back of your head, use a small mirror in front of a large mirror to examine yourself.
- If the "long" section of your hair above is shorter than the width of your finger, then skip the step of using your index and middle fingers to pull the sections.
Method 3 of 3: Trimming Bangs (Edges)
Step 1. Take a pair of scissors
You can buy scissors made for trimming hair at beauty supply stores. Don't use paper scissors or fingernails – they're too blunt and will make odd cuts.
Step 2. Decide how short you will trim it
Make an estimate of where you want the bangs to fall. Remember, you can always trim it again, but regrowing hair that was accidentally trimmed can take a long time.
Step 3. Pull out the rest of your hair
Secure hair that is not on your edges to keep it away from your face and out of dangerous areas. If necessary, use a comb to separate your bangs from the rest of your hair.
Step 4. Wet your bangs
Sprinkle some water on your hair, or use a spray bottle. They're easier to trim when they're wet, and you can restore them when they're dry.
Step 5. Estimate where you want to trim
Grasp a section of hair with the index and middle fingers of your non-dominant hand. Drag your fingers down so they are directly above where you want to trim.
Step 6. Trim the hair under your fingers
Place the scissors close to your fingers (so that the scissors are almost parallel) and trim slowly. Your fingers (and the hair they are holding) should remain steady as the trimmed hair falls.
Step 7. Make sure the sides are the same
If you want your bangs to be the same size all over, make sure they're the same size.
- On each side, grasp a strand of hair with the thumb and forefinger of each hand. Pull the fingers on both your hands slowly down and at the same speed.
- If one of your hands reaches the finish first, you'll need to trim a bit to level the sides.
- Do this until you are satisfied with the length.
Step 8. Trim the side bangs that stretch (may or may not)
If you want your bangs to go sideways, comb them in the direction you want them to be.
- Bow your head forward slightly, so that your bangs are away from your face. Place the scissors in the direction you want the bangs to lengthen.
- Starting near the section, position the scissors where you want the shortest part of the bangs. For side bangs that stretch, they will get a little longer as you trim. Because of this, the angle of your scissors is slightly downward.
- Make short, small trims in your bangs. The distance may be a little choppy, but not too much. Aim to trim sections of hair that are about 0.5 inches (12 mm) wide.
- When your bangs are dry, touch them. Toss your hair a bit, and see if you're happy with where your bangs settle. Trim again if needed.
Tips
- If this is your first time cutting your own hair, don't cut it too short. Because if you fail on the first try, you can get a haircut in a professional place to fix it.
- Make sure that you have 2 mirrors. So you can see the back of your head.
- The next time you go to a salon, pay attention to how the stylist cuts your hair. Use this information as a reference for cutting your own hair next time.
- You'll look better at cutting your own hair with practice.
- The thicker your hair, the harder it will be for you to cut your hair. Coarse, thick or curly hair should be left to a professional.
- If you don't want your hair to be dull and bulky or you prefer something more natural, you can flip your hair, brush it straight and cut it straight. This will work best if you see your hair in front of you and you don't have to bother with the mirror.
- Try to place the rubber band where you want to cut it.
Warning
- Never cut your hair in bulk. Take it in small amounts.
- Be careful with scissors.
- If you are not satisfied with a haircut done by a professional, going to another salon to have it repaired by another professional will show better results than having it repaired yourself.
- Very curly hair is very difficult to cut, and curly hair is generally never cut at home. If you want to cut your curly hair, straighten it first and then cut it.
- Don't try out a new hairstyle yourself, unless you're an expert, use a trim style you already have.
