Do you really want a new haircut, but don't want to spend money to pay for a haircut at a salon? Or, is your hair currently in need of a haircut (perhaps because it's been cut recently or you're waiting for your hair to grow longer to be cut) but you want to change the look of your hair quickly? Here is a basic guide on how to cut your own hair at home. While it's not recommended that you go for drastic haircuts [for example, if you have waist-length hair and then try to cut it to your shoulder length], it is possible that you can give your hair a salon-quality haircut -- by cutting it 2 inches long., 5-8 cm from the ends of the hair. This guide will help you.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Washing and Prepping Your Hair
Step 1. Wash your hair
Use a mild shampoo and make sure your hair is clean and free of hair care products before you start cutting your hair.
- You don't have to use conditioner when you wash your hair, but using conditioner can help remove tangles.
- Rinse your hair until there are no more bubbles or soap residue in the rinse water. The water that flows from your scalp (rinse water) should be clean and clear.
- Dirty hair needs to be washed twice.
Step 2. Dry your hair gently with a towel
Don't blow dry completely, but leave your hair slightly damp. This will make your hair more manageable.
A spray bottle filled with water can be used to moisturize your hair when your hair starts to dry
Step 3. Cover your shoulders with a towel
The towel will absorb any water that drips from your hair and will also prevent the cut hair from falling onto your clothes. This will also make it easier for you to clean everything after the haircut is complete.
You can also spread a towel or cloth on the floor as a base to catch the falling hair pieces
Step 4. Brush your hair
Make sure your hair is free of tangles and knots.
Re-moisturizing your hair may help
Step 5. Comb your hair towards the back of your head
Using a wide-toothed comb, start combing from your forehead to the base of your neck. Once your hair is combed back, it will be easier for you to make neat, perfectly straight sections.
Neat sections of hair are very important to make the right sections on your hair
Step 6. Make divisions on your hair
Immediately starting behind your left ear, pull the comb across the top of your scalp using the tip or edge of the comb. Stop when you get to the same position behind your right ear.
- All hair that is in the front of the division will be considered as the front.
- Hold the comb at the same angle as you would a knife.
- Depending on your hair type and thickness, you may need to use a finer-toothed comb.
Step 7. Comb the section of hair that is on top towards the front
Remember, neat division is the key to getting an even distribution of hair, which will result in a more even haircut.
Step 8. Secure the front of your hair
Use a rubber band or hair tie to tie the front hair into a ponytail to separate it from the hair at the back of your head.
Hair clips will be more useful for shorter hair
Step 9. Make another section of your hair
Placing the tip of the comb in roughly the same position as you did in the previous section, draw a line around the back of your scalp parallel to the floor. Finish the line behind your other ear.
The hair above this division is considered the top, while the hair below is considered the bottom
Step 10. Secure the top hair as you would the front hair
Use a hair tie or clip as needed.
Do not do the division on the lower hair
Part 2 of 2: Cutting Your Hair
Step 1. Make a scissor-like motion with the index and middle fingers of your free hand and "pin" a section of hair 5-8 cm wide
Make sure you start with the hair at the bottom and on one side of your head, not in the middle. This will be your guide snippet.
- In this case, your free hand will be the one you wouldn't use to hold the scissors.
- You will be doing this process over and over again, so make sure you maintain consistency with each pinch.
Step 2. Comb this section of hair neatly
Make sure hair is free of tangles and knots, repeat as necessary.
- Re-moisturizing your hair may help.
- Depending on your hair type, a hairbrush may do a better job of removing tangles and knots.
Step 3. Comb the hair back in this section
This time, as you run the comb through your hair, follow it with your curling fingers (your index and middle fingers form like clipping scissors). Keep about 1/2 cm between your fingers and the comb and make sure you maintain consistent finger grip.
- Finger clips that are too loose will cause the hair to become unruly and will result in an uneven haircut.
- Pinching your fingers too tightly will make it difficult for you and make it painful to slide your fingers through your hair.
- Do not use a hairbrush for this process.
Step 4. Stop right at a distance of 2.5 cm from the ends of the hair
If you maintain your fingers well throughout the brush -- and maintain the shift of the pincer fingers well -- you'll be able to see uneven hair growth at the ends.
- Repeat this process and make sure you maintain a consistent movement.
- The more consistent movement you can maintain, the more consistent your haircut will be.
Step 5. Create your guide pieces
Using clean, sharp, salon-quality scissors, smooth the ends of your hair in parallel cuts with your curling fingers.
- The amount of hair you cut is up to you.
- Standing in front of a mirror will be quite helpful when you are cutting your own hair. However, sometimes it can be quite difficult to get used to working with your reflection in the mirror.
Step 6. Work the other portion of the hair
The section to work on next is the hair that is near the section you just worked on and should account for about 25 percent of the amount of hair you just cut.
Once this section is combed well, you will be able to see a sharp difference between trimmed and uncut hair
Step 7. Repeat step one to step four
Make sure you maintain exactly the same pinch finger movement.
You should be able to see the contrast between the trimmed and uncut hair
Step 8. Smooth the haircut
Equally smooth the ends of the hair with the guide cut you have made by trimming the excess hair.
Pause briefly to calm your hands if needed
Step 9. Work all the hair on the bottom
Repeat steps one through five as needed.
Step 10. Finish your haircut
Once you've finished the bottom hair, you can move on to the top hair, and then, the front. Repeat sections one through five for each section of hair, on each section until you're done.
Tips
- Keep in mind that this article is all about cutting hair for the purpose of tidying up! Don't try to use the steps in this article to get a real haircut - you might regret it.
- If you do it to yourself or to someone else, start very slowly and carefully.
- It would be nice if someone else did the trimming for you.
- If someone else is doing it for you, keep your back straight. It's important not to move your body as these movements can distort the straight line the scissors will go through, and can result in an uneven cut.
