Are you ready to take the plunge and cut your own hair? Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds. With the right tools and a bit of patience, you can give yourself a fresh look right at home. Let’s look at what you should do to make sure you end up happy with your new ‘do and not wishing you’d just waited for your stylist.
Choose the Right Tools
First things first, you need the right equipment, so get a pair of actual hair-cutting scissors because using the dull ones from your kitchen drawer is a recipe for disaster. Hair-cutting scissors are sharper and designed specifically to cut through hair smoothly. You’ll notice the difference immediately, and you’ll also avoid any split ends from using the wrong scissors.
Keep Your Scissors Sharp
Speaking of scissors, blunt scissors are only ever going to cause a bad haircut day. Sharp scissors make clean cuts, and this will give you a neater, tidier look, which is also easier on your hair. This can make the whole cutting process a lot smoother and quicker. Why wouldn’t you want that?
Start with Clean, Dry Hair
You should always start with clean and dry hair because wet hair stretches. When it dries, you might find you’ve gone too short, so washing and drying your hair before you start means you’ll get exactly the length you want. Dry hair will allow you to see how each cut will change your overall style and reduce the chances of any unwanted surprises.
Use a Comb for Guidance
When you cut your hair, you should always use a fine-tooth comb, as it helps guide your scissors and keeps your cuts straight. A fine-toothed comb prevents any wavy, uneven lines from showing up, which might make you want to wear a hat for the next few weeks. It’ll also make sure each cut is as straight as possible, which you’ll need to get that perfect look.
Cut Less Than You Think You Need
If you’re unsure about how much to cut, always err on the side of caution by cutting a little less than you think you should. It’s easy to snip more off later, but if you go too short, you’re just going to have to wait for it to grow back. You can always take another trim if you feel it’s not short enough after your first go-around.
Section Your Hair
Divide and conquer is your best strategy, so use clips to section off your hair. This way, you can focus on one area at a time, which makes your cutting job way easier and helps keep everything even. Working in sections also means you’re less likely to miss spots or accidentally mix up different lengths of hair, which can happen if you try to do everything at once.
Mirror Setup
Set up two mirrors, one in front and one behind you, as this lets you see all angles of your hair and stops you from missing a spot. Essentially, it’s like having eyes in the back of your head, which makes it much easier to get a balanced cut. You’ll be glad you can see all the way around when you’re trying to reach those tricky spots in the back.
Take Your Time
Remember that you shouldn’t rush through your haircut and take your time to get it right. Quick snips are an easy way to get uneven lengths and waste your time fixing mistakes. Cutting your hair isn’t a race, and if you don’t have enough time to do it, then postpone your haircut until you do. Changing your hair can massively affect your confidence, so you need to get it right.
Check Your Work Regularly
Take some breaks to check out your progress by looking at your hair from different angles in the mirror and making sure you haven’t missed any spots. After all, it’s far easier to correct small errors as you go than to try to fix everything in the end. Regular checks also mean you’ll make sure that you’re happy with each step before you move on to the next.
Trim Your Ends Regularly
Even if you’re growing your hair out, it’s a great idea to trim the ends every couple of months because it keeps your hair healthy and free of split ends. It’s not just about aesthetics, though, as it’ll also help your hair grow better. Having good hair can do wonders for improving your confidence about your overall appearance.
Avoid Complex Cuts Initially
Forget about doing something fancy, like layers or bangs, right off the bat, as that’ll probably just lead to a disaster. Instead, stick to simple cuts, especially if this is your first time, and get comfortable with basic cuts before moving on to more advanced stuff. When you’re ready, you’ll feel more confident and could even try experimenting a bit more.
Use the Right Angle
When you start to cut, angle your scissors slightly. This gives you a softer cut instead of harsh, blunt lines. Even though it’s a small change, it’ll make a big difference in how natural your haircut looks and could even make it seem more professionally done. We all know how terrible those haircuts were during the pandemic, and do you really want to go back to that?
Consider Your Hair Texture
Different hair types need different cutting techniques. If you have curly hair, cut each curl individually to maintain the shape, but if you have straight hair, keep those lines clean and even. You’ll need to understand your hair’s texture so you can get better results and avoid any cutting mistakes that can happen if you treat your hair the same way as someone else’s.
Maintain Even Length
Another good idea is to regularly compare the lengths of hair on opposite sides of your head. When you bring the front sections to the center of your face to compare lengths, you’ll be able to make sure everything is symmetrical so that your cut looks even. It’ll also stop you from getting that lopsided effect, which can be pretty difficult to fix.
Light and Steady Hand
As you cut, don’t grip your scissors too tightly, and use smooth, steady snips. Being gentle with your cuts means you can control them better and avoid taking off too much because it’ll make each cut deliberate and accurate. It’s a lot easier to make more cuts later than it is to grow your hair back.
Moisturize and Treat After Cutting
After you’re done cutting, give your hair some TLC with a good moisturizer or hair treatment, as it helps keep your hair looking shiny and healthy. Giving it a good wash will also help calm any frizz from the fresh cut and lock in your new look. Plus, it’ll make your hair far more manageable and beautiful.
Clean Up Edges
Don’t forget about the details. Clean up the edges around your ears and neck so you look a little sharper. This can be the difference between a haircut that looks home-done and one that seems salon-fresh. You might even want to use a trimmer, if you have one, to get those crisp lines and curves just right.
Don’t Cut Too Often
While it’s good to keep up with trims, don’t overdo it because cutting too frequently can cause your hair to grow unevenly. Worse still, if you cut too often, you might not give your hair a chance to show you its natural growth pattern. You’ll need this to work out what works best for your style and hair type, so let your hair breathe a bit between cuts.
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