Giving yourself a quick trim can be really tempting. However, before grabbing a pair of scissors, you need to learn the basics to avoid messing up your hair. Learning how to cut hair properly will save you from getting a big chop if you accidentally make a mistake. Luckily, you can learn to cut your own hair or the hair of a family member in the comfort of your home, so keep on reading.

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Many things can go wrong if you’re not careful while cutting your hair, but a little bit of preparation and practice will make things right. Here is what you need to do before chopping off your hair.

Ask yourself if you really need to have a cut. Don’t make a decision when you’re too stressed because your hair will take a long time to grow back. If you must, opt for a trim rather than a total makeover. 

Invest in a pair of good scissors. Nothing can be more damaging than a pair of dull shears that won’t cut your hair correctly. The dull edges will also increase the risk of split ends, so you will end up cutting more than what you actually wanted in order to have a good look.

Make sure that you have good lighting. Stand in front of the mirror, so you can see exactly what you’re doing. If possible, grab another mirror to see the behind of your head as you keep on cutting. 

Put a sheet under your feet to catch all the cut hair. If possible, cut your hair in the bathroom, so the hair falls into the sink.

If possible, ask someone else for help. Cutting your own hair can be a little challenging. 

What Do You Need Before Giving Yourself a Trim?

There are different ways and techniques that allow you to have an excellent cut depending on the length and texture of your hair. 

Always cut less instead of more. You can always go back and cut more hair if you feel that your hair is still too long. But if you’ve cut your hair too short, you can’t fix that. Here are the right steps to cut your hair.

Wash and condition your hair. Let it dry completely before cutting it because the hair shrinks when it’s dry. Cutting wet hair can cause problems because you might cut more than you should. 

Divide your hair into sections and bring each section to the front to cut it. 

Determine how much you want to chop off and cut less than what you need to. 

Snip the ends to add more texture to your hair.

Short hair is a little bit trickier to cut. If possible, ask someone else for help. 

If your hair is too short, dampen it a little before cutting it to stretch out the hair. 

Use a comb to guide your scissors, especially when you’re cutting hair around the ears. 

Hair clippers are more practical to use because they will help you cut the hair perfectly. 

Curly or wavy hair is better to cut when it’s dry. Dampening or wetting the hair changes its texture, and the final result might not be what you expect. 

The tighter the curls, the more challenging your job will be. The trick with wavy and curly hair is to go slow to make sure that you’re satisfied with the final look.

Cut at an angle to make sure that you won’t mess up with the volume. 

If you have thin hair, having a graduated or layered look will help mimic the illusion of thicker hair. One of the perks of this method is that you don’t have to be 100% accurate because the graduated look can still be messy, regardless of the texture of your hair. 

Divide the hair into sections and pull each one to the front. 

Cut the hair at an angle to give your hair this layered look. 

Another easy method is the unicorn ponytail method. 

Style your hair into a sleek ponytail at the top of the head, just like the unicorn. 

Pull the hair to the front and cut the hair into a sharp angle for a drastic look. 

Cutting your bangs is a risky business, but trimming them is an easier task. If you don’t have bangs, you might need to leave this job for a professional because you might make a mistake, and shorter bangs will take forever to grow. 

For a trim, use a comb to section your hair in the shape of a triangle.

Pull the hair down without much tension. This will help you realize how long or short the hair will be. Remember that bangs usually look longer when you’re combing them, so make sure that there isn’t much tension. 

Use a pair of sharp scissors to cut the hair by snapping the ends slowly. Start slow because you don’t want to cut the bangs too short. 

These bangs will go surrounding your face like a frame and will change your overall look without being too drastic. 

Start with dry hair to make sure that you don’t cut too much. Dampen your hair a little if it’s straight. 

Part the front middle section of your hair in the shape of a triangle. 

Use a small comb to part the hair at the front in the shape of a zigzag. The zigzag pattern guarantees that any mistakes won’t be obvious because the hair will frame your face without being too obvious. 

Cut your bangs using a pair of scissors. Even if there’s a difference, it won’t be noticeable. 

How to Cut Hair Properly

When it’s not possible to go to the hairstylist, cutting your own hair at home might be the only answer. If you’re not looking for permanent results, you can try extensions or give yourself a new look using bobby pins. However, if you’ve made up your mind, following these tips will give you excellent results. 

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How to Cut Hair Like A Pro

What Do You Need Before Giving Yourself a Trim?

How to Cut Hair Properly

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