How To Cut Your Own Hair (For Women)

by Lauren Gilmore
[ Hair Stylist and Educator ]

Ever wondered if you can really cut your own hair?

I’ll be honest with you, it is definitely not an easy task. Hairstylists train for years to be able to cut hair and you wouldn’t believe what you have to take into account and know.

Don’t expect to be able to cut your hair successfully on the first go.

Some things to know before you start cutting your hair:

  • Knowing your angles to achieve the shape you want.
  • Taking into account hair type.
  • Face shapes.
  • How to section the hair.
  • How to work around growth patterns in the hair.
  • Where to lift the hair too.
  • What each technique is and what it does to the hair.

and much more.

Although I never recommend cutting your own hair, I understand that there are times that you cannot get to the salon, especially at the moment where we have had numerous lockdowns to contend with.

Always ask yourself, ‘Is it really necessary?’.

Cutting your hair can really be a nerve racking experience so really think it through before giving it a go.

Some things can be solved by using hair treatments, they will repair dry hair, help prevent split ends, repair damage caused by heat styling, pollution and color, this should always be your first step.

My favourite is Coco & Eve Hair Mask, it has a beautiful scent of Coconut and Fig, it locks moisture into the cuticle and repairs your hair from the inside out.

Benefits include:

  • Tames frizz and prevents split ends.
  • Restores hair making it feel fresh and healthy.
  • Makes the hair feel smooth and more manageable.
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However, if you feel like you really need to give your hair a tidy up, we are going to look into the tools you need, and I am going to explain a little about hair cutting to help you.

Tools You Need to Cut Your Own Hair

Do not reach for the kitchen or nail scissors! They aren’t for cutting hair and will cause the hair to look uneven.

Hair Stylists invest a lot of money into their scissors as they are specifically designed to cut sharp, precise lines.

Here are two different brands of scissors depending on how much you want to invest.

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How To Cut Your Own Hair

It is really hard to get a good, clean cut on your own hair, so always point the hair vertically rather than cutting the hair straight across.

If you're cutting the length keep it as close to the body as possible, this will avoid creating two different lengths.

If you are cutting layers, pull the hair straight up from the head, this will give you a softer result.

Here are some question's answer which you might ask while start cutting your hair

Do I cut on wet or dry hair?

ALWAYS cut your hair wet!

Unless you have naturally curly hair then I recommend washing, drying and straightening your hair first.

Wet hair will give you a more precise finish plus it allows you to work with your natural texture. A key tip is to leave the hair slightly longer than you want it, when wet as the hair will jump slightly when dry.

Once finished, dry and straighten the hair to see how it is sitting, this is when you can make any changes if the hair needs it.

Do I take more hair off or less?

Always take off less hair than you want, you can always take off more, but you can’t add it back on!

Remember cutting your hair yourself is only meant to tide you over until you can visit a salon, don’t go for more drastic changes as you run the risk of something going wrong.

Do I take small or big sections?

Taking small sections means that you will be more precise. I recommend taking sections that are no bigger than an inch. If your hair is on the thicker side, then half these sections.

How do I trim my fringe?

How many times have you seen videos on social media where fringe cuts have gone severely wrong?

Always take a triangle section, if you want a heavier fringe keep the hair close to the face, if you want a lighter fringe lift the hair slightly.

Take small amounts off first to avoid going to short and point cut the length using your scissors vertically.

Here are some more key tips to help you:

  • Find a picture with someone that has the same hair type as you.
  • Only take a small amount off.
  • Find tutorials on YouTube to help you.
  • Try to fix the problem with treatments first.
  • Change your parting of the fringe to see if that helps before trying to cut it yourself.
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