How to Pixie Cut Your Own Hair

I think with how things are at the minute we have all been tempted to take the scissors to our own hair.

I totally get how annoying it is once your hair starts growing over your ears, down your neck, and when it starts getting too heavy on top that you can’t do anything with it.

At least with long hair you can tie it up, right??

Cutting your own hair is a risk and will always involve experimenting. It may go great but expect some imperfections.

Hair Stylists train for years for this, and there is a lot of knowledge involved, so don’t expect to get it in one go...

Firstly let’s talk about tools...

Having a decent pair of scissors goes a long way...

As stylists we can spend anything from $100-600 on women's haircutters, they really are a key tool for our trade.

Obviously I’m not saying go out and spend that but you need something better than the kitchen scissors. 

These are the scissors pair I recommend for you.

They also come with a few other items that you may need, such as combs and clips and thinning scissors.

Wahl Clippers

You may also want a pair of clippers to hand, I recommend these Wahl Clippers as they are easy to use.

Please note – As a professional, I do not recommend you attempting to carry out a full pixie cut on your own hair, these techniques are only there to help you maintain your haircut until you can get to a salon.

• Tidying Up The Back And Sides

This is the part of the hair which tends to annoy us the most once it starts to get long. Firstly using this table, you need to pick a clipper length.

Once you have chosen your length, section your hair as seen in the picture.

Once you have clipped away the top part of your hair, using the clippers at a 45-degree angle, you are going to work the clippers around the back and sides to shorten the length

Next take the top down, put it in your parting and dry.

Doing this will create more of an undercut look.

• Tidying Up The Fringe

To shorten your fringe area there are several ways you can do this, depending on what type of fringe you would like.

1. Sweeping fringe

Follow these steps to tidy up a sweeping fringe:

1. Comb your hair forward from the crown area, this makes sure you get all of the hair.
2. Comb your hair completely forward.
3. Point into the hair, at a straight line (see picture), and cut to the desired length.

2. Fuller Fringe

Follow these steps to tidy up a fuller fringe:

1. Comb your hair forward from the crown area, this makes sure you get all of the hair.
2. Comb your hair completely forward.
3. Point into the hair, at a straight line (see picture), and cut to the desired length.If you want a softer line lift the hair slightly.

• Tidying Up The Top

Tidying up the top of your hair can be quite tricky on yourself, so if you are going to do it, I would only recommend taking a small amount off...

Firstly, I would say you will probably find these easier on wet – damp hair.

Simply pull the hair up, as seen in the diagram, and point cut to the length you would like.
Once dry you can evaluate the length and take more off if needed, you can also see if it is sitting too heavy.

What is Point Cutting?

Point cutting is a technique that creates a softer line when cutting. I recommend using this as it will lessen the chance of you getting any marks, or lines in your hair.

Point cutting is using the points of the scissors rather than the length of them.

If you find that your hair is heavy in places you can use thinning scissors to remove some weight.

You do this by taking a small section of hair, where the weight is, putting the scissors in at the root and close the scissors once.

Repeat this in any areas that you feel need it.

Do NOT over do this as it will leave the hair very wispy in places.

Now you have all the knowledge to help you cut your pixie cut.