Almost every professional hairdresser will advise you against cutting your own hair. They go through training to cut hair, and it isn’t as simple as a snip here or there.
Cutting your own hair can lead to mistakes, unflattering looks, and even damage to the hair.
You don’t want that, and neither does your stylist. But, sometimes you don’t have a choice. Maybe your stylist is booked up, or there is a global pandemic, and getting a professional cut just isn’t an option.
What do you do in that situation? Well, don’t go getting too creative.
Even though you shouldn’t try to style your hair at home, you can do it with professional guidance when you need to trim your bangs or clean up some split ends.
Professional stylists still advise you to wait as long as possible if you can’t get to the salon. But, if it is getting to a point where you can’t just do nothing, be sure to heed the advice of professionals.
First things first, you’ll want to make sure you have the tools you need. Many people want a quick fix to split ends, but cutting your hair with kitchen shears, nail scissors, or craft scissors, is precisely what you shouldn’t do.
The damage that comes from using dull scissors can be much worse than just letting split ends be. Now, split ends can damage more than the ends. If your hair isn’t feeling too brittle, try managing the minor damage with products.
Moisturizing hair masks, oils, and serums can help protect the hair against further damage and give the hair a healthier appearance.
But, if you let split ends go for too long, they can split up the hair shaft and cause unrepairable damage. So, unless you want a super short haircut because you waited too long, maybe giving yourself a trim isn’t the worst idea.
If you’ve decided to cut your hair, you’ll need hair shears. These are sharp and meant for cutting hair, not herbs or paper. You can find them online and in stores like Target. They are the only way to get a smooth and even haircut at home.
Next, you’ll want to make sure you’re comfortable. Although stylists often cut wet hair, cutting dry hair can be easier when doing it yourself. You can see how the hair is coming out as you cut instead of regretting your choices.
Have your hair clean and styled how it normally is. If you have it wavy or straight most days, cut it that way. If you have a center part, style it that way before cutting. No matter what, be sure it is clean. Greasy hair will clump together, leaving you with an uneven cut.
If you think cutting your hair wet is easier, you can do that, but it is about your confidence when doing it at home. Also, keep in mind that your hair shrinks when it dries. So, if you cut it wet, it will look shorter when it dries.
Remember that cutting your hair at home is only a minor and temporary solution. You are trimming, not restyling.
Start with small trims. You can always cut more, but you can’t put it back. If you want two inches off the length, don’t jump right into it. Start small and work your way up.
Section the hair off, so it is easier to work with. Hold about one to two-inch sections between your fingers and slowly trim. Then use the piece you cut as a guide for the next section and onward.
