How to Cut Your Own Hair at Home Expert Hair Cutting Tips

Take the back section of your hair, twist it taut and, once again, chop the end off. This will leave the hair at the nape of your neck short with the hair on either side gently fading into longer lengths. It can be easy to think that your hair needs to be perfectly straight every time you cut a piece, but that’s not necessarily the case.

Dry your hair.

It’s important to check your work after you finish cutting the layers to make sure they fall in the way you prefer. You can do this by examining your hair horizontally and vertically. Before you reach for the scissors (I'm not kidding – put them down), give this story a read. We sourced all the best tricks for trimming your hair at home – ones that will keep you from giving yourself a cut you'll regret. For example, you can easily maintain layers on medium hair if you have simple side-parted layers or it may require a lot of maintenance if you have bold choppy layers. Periodically check to see if both sides have even-looking layers, and do a bit of point-cutting to match the lengths.

How to Cut an A-Line Bob

For visual learners, it might help to watch a few YouTube tutorials before beginning. According to PopSugar, "choppy layers" are back in style for 2021, so it makes sense that you would want to hop on this trend for a new 'do in the new year. As the professionals explain, the first step in attempting a choppy look or face-framing layers is to invest in a pair of hair-cutting shears. That means those scissors in the sewing basket won't make the cut.

Maintenance and Styling Tips

Haircuts You Can DIY At Home, According To An ExpertHelloGiggles - HelloGiggles

Haircuts You Can DIY At Home, According To An ExpertHelloGiggles.

Posted: Thu, 06 Aug 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]

“Long layers, butterfly layers, and really any round layered haircut is ideal.” When working with thick hair, though, he says to be mindful of the length of your layers. “The goal is to not go too short with the layers (as layers add volume) but create movement that blends and shapes the hair,” he reveals. If you’re seeking a look that comes off as a single layer, with ends that are softly layered, a sliding haircut may be a good fit for you. It’s ideal for medium wavy hair, so make sure you consider this. The sliding haircut is created by sectioning the hair into four parts and cutting it radially at a 20-degree angle.

With just a few tools and some easy steps, you can create that layered look in medium hair on your own, even if it’s your first time trying. Now it’s time to layer the section of hair in the front on the right side. Unclip this section and use the same 90-degree angle and technique to pull the hair down the side of your face. Slide your fingers to the place where you want the side layers to begin and trim the length of hair that extends past your fingers.

Style As Usual

You might find one side feels more challenging, so take your time. This is a moment to go back in and slide cut or point cut any uneven pieces. Use slide cutting to adjust your length and point cutting to adjust your overall shape.

Trimming split ends or creating layers if often successful, not every short self-haircut done at home will look fabulous, though. Do not let your free cut turn into an expensive correction and do head to your stylist every time you contemplate something professional-looking. “It’s crucial to understand your hair texture and what it will do if cut shorter, and what shapes you love on your face,” Providence says.

Wet Straight Hair, Dry Curly Hair

This technique results in the shorter layers blending with the longer layers below. Some cuts enhance the blended effect, while others emphasize distinct layers. Certain hair color techniques play up the layering effect, as well. A blunt bob is one of the easier haircuts to do yourself, because you literally just cut straight across – there's no layering involved.

“Some hair types can air dry beautifully with a layered cut, but most need a strong styling routine to maintain a consistent high-quality look,” admits Toves-Vincilione. Otherwise, you may only love the look of your hair the day you leave the salon, only to feel discouraged every time you wash your hair thereafter. If you have long hair and you’ve been wondering how to cut your own hair in layers, bobbles are the answer. To DIY the so-called ponytail haircut, simply scrape your hair into a pony at the front of your head, comb the ponytail, and chop the tips off straight across with scissors or clippers.

If you’re not familiar with point cutting, it’s a technique that involves cutting the hair vertically instead of horizontally. This allows layers to transition smoothly and blend together with no chunks or blunt lines. If you have straight hair, you can also cut it while it’s 80% air-dried or slightly damp to create sharp and precise lines. Let’s jump into how you can cut layers in your medium-length hair yourself. Watch almost any DIY haircut video on YouTube and you’re bound to see women pulling their hair into bobbles left, right, and center.

The front sections of hair are cut using the transition over the ear as a guideline. With all the lockdowns and stay-at-home orders that have happened this year, people haven't been able to make it to their hair salon as often as they'd like. Despite the risks of cutting your own hair at home, a lot of people have given it a try. Just a simple bang trim can be easy to manage with a quick YouTube video tutorial, but if you're looking for how to cut the perfect layers at home, you'll need help from an actual stylist. Luckily, there are a number of step-by-step guides out there from the pros for all lengths of hair to consult (via Today). First, use the fine tooth end of your cutting comb to bring forward a small quarter-inch section of hair from each side of your natural parting.

But if you want expert advice (and you do!), keep reading first. While you may not notice layers on curly hair the same way you would on, say, straight blown-out strands, they serve a purpose. “Curly hair without layers usually shapes an A-line form—especially when long, the volume is on the end where you start your guideline,” Boozer says.

With layers, though, you can achieve just about any shape with curls. “Curly layers are really popular because you can achieve some really creative and fun shapes with the three-dimensionality of curls,” Providence says. “Layers create shape in a haircut,” says celebrity hairstylist Nikki Providence. While it may seem counterintuitive, she points out that by reducing weight, layers enhance the appearance of volume. Have you ever found yourself scrolling on TikTok or Instagram only to wonder how every creator seems to have a voluminous, full-bodied head of hair while you have seemingly lifeless strands?

Now that you’ve achieved shape, softness, and movement on the top layers of your hair, it’s time to work on the lower portion of your hair that we’ve sectioned off earlier in Step 3. Continue adding lower layers on both sides of your hair by working on one-inch sections at a time. Small sections allow the layers to blend together seamlessly, but you can cut using bigger sections if you want each layer to be more distinct. Cut the hair straight across first, and then go back and use the point-cutting method to create soft and blended ends. For instance, you can cut a medium-layered bob with or without bangs or vary the length from shoulder to collarbone layers. Once you have all the tools it’s time to create the right environment.

Once you've identified and cleaned up your parting, use the edge of your cutting comb to section your hair from about half an inch behind the ears. Going slightly past the ear line should give you a bit from the back length so that you're cutting to meet the longest point of the hair. Comb the hair forward and use your clips to section off the rest of the hair. To maintain a short pixie style, Kaye uses clippers, shears and lots of clips (and patience) on her semi-relaxed hair. Parting hair evenly, clipping hair back tightly and carefully combing through hair is crucial for this precise cut.

Much like a short haircut, a layered cut requires frequent maintenance. Layers can quickly start to look ragged if they’re not trimmed on a regular basis. Cutting your hair in layers may sound challenging if you’ve never done it yourself; it does indeed require following certain techniques and a steady hand. That said, you don’t have to be a beauty school graduate to achieve an attractive layered coif. Yes, it looks ridiculous while you're doing it, but the results of this method are nice short layers. To achieve this look, all you have to do is gather your hair into a ponytail at the top of your forehead (like a unicorn) and cut it.