Cutting Your Own Hair At Home? Here’s How to Not F*ck It Up

Just proceed with caution, k?

Cutting Your Own Hair At Home? Here’s How to Not F*ck It Up

Sooo, I know this probably isn’t the answer you were hoping for, but cutting your own hair is not freakin’ easy. There's way more skill, technique, and practice that goes into it than you think, so unless you want to go viral on TikTok for a botched haircut (which, maybe that's your thing?!), do yourself a favor and book an appointment with a professional stylist. But if you can't make it into a salon right now, or you just don't feel comfortable yet, you do have some at-home options. Just know that you’re gonna have to pick up the right tools (more on that in a bit) and meticulously study a few tutorials before you start snipping.

Now, keep scrolling for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about cutting your own hair at home, including the exact shears you'll want on hand, the best clips for separating sections, and more. Just promise me you'll think twice before giving yourself bangs, alright? Speaking from experience here, people.

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First: Some ground rules

New to cutting your own hair? Wait and see a professional

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Okay, this is when you're going to hate me a little, but I gotta emphasize it once more: There's a reason hairstylists are professionals—a lot of skill and technique goes into a haircut, so if you can hold off, please consider waiting to see a stylist IRL. "Hair cutting is an art form, but it also requires a lot of geometry," says Stephen Thevenot, senior stylist at David Mallet in NYC. "The most important thing is knowing what to cut and what to leave, and that comes with training and experience."

Another reason to hold out until you can make it into the salon? "If you mess up, you'll definitely need a professional—and more than likely, you'll have to go shorter than you initially wanted," says Thevenot. Which, uh, not fun.

BTW, if you're dealing with intense split ends, there are things you can do at-home that don't include taking a pair of scissors to your hair. Loading up on hair-smoothing masks and minimizing heat tool-use (or, at the very least, prepping with heat protectant spray) is a great way to treat and prevent damage while you're riding out your haircut in-between salon visits.

This multi-tasking oil Kreyòl Essence Haitian Black Castor Oil ulta.com $24.00 This leave-in serum Pureology Strength Cure Split End Salve sephora.com $29.00 This protein spray IGK Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray ulta.com $32.00

Make sure you have the right hair-cutting tools

Ignoring all my advice and going forth with your DIY haircut? Cool, just a quick PSA for ya: You cannot cut your hair with kitchen scissors (!!!). There’s a reason hairstylists use professional shears—the sharp, precise blades make it so much easier to get a clean edge. If you use a pair of regular ol’ scissors, there’s a way higher chance you’ll wind up with split ends, so do yourself a favor and invest in a pair of shears before you get started. Here's what else you'll need:

Double-edged comb: Look for something with wide and fine teeth, which will help you section off your hair.
No-slip hair clips: These bbs will make it super easy to slowly work in sections.
Flat iron: Optional (but encouraged) for getting a smooth finish before you cut.

The Multi-Tasking Comb Cricket Silkomb Seamless Teeth amazon.com $6.90 The Non-Slip Clips Norclan Durable Alligator Hair Clips amazon.com $3.99 The Smoothing Flat Iron Bio Ionic Graphene MX Styler ulta.com $215.00

Decide if you want a wet or dry cut

Alright, there’s technically no right answer here, since cutting your hair wet or dry is all about personal preference. In general, though, if you’re going for a sleek or blunt look, pros recommend cutting your hair wet (or damp) to get the cleanest edge possible. Completely dry hair is the way to go for curls, waves, or layers, since you’ll have a better idea of what the end product will look like (read: you won’t be crazy-surprised when your hair looks two inches shorter when it dries and shrinks).

Still not sure what’s best for your at-home haircut? If you’re cutting your own hair for the first time, think back to your favorite salon haircut—did your stylist cut it wet or dry? Recreate that same setup if you’re going for a similar ~lewk~.

Your guide to cutting every hair type