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

Just proceed with caution, k?

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

    How to trim your natural hair without heat

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    This DIY haircut tutorial is perfect for trimming natural hair and curls without heat. In addition to shears and separating clips, you'll need three tools to detangle and smooth your hair before you cut: a wide-tooth comb, a detangling brush, and a fine-tooth comb. Follow along for the surprisingly simple steps.


    How to cut your hair into a blunt bob

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    Looking to cut your long-ass hair into a cute bob? This tutorial walks you through every step—which, btw, includes straightening your hair before you get started. Pro tip: Smooth out your edges by cutting your hair at an upward angle.


    How to cut your hair into long layers

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    If you want to add a little excitement to your hair without losing any major length, you’ll love this easy-to-follow tutorial for cutting long layers at home. Pay special attention to YouTuber Pick Up Limes’s technique for “point cutting” (aka cutting into the hair to give your layers more texture).


    How to cut your curls without heat

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    Want to touch up your hair between salon appointments? Follow the lead of beauty vlogger Joy Before Her for a super-easy approach to trimming curly hair. Keep your hair completely dry and snip your ends curl by curl to avoid any f*ck-ups. Know that holding your shears at an angle will give your ends a pointier edge, which is super ideal for volume.


    How to trim your split ends

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    As your hair gets longer, it’s pretty common for your ends to get skinnier from breakage and damage. Even it all out by giving yourself a quick trim to get rid of any split ends or stragglers. YouTuber Jasmine Brown prefers dry, straightened hair to get the cleanest edge possible. BTW: A split-end serum is a great way to keep your hair looking fresh between trims.


    How to trim straight bangs

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    It’s no secret that bangs are kiiinda high maintenance—even though they might skim your brows perfectly post-haircut, there’s a good chance they’ll be hitting your eyelids in a month or two. The solution? Committing to DIY bang trims—and this tutorial for straight hair is a great place to start.


    How to trim curly bangs

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    Got curly bangs? This haircut tutorial was pretty much made for you. Follow along as YouTuber Vivi König very carefully gives her bangs some TLC. She recommends styling your hair prior to your trim—that way you have a better idea of the true length you’re working with.


    How to cut your hair into a pixie

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    Cutting long hair into a pixie at home is probably a risky move, but if you’re starting with a shorter length, there’s no reason you shouldn’t try a DIY cut. You’ll need a pair of clippers along with some super-sturdy clips to recreate this tutorial.

    This story originally appeared on: Cosmopolitan - Author:Ruby Buddemeyer