How to cut your own hair: Learn to cut layers, bangs and more

Table Of Content

• Master Cutting Your Own Hair Short
• How to trim your split ends on dry hair
• How to Maintain a Short Pixie Cut at Home
• Cutting the Back Section of Hair
• Make sure you have the right hair-cutting tools

Cutting vertically into the hair is more forgiving in case you’re not blessed with a steady hand. To trim your hair at home, start by sectioning your hair into at least four sections. Divide your hair in half from ear to ear, tie or pin the top half up, and then section the top half and the bottom half into their own sections with a hair tie, scrunchie, or clip. “It helps you focus and will help you trim to the same length in each section,” says Brown. And if you have really long or thick hair, Brown says you can take it a step forward and divide each of those four sections in half too. Once you’ve shaved the bottom section, let some more hair down and shave the next section with a slightly longer clipper attachment.

Master Cutting Your Own Hair Short

The shortest point to begin your face framing layers is at the same level as your nose or cheekbones. We'd never advise learning how to cut your own hair instead of making an appointment with your hairdresser. If you usually wear your hair parted to one side, then position the ponytail on that side, directly in front of where your part would be. To glide your shears down safely, you want to pulse your two fingers as they go down subtly.

How to trim your split ends on dry hair

Finally, let the top of your hair out and cut that with the longest clipper attachment, or just trim with scissors, letting hair fall in the preferred direction. Blend sections of different lengths with your thinning scissors or ask a trusted friend to do it. Start by scooping the top-zone of your hair into a horseshoe parting and tie it up with a bobble. This is absolutely essential as you don’t want to cut the top section too short! Then, pin up any other wisps of hair that you don’t want to be as short as the hair around your ears and at the nape of your neck.

How to Maintain a Short Pixie Cut at Home

Clean up any choppy ends with small, precise cuts for best results. You've likely seen a stylist use this method on you numerous times, but if you're having trouble picturing it, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials demonstrating how to do it. YouTube tutorials in general, Fitzsimons points out, can be a great source of guidance when learning how to cut your own hair.

Marjan recommends pulling the hair straight upward with your fingers because it's the easiest way to make sure the length is even overall. Then, place your scissors parallel to the hair peeking through your fingers and snip hairs vertically rather than straight across. So, if you've recently visited a pro and your hair still feels relatively healthy, you can wait a little longer to snip your ends. “If you have a super short bob, it will grow into a classic looking bob. If you have a long bob it will grow into medium length hair.” All of which are still trendy and will look good.

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You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera. Dull edges on household scissors could potentially give you even more split ends (plus, ew, cross-contamination). Now that you've got the basics down, we've rounded up the best instructional videos below to help you cut your own hair at home, no matter what kind of cut you're looking for. Sometimes, you just can't make it to a salon chair for one reason or another, or maybe you're just unwavering in your dedication to learning how to cut your own hair. Whatever the story is, if you're going to reach for the shears anyway, you might as well let us guide you.

Cutting the Back Section of Hair

The best thing about this style is that it’s really easy to do and if you didn’t get it right the first time, you can simply wear your hair down and no one will notice (if you don’t go too bold, of course). Trimming your hair a little longer than your desired length is a good idea for two reasons. Firstly, hair cutting can get tricky and if you have made a mistake, you’ve got some leeway to fix it. Second, if you’re cutting your hair while it’s wet, then it will usually look shorter once it has dried. First and foremost, your main tool will be a pair of sharp hair scissors. Be sure to invest in a fine-tooth comb, as it is essential to smooth out disobedient hair before every snip.

The idea is to keep your hair from looking stringy or too outgrown. Start with small cuts as you can always take off more hair, not vice versa. Below, New York-based hairstylist Erickson Arrunategui breaks down the dos and don'ts of cutting your hair at home. If you’re going to attempt to maintain your ‘do at home, gear up with the right professional tips and tools to make your hairstylist proud when this is all over. Remember, this isn’t your typical DIY project, so we urge you to proceed with caution (preferably before any sort of Zoom wine happy hour) to avoid quarantine hair disasters.

Make sure you have the right hair-cutting tools

“Then use that piece as a guide for the rest of the hair.” Make sure to have a set of alligator jaw clips on hand to safely secure any stray sections while cutting. The time has come to take matters (and scissors) into your own hands. Typically, we would not advise anyone to cheat on his or her hairstylist—let alone cut your hair at home—but as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.

By keeping your shears open and making delicate pulses—never fully closing them together, let them glide down the front of the hair. This YouTuber shares her trimming technique for her gorgeous natural locks. For her, it's all about detangling and using your fingers for a more precise cut, and using already-cut hair as a guide to keep everything nice and even. Anyone with straight hair can use these foolproof methods to make sure your DIY cut is nice and even.

This will soften our lines and give us another chance to eliminate any frayed-looking ends. It will also help us lighten things up wherever the hair appears bulky. We can gradually separate our layers by point-cutting directly into a single spot. For this particular cut, I suggest a method called slide cutting. Slide cutting is a gentle approach that enables flexibility and less room for error.

Marjan says make sure hair is dry and styled the way you usually wear it, “so you have a clear and realistic vision of the cut. “All of these factors cause your hair to change and may be a challenge to cut at home and get the desired results,” she warns. And FWIW, I’m not just trying to be a bummer or crush your impulsive 11 p.m. I-want-new-hair-right-now dreams—I just want you to do what’s best for your hair, k? “A trim is definitely better if you go with a pro,” says hairstylist Kamara Brown Lewis.

Now that you know what tools you need and the basics of trimming, here are a few tutorials that will give you a visual and step-by-step breakdown of exactly how to trim every hair type. If you have very curly hair, try a DIY Deva Cut, another technique that requires dry natural hair. Instead of brushing out your hair, just separate the curls with your fingers. Comb out small sections with a fine-tooth comb, clamp it between two of your fingers, and then snip upwards with your scissors.

This approach offers improved visibility of split ends that require attention and provides a better sense of how your hair will naturally fall. Nevertheless, visiting a professional should still be your first choice for achieving the best possible results. "Find someone who has a cut similar to what you're looking for and make sure they have a similar hair type," he advises. That especially goes for people with curlier hair that might benefit from a different cutting method. Just make sure you're only watching tutorials hosted by licensed professionals. Marjan recommends working in sections that are just an inch or two wide (when spread as thin as possible between your fingers) and starting at the very front.

In fact, if your strands are curly or you're wavy-haired, only cut your hair when it's dry so you can get a better idea of what the final look will be. If you have straight hair, you can cut while it's wet or dampen it with a spray bottle first to get the cleanest, sharpest lines possible. If you have long hair and you’ve been wondering how to cut your own hair in layers, bobbles are the answer.

13 Ways Get Rid of Oily Hair, According to Experts

Table Of Content

• Oily hair causes
• Condition carefully
• Hair Hydration: 5 Easy Ways to Hydrate Your Strands for Healthier Hair
• Is Oily Hair Healthy?
• How do I train my hair to not be greasy?
• Exfoliate Your Scalp
• How to deal with hair loss?

This will help remove the dirt and damaging hair products in the hair, apart from the oil. If the problem of an oily hair persists even after washing it once a day further analysis will be necessary. If you overwash your hair you will remove the natural oils from the scalp, and this will in turn force your scalp to secrete more oil. Also, if you are faced with the issue of a dry scalp, but oily hair, you might need to space out the frequency of your hair wash to even out the production of scalp oil.

Oily hair causes

These oil glands keep the skin and hair healthy and moisturized. It can be a little tricky to apply just the right amount of cornstarch or baby powder to your hair. Both of these ingredients can dry out your scalp quickly, so just use a tiny bit at the crown of your head as a way to make oily roots less obvious. Keep in mind that using dry shampoo too often between washes can lead to irritation of your scalp. Run a drop or two through your hair between washes, being careful not to apply undiluted essential oils directly to your skin.

Condition carefully

Eat a robust diet full of hair healthy nutrients like protein, antioxidants, and fatty acids. And consult your health care practitioner about hormone concerns you may have. You wash your hair, dry it, and style it, and within a few hours, it can turn flat and limp. Oily hair can look and feel greasy and may even irritate your scalp. If you’re dealing with an oily scalp and oily hair, there are a few things you can do to try to reduce the amount of oil your scalp produces.

Hair Hydration: 5 Easy Ways to Hydrate Your Strands for Healthier Hair

The probiotic bacterium present in yogurt has excellent antifungal and antibacterial qualities which reduce the oily nature of your hair. It is a good moistening agent and helps nourish the hair with its nutrients. Silk sleep accessories like pillowcases, head wraps, and scarves are practically magic. Hair types play a big role in this discussion, as some are far more prone to oil than others. Studies show2 that there's a connection between dairy—skim milk, primarily—and sebum. Other studies show a strong connection between foods with a high glycemic index and oil in the skin3.

Is Oily Hair Healthy?

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It makes as much sense to use a dirty brush for your hair after a shampoo, as it does to use an infected needle to administer a dose of a vaccine. Removing the hair from the bristles after every brush is the most convenient way to do it. The production of sebum touches an all time high in humid conditions. Unfortunately, all of the experts we spoke to agree that there’s no universal guideline for how often is too often. Rather, it’s a matter of finding the happy medium that works for your specific scalp and hair (more on this below). If you've got the heat on full blast in your home (or are hanging out in hot, humid weather), you could start to see the effects on your scalp.

Clinically proven to protect against flakes and dandruff, this shampoo is a great remedy for an oily scalp. With a little effort and the right shampoo, you can say goodbye to dealing with oily hair—permanently. To prevent and manage oily hair, using the right shampoo, avoiding over-washing, and using lukewarm water for washing are essential steps.

"Harsh shampoos strip the hair and scalp of natural oils, particularly if they have a basic pH," explains board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, who is based in Hamden, Connecticut. "They open what should be a closed hair cuticle, [then] water evaporates out and dryness follows. The oil glands don’t like that this is happening and kick into overdrive." Dry shampoo ingredients like starch absorb oils to give a grease-free appearance, but overuse can lead to hair and scalp issues such as dryness and buildup. Alternatives to traditional dry shampoos include natural options that use ingredients like rice or corn starch. Understanding these factors is the first step towards controlling greasy hair. By identifying the specific causes behind your hair’s oiliness, you can tailor your hair care routine to address these issues effectively, achieving a balance that keeps your hair looking fresh and healthy.

By mixing apple cider vinegar and water into your roots and strands, it will help absorb excess oil without stripping your hair and scalp. For more of a quick fix, Holdsworth advocates for salt sprays, dry shampoos, and volumizing powders at the roots. “These types of products will absorb unwanted oil and help you give the hair some shape and control in your chosen style,” the expert tells TZR.

Just make sure to choose a witch hazel that is alcohol-free, as alcohol can be drying. With the right approach and consistency, you can achieve a balanced scalp and enjoy fresh, luscious locks longer.

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The way you shampoo your hair also makes a huge difference to the health of your hair, and is one main cause for oily hair. If you believe that you need to use your nails aggressively to scrape out the dirt from your roots, think again, you might in the process only inspire your scalp to produce excess oil. The right way to do it is to focus on the section of your scalp, from where you need to remove the excess oil.

Sign up to our newsletter and get exclusive hair care tips and tricks from the experts at All Things Hair. It’s also important to note that the amount of oil you produce changes over time and generally goes down as you get older. The excessively greasy locks of your youth won’t haunt you forever, promise. Hats, helmets, scarves, and headbands can spread oils and trap heat. Or use head accessories to stretch out the timing of your next wash. Don’t skip your scalp the next time you do a coconut oil treatment.

Some ingredients commonly found in hair care products—silicone, for instance—can lead to excess oil production. While this might be beneficial to those with dry scalps, for those with oily hair types, it's mostly likely unwanted. Look for ingredients like cyclomethicone and amodimethicone, which are silicones by another name. For long term effects, you can treat your hair with a weekly apple cider vinegar rinse.

Using aloe vera strips off excess sebum and may also promote circulation around your scalp. Of course, having a sweat sesh at the gym means your hair will get oily faster (and will need some freshening up). In this instance, Thompson suggests using a sweatband to absorb sweat and oil at the hairline to prevent it from reaching your hair. Thankfully, though, there are more than a handful of ways to train your scalp to be less greasy. For the most part, it's just a matter of being consistent and practicing patience until you find the method that works for you. Furthermore, depending on your lifestyle, there are things you can do to prevent your hair from being exposed to external factors that might make your hair look greasier.

So when your hands begin to go up to your hair, remind it that it’s not a play tool. Get this squeeze ball to keep your hands busy and save your hair. Oily food devoid of any nutrients are also responsible for an oily scalp, apart from contributing other hair-related problems. This can happen simply as a result of your genetics — some people are just naturally born with an oilier scalp — or because of hormonal fluctuations, she says.

For people with thin hair, Toth recommends serums, lightweight oils, and styling products that are applied to hair in mist form. “A spray applicator is ideal because it distributes a light amount of product more evenly and over a larger area. Ideally, the applicator creates a mist and doesn’t just spray put the product in a dense liquid form,” which can still be too heavy. Oily hair symptoms usually involve the look and feel of your hair.

Why Does My Hair Get Greasy So Fast? Wella Professionals

Table Of Content

• Adjust Your Hair Washing Schedule
• Why Does My Hair Get Greasy So Fast?
• Avoid products adding moisture
• Love Beauty and Planet Radical Refresher Tea Tree Oil & Vetiver Shampoo
• Natural remedies to try
• Here's How You Can Train Your Hair to Be Less Greasy

Start with just a little at the beginning, blending with fingertips as you go, then gradually build it up. Every time we wash our hair, we potentially stimulate the sebaceous glands which produce oil to protect the scalp. More washing equals more stimulation, so too much washing can actually make hair greasier – not cleaner. These sebaceous glands are also stimulated by extremes of temperatures, so very hot or very cold. With this in mind, aim to switch up your schedule by washing your hair every other day, or less if possible, using warm (not hot) water and gentle circular motions to massage shampoo in. The skin on your scalp deserves as much TLC as the skin on your face, so don’t be afraid to apply (the right) treatments at the roots of your hair.

Adjust Your Hair Washing Schedule

We should add that hair supplements are not regulated by the FDA, which means you should take their claims with a grain of salt. Still, some people experience good results from taking hair supplements, so if you're interested in giving them a go, try one designed to manage a greasy scalp. Polko is a fan of Nutrafol ($88), which is "rich in omega-3s and B vitamins" and can help to encourage healthy hair growth. Always consult your doctor before adding any supplement to your diet. Allison Friedman, a senior stylist at the Warren-Tricomi Salon in New Jersey suggests applying just one styling product to the scalp and only if you have flat hair that needs a boost of volume.

Why Does My Hair Get Greasy So Fast?

Taking supplements with vitamin B6 or essential fatty acids might help to control deficiencies and get your body’s balance back on track. If you’re concerned by how much you sweat or if your scalp is often irritated, speak to a dermatologist for some expert advice. You can wake up with a clean slate by making sure your pillowcases are as clean as they can be. All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Avoid products adding moisture

If your oiliness is likely caused by genetics or another factor that's out of your control, Birnbaum says you might need to shampoo more. "For an oily scalp, I recommend more frequent shampooing, up to once a day," she explains. Selecting the right shampoo for your hair type is very important.

Louis suggests going a day or two without washing and seeing what happens, or only washing your hair once or twice a week. (You can also try experimenting with dry shampoo to stave off the oil without actually washing.) If you’re ever unsure, talk to your hairstylist next time you’re at the salon! They’re the only person that may know your hair better than you.

Scalp detox treatments will also stimulate the roots for an overall healthy appearance (whether professional or an ACV rinse). In general, Dr. Mikailov recommends looking for products that are formulated with ingredients like salicylic acid, burdock root, and nettle that can help regulate sebum. Hydrating ingredients like aloe, vitamin B5, beta-glucans, eucalyptus, and moisturizing plant-based oils can help balance the scalp, as well. Limit your hot tool usage—even your blow dryer, as the hot air will stimulate oil production faster.

Natural Treatment for Oily Hair

And if you’re out shopping, look for shampoos labeled “clarifying”— those are generally good universal shampoos for oily hair. “A clarifying shampoo gently cleanses away any product buildup or outside-pollution buildup in your hair,” Louis says. The R+Co Oblivion Clarifying Shampoo is a cult classic and another great choice for many with oily strands. Toth says that gentle daily shampoos are key to dealing with greasy hair, especially those that are formulated with natural ingredients like plant extracts and oils.

Don’t apply the conditioner to your scalp, massage it into your ends instead. When shampooing, concentrate on scrubbing the scalp — but not too hard. Scrub moderately, enough to rub in the soap, but not so hard that you’re irritating your scalp. The irritation can overstimulate your glands and cause them to make more sebum. I know we said that consistency and long-term management were the best courses of action with oily hair, but sometimes? Tea tree is anti-inflammatory, as well as having some clarifying properties.

Here's How You Can Train Your Hair to Be Less Greasy

If you’ve been wondering why your hair gets greasy so fast even when you do everything right, we are right there with you. For those of us dealing with perpetually slick strands, it’s nice to know that we’re not alone. Finally, you can apply homemade hair masks to keep the oiliness in check. I particularly like the egg mask, aloe vera mask, fenugreek mask, and henna hair gloss.

Though it might feel counterintuitive to apply oils in an attempt to make hair less oily, certain essential oils work to break down sebum and clarify the pores on your scalp. You can also work on treating oily hair using simple home remedies. There are several ingredients that can work to cut through hair that feels greasy or looks oily. Sebum is a type of oil, which means that simply washing it with water doesn’t break it up. Rinsing your hair with just water or skipping the shampoo step and using only conditioner can allow oil to build up. As with many styling products, conditioners can weigh down the hair.

Yes, using a shampoo specifically formulated for oily hair can be beneficial for Indian audiences in managing excess oil and greasiness. Oily hair is a common concern among many individuals in India, and using the right shampoo can help address this issue effectively. Look for shampoos that are designed to cleanse the scalp thoroughly, removing excess oil and buildup without causing dryness or damage to the hair. Even if you're limiting your washes to a few times a week, unless you're doing it right you still may wind up feeling extra oily. "The way you wash your hair has a lot to do with how your scalp behaves," says Morales.

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Using dry shampoo between washes can help absorb excess oil and refresh the hair. It's important to avoid touching the hair frequently, as it can transfer oils from the hands to the hair, making it look greasier. Opting for hairstyles that keep the hair away from the face and neck, like braids, buns, and ponytails, can also help prevent the hair from becoming excessively oily. Finding the right balance is key, as over-washing can strip the hair of natural oils and lead to increased oil production.

If you’re washing your hair too often, your scalp gets the message that it needs to be in oil production overdrive. To manage oily hair effectively, it’s crucial to choose products designed for your hair type, avoid heavy ingredients, and maintain a balanced hair care routine. Your hair gets oily so fast due to overproduction of sebum, which can be triggered by factors like overwashing, underwashing, using the wrong hair products, and hormonal changes. Managing the frequency of hair washes and choosing the right products for your hair type can help control oiliness.

This has been proved to be very good at inhibiting sebum production as it has antioxidants and is an excellent method for oily hair treatment. One needs to apply it topically; alternatively it can be used to rinse the hair after a shampoo. And one more thing to keep in mind as your ridding yourself of these everyday oily scalp causes?

Well, if you're a daily washer, try tapering off to every other day to start. Once your hair grows accustom to that, you can try washing it every third day. Remember, oil is just part of the way your body protects your scalp, and there’s nothing dirty or wrong about a little oil buildup in your hair. This one will take a little trial and error to figure out, but if you find your mane is often weighed down by excess oil, chances are you need to switch up your beauty regimen. If you’re not ready to invest in a specialized shampoo meant to reduce oil, try using a gentle shampoo made for the sensitive scalps of babies and toddlers.

"In addition, I would also consider using a shampoo with salicylic acid such as Neutrogena T/Sal a few times a week." If you've had an oil-prone scalp for as long as you can remember — and have oil-prone skin on your face, too — chances are that's just your genetic code at play. "Some of us naturally produce more oil than others, which can lead to a greasy scalp," says Birnbaum. "If you have both an oily face and scalp, it's likely you are naturally oil-prone." Alongside genetics, Birnbaum says that oil production is also tied to hormones, stress, and (of course) humid weather.

Here's How To Cut Your Hair At-Home 2022 Guide to Cutting All Hair Types

Table Of Content

• How to trim curly bangs
• How to trim your hair wet
• Separate Your Hair into Sections
• How to trim your own hair:
• How To Trim Bangs

Comb out small sections with a fine-tooth comb, clamp it between two of your fingers, and then snip upwards with your scissors. You don’t need to cut into the hair very much, even a few millimeters will soften the edges. Once you’ve cut your hair straight across, you may find that your hair looks a little heavy or blockish. One of the possible ways to lighten the look is to make a few vertical snips into your hair.

How to trim curly bangs

If you want to go it alone, numerous free videos may help your technique. "Find someone who has a cut similar to what you're looking for and make sure they have a similar hair type," he advises. That especially goes for people with curlier hair that might benefit from a different cutting method. Just make sure you're only watching tutorials hosted by licensed professionals.

How to trim your hair wet

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. For example, if you are looking for ways to cut your own bangs, twisting the stands might be one of the best ways to get a natural feathered look.

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Separate Your Hair into Sections

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. We have selected the most helpful videos that teach to create every style, from blunt bangs and face-framing layers to lob and buzz cut. Follow these step-by-step tutorials and enjoy your refreshed hairstyle.

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The point of sectioning your hair is that it is easier to work your way up when cutting hair. So, my advice is – you can have as many (or as few) sections as you like, as long as the sections are the same on either side of your head. It’s important to either leave your hair natural or style it how you wear it most often, whether that’s curly, wavy, or straight.

"These lengths are more challenging to trim on your own," warns Brook. "I would get a partner to help you trim since the angles of these styles are hard to reach on your own."

It's essential to have the right tools for your at-home haircut. Become a part of our insider community to receive a free ebook on clipper cuts and an occasional informative email on taking care of your hair. If you are not so confident in your skills, we want to tell you that we’ve been there. Before starting to cut our own hair, we were so afraid of screwing up, but eventually you will get over the fear. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Cutting a Low Ponytail

Below, New York-based hairstylist Erickson Arrunategui breaks down the dos and don'ts of cutting your hair at home. This YouTuber shares her trimming technique for her gorgeous natural locks. For her, it's all about detangling and using your fingers for a more precise cut, and using already-cut hair as a guide to keep everything nice and even. If you want to cut your lob, bob or shoulder-length hair, this method involves bringing hair to the front and securing with small elastics before trimming off ends. Clean up any choppy ends with small, precise cuts for best results. For the it-hair of the moment, YouTuber Carli Bybel shows how to cut graduated layers into super-long locks by sectioning hair, pulling it to the front and making angled cuts into the length using professional shears.

If you start with a high ponytail, you'll get a softer U-shape in the back. To frame your face a little more, start with the ponytail as close to your hairline as possible. This technique will give a slightly more V-shaped look in the back. If you’re in need of trimming your bangs, check out this how-to to help you through the process. Otherwise, shake out your newly chopped hair, run your fingers through it, and sweep away your ends before someone else wants to use the bathroom. 'I would never recommend cutting your own hair or fringe – regular Hare and Bone clients can receive complimentary fringe trims at our salon, which takes seconds!

She shares her top tips for sectioning the hair, point cutting and the best after care. As far as the actual haircut goes, Jones recommends "point-cut into the bang rather than cutting a straight line." This direction will help avoid a super blunt finish and give you more control as you trim the ends. To begin, using the right tools is crucial, and getting the right kind of scissors will go a long way in helping your cut be even. “If you use kitchen or craft scissors, they often bend your hair before cutting it making it nearly impossible to get an accurate cut,” says Maine. Luckily, sharp hair scissors are available at most drugstores, or you can order these Diane Tulip Shears ($13, Ulta).

Once you’ve cleaned up the ends in a ponytail, let your hair down and examine the ends again. If there are any stragglers, you can snip into those pieces (again, not cutting across) until they’re even in length with the rest of the hair. You’ll likely spend between $30 and $90 for a quality pair of shears.

It’s hard to use clippers on short hair when you can’t see the back of your own head. If you can, ask someone else to help out (as long as you don’t start resenting them if they mess it up). Try to guide the trimmer in multiple directions so you avoid any lawn-style tracks. According to the stylists we consulted, cutting dry hair leaves less room for error (save wet cuts for the experts). To take hair from the shower to the chopping block, use a hair dryer like our favorite, the lightweight Rusk W8less. It’s more comfortable to use than many more expensive models we tested, and it was among the hottest and fastest dryers we tried.

Even a quick glimpse at the hair length chart is enough to understand that dry and wet, strengthened curly hair lengths differ drastically. This is why you can have more control over the cut results when styling curly hair before the trim. Having trouble maneuvering your ponytail (or both, if you did the side versions)?

If you have a long bob it will grow into medium length hair.” All of which are still trendy and will look good. Part your hair a different way, wear it up, and try different styles. 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.

Trimming your hair a little longer than your desired length is a good idea for two reasons. Firstly, hair cutting can get tricky and if you have made a mistake, you’ve got some leeway to fix it. Second, if you’re cutting your hair while it’s wet, then it will usually look shorter once it has dried. With this in mind, pull your hair back into one ponytail at the center of the back of your head, or pull it into two ponytails with one on each side of your head, if that’s easier for you to see and reach.

"This is a point-cutting technique that gives a more diffused finish on the ends." Basically, it's an insurance policy against uneven strands, which stand out far more when hair is cut bluntly across. When it comes to shorter hair, Arrunategui strongly recommends leaving it alone. Jessica (she/her) is a deputy editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a longtime product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera.