It’s been a long year and your hair is getting even longer. You’ve been holding off until you can safely make an appointment at the hair salon, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for you and you’re going to take matters into your own hands…literally. There’s a few things you should know in order to not totally F it up!
Buy Real Shears
Do not, and I repeat, do not cut your hair with kitchen or craft scissors. Pick up a pair of hair cutting shears from a local Sally’s or online. This will not only make the process much easier, but be way healthier for your hair. Kitchen scissors have a much wider blade, so the cut won’t be very precise. This is why you may have seen many at-home hair cuts look “choppy” or “uneven.” Hair shears are specific for hair cutting so the blades will be much more precise and the handle much more comfortable making it easier for you to get your wrist into any angle it needs to be for the perfect cut!
Get A Comb and Thank Me Later
Combs are a great way to work in sections and see what’s really going on in there. Using a big brush won’t be enough to understand the length, or layers that are already in your hair. Trust me. I have cut my hair many times with one of those bulky Conair brushes, and it didn’t go too well. Save yourself the time and possible embarrassment and buy a cheap hair comb from the dollar store.
Start Small, Then Work Your Way Up
Many times we aim for the desired length right off the bat, with the first cut. That’s usually where it all goes wrong and ends up needing to be fixed…. which in turns gives you a much shorter hairstyle than you wanted. Start small, with a ½ inch trim and work your way shorter and shorter. Hopefully these at-home hair cuts are only to get you through until the next time a professional can have at it with your hair, but if you’re feeling bold and want to cut off more than a couple inches, start small and keep checking the length in the mirror throughout the process.
Watch Tutorial Videos
So since we all have been under a stay-at-home order, I have not only cut my own hair but also my boyfriend’s…although his last cut wasn’t my best work. We’re really into watching Skate Kitchen and well… you definitely should not be watching TV while cutting someone’s hair, but you knew that! In order to feel a bit more confident cutting my, or my boyfriend’s hair, I watched a ton of tutorial videos. Brandon Mondo has been my saving grace (all hail Mondo!) He breaks it down in a way that is so simple and easy to understand and provides tricks if you are doing this 100% on your own! Check out his video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAmE16ej9IU&list=PLZqcARoI03Z0idMPku4OkFoK7kcRhJIHk&index=2
Work With Your Natural Hair
It’s not always necessary to wet or even spray your hair before cutting it. If that works for you great, but if not, then no pressure. If you happen to have curly or wavy hair, feel free to give yourself a dry-cut at home. This may be easier if it’s your first time that way you can see the true length as you’re going along. I have done this plenty of times and sometimes even prefer this over wet hair!
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No matter what cut you’re planning on giving yourself just know you’re not alone. Many of us have tried and failed with at-home hair cuts, so what’s the worst that can happen? If you have any other hair cutting tips or stories you want to share, leave them in the comments below – we want to hear from you!
