DIY Cutting Your Own Hair

Some of us cut our own hair when we were kids and since we probably got an intense response from our parents, we never dared again. I cut my teddy bear’s fur and when I noticed that it wouldn’t grow back, I waited for many years until a boyfriend needed a trim while we were traveling.

I am a professional haircutter and prefer having my hair cut by another person because it is more relaxing and more precise; yet, I have cut my own hair many times. It feels empowering and freeing to cut my hair, even if I just cut the ends, my fringes or the front part.

Here is what I learned about cutting your own hair:

• Invest in a pair of good haircutting scissors. Other scissors may not cut your hair off in a clean way, which may cause microscopic or larger breaks and tears.
• Don’t cut your bangs just before going to the party. Set time aside and cut your hair when you can be undisturbed.
• Cut less at first. You can learn how your hair reacts and cutting a little at a time will give you more practice and will guarantee that your hair won’t be too short.

If you have long hair, I suggest you split the hair in the middle of the back (photo below)

and comb it all forward laying it on to the curve of your neck (photo below)



Have your hair at least slightly wet and on your skin and then bring it up to the length you like. (photo below)


This should give you a pretty straight line when your hair is combed back again.

Alternative Methods:
There is also the ponytail method for cutting layers into your own medium to long length hair. First, thoroughly comb or brush your hair out and make a ponytail. The placement of the ponytail band can be at the bottom of your neck, in the middle of the back of your head, at the highest point of your head, straight up from the middle of your scalp, or pulled together in the front like a unicorn horn. If you comb your ponytail out and cut the tip evenly, you will have slightly layered contour. The more length you cut off the more layers you will have. You can also make a mini-ponytail out of your bangs or fringes to create a slightly layered and even look. When you cut your bangs, don’t frown as this will make the bangs look longer.

If you would like to trim the ends of your straight, wavy or curly hair during a lunar day, pick up one strand of hair at a time and cut the ends off with decisiveness and intention to stimulate growth and increase thickness and health. Cut the ends off which feel dry and which become easily tangled. When you have waves or curls, cut the end of the curl, right where the next curl or wave begins. Cutting in the valley (middle) of the curl may cause your hair to take a few days to curl up again.

Shorter hair it will be easier to cut all of your hair, not just the contours, because you don’t have to stretch your arms too much and there is much less hair, which could come between your hands and the cutting line. Most people who cut their own short hair go around their head by measuring and feeling with their fingers and occasionally checking in the mirror. Brushing your hair before you cut can allow you to cut without using a comb. You can also use your middle and index fingers of one hand to section of hair, pull it perpendicular to the scalp and then cut the hair above the two fingers. You can cut the contours with scissors, however you will find that one side of your head will be easier to cut than the other depending on your dominant hand. Lastly, you may want to use an electrical trimmer especially around the ears and for the neckline, especially if you feel that you don’t have much control with your less dominant hand.

Release your inner haircutter! Practice makes perfect.

Written by: Linda Hollatz