So your hair is getting long. Some salons reopened when shelter-in-place orders were relaxed, but why take the risk? It’s safer to cut your own hair at home.
Stylists will advise you to avoid getting too zealous with your scissors, but sometimes you’re left with no choice. Cutting your hair is more complicated than it looks, and this guide is not one-size-fits-all, but it should at least help you figure out the basics on where to start.
Updated for August 2020: We’ve refreshed some of the links in this guide.
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Do You Really Need a Cut?
There are plenty of ways to change your look without being extreme or doing something you may regret. As my hairstylist Angela Layng says, “We never make our best hair decisions when we’re stressed.” Additionally, the stylists I interviewed emphasized the fact that home haircuts can quickly go awry. Just take a look at the videos of people trying to give themselves bangs.
Before you make any permanent changes to your hair, consider some temporary ones. Now is a great time to grow out your hair. Is your hair fried from repetitive heat damage? Break the heat-styling cycle and your mane will be looking its best in no time. If you’ve played with the idea of changing your part, go through the transition while you’re at home.
You can also fake a hair transformation. Create a faux bob with the help of some bobby pins. If your hair is long enough to put into a ponytail, you can use creative styling to create fake bangs with no scissors required. Try covering your head in barrettes or learn to fishtail braid. Experiment away!
Brushing your hair is also an underrated way to give your tresses some TLC, according to hairstylist and salon owner Kenzie Veurink. For curly-haired folks, you can achieve a similar treatment by using a wide-toothed comb or your fingers. The goal is to stimulate your scalp and work its natural oils down the length of your hair. It’ll help your strands stay shiny and strong, and there’s some evidence that scalp stimulation encourages faster hair growth.
Now that you may have more free time, you could slather on a hair treatment mask first thing in the morning and wash it off before you go to bed. You might even have the components for a DIY hair mask in your kitchen already. Ingredients such as mayonnaise, eggs, honey, and apple cider vinegar are great for your hair. Mix ’em up in a bowl and cover your hair, then let the mask sit for as long as you’d like before rinsing.
Gear You May Need
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Quality scissors: A sharp edge helps keep your hair from fluffing out at the ends or moving around too much while you trim. Consider using precision scissors or placing an order for hair-cutting shears, which are razor-sharp and should be handled with care.
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Hair clippers for short hair: Hair clippers are in short supply right now, but this is a good clipper kit if you can manage to snag it—and this is a good alternative. This self-cutting trimmer might be of assistance if you plan to cut your own hair without any help.
Keep These Tips in Mind
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Have someone else help: Cutting your own hair in the mirror can be tricky. If you can, get someone to help you trim evenly or decide when enough is enough. If you have to fly so
