Not everyone has a Beyoncé-level hairstylist license and can book an appointment right away—I can personally attest to that. But if you find yourself in a hair dilemma and can no longer stand the sight of split ends, you know that sometimes, you just have to take matters into your own hands. Bustle asked three experts to give their expert advice on how to trim your own hair at home like a pro. Below, they answer some of your most common hair questions, like should you have a dry or wet cut? How much hair do you actually need to cut to get rid of split ends? Are your craft scissors sharp enough?
To make sure you stick to regular final maintenance (and not ruin your style in the process), read on for everything you need to know about trimming yourself like a stylist at home. Because when it comes to your hair, combing it loose is never the answer.
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1. Find out the right time to trim your hair
"The frequency of trims needed depends on the health of your hair and upkeep in between," says celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan, who has dressed everyone from Ashley Graham to the Kardashians Everyone in the family has done modeling. "If you take good care of your hair, you can limit your trims to three per year, whereas those who frequently dye their hair or have their hair cut short and need more maintenance - such as heat styling - may need a few trims per couple. months.”
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Pro tip: If you want to limit the number of trims you get in a year, consider trying a heat-free style, using hair masks more frequently, and dying your hair less frequently.
2. Determine the amount that needs to be cut
If you know exactly how much to trim, you can give yourself a home trim without disrupting your style. "People who regret cutting their hair often do so because they cut too much," Marian says, adding that determining the right amount depends on the severity and length of the split ends. "I recommend taking out a few strands of hair and seeing how far up your split ends you can go," she says. "This is a good indicator of how much hair cutting is needed to maintain healthy hair."
3. Grab some super sharp scissors
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Arguably the most important step in trimming your hair depends on the tool you use. Dull scissors will result in jagged edges and uneven cuts, so don't even think about picking up your craft scissors. "I always advise my clients to trim their [hair] with very small and very sharp scissors, like brow scissors or even cuticle scissors because they're so small and you can only take a moment, which prevents you from cutting Losing Big Hair Celebrity hairstylist and Garnier consultant Ashley Streicher says of cutting bangs at home, and the same applies here.
4. Cut your hair when it’s dry
When cutting your own hair, it's also important to keep the natural texture intact. Whether your hair is naturally straight or in tight spiral curls, Biolage brand ambassador Sunnie Brook Jones likes to cut her hair dry "because that way, you can see the truest texture and shape." Hair stretches when it's wet, So if you cut it into this stretched shape, your hair will spring back to its original length when it dries—leaving you with a shorter hairstyle than you intended. Dry cutting also allows you to see the final result in real time, reducing the room for error. Don't worry about blow dryer damage: "Let your hair dry naturally so you can see the wave pattern," says Jones.
5. Start with a face frame
To trim her own hair (stylists also need upkeep), Jones likes to start by leaving a half-inch section in the center of her hairline. She cut this section of hair to the length she wanted and used it as a guide for the rest of her hair. “I like to twist a small section of hair and then slide it down and cut it off to take some weight off the ends.”
To make a slip cut, open the scissors slightly and slide the blade along the hair like a razor. Just make sure your scissors are sharp and don't jump off your line as this may pull and cause an uneven cut. "This makes the ends tapered and looks softer," she explains. Once you're happy with the section, add more hair and repeat the process in half-inch sections along the hairline. This can feel tedious since you're cutting into such small pieces at a time, but Jones says this method is more forgiving as you cut away. Need visual effects? Check out her tutorial below:
Another tip: Let the hair fall into place naturally and hold it in place as you trim, but don't pull it too tight while trimming. This will lengthen the hair and make your hair cut shorter than you thought.
6. “Get to the point” of your goals
Now that you've trimmed the hair around your face, Jones recommends parting your hair down the middle and cutting each section in front of your shoulders. "Use a pointed tip to cut away the dry, damaged ends," she says. You can do each half in one go, or break the halves into smaller sections—the smaller the sections, the less hair you'll have to cut in one go, This is a great option if you want to be cautious. A spot cut involves holding the scissors vertically and making shallow, slightly angled cuts into the ends of the hair. This eliminates damage without losing too much length.
