Hairstylists tell us how to cut your own hair without making a mess

You might be the DIY queen of your social circle. From dying your hair electric blue to tie-dying your T-shirt. However, there are some things you should be wary about trying by yourself at home—cutting your own hair, for instance. Sure, during the pandemic it was a trend but now that we have access to trained professionals, it seems wiser to optimise their skills.

However, for whatever reason, if you do want to attempt this task we spoke to a hairstylist who gave us a few tips to keep in mind. From sectioning to investing in equipment, scroll down and take a look!

Get the right equipment

Cutting your own hair can feel like a ‘Fear Factor’ task. But if you’ve convinced yourself to walk down this risky path, the very thing you need to do is invest in the right equipment. Vaishakhi Haria, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Splash salon and Very V Salon emphasises never using kitchen scissors. She says, “Kitchen scissors are a no-no. They are not as sharp and precise as hairdressing scissors and can slip.” The same is also true for craft scissors. When you use either of these, you end up going over the same spot over and over again which of course will not give you the accurate and clean cut you’re looking for. 

What you need is a pair of sharp hair shears. Apart from that, also keep a spray bottle (if you’re choosing to cut your hair while it’s wet), a narrow-toothed comb and a flat iron (this is optional but encouraged).

Should you cut your hair when it’s wet or dry?

Technically, there is no right option. It’s all about personal preference. However, one is better than the other. Haria says, “The length you see while cutting on damp hair will not be the actual length after the hair is dried. It will always be slightly shorter once dried.”

Since hair appears longer when it’s wet, it’s always easier to cut dry hair. Otherwise, you could end up snipping way more than you realise. This is especially concerning when you have curly hair, which will end up coiling once it’s fully dry.

Start small

You don’t need us to tell you that this is probably not the time to experiment. The more drastic a change you try to make, the more you run a risk of looking like Monica after Phoebe gave her a haircut in FRIENDS. We’re talking about a major mishap. Work on small sections and don’t cut your hair directly at the length you want. Start small and work your way outward always ensuring you aren’t cutting like a five-year-old in craft class. Haria suggests keeping in mind how the hair changes with the direction you cut it in. She says, “Checking the backside while cutting is difficult, so if you pull the hair in the front to cut it, the length and shape will change when you push it back.”

You can trim more if it’s too long but there is no Ctrl+Z if you cut too much. 

Section section section

If watching too many Brad Mondo reaction videos has taught us anything it’s that the first thing to do is section your hair into at least four sections. You could divide your hair from ear to ear and then divide it further by pinning half of each section on top. If you have voluminous hair, go ahead and further divide these four. When you start cutting, you want to ensure your strands are fully detangled and at their full length. Hold the section between two of your fingers and cut the hair that’s sticking out the bottom in a straight line. Be very, very careful and stick to your sections.

Quit while you’re ahead

If you are embarking on this path, it’s important to know when to stop. Giving yourself a trim is one thing but attempting anything bigger can put you and your hair at great risk. On the flip side though, even if you do get a little scissor happy and cut more than you can pull off your hair will eventually grow back. Even with that though, Haria issues a warning everyone should keep in mind. She says, “Just in case you do decide to cut your own hair and it doesn't turn out right, it will take at least six to eight months to fully recover from the bad shape.”

Not that we are discouraging someone from doing something brave but it’s always good to see the full picture, don’t you think so?