If you also need a tutorial on cutting men’s hair, we’ve got you covered. Deciding to cut your own hair can be a creative and rewarding experience, as well as a way to save on hairdressing costs. However, it can also be risky if entered into rashly and can result in a hairstyle that needs to be permanently hidden under a hat. It’s best to attempt your first cut only after careful consideration, at first tackling only simple cuts like trims or cutting bangs. With a few conservative snips and a bit of patience, you should be well on the way to creating a hairstyle you can be proud of.

Choose your hair cut

Choosing the hairstyle and cut you want is the most exciting part of the hairstyling exercise and will guide you in the haircutting process. Always choose a style that will complement your face shape and facial features. The best way to find inspiration on what your future look will be is to browse online sources that feature the latest looks and styles. To test whether any particular styles will suit you and whether they are the correct direction to go in, there are numerous websites and apps that will allow you to upload a photo of yourself and try out any of the hundreds of hairstyles that they have available. Once you have found the hairstyle that ticks all the boxes, it’s time to proceed to the next step.

Research hair cutting techniques

When it comes time to take a pair of scissors to your locks, you don’t want to find yourself having to go by feel. Find out as much as you possibly can on the type of cut you are planning on giving yourself by watching online videos and hair tutorials. Follow the video footage of experienced stylists and familiarize yourself with some hairstyling terminology to make the process as simple as possible.

Invest in quality equipment

To make sure that you have the best chance of success in your hairstyling endeavors, you should invest in the best equipment available. Buying a pair of razor-sharp hairstyling scissors should be your first step, as using a pair of scissors not designed for the task and with blunt edges could see you ending up with a lot of split ends. You can consider the expense as an investment against the amount of money you will save in not having to go to a salon every time you need a simple trim. The right equipment will also give you the best haircut possible.

Wash your hair

Prepping your hair properly for the task ahead will mean making sure that your hair is freshly washed and squeaky clean. If your hair is oily or filled with product build-up, you will not be able to create your new haircut and be assured of the best results. Choose a shampoo and conditioner made specifically for your hair type. There are products formulated to fit all types of hair and hair conditions, from products for color-treated hair, dry hair, as well as normal to oily hair.

Keep your hair wet

It’s easiest to see the natural lie of your hair while it’s wet, making precise and correct cutting simpler. Always keep a spray bottle filled with water on hand so that you can keep spritzing your hair as soon as it shows any signs of drying. Cutting curly hair when its wet is more of a challenge as the wetness will cause the hair to lie flat and, therefore, not follow its natural shape. Without being able to see its natural lie, you may cut it incorrectly, leaving you with an uneven cut.

Separate your hair

Separate your hair into sections by clipping two-thirds of your hair onto the top of your head and leaving the rest to hang loose. Create a parting in your hair by making a line starting behind one of your ears and drawing it across to the same position behind your other ear. Make two partings on either side of your head, dividing the top area into three sections. Comb the uppermost section of hair, twisting the hair into a knot and securing it with a butterfly clip. Now, do the same with the hair in the other two sections.

Secure the sections

The last sections at the left and right nape of the neck can easily be secured by twisting them into two separate knots. After all of the hair has been separated into sections and secured, proceed by taking the hair one section at a time and letting a half-inch strip loose along the outside edge of each section. After every separation of hair from its section, twist it into a knot and secure it again.

Proceed cautiously

A regular appointment at the hair salon usually lasts between 30 minutes and one-and-a-half hours. As you are probably a novice at hairstyling, you will need a much longer time to achieve the same results. Take your hair cutting slowly and approach it seriously. It’s far easier to go back and cut a little more hair off if you have been too conservative, compared to the alternative of cutting off too much and having only time as a cure to a bad hair day that will last several months. Check your progress as you go by measuring the hair from segments on opposite sides of your head against each other and seeing if they are equal in length. If they are uneven, trim them until they are uniform.

Trim your hair using point cutting

If you have medium-length or longer hair and want to add texture to your hair while at the same time removing bulk and softening some of the harder edges, point cutting is the perfect technique to use. Pick up a thin segment of hair, comb it through and then hold it at a perpendicular angle to the scalp. Holding the segment between your fingers, point the scissors inward, facing the hair ends and cutting points into the ends to create a textured edge. Alter the effect by making the points deeper or shallower, for a more noticeable or more subtle appearance. By cutting very deep points into the hair, you can create a layered look without the difficulty of having to actually layer the hair.

Dry your hair

To see exactly what your haircut looks like, finish off by drying and styling your hair. Let your hair air dry by up to 80 percent and then put your dryer on its coolest setting and continue until all the hair is dry. You will now be able to see any unevennesses and imperfections in your cut and will be able to trim any excess hair. Give your hair a final going-over, cutting any lengths that have been left too long and softening any blunt edges.