How to Cut Your Own Curly Hair in Layers? Easy Step-by-Step Guide
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How do you cut your own curly hair in layers? Is it better to cut curly hair wet or dry? An easy step-by-step guide on how to cut your own curly hair in layers by yourself at home.
How to Cut Your Own Curly Hair in Layers? A Step-by-Step Guide
As someone who has been dealing with curly hair all her life, for the past few years, I have been cutting it in layers on my own. The thing is that whenever I visit the salon and ask for a light trim, every hairdresser out there cuts more than I would agree with. As my hair is a slow grower, this situation comes to be very annoying for me. So to save my time, energy, and a few bucks, I decided to start cutting my curly locks on my own. It’s easier than it sounds! You just need some practice and this easy beginner’s guide to cut your curly hair in layers like a professional!
What you will need:
- wide-tooth comb
- hair ties
- hair clips
- sharp hair cutting scissors
Step 1: Shampoo, Condition and Detangle
First, you will have to shampoo and condition the hair. Your hair will have to be knot-free to get evenly cut-layers, so use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to detangle it. Better to do this just after you’ve washed it, not while it’s conditioned, as this can damage the hair. If your after-wash hair routine involves applying a product, skip it when you are about to cut it to work with your natural curl pattern.
Is It Better to Cut Curly Hair Wet or Dry?
This is a common question that a lot of people ask. You might have noticed that professional hairstylists cut curly hair when it’s wet, but this often might be more of a preference than a practice. For some, working with wet curly hair is easier. If you are not a professional, better to first let your hair air dry and then go for the cut. This will allow you to immediately see the results of the final cut.
Step 2: Section Your Hair After It’s Dried
To make it easier on yourself, start by sectioning your dry curly hair. Use a comb to make even sections. First section the top half from the ears up and pull that hair into a ponytail above the forehead. Proceed by parting the rest of your hair down the middle into two separate sections.
Step 3: Trim Your Hair Easier by Angling It Upward
By using your first two fingers, grab the front section of your hair at its base. After, slide your fingers up the length of the grabbed hair, angling your hair upward and somewhat in front of you. When you are ready to make the cut, stop sliding your fingers. Before you start to trim, be sure to take only a little at first as to not take too much off. You can always come back later to cut it if you feel like it needs more.
- Get an even cut by making sure that all your curls are at the same length by pulling your hair out straight.
- How much should you trim? For subtle layers, begin with about 1 in (2.5 cm) of hair. For more eye-catching ones, cut 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) off.
- If you notice any damage at the ends of your hair, like frizz or breakage, try to remove it all when cutting your layers.
Step 4: Work the Ends of Your Curly Hair
Take the scissors and carefully snip off the ends of your hair. By keeping your fingers in place, gently snip the hair above your fingers with your free hand. After, angle the scissors so that they are nearly parallel to your hair, and proceed to cut a few times into your hair. This will slightly thin out the ends, helping to remove some of the weight of your curly hair. Your curls will look much better after applying this technique.
Step 5: Cut the Back Section As You Did the First One
Unclip one of your back sections, and trim it at the ends. Then pull the hair straight up and use as a reference how you trimmed the first section to cut this one. Hold up both hair sections next to each other, and trim the back section to be the same length as the first one. Remember to always use the same amount of tension when pulling your hair upwards to trim it, so that every section is even.
Step 6: Lift and Cut the Last Section the Same Way
Proceed to unclipping the final section of your hair and trim it. Take each section up and forward to the same point above your head before cutting it. As the hair at the bottom of your head has further to travel when it is lifted above it, it will end up looking longer than the hair you have on the top of your head.
How to Cut Your Own Curly Hair in Layers: Finishing Touch
Check if any curls seem uneven and use the scissors to align them. Once you are done with evening out the basic layers of your hair, let it fall as it usually would. See if any pieces look too long or stick out too much and give them a quick trim. The end result should be a beautiful curly hairstyle that is fairly even and symmetrical. If it happens so that the curls on one of the sides of your head stick out a lot farther than they do on the other, resection the longer part and trim each of the sections to be a little shorter.
Want to save a few bucks on hair dye as well? Here are 7 ingredients you can find in your kitchen to dye your hair with!