How To Cut Your Hair At Home, According To A Celeb Hairstylist

We’re big fans of DIY when it comes to hair, from making your own masks to at-home dye touch-ups and even the occasional (careful) bang trim. Cutting your own hair, however, is a tougher sell—there’s a reason we're loyal to our hairstylists. Still, sometimes it’s inevitable, and we’d never let you go at it alone. Our advice? Stick to a simple trim and leave the drastic cuts to the pros. If a visit to the salon is out of the question, heed this advice from celebrity hairstylist and Biolage Brand Ambassador Sunnie Brook.

Gather Your Supplies

Naturally, the most important tool you’ll need is your scissors—ideally hair scissors. “If you’re in a major pinch, home scissors can work if they are sharp enough, but they are likely to chew the ends of your hair,” says Brook. In other words: It’s better to not cut your hair at all than to use your basic crafting scissor. However, while you wouldn’t want to use regular scissors for a full cut, Brook says they may be okay for “a random hair here or there.”

What you’ll need:

- Towel to collect hair

- Comb (wide-tooth for curly hair, fine-tooth for straight hair)

- Clips or scrunchies to section hair

- Fine-point scissors

- Fine-mist spray, like Biolage All-In-One Coconut Infusion Multi-Benefit Spray

Related article: The 12 Best Shampoos for Hair Growth

How to Cut: Curly or Wavy Hair

The first rule of trimming hair with a lot of texture: Let it air dry completely in its natural state. “This will give you the truest form and you’ll be able to easily see the areas that need a trim,” says Brook. “If you cut curly or wavy hair when it’s wet it stretches much more. Once it dries, you may feel like you took off more than you wanted.”

1. For front layers, start with hair completely dry in a middle part.

2. Using your ears to hold the rest of your hair back, take small pieces of hair to create a guide for the rest of your hair.

3. Continue taking small, even sections around the face, and cutting hair at a slight downward angle, using your wide-tooth comb to help section and keep hair even. (See Brook use this technique in action in her IGTV tutorial here.)

4. Use clips and/or a scrunchie to keep longer hair out of your face, and continue checking that both sides are even.

5. For split ends, flip your ends so they face upwards, and point cut—a.k.a. the technique when your hairstylist cuts vertically into hair. (Be very careful with your fingers!)

6. Finish with a fine mist to revive curls.

How to Cut: Straight or Fine Hair

Be sure straight hair is blown out completely dry, “taking special care that the crown area is laying the way you would wear it,” says Brook.

1. Start with hair completely dry in a middle part.

2. Using your ears to hold the rest of your hair back, take small pieces of hair to create a guide for the rest of your hair.

3. Use a fine-tooth comb so you have maximum tension on the hair and get a clean line. If you prefer a blunt edge, cut the hair straight across on the lengths. For a softer finish, point cut using the tip of your scissors to vertically snip into the ends.

4. Use clips and/or a scrunchie to keep longer hair out of your face and continue checking that both sides are even.

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How to Cut: Short Hairstyles

"These lengths are more challenging to trim on your own," warns Brook. "I would get a partner to help you trim since the angles of these styles are hard to reach on your own."

1. Let hair dry in the state you tend to wear it in.

2. Use the tip of your scissors to carefully trim the lengths or layers.

3. For a blunt edge on a bob, take small sections starting at the bottom and perimeter of your hair.

4. Continue going around hair, section by section. Remember a little goes a long way—you can always take more off later.

Oops. I Cut Too Much...

If the mistake isn't devastating, it's probably best to put the scissors down now and quit while you’re ahead—your hairstylist can fix it next time you can make it to the salon. When in doubt, go straight to the source. “Ask your hairstylist beforehand if they have any tips, or if they are open to doing a FaceTime coaching session,” says the celeb stylist. (Don’t forget to Venmo them for their time, if you’re able.)

Try to keep things in perspective if things do go south. “Remember, your hair is not a tattoo! It will grow out,” reminds Brook. “Have a glass of wine and a laugh, and watch some ‘how to’ videos on ways to style your hair until it grows out.”

This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR US.

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