No more bad hair days! How to cut your own hair at home

After the controversial 30-minute haircut rule was reversed by the government following public backlash, hair salons remain one of the few essential services that are still open to the public. However, in line with social distancing rules, only one person is allowed in the salon per four square metres which means that many people might struggle to book in, while others may simply prefer to stay indoors at home during this worrying time.

But fear not, there are plenty of techniques that make home haircuts simple, easy and risk-free! Not only is this a great way to upkeep your luscious locks in self-isolation, but learning to cut your own hair might come in handy in the future for you or your family members.

What you’ll need

The outcome of your haircut will depend on the quality of your tools. So if you plan on heading down this path, invest in a proper set of razor sharp salon scissors as dull blades are only likely to create more split ends.

It’s also worth buying a proper stylist comb with a so-called “rat tail” which is a skinny rod on the end of the handle that helps to part hair evenly. Depending on hair texture, it might also be worth investing in a spray bottle to maintain damp hair for an easier cut.

Cutting techniques for beginners

The first tip for giving yourself a trim is to always cut off less than you need to and remember you can always head back and take more off later. Most of the time, it’s best to do a trim on dry hair to maintain the natural texture however, cutting damp hair can create a cleaner, straighter cut for those with thicker hair.

Cutting straight across is handy for those looking for a blunt cut, while people with more texture or weight in their hair might find it useful to point cut. This is where you hold the scissors vertically, parallel to the strands, and cut into the hair rather than across it to give a rougher look.

However, those with fine hair are advised to always cut horizontally and focus solely on length rather than creating layers, because a choppy or bad haircut is much more noticeable with less hair to hide it. If you go too short, don’t worry – fine hair usually looks better at a shorter length!

A suggestion for all hair types, but particularly short hair, is to use more than one mirror to make sure you are taking in all angles and are able to see where the mistakes are shining through. Getting someone else to help with the back will also give you a bit more judgment than simply blindly hacking at your hair.

With thicker hair, always start with the under layers and pin up all the hair you’re not focussing on so it’s out of the way. As you make your way to the top layer, continue letting down sections of hair and shaking them out to see how it will fall naturally.

As for layering, twisting strands of hair and cutting horizontally will allow them to fall at different lengths and give a softer layered look. This can also work for the shorter layers that frame the face by creating a triangle of hair at the front of the head, twisting and chopping below chin length.

Finally, if cutting damp, wait for the hair to completely dry before going in with small touch-ups and remember that a wet cut will always come out shorter once its naturally dry!