How to Cut Curly Hair at Home

woman cutting curly hair with scissors.jpg

How to Cut Curly Hair at Home

Gather the Right Tools Before you begin cutting your curly hair, it’s essential to gather the necessary tools. Here are some items you’ll need:

  1. Haircutting scissors: Invest in a pair of professional haircutting scissors for precise and clean cuts.
  2. Wide-toothed comb: Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair gently.
  3. Spray bottle: Fill a spray bottle with water to dampen your hair for easier cutting.
  4. Hair clips: Secure sections of hair with clips to ensure clean and organized cuts.
  5. Mirror: Set up a mirror in a well-lit area to see all angles of your hair.

 

Cutting curly hair can be a daunting task, but with the right techniques and tools, you can achieve a beautiful result from the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re looking to trim your ends, add layers, or give yourself a new style, this guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions to cut curly hair at home.

 

Prepare Your Hair

  • Start with clean, dry, and detangled hair: Before cutting, wash and condition your hair, allowing it to air dry or use a diffuser to dry gently. Ensure your hair is completely tangle-free before you begin.

Determine Your Desired Length

  • Assess your desired length: Decide how much length you want to take off or maintain. Remember that curly hair tends to shrink when dry, so it’s often best to cut a bit less than your desired length to account for the shrinkage.

Section and Secure Your Hair

  1. Divide your hair into sections: Use hair clips to divide your hair into manageable sections. Start by creating a center part and then divide each side into smaller sections, securing them with clips.
  2. Focus on one section at a time: Working with smaller sections allows for more control and precision while cutting.

Trim the Ends

  1. Start with the back: Unclip the bottom section of your hair at the back. Take a small subsection, dampen it with the spray bottle, and comb through to remove any tangles.
  2. Trim the ends: Hold the hair between your fingers and trim the desired length, cutting in a straight line. Avoid cutting horizontally, as it may create uneven results.
  3. Repeat for each section: Move up to the next section, unclipping and trimming the ends until you’ve completed the back of your head.

Add Layers (Optional)

  1. Assess where you want to add layers: Layers can add dimension and movement to curly hair. Determine where you’d like the layers to start.
  2. Take vertical sections: Unclip the hair and take a vertical section from the back. Hold the hair between your fingers and point-cut, using the scissors to cut vertically into the hair rather than across. This technique creates softer layers that blend well with the rest of your hair.
  3. Repeat for each section: Continue moving up, section by section, adding layers where desired. Be sure to match the length and style of the layers on each side.

Check for Balance and Make Final Adjustments

  1. Evaluate the overall balance: After cutting all sections, unclip your hair and check for balance and symmetry. Make any necessary adjustments by trimming individual sections as needed.
  2. Shake out your hair: Allow your curls to naturally fall into place, shaking out your hair to see the final results.
  3. Style as desired: Proceed to style your hair according to your preferred routine, using products and techniques that work well with your curly hair type.