How to Layer Cut Your Own Hair

I have been cutting my mom's, husband's and kid's hair for years. I hesitated a long time before I began cutting my husband's hair, but he says that it is a better hair cut than at a salon. It is truly far more convenient for us. It's hard enough taking the kids to the store.

The one thing I have not been able to do is cut my own hair. Sure, bangs are easy but the back is impossible. Don't get me wrong, I love getting my hair done, but if there were a way to get a really good haircut without all the trouble and cost, I would be very happy to give it a shot! I have been looking for good instructions for months and finally came across these. The comments were very promising.

So I tried it. The result? It turned out fine. Not the ultimate in haircuts but I have certainly had far worse from professionals. It is definitely worth trying again.

How to Layer Your Own Hair
from wikihow.com

1. Comb your dry hair, look at yourself in a mirror and decide what length your hair should be. (You may want to tie this to some physical landmark, such as chin-length, or down to your collarbone or whatever.) Note the length of the hair you want to take off.

2. Assemble your equipment: A sharp set of scissors (if you don't have hair-cutting scissors, fabric scissors are excellent), a comb, shampoo and conditioner. You will also need to be in front of a mirror when you start cutting.

3. Shampoo and condition your hair. Do not rinse out the conditioner--it makes it easier to comb your hair.

4. Comb your hair, as straight as you can, and gather it (as if you were making a pony-tail) at the very top of your head--the bit of your scalp that is uppermost when you stand up straight.

• It may help to bend over while you do this.
• Try to be precise about this--gather your hair in the middle of the top of your head, not too far forward or backward. Check your alignment in the mirror.

5. Twist your gathered hair as tightly as you can into a spiral.

6. Take your scissors and cut off the length of hair you noted in Step 1.

7. Comb your hair again--straight up to the top of your head--and twist it again, as tightly as you can, in the opposite direction. Most of your hair should be of a uniform length from the top of your head (from the cut in the previous step) but take your scissors and snip off any stragglers.

8. Rinse the conditioner out of your hair, dry it and style as usual.