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Wash your hair first -

The reason they wash your hair at a salon is not just an added perk, but rather because if your hair is oily or dirty, it will cling together and cause an uneven finish.

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When to cut your hair wet? -

Though there's technically no right answer, professionals recommend that if you have straight hair and want a more blunt look, leave your hair damp when you cut for the cleanest edge.

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When to cut your hair dry? -

If you have curls, waves, or layers, dry hair is the way to go, so you'll have a better idea of how your cuts will affect the end product.

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Avoid those kitchen scissors -

The sharp, precise blades of professional shears make it easier to get a clean cut, while regular scissors increase your chance of split ends.

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If you don’t have proper shears -

You can use manicure scissors, but for touch-ups only!

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Get a double-edged comb -

It's a comb with both wide and fine teeth, and it'll help with sectioning.

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Use no-slip clips -

The pros tend to use alligator clips, but you can use anything that helps you keep hair separated.

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Watch tutorials with the cut you want - And make sure they have the same hair type as you!

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Cut less than you think you need to -

Your hair will almost always appear shorter than you wanted it after you style it, so don’t cut exactly to what you think your desired length is, but rather start slowly and gradually increase.

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Soften ends -

Cut your ends at an upward angle (called a point-cut) to soften any blunt ends and help the hair blend together.

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Lighten without layers -

Cutting your own layers can be difficult, especially on short hair, but if you drag and lightly snip the scissors as you descend down the strands you can remove some weight from the top in a way that looks seamless.

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Cutting layers with the unicorn ponytail method -

Put your hair into a ponytail at the top of the hairline near the forehead, pull the hair forward between two vertical fingers, and snip the ends. The sharper the angle of the cut, with your wrist closer to yourself, the more drastic the layers will be.

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Trimming curly hair -

Style your hair dry first, then snip your ends curl by curl, cutting at an angle so the ends are pointy.

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Trimming coily hair -

Style it dry and then work on individual coils, stretching the hair out then allowing it to twist into itself. Trim only the hairs that stick out of the coil.

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Add excitement without losing length -

If you want to shape long hair, pull it forward in small sections starting at the bottom and snip to your desired length. Pulling the hair forward and cutting it will automatically give you a rounder shape, since the hair at the back will be longer than the ones closer to the front.

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For a straight cut at the back -

If you don’t want that rounded look at the back, when you pull your hair to the front to snip, hold it between your fingers at a slight diagonal slant, so that the hair from the back is cut shorter than the strands at the front.

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If you’re cutting a blunt bob -

Before you cut that blunt bob, straighten your hair to make sure there are no deceiving kinks.

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Trim split ends -

When your ends start to thin from breakage, it’s best to trim those parts so they don’t split further up. If you have a lot, straighten your hair to more clearly follow the shape of your hair.

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Trim split ends -

If you’re trying to avoid losing length, try putting a section of hair over your middle finger and securing it with your index and ring finger, as in this video. Then, as you slide your hand down your hair, the split ends will pop up and you can cut them off.

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Fringe -

Always cut it dry! This will help you avoid the panic of realizing you cut it too short.

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The triangle separation -

If you want bangs, don’t just separate the strands along your forehead, but rather draw a triangle on your scalp that starts at the arc of your eyebrows and reaches a few centimeters back. The further you go, the thicker the bangs.

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The twist method -

The trick to getting that curved bang shape is by taking the designated fringe strands between two fingers of your dominant hand, twisting it around 180 degrees, passing it off to your non-dominant hand, and then cutting straight across. That twist creates the natural-looking curved shape.

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Maintaining straight bangs -

Anyone with high-maintenance straight  bangs should learn how to trim them to save on expensive touch-up visits. You want to cut them dry, and do point-cuts.

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Maintaining curly bangs -

Style your bangs before you cut them, and when you cut them make sure it’s at an angle and not straight across!

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Buzz cuts -

These are pretty standard, but doing them yourself for the first time just means you have to have good clippers, know your level, and go slow, cutting less than you think is needed at first.

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Don’t try to mimic everything your hairdresser does -

Of course, hairdressers can give out incredible tips, but they were also trained to cut your hair with certain methods that simply can’t be done on one’s self.

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A tip from hairdressers -

Many hairdressers are asking that you please think this decision through and not try to attempt the most difficult parts of their job that they’ve studied for months. But really, if it goes badly, they'll just have more business!

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Remember: It’s just hair! -

Yes, hair is tied to many of our identities for different reasons, but it will grow back, and there’s a certain kind of power in chopping off your own locks.

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Take care of your hair health -

No matter your haircut, your look will always rely on how healthy your hair is.

See also: Tips for impeccable hair without leaving your home.

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