Source: flickr.com user c pichler

With Gwen Stefani’s new hairstyle, you might be considering adding a little fringe to your ‘do. And no matter how much I tell my hair clients not to cut their own bangs, they rarely listen. So, if you’re going to do it, then I figured I’d give you the steps to do it right. Word to the wise: trimming existing bangs is much easier than cutting bangs from scratch. But, I’ll explain both ways, just in case you aren’t patient enough to make it to the salon. You must use haircutting shears. Kitchen scissors will not work.

Blunt Bangs (Straight Across)

1. Start with dry hair
Although professionals often cut bangs wet, it’s easier for you to make a mistake if they are wet. So, begin with dry hair combed forward. If you hair has natural curl or wave, flat iron the hair before cutting.

2. Decide on the amount of bangs
If you don’t know how much you want, the natural fall of bangs is determined by starting just under the highest point of your head. Lay a comb flat on top of your head. In the front, notice the point where the head curves and no longer touches the comb, that’s where you can begin your bangs. For thinner bangs, you can begin your bangs closer to your hairline.

3. Section off bangs
With a fine-tooth comb, section off the front area of hair that you would like to be your bangs. You can do a thin section or a thicker section, however always part in an upside-down U shape. Make sure your U parting is not too wide. You don’t want to include the temple area where your hairline grows closer to the face. If you do, you’ll have super-short pieces that will often stick out.

4. Begin your cut
The primary mistake people make when cutting bangs is to begin on one side and cut to the other. You will never have a straight line this way. Instead, the trick is to begin in the middle and work your way outward. I recommend point-cutting, which means to hold your shears vertically (45 degree angle) rather than horizontally and cut small little pieces gradually working your way from the middle to the outside edge for each side of the bangs. Rounding down, meaning leaving the side pieces a little longer than the middle, often looks more natural.

5. Always start longer
The rule of thumb is to always cut your bangs ½ to ¾ inch longer than you actually want them and trim more if necessary.

6. Finish your look
Apply a styling cream or hairspray to keep your bangs in place all day.

Trimming existing bangs
1. Start with dry hair and bangs combed forward.
2. Begin point-cutting in the middle and work your way out.
3. Remove only 1/8 to ¼ inch depending on how much shorter you want them.

If you’re interested in sideswept bangs, check out this how to cut your own bangs video.

Tags: Hair, Hair Care, hair care products

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 10th, 2010 at 1:32 pm and is filed under Hair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.