3 of 9

Write now Article Tools

Bangs are a great way to personalize your hairstyle. Unfortunately, many women who try to cut their own bangs end up with less than satisfactory results. Here is everything you need to know in order to cut bangs like a professional.

1. Use the right scissors. Household scissors simply aren't sharp enough to cut hair. Professional haircutting scissors, which are razor-sharp, grip the hair for an accurate cut. Dull scissors "push" the hair, making it nearly impossible to get precise and even results. When shopping for scissors, look for a pair specifically made for cutting hair.

2. Cut the hair while it is dry. Hair is always longer when it is wet, which means if you cut your bangs while the hair is wet, your bangs may "shrink" when the hair is dry.

3. Don't cut too far across. Bangs should extend from slightly in front of the corner of the eye to slightly beyond the corner of the other eye. Bangs that are cut too far across look amateurish and tacky.

4. Don't worry too much about evenness. Many of today's styles are choppy and uneven, so don't get frustrated if your bangs aren't perfectly even. If you try too hard to even out your bangs, you can easily end up cutting off much more hair than you originally wanted.

5. Don't wrinkle your forehead. In order to cut bangs, your facial muscles must be completely relaxed. If you wrinkle your forehead it may change the position of the hair, giving you uneven results.

6. Use masking tape. If you sandwich your hair between two strips of masking tape, you will be able to cut in a super-straight line. This trick works especially well if you are looking for blunt bangs.

7. Start thin. When cutting bangs for the first time, start by combing forward only a few strands of hair. Once you cut this first section to the desired length, comb down more hair and cut. Repeat this process until your bangs are as heavy as you'd like. Remember: once the hair is cut, it is cut. It is always better to gradually cut more hair than to cut off too much hair at once.

8. Straighten the hair. If your hair is naturally curly, use a flat iron to straighten the hair before you begin cutting the bangs. It will be much easier to see what you are doing, and the results will be much more precise.

9. Have a plan. Before you even pick up the scissors, you must have a clear idea of the type of bangs you are trying to achieve. Not only must you decide on length, you must also decide on how light or heavy you want the bangs to be. You must also decide if you want the bangs to look choppy, blunt, angled, and how wide you want to bangs to be.

10. Go to a stylist. If you have never worn bangs before, have a hairstylist cut them for you. He or she will be able to select the appropriate length and style. Once you get the bangs you want, you can maintain them at home by snipping the ends every two to three weeks.

Learn more about this author, Marlin Bressi.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to cut bangs?
We want to hear your view. Write now!