How to Trim Your Own Bangs
Although it’s best to get a bang trim from your stylist, sometimes your schedule just doesn’t allow for it. Check out this throwback video where Mandy from Hunt & Gather Hair Company shows you four ways to trim your bangs (proper term: fringe!) at home. Luckily we’re no longer in isolation, but the bang trimming tips are still super useful. Follow along below to get the best results while trimming your bangs (aka fringe) at home.
Mandy’s top tips for trimming your own bangs at home
Tip 1:
A lot of people have a natural wave in their hair, which is why it’s good to use a comb (see “tools needed”) below. Using this comb, don’t use too much tension – you want to smooth out the hair, but not pull down too hard. If you pull down with too much tension, you might accidentally end up with shorter bangs than you wanted when they naturally bounce back up.
Tip 2:
Trim your bangs when they are dry. Although a trained stylist will sometimes cut your bangs while they are wet, this takes a lot of experience and precision to get the tension right. If you’re doing it yourself, it’s best to trim while your hair is dry so you can get a better idea of how it will actually look. Trimming while your hair is in a natural state also makes it easier to compensate for any cowlicks or whorls in your hair that might change how your bangs should be trimmed.
Tip 3:
It’s best to trim your bangs when your hair is freshly washed and dried, but don’t put in styling products or flat iron your hair before trimming. (If you flat iron your hair every day as part of your normal routine, you can flat iron your bangs before trimming.) However, just keep in mind it’s usually best to trim when your bangs with their natural texture, and you can always refine later.
Tip 4:
Think about your part before you start. Whether you part your hair on either side or in the middle, decide how you will regularly be wearing your hair, and make sure your hair is parted before you start. This way you can trim your bangs specifically for how you will regularly be wearing them.
Tip 5:
Don’t cut your bangs bluntly across while holding your scissors horizontally. Instead, hold the scissors vertically. This creates a softer line and edges, and makes blending your hair easier.
Tools needed to trim your own bangs:
A comb with finer teeth. Having a comb like this helps you keep control of the tension when combing your fringe into place.
Scissors with a narrower tip. You might not have professional quality shears like your stylist, but scissors with a narrower tip are better for precision. If you use big, blunt kitchen scissors, you might have trouble getting a clean looking result.
All instructions start the same way: pull back and secure the rest of your hair away from your fringe
You can watch these steps in the video, starting from here.
Find the high point of your hair
Section your fringe into a triangle shape, running the comb from the high point of your hair down on either side.
Decide if you like the thickness of the fringe you’ve sectioned off. If it feels like too much hair, soften the triangle shape of your hair into a semi circle. You can do this by using your comb and pushing back the extra sections of your hair back and away from your fringe.
How to trim a Rounded Fringe
The rounded fringe is a simple style with shorter hair in the middle and longer hair on the sides. The rounded fringe is great if you usually wear your hair up, and you want a bit of framing for your face. Here are the steps for cutting a rounded fringe at home:
Comb the centre section of your fringe straight down. Hold the fringe between your index and middle fingers, with your hand resting on your nose.
Start trimming the hair with the scissors held vertically. Only cut as far as the knuckle of your finger to avoid cutting your hand.
Move onto the remaining hair in the centre section, using the same method: comb hair downwards, hold in place, and trim hair holding scissors vertically.
To create the rounded effect, take the untrimmed hair from one side and pull it across to the centre. This is called over direction. Trim the hair from the outside edge moving in, using the comb and holding the scissors vertically.
Repeat with the untrimmed hair on the other side of your fringe, over directing hair towards the centre before trimming.
Hold your scissors vertically again, and lightly “dust” the ends of your fringe. You can do this by only using the very tips of your scissors to trim very short amounts across the bottom of your hair. This smooths out and softens the edge of the fringe.
How to trim a Veiled Fringe
The veiled fringe is also known as “curtain bangs.” This style is very similar to the rounded fringe, with a little more over direction (or, stronger angle.) You’ll want to make sure you don’t get too extreme in the angles for this style, or it could end up looking odd! Here are the steps for cutting a Veiled Fringe:
Comb the centre section of your fringe straight down. Hold the fringe between your index and middle fingers, with your hand resting on your nose.
Start trimming the hair with the scissors held vertically. Only cut as far as the knuckle of your finger to avoid cutting your hand.
To create the veiled effect, take half of the untrimmed hair from one side and pull it across to the centre. Trim the hair from the edge moving in using the comb and holding the scissors vertically. Leave the very edges of your fringe as-is to create length at the sides.
Repeat the last step with the other side of your fringe.
How to trim a Side Fringe
Part hair how you usually wear it.
Pull back and secure the rest of your hair away from your fringe.
Take the very middle section of your fringe (about a 1-2” section) with your index and middle fingers. Pull it in the opposite direction that you want your fringe to lay in.
Gently trim the ends of your hair holding scissors vertically.
Repeat the step above on the next section of your hair. Work slowly through your hair, and check to see how your fringe looks after each section. You may want to leave the edges longer so you don’t necessarily need to trim all of your fringe for this look.
How to trim a Blunt Fringe
A blunt fringe is usually cut separately from the rest of your hair.
Divide your fringe with a horizontal line, so you have a top section and a bottom section. You’ll want to trim these sections separately so that you can maintain the blunt shape of the trim.
Pin the top half of your fringe away from your face.
Pull hair down with a comb, and hold in place. Trim hair while holding comb near the bottom of your fringe, holding scissors vertically.
Pull down a new small section from the horizontal half of the fringe pinned back. Make sure you can see the trimmed hair from the first section.
Use your comb and scissors in the same way to trim this section to the same length as the last.
Keep working through small sections of your fringe until you’ve trimmed almost all to the same length.
For the last section, pull it down and gently blend your fringe with the rest of your hair. Some of this hair will blend back into your regular lengths, and some may hang down and need to be trimmed. Trim any pieces that naturally fall into the fringe.