Is It a Good Idea to Cut Your Own Hair?

You look in the mirror and suddenly realize you’re overdue for a haircut—we’ve all been there. Whether you’ve had a sudden inclination to change your entire beauty look by going from long locks to short strands or simply want to trim off an inch or so, chances are you’ve wondered how to cut or trim your own hair at home. Which leads us to a very important question: Is it a good idea to cut your own hair? If you’re about to reach for a pair of haircutting scissors, hit the pause button and give this article a read!

SHOULD YOU CUT YOUR OWN HAIR?

Let’s cut to the chase—it probably isn’t a good idea for you to cut your own hair. So no, we won’t be giving you step-by-step instructions on how to cut your own hair. As much as you may feel as though you’re a hair cutting prodigy and that it can’t really be that hard to cut your hair, we recommend letting this fleeting moment of hair-cutting confidence pass. Need convincing to put the scissors down? Here are four reasons to skip out on cutting your hair at home.

Reason #1: It probably won’t turn out as you imagine. Those inspiration pictures you’ve been pinning on Pinterest? Your DIY haircut likely won’t resemble them. This holds especially true if you’re aiming to attempt a drastic cut, like a blunt bob.

Reason #2: You can seriously mess up your mane. Aside from being left with a bad haircut, a do-it-yourself approach can lead to a mane that’s more messed up than you might have thought possible. Sure, you could be left with a lopsided cut, but—even worse—one slip of the hand, and you may be missing a chunk of hair where you didn’t plan for it to go missing. While most uneven cuts can be fixed by a pro, if the damage done is bad enough, you may be left with a wonky mane until your strands grow out.

Reason #3: You can’t reach the back. No matter how flexible you may think you are, you won’t be able to reach and evenly cut your hair in the back. If you think pulling all of your hair to the front and making the chop is a good idea, think again. It’ll more than likely result in an uneven cut—and not in a cute, asymmetrical way.

Reason #4: You don’t have the right tools. The pair of scissors you use for crafting and wrapping presents? That’s not going to cut it! Besides the need for professional haircutting scissors (also known as sheers), you're also likely not equipped with the proper, pro-level hair-cutting techniques needed to achieve your desired look.

CAN YOU TRIM YOUR OWN HAIR?

What about if you only want to know how to trim your own hair—not cut it? Well, the same idea applies: don’t do it. It’s worth visiting a pro to have your ends trimmed. If you’re interested in getting rid of split ends, you can opt to use a split end treatment instead of trimming your hair. Try the L’Oréal Paris EverStrong Break Proof Lotion, which helps repair and protect against hair breakage. To use, apply a dime-sized amount to towel-dried hair. Gently work through hair to evenly distribute, then style as usual.

WHAT ABOUT TRIMMING BANGS?

You can probably guess the answer by now, but no, you shouldn’t trim your own bangs either. Bangs are tricky enough to get right already; you don’t want to risk messing them up. If you do, you could be left with lopsided bangs for months and months until they grow out. If you’re overdue for a trim and don’t have time to make it into the salon, use a barrette or headband to keep them out of your eyes until you can get to a pro.

HOW TO PROLONG TIME BETWEEN HAIRCUTS

By now, you get the idea that you shouldn’t be reaching for a pair of haircutting scissors at home—but what if you need a haircut stat? Well, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you get away with putting off a trip to the salon. Here are two!

#1. USE THE RIGHT HAIR TREATMENTS

As we mentioned earlier, hair treatments to help manage split ends can help put off a trim. If you’re searching for the ultimate product to hold off on getting a haircut, look no further than the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream Leave In Conditioner. The formula helps seal split ends and prevents heat damage by offering heat protection. No more unwanted haircuts, now you can save that last inch and keep growing your hair.

#2. TRY A NEW HAIRSTYLE

Another way you can put off a haircut is by creating the right hairstyle! Yup, how you style your strands can create the illusion of hair that’s straight from the salon. Want to learn more? Here’s How to Style Your Hair When You're Overdue for a Haircut.

Next up: Wondering about other hair-related activities you should or shouldn't participate in? One popular topic for debate is whether you should use conditioner before shampoo. Read our thoughts on the matter in our article, Should You Use Conditioner Before Shampoo?