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Best tips and tricks for a stylish DIY layer cut
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Layers are a timeless look that gives your hair a chic and professional style. And believe it or not, you can easily do this style yourself right at home—no previous training or experience required. Keep reading for a full tutorial on how to layer-cut your hair and get the best results.
Things You Should Know
- Divide your hair into 4 sections: one at the top of your head, one on the left and right sides by your temples, and one at the back of your head.
- Cut the top section of your hair into the shortest layer by using your fingers as a guide and cutting straight across in a horizontal line.
- Trim the right and left sections evenly so that they’re slightly longer than the top section.
- Bring the hair at the back of your head over your shoulders and use a section from your front layers as a guide to cut it to the desired length.
Steps
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Decide on a length for your layers. Take extra time to examine your hair and decide where you want the layers to be and how long you want them. To help you better visualize the final look, print out a picture of your face and use a pen to mark where you think the layers should go. Some people like long, natural-looking layers, while others choose to go for a bolder look with sharper distinctions between the different hair lengths. Take the following factors into consideration:
- Your hair texture. Layering tends to add body to hair, especially when some of the layers are short in length. If your hair is already full-bodied or curly, you may want to go for longer layers that don't differ much to frame your face. [1] X Research source
- Your face shape. Longer layers look gorgeous with round or square faces, while shorter layers accent faces that are oval or heart-shaped.
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Invest in a pair of hair cutting scissors . The most important tool required to make sure your hair turns out looking great is a sharp, professional-grade pair of hair cutting scissors. Using craft scissors or kitchen scissors can result in uneven cuts and overall choppy-looking results. If that’s not the look you’re going for, pick up a pair of hair cutting scissors online or at your local store. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Set up a space in front of a mirror with all of your hair-cutting supplies. Work in a well-lit place with access to a sink and a mirror. Gather together a towel to drape over your shoulders, a set of hair clips for holding back sections of your hair, your scissors, and a comb. Get a small, handheld mirror as well so that you can check the back of your hair. You may also need a spray bottle filled with water to keep your hair damp, depending on how fast it dries.
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Wash your hair and dry it until it’s just damp. When you're ready to get started, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner and comb out the tangles with a wide-toothed comb. Towel it dry so that it's damp, but not dripping. You’ll achieve the best results by starting with clean hair. [3] X Research source
- If you’re cutting curly hair into layers , completely dry your hair before cutting it. Or, just skip washing it altogether if that’s easier.
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Make a ponytail at the top of your head. Turn your head upside down and use a comb to help gather up your hair. Use an elastic band to secure the ponytail at the top of your scalp. Make sure it’s exactly in the center of your head to avoid cutting uneven layers. [4] X Research source- The ponytail should be on the top of your scalp, not the crown of your head. This ensures the layers will be positioned correctly.
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Slide the elastic down the length of your hair. If you want short layers, stop sliding the elastic several inches from the tip of your hair. For longer layers, slide it down until it's about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the tips of your hair. [5] X Research source
- Alternatively, slide your fingers down instead of the elastic. This method is helpful if you have long hair.
- Another option is to tie a second elastic around your hair where you’ll be making your cut. [6] X Research source
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Cut off the end of your hair below the elastic. Use the scissors to snip off the ends of the hairs that are sticking out from the ponytail or from between your fingers. [7] X Research source
- If you have thick hair, it may take more than one snip to get through all of the layers. Make sure you cut them all in the exact same place.
- Don't cut at an angle, or the layers will come out jagged. Make sure you hold the scissors horizontally and cut them straight across.
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Remove the elastic and examine your layers. You will have even, natural-looking layers around your head. To make the cut a bit softer-looking, take your scissors and point cut your hair . Turn the point of your scissors inwards towards your hair and cut upwards into your hair rather than across in a horizontal line. [8] X Research source
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Divide your hair into even sections in the front, sides, and back of your head. To ensure your layers come out symmetrical on the right and left sides of your head, make each section as even as possible. Divide your hair using the following steps: [9] X Research source
- Use a comb to create two parts on the very top of your head: one on the left side of your head, and one on the right. The hair in between these parts will be your top section.
- Divide the top section into a front and back section. The front part extends from the crown of your head to your forehead, and the back part extends from the crown of your head to the nape of your neck. Use hair clips to keep the sections in place.
- Make right and left front sections starting at your temples and ending at the top of your ears. Comb the right and left front sections out and hold them up with clips.
- Leave the back sections loose. You won't be cutting the longest part of your hair, so leave it down and use it as a guide to measure the other layers against.
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Trim the ends of the front top section. Unclip the front top section and lift your hair straight above your head by holding it between your forefinger and middle finger. Keeping your hair between your fingers, bring it down in front of your face. Slide your fingers toward the tips of your hair until they are level with the place where you want your shortest layers to start. Trim the length of hair sticking out from between your fingers. [10] X Research source
- It's common to cut the shortest layer just below the earlobe or right at the jawline.
- For longer hair, cut the shortest layer right at the shoulders.
- Your hair will appear shorter once it’s fully dried. Keep your layers a bit longer at first. You can always cut more if you need to.
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Cut the front right section so that it’s longer than the top section. Unclip the front right section of hair and lift it away from your head at a ninety-degree angle. Hold it straight between your forefinger and middle finger and bring it down the side of your face. Then, slide your fingers toward the tips of your hair until they are level with the place where you want the side layers to be cut. Use the scissors to trim the length of hair extending from your fingers. [11] X Research source
- Hold a section of hair from the top section against the section you’re cutting to give yourself a guide to reference.
- To get softer-looking layers, trim at an angle rather than in a horizontal line, keeping the front of the section longer than the back.
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Trim the front left section so that it’s even with the right side. Just as you did on the right side, lift the left section with your fingers at a ninety-degree angle away from your head. Hold it straight between your forefinger and middle finger and bring them down toward the tips of your hair until they are level with the place where the right side layer was cut. Then, snip off the ends of the hairs right below your fingers.
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Layer the hair in the back to add more dimension. Take a section of hair from the very top of your head and use it as a guide when cutting the back portion of your hair. Divide the hair at the back of your head evenly down the middle, then bring the two sections over your right and left shoulders. Divide each section into two smaller sections to make cutting more manageable. Hold your guide section against your hair and cut each section either to the same length as the guide or a bit longer. [12] X Research source
- If you’re layering short hair and can’t bring the back section around to the front, use a handheld mirror to look at the back of your head and check your progress frequently.
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Comb your hair out and examine your layers. Once you've finished cutting, check all of the layers to make sure they fall where you want them to. Check the evenness of your cut by examining the hair vertically and horizontally. If you see uneven layers, carefully trim the hair to make them look even.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionI cut my own hair about 5 inches and added bangs and layers and it looked great! My hair is about at my shoulders and I think going shorter would be good but my family hates my haircut! What now?Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.Do what works best for you. In time, your family will adjust to your new look!
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QuestionIf you use the shortcut, should you work with wet hair?Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.If your hair is naturally curly, it would be better to cut if when it's dry. If your hair is naturally straight, it can be cut wet or dry.
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QuestionWhere is the crown of my head actually located?Community AnswerThe back top part of your head is the crown. It is the part of your head just before it starts to curve down to the back of your head.
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Video
Tips
- If using the Sections Method, cut each section at a diagonal to achieve softer-looking layers. [13] X Expert Source Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 31 August 2020.Thanks - Avoid tilting your head too much since this could cause the layers to come out uneven and asymmetrical. [14] X Expert Source Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 31 August 2020.Thanks - Keep in mind that your hair will be shorter when it dries compared to when it was wet. [15] X Expert Source Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 31 August 2020.Thanks
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Things You’ll Need
- Professional-grade hair cutting scissors
- Handheld mirror
- Spray bottle filled with water
- Comb
- Brush
- Hairties
- Hair clips
References
- ↑ https://www.hadviser.com/how-to-add-volume-to-hair/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/OI1B5yJgv08?t=18
- ↑ https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a19968418/wet-or-dry-haircut/
- ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/how-to-cut-your-own-hair
- ↑ https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/beauty/hair/how-to-cut-your-own-hair-5684
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ykkLUsJPdtk?t=79
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ykkLUsJPdtk?t=96
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ykkLUsJPdtk?t=141
- ↑ https://www.health.com/beauty/how-to-cut-your-own-hair
- ↑ https://www.health.com/beauty/how-to-cut-your-own-hair
- ↑ https://www.manrepeller.com/2016/08/how-to-cut-your-own-hair.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Y1vAA4mbWAU?t=435
- ↑ Jenny Tran. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 31 August 2020.
- ↑ Jenny Tran. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 31 August 2020.
- ↑ Jenny Tran. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 31 August 2020.
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To layer cut your own hair, you’ll need to start by washing and towel drying your hair, then separating the top section into 4 parts around the crown of your head. Once you’ve done that, you can trim a section at a time by holding the hair between your fingers, sliding your fingers down to the desired length, and cutting off the remaining hair. Try cutting at an angle for a softer look, and leave your hair a little longer than you want it, since it will shrink up a bit when it dries. For tips from our Beauty reviewer on how to add layers to the sides and back of your hair, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "As a licensed hairdresser, I think she was wise to stress the hair placement in the ponytail, and stressing to be careful about the parting over ears. I actually do these steps, and then I do parting and re-cut/check, since I have long thick and curly hair." ..." more
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"As a licensed hairdresser, I think she was wise to stress the hair placement in the ponytail, and stressing to be careful about the parting over ears. I actually do these steps, and then I do parting and re-cut/check, since I have long thick and curly hair."
..."
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"This was a great tutorial. I loved the video at the end! Cutting layers in your hair at home has never been easier! I really like the Ponytail Method. The video made it easy to follow. The instructions were clear and photos great. Overall great article!"
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"I've been needing to get my hair cut, but didn't have the time, money or inclination to call a fancy salon. I need hair that is no-fuss. The pony-tail method worked magic in under 15 minutes. I dried my hair, briefly used a wide curling wand. Done!"
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"I have wanted to layer my hair for ages, because basically every time I go to a hairdressers they get it so wrong. Finding this article has given me the knowledge to try it myself. "
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"I am going to try it for the first time. Have not cut my hair since my mom died, she was my beautician. Its been 5 years I am so ready for this haircut."
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