How to Cut Bangs

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Ready for a brand new look? You don't have to run to the salon every time you want to change your hairstyle. Cutting your own bangs at home is easier than you may think! See Step 1 and beyond to learn how to create stylish side-swept bangs, blunt bangs or just give your bangs a trim.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Side-Swept Bangs

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  1. Style it as you normally would, using a blow dryer or flat iron. It's important to make sure your hair is dry and styled as usual so that you don't end up cutting it in a way that will look off once you have it styled. [1]
  2. Look in the mirror and angle your head sideways. Place a comb on the crown of your head, and find the place where it starts to curve down toward your forehead. This is the spot where your bangs should naturally begin. [2]
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  3. Use the comb to pull your hair forward over your forehead starting with the place you identified in step 2. This spot will act as the point in a "V" with legs V that extend to either temple. The hair that falls inside this V shape is what you'll cut to create new bangs. [3]
    • Make sure you don't gather too much hair. Cutting bangs that extend past your temples on either side will give you an old-fashioned look.
    • Gathering too little hair is also a mistake. You want your bangs to look full and pretty, not thin.
  4. Once you've gathered your V, pull the rest of your hair back to keep it out of the way. This way you can make sure you don't end up accidentally cutting the rest of your hair. [4]
  5. Side-swept bangs are a little longer than other styles because you sweep them to the right or left side. If they're too short, they won't fall gracefully across your face. Aim to have your bangs hit the middle of your nose when they're combed straight. If you want them shorter, you can always cut more. [5]
  6. Use your middle finger and forefinger to pull the hair taut from your head. The part that will be cut should extend evenly from your fingers. Position it in front of your face so that you can easily reach it. [6]
  7. Use a pair of haircutting scissors to snip the hair extending from your fingers at a slight angle. This will give it a more natural appearance than you'll get if you cut it straight across. Continue snipping along the line of hair extending from your fingers until it has all fallen away. [7]
    • Do not use fingernail scissors or safety scissors to cut your hair. It is very important to use professional haircutting scissors. They have a sharper edge and will make a much prettier cut. Using other types of scissors will make your bangs look choppy.
  8. Sweep them to the side you like best and see if you like the length. If you want them to be a little shorter, repeat this method and cut off another 1 ⁄ 4 to 1 ⁄ 2 inch (0.6 to 1.3 cm). Cut no more than this at a time - it's very easy to end up with bangs that are a little too short! [8]
  9. Enjoy your new look!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Blunt Bangs

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  1. Style it as you normally would with a hair dryer or flat iron. This way you can ensure that the way you cut your bangs will work with your hairstyle. [9]
    • Straight-across bangs work best on thin, straight hair. If your hair is naturally curly or wavy, use a flat iron to straighten your bangs. Use an anti-frizz serum if you are prone to fly-aways.
    Lorraine Massey, Hair Stylist

    For curly bangs, point cutting is a must. This cutting technique removes weight and allows curls to pop up and out. Angle your shears toward the bridge of the nose and make tiny snips into the ends of the hair. Avoid blunt bangs on curly hair; they never curl under and around the way you want them to.

  2. Blunt bangs should start about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) back from your hairline, and should cover the width of your forehead. [10]
  3. Use a fabric covered elastic band, scrunchy, or hair clip. This way you can keep from cutting too much hair.
  4. Blunt bangs can fall anywhere from just above your eyebrows to just above your upper lashes. Don't go too short at first - you can always cut more. [11]
    • Fold your hair over to see the bangs would look like at different levels before making the cut.
  5. Your fingers should hold it just above where you want to cut your hair.
  6. Make a horizontal cut, making the bangs slightly longer (about half an inch) than what you want them to be. It's better to err on the longer side at first. [12]
    • When you're cutting blunt bangs, it's extra important to use a good pair of haircutting scissors. Using any other type will make it look like a preschooler cut your bangs.
  7. Brush the bangs with a comb so that they lie flat on your forehead. Holding the scissors vertically, trim the bangs to the length you want, working your way from the middle of the bangs to the ends. [13]
    • Blunt bangs should be slightly shorter in the middle and slightly longer at the ends. [14] This helps them lay more naturally on your forehead.
    • Before you cut your bangs more, you might want to use a flat iron or curling iron to slightly curl the ends under. This may allow you to comfortably wear your bangs at the current length, reducing the likelihood that you'll accidentally cut them too short.
  8. Check to see if they are even, and cut any stray hairs.
  9. Enjoy your new look!
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Bang Adjustments

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  1. Leave your bangs loose in the front. This will keep your hair out of the way so you don't accidentally cut too much. [15]
  2. Comb them straight forward, even if you normally style them to the side. [16]
  3. Hold your comb just above where you want your bangs to end. When you're giving yourself a trim, err on the side of making them too long at first. You can always go back and cut more. [17]
    • For a trim, you'll likely cut off no more than .5 inches (1.3 cm) from your bangs.
    • For help with long bangs, see How to Cut Long Bangs.
  4. Use your fingers to hold them taut at the place where you want to cut them. Your fingers should fall just above the place where you'll make the cut. [18]
  5. Hold your scissors vertically and at a slight angle, and start snipping from the middle to the right side of your bangs. Cut from the middle to the left side of your bangs, then go back and cut from the middle to the right side. [19]
    • Bangs should be slightly shorter in the center and slightly longer at the ends.
  6. Check to see if they’re even, then go back and trim any portions that are longer than the others.
  7. Enjoy your new look!
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you grow out curtain bangs?
    Jenny Tran
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Jenny Tran is a Hair Stylist and the Founder of JT Hair Lab by Jenny Tran based in the Dallas, Texas metro area. With over seven years of professional hair styling experience, Jenny specializes in hair coloring, haircutting, and hair extensions. JT Hair Lab is an authorized carrier of R+Co and of Milbon and is committed to using products with quality ingredients.
    Jenny Tran
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
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    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Is it easy to cut bangs?
    Yan Kandkhorov
    Hair Stylist
    Yan Kandkhorov is a Hair Stylist and Owner of K&S Salon, a hair salon based in New York City's Meatpacking District. Yan has over 20 years of experience in the hair industry, is best known for paving the way for iconic hair trends in the industry, and has operated his salon since 2017. His hair salon has been voted one of the Best Hair Salons in New York City in 2019 by Expertise. Yan and K&S Salon has collaborated with leading fashion magazines and celebrities such as Marie Clair USA, Lucy Magazine, and Resident Magazine.
    Yan Kandkhorov
    Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    No, it's one of the more challenging things to do as a hair stylist. You have to be very careful and you need to keep the overall look in mind when you're working on bangs. A lot of people get tunnel vision when they're working on bangs and they lose the big picture in the process.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 14
  • Question
    Can you cut bangs when they're wet?
    Yan Kandkhorov
    Hair Stylist
    Yan Kandkhorov is a Hair Stylist and Owner of K&S Salon, a hair salon based in New York City's Meatpacking District. Yan has over 20 years of experience in the hair industry, is best known for paving the way for iconic hair trends in the industry, and has operated his salon since 2017. His hair salon has been voted one of the Best Hair Salons in New York City in 2019 by Expertise. Yan and K&S Salon has collaborated with leading fashion magazines and celebrities such as Marie Clair USA, Lucy Magazine, and Resident Magazine.
    Yan Kandkhorov
    Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    No, they need to be blow dried. In fact, how they're dried is extremely important. You need to dry the hair downward so that you don't have any cowlicks or loose strands sticking up.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 12
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      Tips

      • If your hair is too short to be tied back into a ponytail or clipped out of the way, it may only be necessary to tuck your hair behind your ears.
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      • Always cut your bangs when your hair is completely dry, as bangs that are cut when your hair is wet will shrink up once they are dry.
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      • Blunt, straight-across bangs can be hard to manage. This style works best on naturally straight hair.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • A comb.
      • A pair of hair cutting shears

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      References

      1. ↑ Yan Kandkhorov. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.
      2. ↑ http://missysue.com/2012/01/how-to-cut-or-trim-side-swept-bangs/
      3. ↑ http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/08/how-to-trim-bangs-at-home-without-screwing-up/slideshow/2012/08/31/how_to_trim_bangs/05-harper-paige-bangs-50/
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gWx8mA8mj0
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gWx8mA8mj0
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gWx8mA8mj0
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gWx8mA8mj0
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gWx8mA8mj0
      9. ↑ Yan Kandkhorov. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.
      1. ↑ Yan Kandkhorov. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.
      2. ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/hairstyles-beauty/hair-care/how-to-cut-your-own-bangs#slide-6
      3. ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/06/how-to-cut-bangs
      4. ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/hairstyles-beauty/hair-care/how-to-cut-your-own-bangs#slide-6
      5. ↑ http://www.cosmopolitan.com/hairstyles-beauty/hair-care/how-to-cut-your-own-bangs#slide-6
      6. ↑ https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/hair/a305/trim-bangs/
      7. ↑ https://www.thecut.com/2012/08/how-to-trim-bangs-at-home-without-screwing-up.html
      8. ↑ https://www.thecut.com/2012/08/how-to-trim-bangs-at-home-without-screwing-up.html
      9. ↑ https://www.thecut.com/2012/08/how-to-trim-bangs-at-home-without-screwing-up.html
      10. ↑ https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/hair/a305/trim-bangs/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To cut your bangs at home, begin with washed, dried, and styled hair. Comb your hair forward from the spot where your head begins to curve down to your forehead, then gather the rest of your hair into a ponytail. Use one hand to hold the hair down just above where you want to cut and use the other hand to cut the hair horizontally with scissors. Brush the bangs so they lie flat on your forehead, then trim them holding the scissors vertically, so that they’re slightly shorter in the middle than at the ends. Finish by trimming stray hairs. To learn more from our Cosmetologist co-author, like how to style side-swept bangs, keep reading the article!

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        Oct 22, 2016

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