How To Cut Short Hair At Home: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow

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• Hair Care
• Haircuts
• Short Haircuts

How to Cut Short Hair at Home Download Article Co-authored by Courtney Foster

Last Updated: July 15, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Cutting Your Hair into a Short Bob
|
• Trimming a Pixie Cut
|
• Expert Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Warnings
|
• Things You'll Need

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This article was co-authored by Courtney Foster. Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 464,659 times.

Cutting your hair at home is a great way to keep your short hairstyle looking fresh while also saving money. On average, cut your hair every 4-6 weeks, and wet your hair before you trim it. If you have short hair, shape your hair into a bob or go with a pixie cut for an ultra-short style. Using either scissors or a hair razor, trim the back first and then move on to the sides of your hair. With the right tools and attention to detail, you can easily cut your own hair.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Cutting Your Hair into a Short Bob

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1. 1 Separate your hair into 3 even sections. To cut your hair evenly and easily, divide your hair into a back section, left section, and right section. Leave the hair in the back section down so you can cut that first, and secure the left and right sections with clips or hair ties.
2. 2 Decide how long you want to trim your hair. This depends on the length of your hair currently. You can cut your hair at the nape of your neck for a short and stylish bob, or trim just a bit off of your ends if you want to grow out your short hairstyle.
   • If you want some help deciding how long to make your bob, search online for reference photos. Keep these handy when you are cutting and styling your hair.
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3. 3 Cut your hair horizontally 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) longer than desired. Your first cut doesn’t have to be perfect, as you are simply removing the extra hair off the bottom. Make your cuts about 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) longer than you want your hair to be in the end so that you can make finishing touches to clean up your ends. Do this for the back section of your hair first, and use a mirror to help you make straight cuts or ask a trustworthy friend or family member to help you with the back section.
   • If you are taking off more than 2 to 4 in (5.1 to 10.2 cm) of hair to create your bob, consider chopping off the bulk of your hair first. To do this, make a horizontal cut across all of your hair to get rid of the extra weight.
   • Keep in mind that you can always cut more hair off, but you can’t put it back once you cut it, so it is best to cut a very small amount and then cut a little more if you want it shorter.
4. 4 Make small vertical snips along your ends to even out the cut. After you make a horizontal cut, reposition your scissors so the ends face upwards, and make small snips along your hair. Do this along the back of your hair to finish trimming this section.
   • This gets rid of any uneven pieces so your hair is all the same length.
5. 5 Trim the left and right sections of your hair to match the back. Next, take out the clip or hair tie and comb your hair down. Follow the line of the back section and make a horizontal cut across the ends of both sides. Then, make small, vertical snips to clean up any uneven spots.
   • If you have thin or fine hair, you can cut it all at once. If your hair is thick, you should divide it into several sections before you cut it.
   • Use the back section of your hair as a guide as to how much to take off of the sides.
   • If you prefer, use a hair cutting razor to trim the length off the sides. This is a good idea if you want the pieces in the front to be longer than the back. Wiggle your razor back and forth slightly to shave off the ends of your hair.
6. 6 Add layers if you want to give your bob some more dimension. Comb a section of hair, and hold the ends in between your fingers. Point your trimming shears downward at a 45-degree angle as you trim the bottom. The angle of your cut creates a layered look, which looks great for a short bob style.[1]
   • You can also create layers with a hair razor. Hold the end of your hair outward and wiggle your razor back and forth at a 45-degree angle.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Trimming a Pixie Cut

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1. 1 Separate the bottom 1/3 or so of your hair in the back. Use a fine-toothed comb to divide your bottom section of hair from the rest, and clip up the rest of your hair on the top of your head.
   • By working in small sections, you can easily cut a pixie style at home.
2. 2 Make horizontal cuts at a slight angle across the bottom section. Comb your hair and hold the ends in between your fingers vertically. Then, position your scissors at an angle so they are parallel with your hand. Cut your hair downward at a slight angle, and continue doing this across the back section of your hair.[2]
   • Make your cuts at the nape of your neck for an ultra-short style, or leave 1–3 in (2.5–7.6 cm) for a longer pixie style.
3. 3 Move on to another section of hair after you finish the bottom section. Let your hair down once you trim the back section to your desired length. Divide the rest of your hair in the back, starting at the crown of your head. Then, comb the hair, pinch it in between your fingers, and move your fingers to the length you want to cut. Trim your hair horizontally using your fingers as a guide.[3]
   • Make your cuts downward at a slight angle so this section blends in with the bottom section.
4. 4 Continue cutting your hair in sections, working from side to side. After you finish cutting the back, work your way around to the right side of your head. Then, do the same for the left side of your head. Trim your hair similarly, making it as long or short as you’d like.[4]
   • To make this easier, use a small section of hair from the previous part as a guide when cutting the next section.
5. 5 Comb your bangs forward so you can easily trim your fringe. After you finish trimming the sides, brush all of your hair toward your face. Pinch the ends of your hair between your fingers and trim horizontally to take off some length. Continue cutting your hair until your bangs are as long as you like. Then, blend your bangs into the back section of your hair by using a 1 in (2.5 cm) section of hair for reference.[5]
   • As you do this, comb your hair to check the length.
   • Keep your bangs longer than the sides and back for a swooped fringe, or trim them to the same length for a short pixie style.
6. 6 Even out any uneven sections or long spots before you finish up. Once you finish trimming your bangs, run your hands through your hair, and look for any uneven spots. Use your scissors to snip off any long pieces or jagged edges.[6]
   • You can also use a hair razor to clean up your neckline. If possible, have a friend do this for you.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question What do I need to do if I'm going to cut my hair at home? Courtney Foster Licensed Cosmetologist Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan. Courtney Foster Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer You need to make sure that you're using really sharp cutting instruments. If you use dull instruments, your hair is going to split, which can lead to breakages as your hair grows longer. Also, make sure that you track the length frequently if you're cutting your hair in layers to make sure you don't end up with an asymmetrical cut. 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 Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 19

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Things You’ll Need

• Clean, wet hair
• Haircutting clippers
• Hair razor
• Clips
• Hair ties
• Mirror
• Spray bottle filled with water (optional)

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Tips

• If your hair is curly or thick, consider straightening your hair before you cut it. This way, there are no kinks that could mess up your cut. While this is optional, it can make it easier to cut off your ends.[7] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• You can trim your hair when it is wet or dry. You may find it easier to trim thick hair when wet. Keep a spray bottle filled with water nearby and spritz your hair as needed. However, once your hair dries, it may appear slightly shorter than when you cut it. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 3

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

• When cutting short hair, you want to trim your ends slowly to avoid cutting too much off. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 6

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You Might Also Like

How to Master a Bob Cut: Easy DIY Haircut at Home 9 Ways to Cut Your Long Hair At Home Cut Your Own Hair at Home: Key Steps to Achieve a Perfect Bob How toCut a Layered Bob How toCut Long Hair Short How toCut an A‐Line Bob How to Cut a Pixie Cut at Home How toCut Your Own Hair A Step-By-Step Guide to Cutting a Girl’s Hair Like a Pro How toCut Choppy Bangs How toCut Your Own Hair (Men) How toTrim Hair at Home How toDo a Layered Haircut How toCut Wavy Hair Yourself Advertisement

References

1. ↑ Courtney Foster. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNjNPRMH-Tk
3. ↑ Courtney Foster. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
4. ↑ Courtney Foster. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNjNPRMH-Tk
6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LilNGB92JCc
7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LilNGB92JCc

About This Article

Co-authored by: Courtney Foster Licensed Cosmetologist This article was co-authored by Courtney Foster. Courtney Foster is a Licensed Cosmetologist, Certified Hair Loss Practitioner, and Cosmetology Educator based out of New York City. Courtney runs Courtney Foster Beauty, LLC and her work has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in East/West Magazine. She received her Cosmetology License from the State of New York after training at the Empire Beauty School - Manhattan. This article has been viewed 464,659 times. 141 votes - 52% Co-authors: 8 Updated: July 15, 2025 Views: 464,659 Categories: Short Haircuts Article SummaryX

To cut your hair shorter at home, first wet your hair so it's a little damp and comb it to remove any knots and tangles. Then, part your hair down the middle and use a hair tie on each side to make symmetrical pigtails. Determine how short you want your hair to be, and place another hair tie around each pigtail where you want to cut it. Now, pull your first pigtail down to make the hair taut. Take some scissors and cut just above the second hair tie. Do the same thing on your other pigtail. Take your hair ties off and inspect your work to see if you missed any hairs. If you did, snip these loose strands off. For blended ends, make some vertical cuts along the ends of your hair. For more tips from our Hair and Beauty co-author, including how to cut your hair into a pixie cut, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

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  Tamanna Anand

  Apr 11, 2021

  "I cut my hair, it is really nice, since it is quarantine too. The article is sooo helpful, not as good as a salon..." more

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Courtney Foster Licensed Cosmetologist 141 votes - 52% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 8 Updated: July 15, 2025 Views: 464,659

Tamanna Anand

Apr 11, 2021

"I cut my hair, it is really nice, since it is quarantine too. The article is sooo helpful, not as good as a salon..." more

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Dec 24, 2023

"Explained perfectly enough. I now feel I've got this, lol. Thank you."

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