I’ve learned that a little maintenance goes a long way. To keep my hair looking its best between salon appointments, I do a simple at-home trim. Removing those dry, frizzy ends works like magic, making my entire hairstyle look healthier and more polished. This is especially true for updos, where the ends are often front and center. Here’s what’s worked for me so far!
How to Trim Your Wavy Curly Hair at Home: A DIY Guide
Ready to refresh your style without a salon visit? This simple, step-by-step tutorial will guide you through a DIY hair trim, perfect for maintaining your length and keeping your ends healthy.
What you’ll need:
– Hair-cutting scissors
– Detangling brush
– Leave-in conditioner
– Light colored shirt
– Water spray bottle
– Alligator clips
The Prep
A fresh beginning: Start with freshly washed, conditioned, and detangled hair. Use a gentle tool, like a Wet Brush or a wide-tooth comb, to comb your hair through completely. There should be zero knots or resistance before you move on, as even a small knot can throw off the entire line of the cut.
Add slip: While your hair is still damp, focus on moisture and manageability. Work a small amount of leave-in conditioner evenly through your hair, from mid-lengths to ends. This is the key step to making the hair “slippery.” Slippery hair detangles easily and ensures that when you pull the hair into sections, the strands slide smoothly against each other for a perfectly even trim.
Optimize visibility: I recommend wearing a light-colored, smooth-textured top or shirt. This prevents hair from sticking to the fabric and ensures high visibility, making it much easier to see your progress and distinguish sections.
The Trim
1. Start with a Guide Part your hair down the middle and bring each side to the front over your shoulders. On one side, section out the bottom half of your hair and clip the rest up to the top of your head. This will be your first guide section.
2. Trim the Bottom Section – Split this bottom section down the middle, bringing each side of the hair forward over your shoulders. Turn your head to face the opposite side of the section you are trimming. With your non-dominant hand, hold the hair smooth and taut between two fingers, sliding them down to the ends. Using your dominant hand, trim the ends in a straight, even line.
3. Repeat on the Next Section – Release the top half of your hair on the first side and bring down a fresh section from the opposite side. Using your first trimmed section as a guide for length, repeat the process. Once you’ve trimmed both sides, bring the ends of both sections together in the middle of your chest. This is your chance to check the length and evenness of your cut before moving on.
4. Finishing the Top Layers – Working in horizontal sections, continue cutting your hair, using the previous trimmed section as your guide. You’ll notice that your top sections may not be long enough to reach the ends of your lower layers. For these pieces, simply pull the hair straight to the side and snip the ends to match the length of your guide.
Watch the trim process here, along with tips on face-framing layers too!
Ultimately, consistent at-home maintenance ensures my ends stay healthy and my style always looks polished and intentional. By following these simple steps, you can achieve professional results that keep your hair looking its best between every salon visit.
Leave a Reply