DIY Haircut: How to Cut the Back of Your Hair Like a Pro
Cutting the back of your own hair can seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools, patience, and a step-by-step guide, you can achieve salon-worthy results from the comfort of your home. This comprehensive guide provides detailed instructions and tips to help you cut the back of your hair with confidence. Whether you’re looking to trim split ends, maintain your current style, or experiment with a new look, this article will equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need.
## Why Cut Your Hair at Home?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s consider why you might choose to cut your hair at home:
* **Save Money:** Salon visits can be expensive, especially for regular trims. DIY haircuts offer a cost-effective alternative.
* **Convenience:** Avoid the hassle of scheduling appointments and traveling to the salon. Cut your hair whenever it suits you.
* **Control:** You have complete control over the length and style of your hair. No more stylist misunderstandings!
* **Flexibility:** Make small adjustments or touch-ups whenever you need to, without waiting for an appointment.
## Essential Tools for Cutting the Back of Your Hair
Having the right tools is crucial for a successful DIY haircut. Here’s what you’ll need:
* **Sharp Haircutting Scissors:** Invest in a pair of professional-grade hair-cutting scissors. Avoid using regular household scissors, as they can damage your hair and create uneven cuts. Look for scissors specifically designed for hair, with sharp blades and a comfortable grip. Brands like Equinox, Utopia Care, and professional lines from Sally Beauty Supply offer good options.
* **Fine-Tooth Comb:** A fine-tooth comb is essential for sectioning and detangling your hair, ensuring a smooth and even cut. A comb with both fine and wide teeth can be particularly useful.
* **Spray Bottle with Water:** Keep your hair slightly damp while cutting to make it easier to manage and prevent flyaways. A spray bottle allows you to evenly distribute water without soaking your hair.
* **Two Mirrors (Handheld and Wall-Mounted):** This is arguably the most important tool for cutting the back of your hair. A large wall-mounted mirror and a handheld mirror will allow you to see the back of your head clearly and guide your cuts. Ensure good lighting in your workspace.
* **Hair Clips:** Use hair clips to section your hair and keep it out of the way while you’re working on specific sections. Duckbill clips or sectioning clips work well.
* **Cape or Towel:** Protect your clothing from hair clippings by wearing a cape or draping a towel around your shoulders.
* **Hair Ties (Optional):** Hair ties can be useful for creating ponytails or braids for specific cutting techniques.
* **Level (Optional but Recommended):** For the most precise and even cuts, especially when trimming straight across, a small level can be your best friend. This will ensure the section is level and even. You can use a small spirit level, or even a phone app that acts as a level.
## Preparing Your Hair for the Cut
Before you start cutting, it’s important to prepare your hair properly:
1. **Wash and Condition:** Wash and condition your hair as usual. This will remove any dirt, oil, or product buildup that could interfere with the cut.
2. **Detangle:** Thoroughly detangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb or brush. This will ensure that the hair is smooth and easy to work with.
3. **Dampen:** Lightly dampen your hair with a spray bottle. Hair should be damp but not soaking wet. Damp hair is easier to manage and cut evenly. If your hair dries during the cutting process, re-dampen it as needed.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Cutting the Back of Your Hair
Now that you have your tools and your hair is prepped, let’s get to the actual cutting process. This guide assumes you are aiming for a straight, even trim across the back.
**Step 1: Sectioning Your Hair**
Proper sectioning is key to achieving an even and professional-looking haircut. Follow these steps:
1. **Create a Center Part:** Use a comb to create a clean and even center part from your forehead to the nape of your neck. This will divide your hair into two equal sections.
2. **Divide into Top and Bottom Sections:** From the top of your ear, create a horizontal part that extends to the center part in the back. Do this on both sides of your head. This will divide your hair into an upper section and a lower section.
3. **Secure the Top Section:** Use hair clips to secure the upper section of your hair, keeping it out of the way. Ensure the clips are firmly in place to prevent the hair from falling down.
4. **Divide the Bottom Section (If Necessary):** Depending on the thickness of your hair, you may need to further divide the bottom section into smaller subsections. This will make it easier to manage and cut evenly. For example, you might create another horizontal part just above the nape of your neck. Clip the upper bottom section out of the way.
**Step 2: Establishing the Guide Length**
The guide length is the length you want to cut the back of your hair to. This will serve as a reference point for the rest of the cut.
1. **Determine Your Desired Length:** Decide how much hair you want to cut off. If you’re just trimming split ends, you’ll only need to remove a small amount. If you’re changing your style, you’ll need to remove more.
2. **Take a Small Section:** Unclip one of the bottom sections of your hair. Take a very small, thin horizontal section of hair from the center of the back of your head. This will be your guide section.
3. **Comb Through:** Comb through the guide section to remove any tangles or knots.
4. **Hold the Section:** Hold the section of hair straight out from your head, between your index and middle fingers. The amount of hair extending beyond your fingers is the amount you will cut off.
5. **Cut the Guide Section:** Using your sharp hair-cutting scissors, carefully cut the hair straight across, at the desired length. Make sure the cut is clean and even.
**Step 3: Cutting the Remaining Bottom Sections**
Now that you have your guide length, you can use it to cut the remaining bottom sections of your hair.
1. **Unclip the Next Section:** Unclip another small section of hair next to the guide section.
2. **Comb Through:** Comb through the section to remove any tangles or knots.
3. **Compare to the Guide Section:** Hold the section of hair out from your head and compare it to the guide section. The guide section will serve as your reference point.
4. **Cut to Match the Guide:** Carefully cut the hair to match the length of the guide section. Ensure the cut is clean and even.
5. **Repeat:** Repeat steps 1-4 for the remaining bottom sections of your hair, working your way from the center of the back of your head to the sides. Make sure to compare each section to the guide section to ensure an even cut.
6. **Double Check:** Once you have cut all the bottom sections, double-check your work by combing through the hair and looking for any uneven areas. Trim any stray hairs as needed.
**Step 4: Cutting the Top Sections**
Once you have completed the bottom sections, you can move on to the top sections of your hair.
1. **Unclip a Top Section:** Unclip one of the top sections of your hair.
2. **Comb Through:** Comb through the section to remove any tangles or knots.
3. **Bring Down a Bottom Section:** Bring down a small section of the previously cut bottom hair and comb it together with the top section you are about to cut.
4. **Compare to the Guide:** Hold the combined sections out from your head and compare it to the length of the bottom section (which is your guide). The bottom section will serve as your reference point.
5. **Cut to Match the Guide:** Carefully cut the hair to match the length of the bottom section (the guide). Ensure the cut is clean and even. You will be slightly angling the hair down toward your face, this helps blend the layers together nicely.
6. **Repeat:** Repeat steps 1-5 for the remaining top sections of your hair, working your way from the center of the back of your head to the sides. Make sure to compare each section to the guide section to ensure an even cut.
7. **Double Check:** Once you have cut all the top sections, double-check your work by combing through the hair and looking for any uneven areas. Trim any stray hairs as needed.
**Step 5: Blending and Refining the Cut**
After you’ve cut all the sections, it’s time to blend the layers and refine the cut. This will help create a more natural and seamless look.
1. **Point Cutting (Optional):** Point cutting is a technique used to soften the edges of the hair and create texture. To point cut, hold the scissors vertically and make small, angled cuts into the ends of the hair. Avoid cutting straight across, as this can create a blunt and unnatural look.
2. **Check for Symmetry:** Use your mirrors to check for symmetry. Stand in front of the large mirror and use the handheld mirror to view the back of your head. Look for any uneven areas or differences in length on either side. Adjust as needed.
3. **Clean Up the Neckline:** If you have shorter hairs at the nape of your neck, you may want to clean them up for a neater appearance. Use your scissors to carefully trim these hairs, following the natural curve of your hairline. You can also use a trimmer or clipper for this step.
**Step 6: Drying and Styling**
Once you’re satisfied with the cut, it’s time to dry and style your hair.
1. **Dry Your Hair:** Use a towel to gently blot excess water from your hair. You can then air dry your hair or use a hairdryer. If using a hairdryer, use a low heat setting to avoid damaging your hair.
2. **Style as Usual:** Style your hair as you normally would. This will give you a better idea of how the cut looks and whether any further adjustments are needed.
## Tips for a Successful DIY Haircut
Here are some additional tips to help you achieve a successful DIY haircut:
* **Start Small:** If you’re unsure about cutting your hair, start by trimming off a small amount. You can always cut more later if needed.
* **Take Your Time:** Don’t rush the process. Cutting your hair takes time and patience. Allow yourself plenty of time to complete the task without feeling stressed.
* **Use Good Lighting:** Make sure you have good lighting in your workspace. This will help you see the back of your head clearly and avoid making mistakes.
* **Practice Makes Perfect:** Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t perfect. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at cutting your own hair.
* **Watch Tutorials:** Watch online tutorials before you start cutting your hair. This will give you a better understanding of the techniques involved and help you avoid common mistakes. There are countless videos on YouTube that demonstrate various DIY haircutting techniques.
* **Consider Your Hair Type:** Different hair types require different cutting techniques. Research the best techniques for your specific hair type (e.g., curly, fine, thick).
* **Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help:** If you’re really struggling, don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member for help. A second pair of eyes can be invaluable for ensuring an even cut.
* **Know When to Stop:** If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what to do next, it’s better to stop and seek professional help. A bad DIY haircut can be easily fixed by a professional stylist.
* **Use a Level:** To ensure you’re cutting the perfect straight line, use a level. This will allow you to see if each side is even.
## Common Mistakes to Avoid
To prevent common pitfalls, be aware of these mistakes:
* **Using Dull Scissors:** Dull scissors will snag and damage your hair, leading to uneven cuts and split ends. Always use sharp, professional-grade hair-cutting scissors.
* **Cutting Too Much at Once:** It’s always better to cut off too little than too much. Start with a small trim and gradually remove more hair as needed.
* **Cutting Dry Hair:** Cutting dry hair can be difficult and lead to uneven results. Damp hair is easier to manage and cut evenly.
* **Ignoring Your Hairline:** Pay attention to your natural hairline when cutting the back of your hair. Avoid cutting the hair too short at the neckline, as this can create an unnatural look.
* **Forgetting the Angle:** When blending layers, cutting straight across can create a blocky, uneven look. Pay attention to the angle of your cuts to ensure a smooth and natural transition.
* **Not Checking Symmetry:** It’s crucial to check for symmetry throughout the cutting process. Use your mirrors to ensure that both sides of your hair are even.
* **Rushing the Process:** Rushing can lead to mistakes. Take your time and focus on each section of hair.
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with careful planning, you might encounter some challenges. Here’s how to troubleshoot:
* **Uneven Cut:** If you notice that your hair is uneven after cutting, use your mirrors to identify the longer sections. Carefully trim these sections to match the shorter ones.
* **Choppy Layers:** If your layers look choppy, use point cutting to soften the edges and blend them together.
* **Too Short:** Unfortunately, once you cut your hair too short, you need to wait for it to grow back. Focus on keeping your hair healthy and hydrated to promote growth.
* **Difficult to See:** Ask someone to help you, or be patient while using the mirrors. The back of your head may be hard to see, which can cause challenges.
## Conclusion
Cutting the back of your own hair can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to maintain your style or experiment with a new look. By following this comprehensive guide, using the right tools, and taking your time, you can achieve salon-worthy results from the comfort of your home. Remember to start small, take your time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed. With practice and patience, you’ll become a pro at cutting the back of your hair in no time!
