DIY Hair Trim

Photo by Golden DIY Savings

by Shanna Golden

This next Do-It-Yourself project is not for the feint of heart.  A good haircut can make us women folk feel like a million bucks and on the contrary, a bad haircut can make us want to hide under our covers.  The relationship between women and their hairdressers is a sacred bond.  But really, how hard is to trim an already styled haircut?  My sister Karessa and I decided to find out.

This type of at-home trim is meant to replace a few of the usual visits to the hairdresser.  This will take care of split ends and keep your look fresh.  Follow the already established style and clip small pieces at a time like professionals do.  Keep your hair dry as your hair will shrink if you do it wet and you end up with a shorter hair cut then you intended.  The DIY trim is not meant to be used for major style changes.   

Karessa and I were able to purchase a 5 inch pair of hair cutting shears from Dollar General for $3.  I then put my hair in a pony tail and used a second hair tie to mark where I wanted my hair cut.  Karessa put her fingers between the hair tie mark before she actually clipped the ponytail.  This gave us extra length to even out my hair.  If your hair is already close to the length you want, skip this step.

We were able to maintain the layers in my hair by working from the bottom to the top.  Karessa worked in horizontal chunks.  She began by keeping the top pinned up and working on the bottom most layer.  As each layer was finished, she used it as reference for the next layer before pinning it out of the way.  She did this by moving half to each side and pinning it separately from what had not yet been cut.  Consider adding long layers if you don't already have them if your hair cutting buddy lacks experience.  The layers allow for blending which hides minor imperfections. 

I have also trimmed my own hair in the past.  I did this by parting my hair into two even piecse and bringing it to front of my shoulders.  I was then able to use a similar process to trim my hair by pinning it up and working in layers.  A self trim requires medium length hair at a minimum.  

The DIY hair trim is a riskier project, but the pay off can be worth it.  Not only will you save money by not having to visit your hairdresser as often, but you will save time using a buddy for a quick trim or by trying it yourself.  No appointments necessary!  Definitely be conservative on length until you become confident in your skills.

We would love for you to share photos if any of you try an at-home trim!