How to Trim Your Bangs: Expert Advice for Beginners

A foolproof visual guide to cutting blunt, side, or curtain bangs yourself

Are you tired of making the trip and paying the money to go to a salon just to have your bangs cut? You can start saving time and money now by cutting your bangs yourself! Whether you want blunt, side, or curtain bangs, shearing your own locks is an easy task that you can easily do at home.

The Best Way to Cut Bangs

Part your hair with a comb to create a triangle in your roots, then determine the length and angle of your bang. Some people like their bangs straight across their forehead, while others might want angled curtain bangs. Trim the ends and slowly work up. When you're done, blow dry your bangs with a round brush.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Blunt or Straight Bangs

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1
Part your hair to create a triangle in your roots. Take a comb and place the tip of it 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) above your hairline, in the center of your head. You may need to go a bit further back, like 1 in (2.5 cm) or even to the high, flat part of your head where a comb will balance. Then, draw a downward diagonal line from the center of your head to the end of your eyebrow. Then, repeat on the other side. Pull your bangs section towards the middle to separate it from the rest of your hair.^{[1]XResearch source}
- You should have a triangle-like shape with the point a few inches above your hairline. The sides of the triangle should slope down along the sides of your forehead.
- Comb the triangle of bangs forward and pin the rest of your hair back or put it in a ponytail to keep it out of your face.
2
Dampen your hair if you're trimming grown-out straight bangs. If this is your first time cutting your bangs, it's a good idea to keep your hair dry so you can cut it the exact length that you want it. If you're just trimming your bangs, spritz some water onto them so your hair is going in the right direction and lying flat on your forehead.
- Try using a flat iron on dry bangs to make them straight. It's important that your bangs don't have any wave to them so you can make a straight cut.
- Keep in mind that doing this with dry hair will be more accurate, but it may also be more difficult. Mist your hair all over with water to get the best results.
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Straight bangs come in different styles, so figure out exactly how you want them to look before you cut them. Some people like their bangs to go straight across their forehead above their eyebrows for an edgier look, and others like longer bangs that angle down as they meet with the rest of their hair.^{[2]XResearch source}
Gather the triangle of bangs and grasp the hair between your index and middle fingers so it's even with the tip of your nose. Your bangs won't be this long, but it's a good starting point in case the bangs don't look perfect right away.
5
Cut across the hair in front of your fingers in a straight horizontal line. Make a clean snip across the section of hair. Then, move up ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) and follow the same process to create another horizontal cut. Continue cutting your bangs in ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) increments until you reach the desired length. Use a mirror to check the length and make sure both sides of your bangs are even.
- If your bangs are damp, comb them gently to avoid stretching the hair. Cut them ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) longer than the desired length because the hair will shrink up when it dries.
- If you want your bangs to angle downward at the ends, cut straight across from the middle of one eye to the middle of the opposite eye. Once you reach that point, begin to cut at a downward angle. Move to the other eye and cut at a downward angle until you reach the rest of your hair. The angle can be as steep or as subtle as you like.^{[3]XResearch source}
- It can help to gather your bangs and twist them once before you cut the straight line. This creates a rounded edge on both sides of your bangs, so the bangs are shorter in the front and longer on the sides.
6
Soften the bottom edge of your bangs by making small snips at the tips. Once your bangs are at your desired length, make them look more natural by taking your scissors and making small snips at the tips of your bangs. Keep the scissors parallel to the strands in your hair. Skip this if you want super blunt bangs with a very straight.
- You can also use thinning shears for this.^{[4]XResearch source}
7
Style your bangs with a round brush or flat iron. Straight bangs usually need more attention, so blow dry them with a round brush when you're styling your hair. If you want your bangs to be super straight and flat, straighten them with flat iron once they're dry.
- If your hair is naturally curly or wavy, dry your bangs with a flat brush. Hold the brush close to your forehead and move it behind the dryer from roots to ends so you aren't adding volume to your bangs.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Side Bangs

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Take a fine-tooth comb and brush your hair until it is smooth and tangle-free. For side bangs, you will need to create a side part. Part your hair to the side it naturally falls on.
Taking the tip of a comb, draw a part 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) behind your hairline, perpendicular to your side part. (In other words, from side-to-side, rather than front-to-back.) If you're looking for thicker bangs, you can draw a part farther back. This separates your bangs from the rest of your hair.^{[5]XResearch source}
3
Find the highest tip of your eyebrow. Measure a line upwards from the highest tip of your eyebrow to your hairline. Make a part where that line ends. Move the hair on one side of the part towards the middle of your forehead and pin the hair on the side of your head back to keep it out of the way.
- You should now have a section of hair in the front center of your face that is separated from the rest of your hair.
- If you already have bangs, you should have a width already determined, so take your preexisting longer bangs and part them towards the middle, also separating them from the hairline.
They should be about 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) thick. If you want thicker bangs, pull more hair forward from the horizontal part behind your hairline. If you want thinner bangs, do the opposite by pulling less hair forward from your hairline part.
Pull back the rest of your hair with a clip or bobby pins to separate it from your bangs. This will make it easier to cut your bangs without worrying about cutting the rest of your hair.
6
Run a comb through your bangs so they're smooth and straight. This may require you to dampen your hair with a spray bottle if your hair is naturally curly and your bangs have some bounce. Lightly mist your hair with a spray bottle and comb through so that your bangs are flat. If your hair is naturally wavy or straight, cutting bangs in dry hair is best so that you won't cut them too short.
- Never soak your bangs or make them completely wet. Your hair is longer when it is wet, so when it dries it will be shorter. To avoid cutting bangs that are too short, try to cut your bangs with slightly wet or dry hair.
- If your hair is very wet before you cut your bangs, blow dry them until they're 80% dry. When blow drying, make sure you are brushing bangs straight down, or in the opposite direction of your part. Don't blow dry bangs downward in the direction they normally would lie. This creates a "rainbow effect" in which your bangs have a high arch to them. It's difficult to cut bangs when they are like this, so it's better to create some volume in the opposite direction.
Before you cut your bangs you'll want to decide how long you want your bangs. You may want bangs that cover your eye, or you might want bangs that start above your eyebrow. If you're not sure, you can always start with longer bangs and cut them shorter.
8
Cut at an angle. Section your hair along a diagonal line and pull it perpendicular to that line. In other words, your hair should be pulled out to the side of your head at a 45-degree angle. Then, bring any other hair you will be cutting out to this angle before cutting. Hold your bangs between your pointer and middle finger and cut the hair below your fingers.^{[6]XResearch source}
- If you aren't sure how long you want your bangs, start by cutting at the tip of your nose and ending in a diagonal at the bottom of your ear. This will create long, side-swept bangs.
- Make sure you are using scissors specifically designed for hair, as this will give you the best cut.
- If you want shorter bangs, start near the top of the nose, in line with the eye, and cut at a downward diagonal towards the middle of your ear.
- Always cut bangs longer when you start off -- you can always cut them shorter as you go, but you don't want your first cut to be too short, because there's no way to rewind from there. You can try cutting in ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) increments to make sure you don't cut too much of your bang off.
9
Snip the ends of the bangs to create a softer, more natural look. After you have cut your bangs you may notice that there is a very straight line in your bangs. This tends to look awkward and unnatural, so you may want to give your bangs a little definition. Lift the hair back up to a 45-degree angle and cut parallel to the strands of hair in your bangs, making small snips at the tips of your bangs.
- If your hair is really thick or you want your bangs to have an even more natural look, you can use a razor made for hair or a hair thinning tool to thin out the ends of your bangs.
10
Style your bangs like you normally would. Use a blow dryer and a round brush, brushing your bangs up from the roots towards the ceiling or towards the back of your head. You never want to blow dry your bangs by brushing them straight down as this will leave your bangs with little volume. You can also run a flat iron through your bangs by pulling the flat iron upwards at your roots to create volume.
- You can also blow dry your bangs in the opposite direction of where they naturally fall to make them lay flat and give them a bit of curl at the bottom. As they are close to being dry, flip them back over and blow dry as usual.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Curtain Bangs

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Place the tip of your comb in the center of your front hairline (about halfway between your eyes). Pull the comb straight back to the crown of your head to create a center part. Try to make your center part as straight as possible.^{[7]XResearch source}
2
Create a triangle of hair 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) from your hairline. Put the end of your comb on your center part 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) from your hairline. Run the comb from this center point straight down to the arch of 1 eyebrow and comb that hair forward. Do the same thing with the other side/your other eyebrow arch to separate a triangle of hair for your bangs.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Tuck the rest of your hair behind your ears or pin it back with hair clips to keep it out of the way.^{[9]XResearch source}
Damp hair is easier to cut, so spritz a little water on the triangle of hair that you just separated. Then, run a comb from your front hairline down to the ends of the sectioned hair to smooth it out and remove any bumps or tangles.^{[10]XResearch source}
Grasp the hair between your index and middle finger and run the fingers down the sectioned hair. If your hair is really long, bring your fingers to chin level. If your hair is medium length, bring your fingers to nose level.^{[11]XResearch source}
Use your fingers as a guide to make a straight, horizontal cut all the way across the sectioned hair. Once you've removed the length, part the separated hair down the middle to create 2 sections.^{[12]XResearch source}
6
Comb half the bangs and make an angled cut ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) from the ends. Tuck half of the bangs behind your ear so you can concentrate on the other half. Angle the comb at your front hairline so it lines up with the slope of the triangle. Comb the bangs out smooth, tuck the hair between 2 fingers at the hairline, and run your fingers down to the ends. Make an angled cut under your fingers about ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) from the ends.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Then, do the same thing on the other half of your bangs.
- Cutting at an angle creates the soft sloping edge of your curtain bangs.
You don't have to do this, but it can soften the edges of the bangs and create a little more texture. Use a round brush to dry the hair, then part your bangs down the center. Use a flat iron to smooth out each side of the curtain bangs. Then, use texturizing shears to thin out and soften the ends of your bangs.^{[14]XResearch source}

Expert Q&A

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Question
What type of face do bangs look best on?
Courtney Foster
Professional Hair Stylist
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
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Answer
The hair style you choose is entirely up to you! If you think it will look good on your face, go for it. You may want to opt for bangs if you want to make your forehead look smaller or hide some blemishes on your skin. Many people will say that bangs work best with square or oblong face types, but it's totally fine to try them out if you think it'll look good!
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Question
Is it a bad idea to cut your own bangs?
Courtney Foster
Professional Hair Stylist
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
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Answer
It doesn't have to be! Just work slowly and carefully, especially if this is your first time cutting hair.
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Question
How do you cut bangs so that you can feather them back?
Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Expert Answer
To create a soft layered bang that feathers back you will need to cut hair at a high, 90 degree angle. Section off an area as directed in the section about side swept bangs above, then lift hair up 90 degrees from the head and pull it across the par to the opposite side. Cut a guide, being sure to start a little longer than you think you'll want it. Pull the rest of the bang section up and over to meet this line. This will create a soft layered bang that angles down in the front. To feather, pull to the opposite side that you intend to feather and dry ends flipped up. When you brush it back it will create feathering.
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Tips

Work slowly and carefully, especially if this is your first time cutting hair.^{[15]XExpert SourceCourtney Foster
Professional Hair StylistExpert Interview. 9 December 2019.}
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For curly hair: when cutting each curl, hold your scissors at a 45-degree angle, such that you'll make the hair on the outside edge of the curl longer than the hair on the inner edge of the curl. This makes each curl end in a nice point and stay together better.
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If your hair is naturally curly, allow a lot of extra length. (For example, people with ringlets shouldn't cut more than half of what seems to make sense to cut.) After each snip, let your hair bounce back into its natural shape so you can check the length before cutting off more.
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To be safe, cut your bangs longer. You can always trim more hair away as you go.

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Warnings

Always cut your bangs in front of a mirror so you can check them frequently and make sure they're even.
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Be careful using sharp scissors near your face and eyes.
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