How to Cut Bangs

Side-Swept Bangs

Wash and dry your hair. Style it as you normally would, using a blow dryer or flat iron. It's important to make sure your hair is dry and styled as usual so that you don't end up cutting it in a way that will look off once you have it styled.

Find the place where your bangs will start. Look in the mirror and angle your head sideways. Place a comb on the crown of your head, and find the place where it starts to curve down toward your forehead. This is the spot where your bangs should naturally begin.

Make "V" shape with the front of your hair. Use the comb to pull your hair forward over your forehead starting with the place you identified in step 2. This spot will act as the point in a "V" with legs V that extend to either temple. The hair that falls inside this V shape is what you'll cut to create new bangs. Make sure you don't gather too much hair. Cutting bangs that extend past your temples on either side will give you an old-fashioned look. Gathering too little hair is also a mistake. You want your bangs to look full and pretty, not thin.

Put your remaining hair back in a ponytail. Once you've gathered your V, pull the rest of your hair back to keep it out of the way. This way you can make sure you don't end up accidentally cutting the rest of your hair.

Decide how long you want your bangs to be. Side-swept bangs are a little longer than other styles because you sweep them to the right or left side. If they're too short, they won't fall gracefully across your face. Aim to have your bangs hit the middle of your nose when they're combed straight. If you want them shorter, you can always cut more.

Pull the hair between your fingers. Use your middle finger and forefinger to pull the hair taut from your head. The part that will be cut should extend evenly from your fingers. Position it in front of your face so that you can easily reach it.

Snip the hair at an angle. Use a pair of haircutting scissors to snip the hair extending from your fingers at a slight angle. This will give it a more natural appearance than you'll get if you cut it straight across. Continue snipping along the line of hair extending from your fingers until it has all fallen away. Do not use fingernail scissors or safety scissors to cut your hair. It is very important to use professional haircutting scissors. They have a sharper edge and will make a much prettier cut. Using other types of scissors will make your bangs look choppy.

Check out your bangs. Sweep them to the side you like best and see if you like the length. If you want them to be a little shorter, repeat this method and cut off another ⁄4 to ⁄2 inch (0.6 to 1.3 cm). Cut no more than this at a time - it's very easy to end up with bangs that are a little too short!

Use a makeup brush to remove small hairs from your face and neck. Enjoy your new look!

Blunt Bangs

Wash and dry your hair. Style it as you normally would with a hair dryer or flat iron. This way you can ensure that the way you cut your bangs will work with your hairstyle. Straight-across bangs work best on thin, straight hair. If your hair is naturally curly or wavy, use a flat iron to straighten your bangs. Use an anti-frizz serum if you are prone to fly-aways. Lorraine Massey, Hair Stylist For curly bangs, point cutting is a must. This cutting technique removes weight and allows curls to pop up and out. Angle your shears toward the bridge of the nose and make tiny snips into the ends of the hair. Avoid blunt bangs on curly hair; they never curl under and around the way you want them to.

Use a comb to brush the front your hair forward. Blunt bangs should start about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) back from your hairline, and should cover the width of your forehead.

Tie the rest of your hair back. Use a fabric covered elastic band, scrunchy, or hair clip. This way you can keep from cutting too much hair.

Determine how short you want the bangs. Blunt bangs can fall anywhere from just above your eyebrows to just above your upper lashes. Don't go too short at first - you can always cut more. Fold your hair over to see the bangs would look like at different levels before making the cut.

Use your non-dominant hand to hold the hair taut. Your fingers should hold it just above where you want to cut your hair.

Use your other hand to cut. Make a horizontal cut, making the bangs slightly longer (about half an inch) than what you want them to be. It's better to err on the longer side at first. When you're cutting blunt bangs, it's extra important to use a good pair of haircutting scissors. Using any other type will make it look like a preschooler cut your bangs.

Trim them more. Brush the bangs with a comb so that they lie flat on your forehead. Holding the scissors vertically, trim the bangs to the length you want, working your way from the middle of the bangs to the ends. Blunt bangs should be slightly shorter in the middle and slightly longer at the ends. This helps them lay more naturally on your forehead. Before you cut your bangs more, you might want to use a flat iron or curling iron to slightly curl the ends under. This may allow you to comfortably wear your bangs at the current length, reducing the likelihood that you'll accidentally cut them too short.

Tousle your bangs with your fingers. Check to see if they are even, and cut any stray hairs.

Brush excess hairs away using a makeup brush. Enjoy your new look!

Bang Adjustments

Tie your hair back with a rubber hair tie. Leave your bangs loose in the front. This will keep your hair out of the way so you don't accidentally cut too much.

Comb your bangs so that they lie flat on your forehead. Comb them straight forward, even if you normally style them to the side.

Identify how short you want them to be. Hold your comb just above where you want your bangs to end. When you're giving yourself a trim, err on the side of making them too long at first. You can always go back and cut more. For a trim, you'll likely cut off no more than .5 inches (1.3 cm) from your bangs. For help with long bangs, see How to Cut Long Bangs.

Pull your bangs taut. Use your fingers to hold them taut at the place where you want to cut them. Your fingers should fall just above the place where you'll make the cut.

Start cutting the middle of your bangs. Hold your scissors vertically and at a slight angle, and start snipping from the middle to the right side of your bangs. Cut from the middle to the left side of your bangs, then go back and cut from the middle to the right side. Bangs should be slightly shorter in the center and slightly longer at the ends.

Tousle your bangs gently. Check to see if they’re even, then go back and trim any portions that are longer than the others.

Use a makeup brush to sweep away any hair from your face and neck. Enjoy your new look!