Even if you were one of the lucky ones to squeeze in a haircut before salons closed across the country, if you’ve got a fringe you’re more than likely desperate for a trim by now.
While stylists don’t generally advocate having a go at cutting it yourself, with no end in sight for the current lockdown, needs must.
Regardless of the shape and style of your bangs, there are a number of basic rules that hairdressers advise for all DIY trims.
FEMAIL reporter (and lifelong fringe devotee) Hayley Richardson sought the advice of London-based celebrity hairstylist Tom Smith, who has tended to the locks of Louise Redknapp and Geri Horner.
He admitted: ‘Previously I would never have recommended attempting to cut your hair in any way at home. But we are faced with such unusual circumstances, I would rather offer some straightforward guidance to help with damage limitation if you do decide to give yourself a fringe trim.’
Here Tom shares the basic steps for cutting your bangs – and explains why ‘little and often’ is the way forward in lockdown.
FEMAIL reporter (and lifelong fringe devotee) Hayley Richardson pictured left before Tom’s tutorial and right after
Celebrity hairstylist Tom Smith has previously tended to the locks of Louise Redknapp and Geri Horner
Trim it when it’s clean and dry
Start with clean dry hair that is blow-dried or styled in the same way that you normally wear your hair.
Cutting it when it’s wet gives a false impression of the length, making it easy to cut away too much.
Section it off using clips
Begin by using a comb and clips to section away the rest of your hair. One of the biggest mistakes people make when trimming their own fringe is to accidentally cut in new areas of the hair.
This means that eventually the fringe gets thicker and thicker and starts further and further back on your head.
Put the rest of your hair in a ponytail or use clips to make sure that you are only dealing with the area of the hair that you are trimming.
Always start in the middle
Start in the middle and gradually work your way to the edges; this will help keep the fringe symmetrical and even.
Start with a small section no wider than an inch and use a fine tooth comb to brush it down, keeping it as close to your face as possible.
Then, keeping your fingers gripping the section of hair, lift it away from your face just enough that you can see what you’re doing, without letting the hair slide through the grip of your fingers.
Cut vertically – not horizontally
Using a sharp pair of scissors (not the set you keep in the kitchen drawer) and starting in the middle again, hold them vertically and ‘point cut’ the hair to gradually trim the section down.
Using a sharp pair of scissors (not the set you keep in the kitchen drawer) and starting in the middle again, hold them vertically and ‘point cut’ the hair to gradually trim the section down
It’s better to cut into the hair this way rather than cutting blunt across the hair, as this is less likely to result in a blunt, uneven result (just watch out you don’t nick your fingers!)
Check the length of this section to make sure it is short enough before moving on. This section will become your ‘guide’ length.
Raise those elbows
Next, taking half of the section that you have already cut and more of the fringe to one side, angle your fingers to follow the shape that your fringe will curve around your face.
One side will be easier than the other here, depending on whether you are right or left handed.
Taking half of the section that you have already cut and more of the fringe to one side, angle your fingers to follow the shape that your fringe will curve around your face. It might help to raise your elbow to get the correct angle
It might be easier to get the correct angle with your fingers if you lift your elbow into the air. On the other side this won’t be necessary as your fingers will naturally fall into the curved section required.
Using your original section as a guide to the length keep your fingers in the correct angle, and trim the next part of the fringe.
Repeat this on the opposite side before taking another section. It’s much better to work from the middle outwards on each side to keep a symmetrical result.
Remember, it’s likely the fringe will sit slightly strangely to begin with; as the weight of your fringe has changed, it might be a bit jumpy.
Once you have wet and re-blowdried your fringe it should sit in place better.
Little and often in lockdown
If you are going to trim your fringe yourself, it’s better to do it little and often. It’s much easier to follow the shape that your hairdresser has cut in if the fringe is not too outgrown before you attempt it.
If your fringe has been growing out for months, cutting it back in is better left to the professionals as it’s much more complicated.
Tom was responsible for the colour and cut of Louise Redknapp’s hair for her latest album cover
Follow Tom on Instagram here.