How to Cut Bangs

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Co-authored by Yan Kandkhorov

Last Updated: April 19, 2024 References

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Side-Swept Bangs

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Blunt Bangs

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Bang Adjustments

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Ready for a brand new look? You don't have to run to the salon every time you want to change your hairstyle. Cutting your own bangs at home is easier than you may think! See Step 1 and beyond to learn how to create stylish side-swept bangs, blunt bangs or just give your bangs a trim.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Side-Swept Bangs

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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.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Yan Kandkhorov
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.}
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.^{[2]
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3
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.^{[3]
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- 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.
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.^{[4]
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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.^{[5]
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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.^{[6]
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7
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.^{[7]
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- 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.
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 ¹⁄₄ to ¹⁄₂ 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!^{[8]
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Enjoy your new look!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Blunt Bangs

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1
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.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Yan Kandkhorov
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.}
- 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.
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.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Yan Kandkhorov
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.}
Use a fabric covered elastic band, scrunchy, or hair clip. This way you can keep from cutting too much hair.
4
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.^{[11]
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- Fold your hair over to see the bangs would look like at different levels before making the cut.
Your fingers should hold it just above where you want to cut your hair.
6
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.^{[12]
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- 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.
7
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.^{[13]
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- Blunt bangs should be slightly shorter in the middle and slightly longer at the ends.^{[14]
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  Research source} 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.
Check to see if they are even, and cut any stray hairs.
Enjoy your new look!

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Bang Adjustments

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Leave your bangs loose in the front. This will keep your hair out of the way so you don't accidentally cut too much.^{[15]
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Comb them straight forward, even if you normally style them to the side.^{[16]
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3
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.^{[17]
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- 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.
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.^{[18]
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5
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.^{[19]
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- Bangs should be slightly shorter in the center and slightly longer at the ends.
Check to see if they’re even, then go back and trim any portions that are longer than the others.
Enjoy your new look!

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you grow out curtain bangs?

Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist
Jenny Tran is a Hair Stylist and the Founder of JT Hair Lab by Jenny Tran based in the Dallas, Texas metro area. With over seven years of professional hair styling experience, Jenny specializes in hair coloring, haircutting, and hair extensions. JT Hair Lab is an authorized carrier of R+Co and of Milbon and is committed to using products with quality ingredients.

Jenny Tran

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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Is it easy to cut bangs?

Yan Kandkhorov
Hair Stylist
Yan Kandkhorov is a Hair Stylist and Owner of K&S Salon, a hair salon based in New York City's Meatpacking District. Yan has over 20 years of experience in the hair industry, is best known for paving the way for iconic hair trends in the industry, and has operated his salon since 2017. His hair salon has been voted one of the Best Hair Salons in New York City in 2019 by Expertise. Yan and K&S Salon has collaborated with leading fashion magazines and celebrities such as Marie Clair USA, Lucy Magazine, and Resident Magazine.

Yan Kandkhorov

Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

No, it's one of the more challenging things to do as a hair stylist. You have to be very careful and you need to keep the overall look in mind when you're working on bangs. A lot of people get tunnel vision when they're working on bangs and they lose the big picture in the process.

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Can you cut bangs when they're wet?

Yan Kandkhorov
Hair Stylist
Yan Kandkhorov is a Hair Stylist and Owner of K&S Salon, a hair salon based in New York City's Meatpacking District. Yan has over 20 years of experience in the hair industry, is best known for paving the way for iconic hair trends in the industry, and has operated his salon since 2017. His hair salon has been voted one of the Best Hair Salons in New York City in 2019 by Expertise. Yan and K&S Salon has collaborated with leading fashion magazines and celebrities such as Marie Clair USA, Lucy Magazine, and Resident Magazine.

Yan Kandkhorov

Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

No, they need to be blow dried. In fact, how they're dried is extremely important. You need to dry the hair downward so that you don't have any cowlicks or loose strands sticking up.

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Tips

If your hair is too short to be tied back into a ponytail or clipped out of the way, it may only be necessary to tuck your hair behind your ears.

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Always cut your bangs when your hair is completely dry, as bangs that are cut when your hair is wet will shrink up once they are dry.

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Blunt, straight-across bangs can be hard to manage. This style works best on naturally straight hair.

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