How To - Trim Your Fringe

Let's face it. Most women go a little (or alot) longer than recommended between hair cuts. There's often an excuse. Whether your reasoning is you're too busy with life, (...kids, family, work, school or partner) you don't want to lose the length, financial or (my favourite excuse) you don't notice your hair needs a trim because you wear it up so often. Generally speaking, I recommend having your hair trimmed every 6 - 12 weeks. (depending on how fast your hair grows, length, & over all condition) After this amount of time your layers will start to lose their shape & the perimeter will lose it's clean edge. If you have a fringe, blunt across or swept to the side, 6 - 12 weeks basically guarantees you can't see anything. I always recommend seeing your stylist in between appointments to keep your fringe in check. There is often no charge and only takes a few minutes, however, time is money and if you don't have the time, here are a few steps on if you must trim yourself.

1. Start with dry hair. Style as you normally would.
2. Separate your bang from the rest of your hair. I use clips, if you don't have clips, you "ouch less hair elastics." Use as many as it takes to get everything else away from your face!
3. Comb your fringe how it would normally sit
4. Take the scissors and slowly trim upwards, making little upside down V's. The goal is to just get the ends. (approx. 1/16 - 1/8th inch...... or approx 0.15 - 0.3 cm) If you must hold your hair in your fingers, make sure you dont move your hair from where it would normally sit.
5. Try and follow the line that had been previously cut to the best of your ability. This is the best way to keep your fringe from change shape. (who would have that if follow the inital shape will give you the most similar result!)
6. Dont worry too much about the corners near your hairline. You can't really see if your gonna cut into your hair, so best to avoid it. Just trim from the outer corner of your eye so you can see.


IMPORTANT TIPS
ONLY TRIM WHAT YOU CAN SEE
If there is a piece longer than the rest, do not cut. Its long because it isn't part of your fringe
Trim about 2-3 weeks after your last fringe trim - this way you can see the line clearly & the shape is still easy to follow
ALWAYS cut vertically, as it softens the line (also easier to hide if you mess up)
Less is more - you can't put it back once it's gone but you can always take a little more off
Do NOT try and change the shape yourself
If you feel like you might mess it up, put the scissors down!! You likely will.
If you must trim yourself, try and see a stylist every second or third time you need a fringe trim so you can make sure the shape stay the same
Try to use scissors you can control - Smaller scissors are easier to maneuver for detail work.
Only look out of one eye. You'll either get hair in your eye or poke your eye (or eye area) with scissors. Have a towel ready once you expose your eye and wipe away the fallen hairs before you open! (from experience)

Blunt Fringe:
Tip: Start in the center, trim the side thats away from your cutting hand. (It's the harder side, get it done first, then the easier side will feel less stressful. Also, its easier to adjust the side thats easier you can always adjust the second side

Fringe that Sweeps to one side:
Tip: Start from the outer corner of your eye and work towars the center. To avoid getting scissor-happy (and ending up with the center piece too short) take your time. You can take a little less off as you near the center & go back over it again. Like i said, less is more! You can't put it back
***If you have a longer side swept fringe, and you feel more comfortable holding the hair. Start with the hair between your fingers where it would normally fall, THEN with out relaxing the tension, you can move your fingers so you can see a bit better***

BEST TIP I CAN RECOMMEND: (yes this will be the third time I'll have mentioned this one)

LESS IS MORE!!! If you leave it little long & it looks weird, a stylist has more to work with to fix it!

Please keep these in mind while you trim

click here for a video tutorial from Ted Gibson

Good luck everyone!!