Cutting long hair straight is simple, but there are some bad habits that can create gradations and prevent that clean, blunt, straight-edge cut. Whether you’re getting your hair cut or someone else’s, there are some valuable tips and tricks to keep in mind—especially if it’s your first time! Keep reading to learn how to give yourself or a friend a straight ‘do!

[Edit]things you should know

• Before cutting your hair, pull your hair into a low ponytail, tie a hair tie just above where you want to cut your hair. Use sharp hairdressing scissors to cut your hair.
• To make sure your hair is cut perfectly straight, divide your hair into 2 or 4 equal ponytails, and place them in front of your shoulders. Cut them at a slight angle.
• When cutting someone else’s hair, start with the bottom layer. Cut their hair layer by layer to be as accurate and precise as possible.

[Edit]step

[Edit]cut your own hair

1. Comb and straighten your hair. Before cutting your hair, make sure it is free of any knots and tangles and that it falls straight. If you have straight hair, you can have it dry or wet cut. If your hair is wavy or curly, wash, dry, and straighten it so your cuts are more precise and even.^[1]
   
   • If you have curly or wavy hair and you’re not planning on styling it straight, remember to cut it a little longer than you want it to be: once it’s wavy or curly, it will get shorter.
2. Pull your hair back into a low ponytail. Part your hair down the middle. Pull it back into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck, then secure it with a hair tie. Make sure the ponytail is neat and smooth, and that all of your hair is in the elastic.^[2]
   
3. Tie another elastic a few inches/centimeters below the first one. Smooth your ponytail down as far as possible, then wrap another elastic around it. Adding elastics gives you pre-cutting and control over cutting. Depending on how long your hair is, and how short you plan to cut it, you may need to add a third elastic underneath the second one.
   
   • If you don’t have extra elastics, just gently pull the first elastic just above where you want to cut your hair.^[3]
4. Hold the ponytail in your fingers where you want to cut it, and snip. Make a V-shape with your index and middle fingers, then close your fingers around the ponytail. Using sharp hairdressing scissors, cut your hair slowly and carefully, a little at a time.^[4]
   
   • Make sure to cut an inch or so below the hair tie, rather than above, so it’s easier to spread the hair between your fingers. Cutting above the hair tie, where your hair is thickest, will result in a choppier cut.
5. Undo the ponytail and check the shape. Turn around so that your back is facing the mirror, and place another mirror in front of you. Your hair will either have a rounded bottom edge or a slight curve.^[5] If this isn’t straight forward enough for you, proceed to the next step.
   
6. Part your hair down the middle and make 2 ponytails. Drape the left section of hair over your left shoulder and the right section over your right shoulder. Let the hair hang over your shoulders, tie them tightly.^[6]
   
   • If your hair is particularly thick or unruly, create 4 ponytails to make it more manageable. Just make sure all ponytails are the same length and fall in front of your shoulders.
7. Pinch a ponytail in your fingers and cut. Grab a ponytail, then pinch it between your fore and middle fingers as you did before, and angle your fingers slightly up and down (i.e., at high angles near your shoulders and low at your neck). ). Cut the hair below your fingers using the same process as before.^[7]
   
   • Cutting your hair at this angle will allow you to shorten the hair on the back of your head; When you brush your hair, it will be the same length.
8. Repeat the process with each ponytail. Measure the uncut hair against the cut hair to make sure you’re cutting each ponytail the same length. Take the innermost strands from both the left and right sections. Note where the cut strand ends with your fingers on the uncut strand.^[8]
   

[Edit]cut someone else’s hair

1. Dampen the person’s hair with a spray bottle. While some cuts are best on dry hair, a straight haircut is best on wet hair to ensure it is as sleek, straight and manageable as possible. You don’t need to wash the person’s hair with shampoo and conditioner, but it should be damp (but not soaking wet).^[9]
   
   • Keep in mind that no matter how short you cut their hair, it will be a little shorter when it is completely dry.
2. Make a bun on three-fourths of their hair. Use the handle of a rat-tail comb to create a neat side part, then pull hair into a bun at the top of your head. Snip off the bun, or secure it with a hair tie. Leave the bottom part of their hair open.^[10]
   
   • Have the person sit in a tall chair so that their hair is at a comfortable cutting level for you.
3. Pinch a strand of loose hair between your fingers. Make a V-shape with your index and middle fingers. Close your fingers against a wide strand in the middle of loose hair. The middle strand of hair will be your guide for the rest of your hair.^[11]
   
   • You can also use a rat-tail comb to measure out the sections. This will prevent you from accidentally pulling down on it too hard.
4. Slide your fingers under the strand where you want to cut. Place your hand on the person’s back and pull them from behind, avoiding angles. Make sure your fingers stay parallel to the part you made earlier and parallel to the floor.^[12]
   
   • Do not curl your fingers up, flip the hair, or pull the strand of hair away from the person’s back. By doing this there will be a slight gradation.
5. Cut the hair below your fingers. Use the length of your fingers as a guide. Make sure you are using sharp hairdressing scissors for this; Do not use ordinary scissors.^[13]
   
   • Make sure the person is sitting up straight with their face forward and not crossing their legs before cutting. Otherwise you will not be able to get their hair cut straight.
6. Gather another section of loose hair, and measure it against the hair you cut earlier. Take another wide section of hair. Add a few strands to it from the section you’ve already cut. Pinch the area between your fore and middle fingers as before. Slide your fingers down until the bottom edge is level with the cut strand.^[14]
   
7. Cut hair, then pinch another strand. Measure the new strand from the previous strand and cut it. Continue this method until you have removed the entire bottom layer of hair.^[15]
   
   • Never pull the hair away from the person’s back while cutting. Keep them as close to their backs as possible.
   • Measure the left and right sides of the front to make sure they are even.
8. Leave another layer of hair, and clip the top layer of hair into a bun. Use the handle of a rat-tail comb to create another clean, horizontal part. Leave enough hair so that you can still see the underside of the previous layer. Make the rest of the hair a bun once again.^[16]
   
9. Measure the top layer against the bottom and cut it. Take a section of hair from the new layer. Add a thin strand from the bottom layer to it and using the clipped hair as your guide, cut the new strand under your fingers as before and repeat the process with the rest of the hair.^[17]
   
   • Measure the new strands against the previous ones and the new layer against the old ones.
10. Blow dry the person’s hair, then make any necessary adjustments. If you want, you can wash the person’s hair to get rid of any small bits of hair. Blow dry the person’s hair, then snip off the remaining ends.
    
    • Since you cut all the hair in the back, the hair in the front may be a bit uneven. To even them out, let the hair fall where it naturally falls from the person’s shoulders and trim it using your fingers as a guide.^[18]

[Edit]Advice

• Straight cuts are not recommended for curly or wavy hair types due to the unique shape of each curl.
• If you have curly or wavy hair, and plan to straighten it after you cut it, cut it when it’s straight.
• Cut slowly and carefully. Remember, you can always cut off more hair if it’s still too long, but if you cut off too much hair it will take a long time to grow back.
• If you’re cutting your own hair, consider getting a 3-way mirror. This will allow you to easily see the back of your head without having to pick up another mirror.

[Edit]Things you’ll need

[Edit]cut your own hair

• brush or comb
• hair tie
• barber scissors
• Mirror

[Edit]cut someone else’s hair

• rat tail comb
• hair clip
• barber scissors

[Edit]Reference

[Edit]quick summary