How to Cut & Texturize Your Bangs

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

comb, fine-toothed
2 or more clips
scissors
spray bottle
mirror
patience!!

Step 1

First, you'll need to decide where you'd like your bangs to fall. Should they stop at your eyebrows? Touch your eyelashes or your cheek bones? Higher or lower?

When hair is wet, it hangs heavier than dry hair. If you cut your bangs too short while they're wet, when you dry them and let go, they'll spring up considerably according to the amount of body or curl in your hair so this is a critical decision.

Better to leave them too long than short, you can always trim more off but you can't glue it back on. To make things easier, you may want to establish the length of your bangs while your hair is still dry.
Step 2

I wear my bangs at different lengths mostly because I don't have time to cut them.

I wear my bangs almost in my eyes so when I cut them wet, I like them to touch the end of my nose at the very least. That's about 1.5 to two inches difference than when they're dry - I have a lot of body.
Step 3

Showing a triangular part.

If you already have bangs, and you like where they're located, find and section them off by using the clips to pull the bulk of your hair out of the way.

If you do not already have bangs, you need to decide if you want wispy, thin bangs or chunky, thick bangs. The difference is where you'll part them off.

For thinner, wispy bangs part your hair in a line from temple to temple being sure to very slightly arch (about 1/2 inch) the line towards your crown so you don't end up with the dividing line after your hair dries.

For thicker, chunky bangs section your hair in either a triangle that begins at the temple and stops 2 inches before the crown, or you can use a deep arch instead of the pointed triangle. Clip the bulk of your hair back.

Comb the sectioned-off bangs straight forward.
Step 4

Once you've chosen a length you're comfortable with, use a fine-toothed comb to smooth and pull them taut, starting at the center, straight towards your nose.

For a gradually tapered effect, pull all your bangs to the center and cut them in one spot on your nose - yes, even the sides. When you let them go, the sides will taper off longer due to the adjustment.

For bangs that fall straight across, start with the center and pull one inch sections straight towards the spot on your nose you've chosen. Now imagine a line across your face, parallel to the floor, from that spot on your nose. Pull each section to this imaginary line, using your center spot as a guide but being careful not to pull the hair right or left - just straight down - and trim evenly.
Step 5

The positioning of the shears depicted is the way you should hold them for the next step: Slithering

Once you have your bangs trimmed to the appropriate length, you'll need to shampoo, condition and towel-dry your hair.

Your hair must be VERY wet and your shears must VERY sharp for this next step or it will create breakage instead of texture.
Step 6

My bang section is rounded. My 5-yr-old took these pics of how to hold your shears - sorry they're a little blurry.

Beginning at the point of your bangs furthest back towards your crown, pick up a section you can easily manage and open your scissors to a width about an inch wide. Start an inch or less from the line you created and slide your slightly-opened scissors straight down(do NOT close them or it will cut a chunk out of your hair), slithering them towards that same spot on your nose.

Remember to consider the starting point carefully - this is going to be the shortest layer of your bangs.
Step 7

Angle your shears and basically scrape the hair away in a straight-down motion.

This process is much easier than it sounds but use caution until you get the hang of it. Continue to slide your open scissors from an inch or so up the shaft down to the end-length of your bangs, moving laterally all the way across your face in one inch sections.

The more pressure you put on the scissors, the deeper they will cut into the section you're holding. You only want to "shave" off the top outer layer of the chosen section - not cut deeply into the section.
Step 8

My hair, freshly cut. It's soft, has movement and with a some pomade, can be chunky and fun!

While your hair is still sectioned, blow dry your bangs to see if you're happy with the results or if they need more texture. You can always spray them while they're sectioned off and repeat this process for more fun, chunky, playful bangs.