How do I cut hair into layers by myself?

There are several ways to cut layers into your own hair. One of the easiest ways involves putting the hair into a ponytail and trimming the ends. The supplies you need for this technique are scissors, a hairbrush, an elastic hair band and a mirror. This procedure usually takes about 10 minutes and works best on clean, dry hair.

1. Brush your hair

   Bend forward from your waist and flip your hair over your head. Brush it thoroughly.

2. Tie your hair into a front ponytail

   Gather your hair into a ponytail at the center of your forehead, about 1 centimeter from your hairline. Secure it with an elastic band.

3. Stand up and position your ponytail

   Stand upright and grasp the free end of your ponytail. Pull it straight out in front of you.

4. Trim the end of the ponytail

   Hold your ponytail with one hand and cut off the end with scissors. A small cut produces subtle layers; removing more hair creates a dramatic effect. If you feel unsure about how much length to remove, start small. It's easy to remove more later.

5. Remove the elastic band

   Remove the elastic band, lean forward and shake out your hair with your fingers. Examine your new haircut in a mirror. If you decide to remove more hair, create another ponytail, and snip your tresses again.