| Hair Tips: Trim Your Own Bangs |
| Karen Marie Shelton/Dedicated To FFOS |
| Revised Date: 12/08/07 - Original Publication Date: 7/7/2005 |
Introduction
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Jessica
Simpson
With Sideswept Bangs/Fringe
At
Clive Davis Annual
Pre-Grammy Party
February 2005 |
|
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If you watched the movie, Runaway Bride, you may remember that columnist Ike Graham, played by
Richard Gere, wandered the streets of New York looking for column inspirations. I don't often wander the streets of New York, though I would dearly love to. Instead I am inspired for my articles by my own attempts to deal with my own strands. Which makes me a reality guinea pig of sorts. A few days ago I was slumped over the bathroom sink at the crack of dawn attempting to trim my own bangs
without botching them completely.
Yes, I do have a fabulous Dallas based hairdresser
who trims my bangs with finesse, thanks for asking.
Unfortunately with my crazy work schedules I struggle with finding time for a much needed snip. As a result, my bangs often grow unattended until they snake down into my eyeballs and drive me totally insane. Once I start bumping into things because of my impaired vision, I grab a pair of scissors and start chopping with frustrated abandon. Needless to say, the results range from acceptable to horrifying. I vowed this time to do the best possible chopping and save myself from total embarrassment during the re-growth period. Since I was researching the very best way to
trim my own fringe, I decided to jot down some notes and share my experiences with any other bang challenged visitors.
The Hair Pros Really Do Know Best
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Salma Hayak
With Full Frontal Blunt Cut Bangs
At
79th Annual Academy Awards
Nominations Press
Conference
January 23, 2007 |
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Let me take a quick moment to put in a disclaimer.
Cutting bangs really should be left to a seasoned hair
pro.
Keep in mind that the pro can craft spectacular bangs that are custom designed to fit your unique hair type and texture, face shape and other requirements.
Botched bangs can be very difficult to grow out and recover from. While I am willing to snip away at my already professionally created bangs that have overgrown their boundaries,
I would never consider or recommend that any one that did not already have bangs created professionally, try to make it a DIY project.
Dump The Rusty Scissors Everyday use of any type of scissors will not only cause them to dull but they may actually accumulate a layer of gunky dirt and yes, rust. Definitely not a good thing for any hair to experience. Whether your household scissors are clean or not, if you plan on trimming any part of your hair on a regular basis, invest in a pair of good quality hair cutting shears or scissors.
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Kaylee DeFer
With Texturized Uneven Bangs
The Fox All-Star Winter
2007 TCA Press Tour Party
1-20-07 |
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When you attempt to trim either the bangs or the ends with dull scissors this can damage to the ends, causing them to split, rip or tear. Keep in mind that the shorter the blades on the scissors, the easier they will be to control.
Buy scissors that fit your fingers and hands well, generally speaking it is best to target a range of 5 1/2 to 6 1/2" blades as the longest you should buy. I have tested all of the Professional Trimming Scissors by Conair, I find them to be very affordable ($7.99 - $8.99 and to work great on not only my bangs but my split ends.
Tweezerman has more deluxe hair trimming scissor models available that ranges from $15.00 to $22.00. I have also used all of the Tweezerman scissors with equal success.
Since every person is different with their budgets and hair trimming needs,
it's important to select a brand and model that feels right for you.
Dry Versus Wet Trims I have tried trimming my bangs when they were wet and also when they were dry. My most disastrous trims have happened on wet strands, which tend to shrink significantly, to my dismay, when they dry. I have learned after walking around in too-short bangs that a bang snipping when hair is completely dry is the only way to go. If your hair is naturally curly or wavy, like mine, it is essential that you work on bone dry strands. Not only will you have more control as you snip, the final length will be a lot more accurate. Snip Your Own Bangs
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Kaylee Defer
Sideswept Layered Bangs
Leona Edmiston
Frock Gallery Opening
03-14-06 |
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DailyCeleb.com - All Rights Reserved. |
Ultimately I ask my professional stylist to even up my bangs for me when I manage to get to the salon for my regular trims or to have my highlights freshened up. I strongly recommend that anyone who indulges in home bang clipping sessions make a point to have them recalibrated at least once a year for good measure. To clip your own bangs follow the recommended steps below: Step 1: Shampoo and condition your bangs and the rest of your hair with your normal products designed for your current hair type, texture and condition.
If your hair is highlighted use either a moisture enhanced or color enriched formula. If your hair is dry from chemical processing, consider diluting the shampoo formula to protect your strands. Skip any rinse-out conditioning products, especially on your bangs, that might make hair too slippery soft and more difficult to trim. If you must use a rinse-out conditioner, make sure that you limit how much you use and that you concentrate on the middle to the ends. (Shampoo products to try: Phyto - Phytojoba Hydrating Shampoo, PHYTO - Dry Hair System, Phyto - PhytoBrush Shampoo, Paves Professional - FLAWless No Sulfates Allowed Repairing Shine Shampoo For Dry Hair. Step 2: Towel blot strands bangs. Detangle bangs completely to remove knots. If your hair is prone to frizz, apply a defrisant product before you blow dry. (Anti-Frizz Product to try: Rene Furterer - Control Emulsion Anti-Frizz)
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Kaylee DeFer
With Layered Fringe
At
Hollywood Film Festival's Opening Night Premiere
of "Flicka"
10-18-06 |
|
DailyCeleb.com - All Rights Reserved. |
Step 3: Blow bangs completely dry. If bangs are wavy or naturally curly, use a boar's head paddle or natural round brush to blow bangs completely straight. Step 4: Optionally you can blow dry the rest of your hair at this point or leave the non-bang area wet. Either way, separate all the bang hair from the rest of your strands. Clip the non-bang hair up to keep it out of the way of the bangs. Step 5: Locate a good mirror with a great light source for easy viewing of your trimming tasks. Step 6: Separate bangs into three equal sized sections. Step 7: Clip the two end sections away from the middle section. Firmly, without stretching hair, grab the middle section of bang hair hair between the index and middle finger of your dominant hand so that it forms a smooth even line. Note: Do not stretch the bangs tightly or else you won't be able to accurately gauge the length as you trim. Step 8: Hold your trimming scissors at a 45 degree angle to avoid crooked slicing when chopping straight across. Start very slowly and snip off tiny pieces of the bangs with the scissors moving from the right to the left. Finish clipping the middle section. Check the length. If you need more hair removed, repeat the same action cutting from left to right.
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Imani Hakim
With Texturized Bangs
At
The CW Winter TCA All
Star Party
01-19-07 |
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Continue moving back and forth, alternating directions, until the bangs are the perfect length that you desire. Avoid lifting your eyebrows or crossing your legs while trimming since this can also impact the ultimate length. Note: Remember to take your time. It is better to snip too little hair than too much. While you can keep snipping you can't glue cut hair back on. Step 9: Once you are happy with the length of the middle section, unclip the right side. Using the finished middle section as a point of reference for the length you desire, cut the side section.
Remember to go slow and cut back and forth from right to left and then left to right. Step 10: Once both sides have been trimmed, study the completely sweep of bangs from edge to edge. Make any adjustments to the middle or either side. Other Bang Snipping Tips
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Cheryl Tiegs
With Graduated Layered Bangs
At
Opening Night of
"The Producers"
05-29-03 |
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With a little practice anyone can get good at trimming their bangs on a regular basis. It should be noted that many hairdressers will provide complimentary bang trims for their long term and regular customers. However, for a lot of people, like me, the issue is probably more about scheduling. Some other additional tips to consider when trimming your bangs for the best success: 1. Trim your bangs when you have peace and quiet. Concentration is important to create even bangs that are the perfect length.
So turn off your cell phone and lock the bathroom door to avoid any unnecessary interruptions. Avoid talking while trimming since little hair can fly into your mouth and can alter the true length factor. 2. Consider putting on an old shirt or covering your shoulder and neck with an old towel before you start clipping. No matter how careful you are little hair will fly around and make a bit of a mess. 3. Clip the hair over a wastebasket when possible. Little hairs that go down the drain can ultimately cause problems.
4. Be careful when snipping close to the eyes to avoid getting hair in them. If the ends do make contact with the eyes, immediately rinse them with cool water. Summary With a little practice and a good pair of trimming scissors you can definitely get the best bangs for the buck. Happy snipping. |