How to Cut Long Hair in Layers – The Ponytail Method

Learn how to cut long hair in layers using the ponytail method – the quickest, easiest way to cut long, layered hair! Video Tutorial included!

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In my brief glance around the internet prior to writing this post, I found two articles from Good Housekeeping on the subject of DIY haircuts that were quite amusing. The first is called:

• Here’s Why You Should Never Cut Your Own Hair

and the second is titled:

• 10 Ways to Cut Your Own Hair

So listen, this is definitely not for everyone!  But if you want to give cutting your own hair a try – then do it.  Who cares what anyone else says or thinks?  If you mess it up, you can either get it fixed or grow it back out and try again.

I’ve been cutting my own hair for several years now and plan to continue doing so.  I prefer to cut my own hair because:

• It’s cheaper.  And by cheaper, I mean it’s free.
• I never cut too much off.
• It only takes me 5 minutes.

Long hair can be very expensive to maintain.

The last time I paid for a professional haircut (just a trim, no color or style) it cost me around $100.  And that was over 5 years ago.

Now, I’m not saying it’s not worth it.  Whether or not it’s worth it probably depends on how particular you are about your hair.  I like for my hair to be long enough to put in a mom bun or wear a braid and look clean and nice.  That’s it.  I don’t keep up with the latest hairstyles, never spend more than a few minutes doing my hair, and don’t use any color.  So for me, a $100 “trim” is not something I’m interested in since I don’t need it to be perfect.

Another reason I like to cut my own hair is that I don’t appreciate asking for my long hair to be trimmed just at the ends, only to look into the mirror and see several inches gone.  This has been the case with most professional haircuts I’ve gotten in the past.  I like my long hair and want to keep it this way.  By cutting it myself, I can be sure it will stay long!

Lastly, I do not enjoy sitting in a salon looking at myself in the mirror with my wet hair slicked back to my head – y’all know the look.  #humbling lol.  But really, since hair isn’t that big of a priority for me, I can’t justify making arrangements for the kids and dedicating several hours to getting my haircut.  I’d rather just take 5 minutes to cut my hair in my bathroom, sweep it up, and be finished.

Tools

• hair tie
• sharp scissors (you do not need any particular kind of scissors)

How to Cut Long Hair

1. Brush clean, dry hair really well
2. Gather hair into a tight ponytail at the front of your head, 1-2 inches from your hairline
3. Hold the ponytail in place where you want to cut, and then point cut straight across
4. Remove the ponytail and check the length.  Repeat if you want to take more off.

How to Cut Bangs

1. Use your fingers to gather an even triangle of hair extending a few inches back from your forehead.
2. Brush the gathered hair forward and hold with one hand where you plan to cut.
3. Point cut straight across.

Q & A

Does this method work for everyone?

• No.  The ponytail method only works for medium to long hair.  It’s also probably not the best method for those who straighten their hair as it isn’t perfectly even.

What is point cutting?

• When point cutting, you use the point of the scissors or shears when cutting to remove length and/or give hair texture.  This method is more forgiving than a blunt cut.  So it’s better suited to DIY haircuts.

Does it matter what kind of scissors I use?

• As long as your scissors are sharp, it doesn’t matter what kind you use.  I’ve used craft scissors, fabric scissors, and as you can see in my YouTube tutorial – medical scissors (that’s all I could find! kids always be stealing my good scissors).  They have all worked just fine.
• A trained eye can probably tell the difference when quality shears are used, but for the average person wanting a quick, easy, free haircut – it just doesn’t matter so long as the scissors are sharp.

What if I mess up and hate it?

• There’s a time and a place for professionals!  If you’re not happy with your DIY haircut, you’ll just have to pay to have it fixed or let it grow out.   But as I mentioned earlier, since it’s your hair- you’re probably going to be pretty conservative in cutting long layers, so there’s not too much that could go wrong.

Wet Vs. Dry Cut

This method works with wet hair as well.  However, whether you should do a wet vs. dry cut really just depends on your hair type.  Straight and wavy hair is more suited for a dry cut.  While curly and natural hair is better cut wet.  If your hair is naturally frizzy (mine is), then it may be beneficial to straighten or curl you hair prior to cutting if you’ll be cutting it dry.  I have very thick, wavy, frizzy hair.  I always curl my hair, brush it out, and. then. cut it dry.  This allows me to see how it looks finished right away and make any adjustments if need be.

A note on split ends

Professionals warn that using non-pro-level shears leads to split ends.  My hair is very healthy without any split ends and I regularly go 6 months or longer in between cuts.  I think this has a lot more to do with the fact that I don’t use any product and rarely use heat on my hair than what kind of scissors are used to cut it.

Tips for growing long, healthy hair

Hair follicles need adequate cellular energy to function properly.  In times of stress, the body prioritizes vital organs like the brain, heart, and lungs.  Energy is used up supporting vital functions, leaving vanity aspects of the body like skin, hair, and nails suffering.  This is why hair loss is a common symptom of stress.

Reducing stress and inflammation while nourishing the body to produce an adequate amount of cellular energy is the best strategy for overall health, including hair health and growth.

Avoiding chemical products, coloring, and habitual use of heat on hair helps it to stay healthy and grow as well.

There are many plant and animal sources for nourishing the body and reducing stress.  This isn’t an in-depth post on hair health – just a note, so I won’t cover these sources exhaustively.  But I will mention two food supplements I consume daily for overall health – desiccated beef liver and a mushroom blend. Use discount code HOPEWELLHEIGHTS10 for 10% off both of these supplements.

Reishi mushrooms, which are included in the blend I take, protect against and reverse female pattern hair loss by inhibiting DHT (dihydrotestosterone) – a testosterone byproduct that binds to receptors in hair follicles, causing the follicles to shrink.  Reishi is also very calming and effective for reducing stress so it’s great for the entire childbearing season.  When taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding, reishi has a calming effect on baby too.

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Desiccated Beef Liver

Mushroom Blend (including Reishi)

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