The best tips and tricks to get beautiful layers in your natural curls (without the salon price)

Is your naturally curly hair looking a little flat or undefined lately? Adding layers to your ‘do will not only make your curls more defined, but can give you the volume and bounce that you’re looking for. If you want to save money by not going to the salon, then you’ve come to the right place! We’ll walk you through every step of the way so you can give yourself a curly cut that looks professional. Grab your scissors and let’s get started!

Things You Should Know

  • Wash and detangle your hair, then let it dry. Don’t use any products to make sure your curls dry in their natural state.
  • Section your hair into 3 sections, 1 up front and 2 in the back.
  • Pull the front section forward over your forehead and use hair cutting scissors to snip off 1 to 3 in (2.5 to 7.6 cm) of hair.
  • Trim the other sections the same way, pulling them over your forehead, then let your hair down. Snip off any pieces that look uneven or out of place.
2

Dry your hair.

  1. Cutting curly hair is much easier when it’s dry. Let your hair air dry or use a diffuser attachment on your hair dryer. It’s important to cut curly hair while it’s dry, not while it’s wet, since you can immediately see what the final cut will look like. Plus, dry hair tends to be shorter than wet hair.[2]
    • You may notice that some hair stylist professionals will cut curly hair wet instead of dry. This is a personal preference, as some find it easier to keep the cut even when the hair is wet. However, if you’re not a professional, it’s easier to cut layers while your hair is dry.
3

Divide your hair into 3 sections.

  1. Section your hair to make it easier to trim. Section the top half of your hair from the ears up, then pull that hair into a ponytail above your forehead. Then, part the rest of your hair down the middle into 2 separate sections.[3]
    • Use a comb to part your hair to make sure each section is even.
    EXPERT TIP
    Christine George

    Christine George

    Professional Hair Stylist
    Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.
    Christine George
    Christine George
    Professional Hair Stylist

    Cutting layers into curly hair helps balance it. When you add layers to curly hair, it will remove a lot of the weight from the length. That helps keep the top of your hair from flattening out, and your curls will be lighter and bouncier.

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4

Angle your hair up while grasping it between 2 fingers.

  1. Start with your front section, angling it in front of you. Using your first 2 fingers, grab your front section of hair at its base. Then, slide your fingers up the length of your hair, angling your hair upward and slightly in front of you. Stop sliding your fingers when you reach the point where you want to make the cut.[4]
    • Pull your hair out straight so that all your curls are the same length. This will make it easier to get an even cut.
    • The amount you trim off is up to you. For subtle layers, start with about 1 in (2.5 cm) of hair. For more noticeable layers, try cutting 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) off.
    • Look for damage at the ends of your hair. If you see frizz or breakage, try to remove all of it when you cut your layers.
    • Trim only a small amount of hair at first. You can always go back later and take more off, but it can be tough to fix a haircut if you cut too much off.
5

Cut the hair off above your fingers.

6

Snip 1 to 3 in (2.5 to 7.6 cm) off of a back section.

8

Finish your cut by trimming any areas that stick out.

Things You'll Need

About This Article

Christine George
Co-authored by:
Professional Hair Stylist
This article was co-authored by Christine George and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty. This article has been viewed 527,168 times.
4 votes - 55%
Co-authors: 10
Updated: February 9, 2023
Views: 527,168
Article SummaryX

To cut curly hair into layers, first part the back of your hair and divide it into 2 sections. Put hair ties on each section at the length you want to trim it. Then, use scissors to cut each section just below the hair tie. After you’ve cut off this length, undo your hair ties and divide your hair into 4 sections for layering, with 2 sections at the top of your head and 2 at the bottom. Pull one of the top sections forward over the top of your head then grasp the ends of your hair with your index and middle fingers, about an inch from the ends. Make sure to angle your fingers so the layers will be shorter in front and longer in the back. Cut just above your fingers, examine the length, then cut more if necessary. Continue this process with each section of hair until you have the shape and length you want. For tips on choosing the right haircut equipment, read on!

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