It’s happened to all of us. It doesn’t matter if you live with a long, straight cut or are just looking for something different.

We recommend that you see a stylist when possible. However, trimming your natural hair is something most can do themselves. All you need are the right tools and some guidance. If you find it difficult to schedule regular hair cuts, you should learn how to do a DIY trim. This will help you maintain your hair’s health. This is especially useful for natural hair because stylists can be difficult to find.

Even if you have had some difficulties with at-home trims, taking your trim into your own hands is okay as long as you are properly prepared.

Separate your Face-Framers

First, cut your hair in half along the middle part. After your hair has been divided into sections, you can trim the back. Pull a small section from the center of your head forward. These are your face-framers.

Lightly trim your Reference Pieces.

Your face-framers should be held together by your index and middle finger. Then, you can use your shears for light trimming of about 1/4 inch at the ends. This guide will serve as a reference for the rest of your bangs.

Take Your Full Length Out of Your Bangs

Use your comb to create a section that marks the place where your bangs meet your full-length haircut. Clip any excess hairs beyond that point.

Lightly Buzz Your Face Framers

Use your pre-cut guide section to trim your remaining bangs lightly. Nigella recommends gently tapping your face using the clippers to achieve a precise cut.

Use shears to clean up your cut.

You can use scissors to remove any small pieces the clippers might have missed.

Make another guide for the rest of your hair.

You can now release the clips from the back of your hair and split them into two sections. Next, repeat the previous steps and create a guide or reference piece for the entire length of your hair. This section can be combed forward or away from the natural fall position. Nigella states that over-directing ensures that it doesn’t feel like cutting more than it is.

This is where you will find your guide. You can trim as you like with scissors once you have found that point.

Take out the clips and even out the back section.

Once you have released the clip at the back of your hair, take your clippers and connect the front and back full-length sections. Trim them to match the guide piece.

To trim the back, use a pair of scissors and a comb.

For a precise trim at your back, you can over-direct the section and push it forward using your comb. You can stop the comb at the desired section and trim any excess. Once the comb has been removed, turn the clipper opposite the section you wish to trim.

Continue on the opposite side.

It was done! You’re done! To give your trim some shape, you can take pieces of the trim and direct them towards your front. Next, examine your ends for outliers and snip at an angel with shears.

After the trim is complete, Nigella suggests smoothing out any flyaways using Eden Bodyworks’ Papaya Castor Condition Hairdress. Voila! Now you can do a DIY hairstyle on your natural hair.