Cutting Layers in Your Medium Length Hair at Home
A Step-by-Step Guide
Having medium length hair gives you lots of versatility when it comes to styling. One way to add brilliant movement and shape is by cutting layers into your locks. While it may seem intimidating to cut your own hair, adding layers at home is completely doable with the right tools and technique.
Follow this step-by-step guide to give yourself beautiful, face-framing layers.
Why Cut Layers?
Layers are a fantastic way to add body, bounce, and dimension to otherwise flat or lifeless medium length hair. They can work for nearly any hair type or texture. Layers remove weight from the hair, allowing more movement and preventing that heavy, stretched-out look. They also shape the hair around the face, highlighting your best features. By creating shorter pieces framing the face, layers can accentuate your eyes, cheekbones, and jawline.
What You’ll Need
Sharp haircutting scissors or shears
Handheld mirror (for viewing the back)
Clips or hair ties
Towel or cape (to catch cut hair)
Prepare Your Hair Before you start cutting, make sure your hair is clean, dry, and detangled. It’s much easier to see your hair’s natural movement and fall pattern when it’s free of any products. If needed, give your hair a quick brush through to remove any knots or tangles.
Part your hair as you normally would wear it. Separate the top layer of hair you want to keep blunt and smooth. Secure this top section on the top of your head with a clip or hair tie, keeping it safely out of the way as you cut the underneath layers.
Section and Cut the Underneath Layers
Start by separating a bottom section of hair at the back of your head. This section should hang freely from about ear-level down. Clip or tie up the top and side sections, isolating just the bottom segment.
Hold the bottom section straight out from the back of your head. Position your fingers at the desired Length for your shortest layer, anywhere from collarbone to shoulder length.
With tension on the hair, cut across horizontally to create the shortest baseline layer.
Release the next horizontal section right above the first layer. Again, hold it straight out and cut across while maintaining tension for an evenly guided cut.
Continue moving up the back section and cutting successive layers this way, each one slightly longer than the one below it.
Once you’ve cut all the layers in the bottom back section, release the sides and repeat the process on both sides of your head.
Add Face-Framing Pieces
Leave the back layers loose and gather the top section of hair forward over your face.
Separate out the pieces framing your face, combing them forward over your cheekbones and jawline.
Hold the face-framing sections up and outward, cutting them shorter than the longest layers beneath at an inward angle to flatter your features.
Refine and Blend the Layers
With your initial layers cut, look over your hair carefully in the mirror from all angles. Are there any areas that need thinning out or blending together? Use the tip of your scissors to gently chip away at any heavy spots by holding the hair vertically and snipping into the ends. You can also go back and cut shorter face-framing pieces around the front if needed.
To blend the layers, section off horizontal strips of hair at each layer’s Length and lightly chip into the ends using vertical snips. The goal is to create a soft, seamless transition between each layer—no harsh lines.
When you’re satisfied with the shape, give your hair a final brush through to reveal your beautiful new layers! Use a lightweight styling product to enhance their movement and dimension when styling as usual.
Voila! You’ve successfully cut lovely, face-framing layers into your medium length hair in the comfort of your own home.
With a bit of patience and care, a DIY cut is definitely achievable for giving medium styles extra body and polish. Just be sure to start conservatively if it’s your first time cutting layers, and take it slowly step-by-step.