AS THE public scramble to get their hands on the limited appointments available at salons as they open this weekend, it could still be a while before you get a professional styling.
But fear not; with our easy, step by step guides, you can give yourself a (much needed) trim at home, no matter what your hair type.
Use our simple styling guides to refresh your hair without a trip to the salonCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Whether you're after a short back and sides, or are just hoping to rid yourself of a few flyaways, these easy to follow instructions will have you looking straight-out-of-salon chic in no time.
How to cut your hair in four easy steps
STEP ONE 'SECTION': On dry straight hair, comb and section into a centre parting. Continue this parting all the way down past the crown and down to the nape of the neck. Then split the hair into quarters and clip up the hair in front of the ears, out of the way.
At the back of the hair, either side of your parting, draw a line horizontally leaving you with an inch section thick and clip the remaining hair up and leave down your inch section. This will be the hair you are going to cut.
STEP TWO 'COMB': Taking the hair from your inch section, comb it all so it's knot free then take an area in the centre. Once again comb the area so it falls naturally straight down. Use your comb as a ruler and take off the desired amount.
STEP THREE 'CUT': Start to include more hair from your clipped up section and repeat the process taking one inch slices and combing the hair straight down. The hair you cut previously will act as a guide. Once it feels even continue to the sides.
STEP FOUR 'REPEAT': Taking an inch thick slice sectioning from your original parting above the ear towards the face and clipping up as you go. Use the hair you see at the back as a guide. Repeat this until no more sections left.
How to cut men's hair using clippers
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STEP 1: For the back of the head, put a grade-two blade on your clippers for a standard cut, or longer or shorter as desired.
If unsure, and to save a row, start longer.
Begin at the nape of the neck, moving the clippers up and down to a point level with their eyebrows.
If new to this, you could use a ruler.
Use clippers in the opposite direction to the hair growth, so no long bits are left.
Ease away at the ruler line so hair blends.
STEP 2: Move to the left and repeat on the side of head.
Using the ruler in line with the eyebrows, move the clipper up and down.
Move to the right side and repeat.
STEP 3: For the top of the head, change the clipper to grade five for a shorter cut or grade eight for longer.
Run the clippers from front to back, working across the top of the head.
Work in the opposite direction to the hair’s growth.
STEP 4: Tidy up with a grade three on the clippers, blending the shorter back and sides with the longer top, moving the clippers up and outward.
Take the grade off and run it on the neck to tidy stray hairs down to the hairline, then do the same with the ears.
Pull the ears out . . . but be gentle!
HOW TO FADE HAIR WITH CLIPPERS
Decide the fade height.
For a high one start by creating a zero line at your temple.
Or for a low fade create a zero line just above your sideburns.
Start from the bottom of the hairline and work up, cutting against the grain with a 0.
Then create another line with a 0.5 just above the 0 line.
Adjust the 0 guard by pulling the lever down so it is in between a 0 and a 0.5 so you have 0.25.
Use this to blend the 0 out into the 0.5.
Create another line with a 1 guard just above the 0.5. Use a 0.5 to blend into the 1.
use either a 2 guard or a 3 guard to blend this out into the rest of your hair.
Then adjust a 1 guard by pulling the lever down to make it a 1.5 guard — use this to blend the 1 into the 2 or 3.
AND IF YOU'RE WORKING ALONE...
You can achieve the same results if you don't have someone to help you out.
Use a mirror and follow the steps above, with experts warning have-a-go barbers to go slowly when attempting the back of their hair.
Experts at advise: "It takes time to learn how to cut the back of your own hair so be sure to go slow.
"To make sure you're cutting evenly, hold a mirror behind you so you can check your progress as you cut. Use the same guard length on the back and sides of your hair unless your hairstyle calls for something different."
How to cut your fringe at home
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STEP 1: Wash and towel-dry the hair. Then get a comb and scissors and let your wife, partner or daughter brush their fringe to where it would normally sit, downward towards the eyes. This should be a triangular section. It is important not to bring too much hair forward from the back or it will be too thick. Then, put the rest of the hair in a ponytail.
STEP 2: Take an inch-wide section of fringe and comb it taut – bringing your fingers down their hair, keeping it tight to the bridge of the nose between the eyebrows. A bit of hair will be left hanging below your fingers.
STEP 3: For the next step make sure you cut just below your fingers, so the hair will have room to bounce back slightly when dried and you will not have cut the fringe too short. If you are not sure, leave it slightly longer and you can always come back to the job. Less is always more if you are not sure.
STEP 4: Repeat the previous steps – moving to the right and left of the fringe section, cutting with scissors held sideways, working all the way left then all the way right. Make sure you are only cutting a bit at a time. If you are ready to advance your skills, as you gain experience, face the scissors vertically to the fingers and chip-cut – this will give the haircut a softer finish.
SHOULD YOU CUT YOUR HAIR WET OR DRY?
According to Blush and Blow London hair stylist Ana Gomes, it is best to cut your hair when it is wet.
She said you should put your hair in a centre parting from your hairline to the nape of your neck.
Ana advised: ";Comb all the hair forward so it sits above the chest, tightly flatten the hair between your middle and index finger stop at your desired length and cut in a straight line.”
She continued that you should apply the same method to the other side to achieve a one-length haircut.
What to consider if you have curly hair?
Like anything in life, this guide it's not one size fits all and Ricky warned those with curly hair should tackle their trim differently to those with straight locks.
The salon owner told Fabulous: "Curly hair when wet is massively different to once it is dry.
"If you have curly hair your hair will ping up and look far shorter once dried into its usual curl. This means you can go from Brian May to Lionel Richie in seconds!"
He suggested those with curly-hair should refrain from trimming their locks after the hair has been tied up in a tight bun, which stretches the curls.
Before pulling the trigger on your scissors, lift the curl up to the position you would like it to sit and check in the mirror if this looks good.
Instead tackle your curls when dry, and "think about the shape you want to create".
He said: "Before pulling the trigger on your scissors, lift the curl up to the position you would like it to sit and check in the mirror if this looks good. Perhaps even go a little longer as a safety net."
He added that "curly hair is very badly behaved even at the best of times and loves to play tricks on you" so refrain from getting too scissor happy.
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The hairstylist, who tends to Laura Whitmore's mane, added: "For those with very curly hair don’t use a comb. Curly hair should be cut as visual as possible.
"Very similar to trimming a hedge, just shape where needed by picking up curls in your hands and taking a little off the length.
"Try to point your scissors down so you cut at an angle and not straight across as this can leave heavy lines."
What to consider if you have wavy hair?
Echoing Ricky's advice, Kerry Mather, owner of KJM Salons in Fleet, Hampshire, explained that those with wavy hair should "style it as you would normally wear it" before cutting.
She told Fabulous: "Then with the sharpest and smallest scissors you own (and never a razor) gently nibble at the ends of your hair. Take the tiniest amount off – remember this is just a tidy up to get you through this period of lockdown until salons re-open.
She added: "It will be a challenge, so don’t be too ambitious and attempt to replicate what your hairdresser does."
But if you're adamant about trimming it, she suggested positioning "as many mirrors around you as possible and never cut anything you can’t see".
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