How to Do a Layered Curly Cut at Home

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

Co-authored by Christine George and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 9, 2023 References

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.

1

Wash, condition, and detangle your hair.

Make sure your hair is knot-free so your cut is even. Before setting up, hop into the shower and shampoo and condition your hair. Use either your fingers or a wide tooth comb to detangle your hair so it’s smooth and frizz-free.^{[1]
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- If you typically put product in your hair, don’t apply it just yet. It’s better to cut your hair without product in it so you can see how the curls naturally lay.

2

Dry your hair.

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]
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- 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.

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]
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- Use a comb to part your hair to make sure each section is even.
EXPERT TIP

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
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.

4

Angle your hair up while grasping it between 2 fingers.

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]
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- 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.

Use hair cutting scissors to carefully snip off the end of your hair. Always use sharp hair cutting scissors to avoid any raggedy ends. Keeping your fingers in place, use your free hand to gently snip the hair above your fingers. Then, angle your scissors so they're nearly parallel to your hair, and cut a few times into your hair to thin the ends out slightly.^{[5]
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- That angled cutting is also called “point cutting,” and it helps remove some of the weight from the ends of your hair. This helps your curls form and gives your overall style more volume.

6

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

Unclip one of the back sections, then trim the end. Pull the hair straight up, or at the same outward angle that you used when you cut the first section. Use the first section as a guide to determine how much hair to trim—hold up both pieces of hair next to each other, and cut off the new section to be the same length as the first.^{[6]
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- When pulling sections upwards to trim them, use the same amount of tension to pull your curls mostly straight. That way, one section won't be shorter than the others.

7

Lift and cut the last section in the same way.

Unclip the final section of hair and give it a trim. Bring each section up and forward to the same imaginary point above your head before making the cut. Because the hair on the bottom of your head has further to travel when it is lifted up above your head, it will end up being longer than the hair on top of your head.^{[7]
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8

Finish your cut by trimming any areas that stick out.

Use your scissors to cut any curls that look uneven. Once you are done cutting the basic layers, let your hair fall naturally around your head, like you would normally wear it. If there are pieces that look too long or that stick out too far away from the rest of your hair, give them a quick trim.^{[8]
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- The overall shape of your hair should be fairly even and symmetrical. If the curls on one side of your head are sticking out a lot farther than they are on the other side, resection the longer hair and trim each of these sections to be a little shorter.