In the grand scheme of things, our lockdown beauty problems circa 2020 were pretty insignificant. But in order to maintain a refreshed look, many of us took to cutting our hair at home (with a little help from the pros who, at the time, were on hand to offer their advice via social media). So, if, like me, your bad habits die hard, listen up to know exactly how to trim your locks yourself – because, we've come a long way in four years!
Side note: While we do always advise you to seek out professional hair services from your local salon, many of us are prone to taking to the kitchen scissors for a D.I.Y. job. So, pls, bb, do proceed with caution, listen up and take note!
Chris Appleton is a celebrity hairdresser whose clientele list includes none other than the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and of course, Kim Kardashian. So, if you're struggling to see through your grown-out fringe (because of hair growth which, BTW, we love to see!) look no further because Chris shared a video on his Instagram of how to cut your bangs at home in an emergency.
As mentioned above, providing a disclaimer himself, Chris explained that he always recommends going to a salon rather than cutting your hair yourself but if you just can't wait (I feel ya), you should at least follow his advice – To. The. Letter.
Before anything you must make sure that your hair is dry before you cut it (wet hair springs up, so you could end up with a much shorter fringe than you intended) and use a short-handled pair of scissors.
First, part your hair down the middle and start with a triangular-shaped section at the front of your head. Use clips to pin the rest of your hair away from your face.
Pro tip: Make sure you don't lift the hair to cut it. Keep it flat to your face "because that's where the hair is going to sit," explains Chris. He also emphasises making sure that you don't pull the hair with too much tension when cutting. "Hair naturally is going to spring back up, so if you pull it down too hard, it's going to be much shorter than you want."
Once you're ready to cut, Chris twists the section of hair and cuts straight across. But remember to heed his words: "Always go slightly longer than you want it. You can always go back and trim it in shorter." Wise words.
Now that we've got the haircut down, you may be thinking of dyeing your hair at home, too. However, if you have no intention of going near your locks with a box dye (we don't blame you) why not try out Chris' root re-growth tip? After all, it's a much more temporary measure.
Not only does Color Wow's Root Cover-up hide grown-out colour/greys but Chris always uses it on his clients to make their hairlines look thicker when he does his signature snatched pony. Clever, huh?
And with that, we bid you farewell and happy chopping!
Laura is a former writer for Cosmopolitan UK, covering everything beauty and fashion related and specialises in makeup, plus-size fashion and the world of YouTube. Her favourite pastime is reminding everyone of that one time she met Charlie Hunnam and Jason Momoa. Please don't ask to see the pictures...
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
