How to Do a Tapered Cut

How to do a tapered cut by yourself or on your loved one at home is what we are talking about.

A tapered cut is a popular hairstyle with shorter hair on the sides and back, gradually blending into longer hair on the top. While it’s generally recommended to visit a professional barber or stylist for a tapered cut, you can try it at home if you feel comfortable and have the necessary tools. But before that, it would be advisable to start on a wig or weave. Just my opinion.

How to do a tapered cut on a weave or wig

Cutting your own hair yourself could be the last thing ever in your mind. I would never recommend cutting your own hair the first time but you could start with a cheap weave or wig. There are occasions when you simply don’t have the money to get your hair cut at the salon. You can still do the job yourself starting from a weave or wig, very carefully at home. Practice makes perfect! Take pleasure in your appearance by being more creative with different hairstyles. This could save you $ and sometimes you may better understand what you want exactly than the salon guy or lady.

Use hair cutting scissors and not regular kitchen scissors

Below is are vides of some of my experiences of cutting a tapered cut curly hair extension. I hope you find this helpful. I also plan to post more videos of this kind.

Note: I mentioned in the video that I installed ”a weave” but actually it was something like this image below, crotchet braids. Am sorry I have no idea why I said ”a weave.” It was ”crotchet braids” that I split, cut into smaller pieces and then installed into my cornrows. So the cut in this video is on crotchet braids.

Taper own hair

Now that you have practiced it on a weave, you have a measure of confidence to do it on your hair. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you:

Tools you’ll need:

1. Clippers with guard attachments (various sizes)
2. Comb
3. Mirror (preferably a handheld and a larger wall-mounted mirror)
4. Scissors (for blending if desired)
5. Towel or barber cape (to protect your clothes)

Step 1: Preparation

• Start by washing and drying your hair, ensuring it’s clean and free of any styling products.

Step 2: Setting up the mirrors

• Position the larger mirror in front of you and the handheld mirror behind you. This setup will allow you to see the back of your head while using the clippers.

Step 3: Determine the desired length

• Decide how short you want the sides and back to be. Tapered cuts typically involve using different clipper guard sizes, gradually increasing in length as you move upward.

Step 4: Start with the longest guard

• Attach the longest guard to your clippers and begin by trimming the sides and back of your head. Start from the bottom and work your way up, going against the direction of hair growth. Keep the clippers parallel to the scalp for an even cut.

Step 5: Blend the lengths

• Switch to a slightly shorter guard and work your way around the sides and back, blending the lengths between the different guards. Be cautious when transitioning from one guard to another, as this is crucial for achieving a gradual fade.

Step 6: Trim the top

• Use scissors or clippers without a guard to trim the hair on top of your head. Determine how much length you want to keep and carefully cut it evenly.

Step 7: Check and adjust

• Take breaks to check your progress using both mirrors. Make any necessary adjustments or further blending to ensure an even and desired taper.

Step 8: Finishing touches

• Clean up the hairline around your neck and ears using a smaller guard or no guard at all. You can also use a razor for a more precise finish, but be cautious when using sharp objects near the skin.

Step 9: Clean up and style

• Brush off any loose hair and clean up the area. Style your hair as desired using hair products suitable for your hair type.

Below is a video of how I cut a loved one’s hair. She was transitioning to afro hair.

Remember, practice makes perfect. You may fail again and again before you master. It’s always best to seek the assistance of a professional barber or stylist to correct your mistakes.