How I Trim My Side-Swept Bangs at Home (Easy, Beginner-Friendly Method)
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought, “My bangs are getting way too long, but I’m not ready for a salon visit,” this post is for you. Today I’m sharing exactly how I trim my side-swept bangs at home, a method I’ve been using successfully for years.
This is a simple, low-stress technique that helps you avoid cutting your bangs too short, keeps them soft and blended, and works especially well if you wear your fringe swept to one side. Scroll to the bottom of this post to watch the video tutorial.
What You’ll Need to Trim Your Bangs at Home
You don’t need many tools, but using the right ones makes a huge difference.
Hair Cutting Scissors (Very Important)
Use actual hair-cutting scissors, not household or kitchen scissors. Regular scissors aren’t sharp or precise enough and tend to leave blunt, choppy ends.
You can find decent hair scissors for under $15 at drugstores, Walmart, or beauty supply stores, and they’ll last for years.
A Brush or Comb
A comb works best for precision, but a brush is totally fine if that’s what you have on hand.
Optional: A Hair Clip
This helps keep the rest of your hair out of the way while you’re cutting.
Step 1: Section Out Your Bangs
Start with your hair parted exactly how you wear it every day. This is key—never change your part just to cut your bangs.
Using the end of your scissors or a comb, gently section out the hair you want to trim. I like to include a little more hair toward the side so my bangs look fuller and blend better, especially when my hair is tied back.
This helps avoid that awkward “gap” or bald-spot look near the temples.
Step 2: Flip the Bangs and Cut on a Diagonal
Here’s the trick that makes this method work so well:
Even though your bangs are parted to one side, you’re going to brush them all across your face toward the opposite side and cut them that way.
Brush the bangs smoothly across
Hold them between your fingers
Cut straight across while the hair is flipped (this creates a soft diagonal once they fall back into place)
Start by cutting very little. You can always go shorter, but you can’t go back.
Step 3: Trim Slowly and Check the Length Often
After each small trim:
Let the hair fall naturally
Brush it into place
See how it sits on your face
A good reference point for side-swept bangs is the tip of your nose. When flipped, the bangs need enough length to travel to where you want them to sit once swept to the side.
I personally like mine to land around eyebrow level once styled so they don’t hit my eyelashes.
Take your time. Going slowly is the best way to avoid mistakes.
Step 4: Make Sure the Front Is the Shortest Point
When you gather the hair you’ve cut from the very front of your bangs, it should be short enough that when swept across, it lands right at or slightly above your eyebrow.
Many people cut their bangs too short straight on, not realizing that side-swept bangs need extra length to fall correctly.
Because of the cutting angle, the hair naturally gets longer as it blends into the rest of your hair, creating that soft, sweeping effect.
Optional Step: Light Feathering for Movement
This step is optional, but I always do it.
If your bangs feel heavy or flat, you can remove a bit of weight from the top layer:
Take the top section of your bangs
Hold the scissors vertically
Make small, light snips upward into the hair
This is not heavy layering or thinning—it’s just enough to add dimension and prevent that flat, helmet-like look. You’ll notice the difference even more once your hair dries naturally.
Final Result & Why This Method Works
Once finished, your bangs should be:
Shorter at the front
Gradually longer toward the side
Soft, blended, and easy to style
This method has worked for me consistently, and I’ve never messed up my bangs using it. It’s forgiving, customizable, and perfect for at-home maintenance trims.
Final Thoughts
If you wear side-swept bangs and want an easy way to keep them looking fresh between salon visits, this is my go-to method. Take your time, use proper scissors, and remember: less is more.
If you’d like to see more hair tutorials, let me know what you’d like next—I always love hearing your requests.
