How to Cut Equal Length

Girl with her hair cut into an uneven bob
Photo: Sirtravelalot/Shutterstock
Q: When I cut my little girl's hair into a bob, I never get it right. It's almost impossible to get the length equal all around her head.
 
How do professional hairdressers get the length equal? Do they use reference points to check the length? Which?

 
A: We do use reference points, but more importantly we use guide cuts and crosschecking to make the cutting lines even and balanced.
 
The next time you go to cut your daughter's hair, start by combing the hair down smoothly all around the head, then cut your guide cuts.
 
In the back of the head, at the nape of the neck, cut a one-inch segment to the length you want the rest of the hair to be in the back. Then move to the front of the head and take a thin lock of hair from each side of the face and bring them together in the center.
 
Hold the locks so that the ends merge and comb the ends out then cut the guide length for the front of the hair. (Remember that you can always cut more off, but you can't put it back. Err on the side of caution.)
 
Too, if the hair is thick or dense, be sure to put up the upper portions and work with smaller amounts. This will make it easier to create your initial guides, and then as you let down the hair in small amounts, you can simply use the lengths already cut to guide your cutting of the lowered hair.
 
We have full instructional breakdown on cutting a bob here.
 
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See also:
 
How to cut a simple bob cut for little girls
 
How to cut hair
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