From variations of the bob to the halo cut, so many of the year’s top trending hairstyles feature a fringe.

Personally, we’re big fans of bangs, but we’re less thrilled by the amount of trimming time that goes into keeping them exactly the way we want them. After all, it doesn’t take a huge amount of growth to totally change the look of a fringe, and that means taking very regular trips to the salon if you want yours to stay looking just so.

Or does it?

While it might not be for the faint of heart, it is very possible to stay home and trim your fringe yourself without it turning into a total catastrophe. You’ve just got to cut carefully…

Less really can be more

“Always keep the fringe longer than you think,” celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas tells Stylist. “It’s much safer.”

Remember: you can’t put back what you cut away, but you can always take a little more off later.

Cut a concave shape

Douglas says: “Cutting the fringe in a concave shape is also a safe way to trim your fringe. This means cutting it slightly shorter in the middle and leaving it longer towards the edges. This works on all hair types.”

Don’t cut when wet

“One of the big tips is cutting your fringe once your hair is styled, rather than cutting it when your hair is wet,” says Douglas. “This is especially the case if you’ve got naturally curly, coily or kinky hair. Seeing the hair in its natural state or styled state is the best starting point when trimming a fringe.”

Get yourself the right tools

Douglas emphasises the importance of using very sharp scissors. “You can buy decent hairdressing scissors for about £15-£20. This is well worth a purchase if you’re going to be trimming your fringe three or four times a year. Some sectioning clips and a good fine tooth comb can also be really helpful.”

Image: Getty/courtesy of brands