| How to Avoid Tooth Decay Posted: 31 Oct 2016 05:00 PM PDT Tooth decay is caused by plaque buildup on your teeth. Plaque forms when sugars in your mouth attract bacteria. Plaque is very acidic and causes the enamel of your teeth to erode away. This is the first part of cavity formation. As a cavity becomes bigger, bacteria from your mouth can invade the pulp of the tooth (the tooth's living tissue) and cause inflammation that can progress into an infection known as an abscess. This process can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, not to mention very expensive dental bills for treatment. However, you can prevent tooth decay by practicing regular tooth brushing, flossing, eating the right foods, and seeing your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. [1] EditBrushing Your Teeth Properly - Set up a brushing schedule. Ideally you should brush your teeth after every meal, but you should try to do so at least twice a day: once after breakfast and once before bed. [2]
- Make this part of your routine each morning and before bed.
- If you incorporate tooth brushing into your regular routine it will be easy to remember to do it.
- Proper tooth brushing only takes a few minutes, so even very busy people can find the time.
- Use a soft bristled toothbrush. The size and shape depend on your mouth size, but most dentists recommend electric toothbrushes that have a round shape. [3]
- The size and shape of the brush should allow you to reach all areas of your mouth and all surfaces of your teeth.
- Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
- If your toothbrush is becoming frayed, it may be necessary to replace it sooner. A frayed toothbrush will not be very effective in cleaning your teeth.
- Use a pea sized amount of toothpaste. Make sure you are using a fluoride toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association. Fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay.[4]
- Small children can't have as much fluoride as adults. Talk to your dentist about an appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste to use on your child's toothbrush. [5]
- You will want your child to get the cavity fighting benefits of fluoride without getting too much of it.
- Brush all surfaces of your teeth. You will want to place your brush at a 45 degree angle to your teeth and gums as you brush. Don't apply too much pressure, or you could damage your gums. If you're bearing down with the brush or notice that your brushes fray quickly, you are likely using too much pressure.[6]
- Start by brushing the front surfaces of all of your teeth.
- Use small side to side strokes.
- After you have brushed the front surface of all of your teeth, move on to the chewing surface and the backs of your teeth.
- To clean the inside surface of your front teeth, tip the brush vertically and use several up and down strokes.
- Make sure to brush along the gum line as well.
- You should also brush your tongue to remove bacteria and improve your breath.
- Rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash. Mouthwash can be used to help prevent tooth decay and cavities, reduce plaque buildup, and reduce your likelihood of diseases such as gingivitis. Look for a mouthwash containing fluoride to help prevent or reduce tooth decay.[7]
- Mouthwashes that have the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance have been tested for safety and effectiveness, so always choose a product that has this seal.[8]
- Mouthwash cannot be used in place of regular brushing and flossing. If you find you cannot brush your teeth after a meal, it is a good idea to rinse with mouthwash to kill bacteria and prevent plaque.
- Mouthwashes that contain alcohol may dry out your mouth, which could actually promote further bacterial growth. Look for a fluoridated, alcohol-free mouthwash.
EditFlossing Your Teeth - Floss your teeth at least once a day. Additionally, you should floss after eating a meal or snack that can easily get caught in your teeth such as popcorn or corn on the cob. [9]
- Even if you brush regularly, it is imperative to floss as well.
- Flossing will remove food particles from between your teeth and under the gums.
- These are areas where a toothbrush cannot reach.
- If you do not floss, food particles and sugars caught between your teeth will attract bacteria and promote plaque buildup and can cause cavities.
- Start to floss by breaking off an 18 inch piece of dental floss. You want a long string so you can wrap the dirty part of it around your finger as you clean between your teeth. [10]
- Wind most of the floss around one of your middle fingers.
- Wind the tail of the other end around the middle finger of your opposite hand.
- This finger will be where you wrap used and dirty dental floss as you go through your mouth.
- Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap a piece of dental floss against the gum line.[11]
- Hold the floss firmly between your thumb and forefinger.
- Rub the dental floss back and forth as you slide it between your teeth.
- Pause when you get to the gum line.
- Curve the floss into a C shape when you reach the gums. Hold it against one tooth. [12]
- Gently slide the floss into the space between the gum and tooth.
- Hold the floss tightly against the tooth.
- Gently rub the floss along the side of the tooth away from the gums using up and down motions.
- Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.
- Don't forget space behind your last tooth in the back of your mouth.
- Try using floss picks, dental picks or wooden plaque removers if you find using floss difficult. These methods can help to remove plaque and food between your teeth without the difficulty of measuring out a piece of floss and maneuvering it between your teeth.[13]
- A water pick helps to remove plaque and food from between your teeth and gums by using a stream of water to clean these areas.
- Floss picks are small plastic devices with a tiny bit of floss attached. You can use these to floss your teeth in much the same way as you would using string floss.
- If you are having trouble flossing, talk to your dentist about what options are available. You may just need to try a different type of floss (unwaxed vs. waxed etc.).
EditMaintaining a Tooth Healthy Diet - Avoid sugary candies, sweets, starches, and refined carbohydrates. Foods that are high in sugars promote plaque buildup because bacteria is attracted to sugars. [14]
- If you do eat sweets, try to eat ones that don't stay in your mouth for too long. Candies such as lollipops, hard candy, and caramels tend to stay in your mouth for long periods as you suck on them.
- Snacks like cookies, cakes, and pastries also contain lots of sugar and can cause tooth decay.
- Foods such as bread, chips, pasta and crackers contain starches and refined carbohydrates that are sugars. If you do eat them, try to eat these foods only at mealtimes rather than as a snack between meals.
- If you do eat sweets and refined carbs, try to brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste afterwards.
- Drink fruit juices and carbonated soft drinks sparingly. Carbonated soft drinks are very high in sugar.[15] Fruit juices often contain hidden added sugar, especially if they are called "fruit juice drinks" or "fruit juice cocktails." Avoid these.
- Carbonated soft drinks are also very acidic. Acids in drinks and food can break down enamel and increase the risk of tooth decay.
- While fruit juices are healthy in moderation, they contain a lot more concentrated sugar than whole fruit without the added benefit of fiber. Drink only 100% fruit juice with no added sugar. Research suggests that 100% fruit juice is unlikely to cause tooth decay.[16]
- If you drink these items, make sure to do so with a straw to minimize contact with your teeth.
- Limit consumption of acidic foods. Acids from foods can erode enamel just as much as acids from soft drinks.[17]
- Acidic foods include citrus such as lemons and limes.
- Tomatoes, pickles, honey and wine are also acidic foods that can cause damage to your enamel.
- While it's ok to eat these types of foods, try to keep them in your mouth for as short a time as possible.
- Drink tap water and green/black teas. Tap water is fortified with fluoride in most countries. [18] Anything you make with tap water that is fluoridated will help to strengthen your enamel.
- Water can help to wash away food particles.
- Green and black teas contain properties that prevent plaque buildup. These teas can also help to reduce inflammation and prevent gum disease.
- Be sure not to sweeten your teas with sugar.
- Eat plenty of fiber rich vegetables and fruits. These will stimulate saliva flow. [19]
- Saliva is a natural defense against cavities as it prevents bacteria and plaque from sticking to your teeth.
- About 20 minutes after eating, saliva can begin to neutralize the acids that attack your enamel.
- Crisp fruits and vegetables such as carrots, apples, and celery are recommended.
- Eat dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. These contain several essential nutrients for healthy teeth. [20]
- Calcium, phosphates, and vitamin D in dairy are very important for healthy teeth as your teeth are primarily made up of calcium.
- Calcium will not only help to strengthen your teeth, but can also stick to them and prevent acid from damaging your enamel.
- If you are lactose intolerant, there are many calcium and vitamin enriched foods available such as soy products.
- Chew sugarless gum. Chewing this after meals and snacks can help to promote saliva production to rinse off bacteria and plaque from your teeth. [21] Chewing gum is especially helpful if you have persistent dry mouth (xerostomia).[22]
- The sweetener xylitol has been shown to prevent decay.
- Studies have shown that xylitol can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in your mouth.
- Chewing gum that contains sugar can actually increase your chances of getting a cavity, so make sure your gum is sugar free.
- Use products formulated for dry mouth. Dry mouth (xerostomia) is not a disease, but it is an uncomfortable condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, including using certain prescription medications or having a medical disorder. Chronic dry mouth can promote tooth decay because your mouth does not produce enough saliva to wash away food and debris, and thus bacteria are more likely to thrive.[23]
- There are several mouth rinses, both over-the-counter and prescription, that can help relieve dry mouth. Look for a mouthwash that specifies that it is for dry mouth when purchasing.
- Sucking on lozenges, cough drops, or hard candies can help your mouth produce saliva. Make sure these are sugar-free.
- You can also find a saliva substitute if necessary. These work much like eye drops do for dry eyes, to temporarily moisturize the mucous membranes in your mouth.
- Your doctor may also prescribe certain drugs if your condition is very bad. The two most common are pilocarpine (Salagen) and cevimeline (Evoxac).
- Talk to a doctor if you have frequent heartburn, acid reflux, or an eating disorder. Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can promote tooth decay because stomach acids wash back up into your mouth in this condition, weakening your teeth. If you have frequent heartburn (also known as acid reflux), talk to your doctor about treatment options so you can avoid damaging your tooth enamel.[24]
- Eating disorders also promote tooth decay. Bulimia nervosa and purging-type anorexia usually involve forced vomiting, which bring stomach acids up and over the teeth, causing damage. Eating disorders may also interfere with your body's natural production of saliva.
EditSeeing Your Dentist Regularly - See your dentist and dental hygienist for regular cleanings and checkups. Most healthy people will need to see their dental health care provider twice a year. [25]
- When you see your dentist, you should get a dental cleaning. Your dentist or hygienist will use dental instruments to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth.
- They will then polish them with a special toothpaste.
- Most dentists will recommend dental X-rays at least once a year. This can help your dentist see if you have any problems inside your teeth.
- Your dentist will check each tooth for cavities as well as examine your gums for signs of gum disease.
- Ask your dentist about sealants. These are plastic preventive sealant coverings for your teeth. [26] These seal off the crevices on your teeth where food gets stuck.
- Sealants protect the enamel against acid and plaque and are recommended for both children and adults.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that school age children should have dental sealants, as they can reduce tooth decay in children by over 70%.[27]
- These sealants can last up to 10 years before they will need to be replaced.
- Your dentist will need to check them regularly at 6 month checkups to make sure they are intact.
- Talk to your dentist about fluoride treatments. If you don't drink tap water or use fluoride toothpaste, you may need fluoride treatments. [28]
- Fluoride treatments are typically done in the office during your dental cleaning.
- Your dentist will fill up trays with a fluoride gel or paste. These will need to sit in your mouth and on your teeth for several minutes.
- These treatments can help to strengthen your enamel.
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| How to Celebrate Halloween Posted: 31 Oct 2016 09:00 AM PDT Halloween only comes around once a year, so why not go all out? If you like scaring people, do it! If you don't, it's just an excuse to party and celebrate! Celebrating Halloween is more fun when you decorate the outside of your home with lots of stuff to scare those who dare walk up to your door. All lit up at night, a decorated home welcomes all the little Ghosts in a Dirt Graveyard, ghosts and goblins. With the addition of some scary music, the little ones will giggle with delighted terror as they knock on your door, yelling, "Trick or Treat!" Let this article spice up Halloween for you! EditFor Children - Buy a new costume each year. Shop around until you find the costume you're looking for -- there are literally hundreds to choose from. If you can't find what you're looking for in your area, try online. Some places will get you your costume in as little as a few days. Remember to ask your parents first!
- If you're handy with a needle and thread (or mom is), having a costume that no one else will have is always better. Make your own. And if you're not, all you have to do is think outside the box. Want to be Katniss Everdeen? Grab a green button-down, some cargo khakis, and a bow and arrow. Bruno Mars? A fedora and a mic. The more accessories, the better.
- Carve a pumpkin. One of the quintessential American traditions of Halloween is pumpkin carving. Grab mom or dad and go the pumpkin farm or a regular shop to pick out your next pumpkin victim. Do you want to do a spooky face? A friendly face? Maybe not a face at all?
- If you want to do something different, think of your carving as a shadow. The light behind it will illuminate it. The part you carve out will surround the silhouette. Maybe the shadow of a ghost? Skeleton? Tombstone?
- Have an adult help you with the carving and gutting out of the pumpkin. And you can keep the pumpkin seeds for roasting!
- Celebrate the holiday with friends or family. Halloween does not just have to be trick or treating. A night or two before, get your friends and family together, go bobbing for apples, stick in a scary movie, and load up on the popcorn and salty party foods -- you'll be eating chocolate, chocolate, chocolate for the next two weeks!
- See what's available in your area. Maybe there's a haunted house or a pumpkin farm hayride near you. If the weather permits, it's a good tool to get you in the spooky mood. If that's not an option, celebrate at home all week long -- make homemade decorations to get in the spirit.
- Go trick or treating! Put on your ghoul make-up and join the ghosts and witches saying Trick or Treat! (Smell my feet, give me something good to eat!) But remember only to visit those with porch lights on or those with Halloween decorations. It's usually pretty easy to tell. If they have lights on and decorations up, these are clearly people happy to celebrate (and give you something!) and this is where the Halloween spirit explodes with vitality.
- Take a very big bag along or an even larger empty plastic pumpkin bucket to carry all the goodies that you get from every house. If these are unavailable, a pillowcase will do the job.
- Ask mom or dad about trick or treating for UNICEF. In addition to going house to house asking for candy, the people you visit can donate their spare change to you to give to UNICEF to help children all over the world. All you have to do is order your box ahead of time![1]
- Don't go alone! Make sure you're in a group of friends or have a parent with you. Halloween's scary enough as it is!
- Look at all the candy that came out of your bag This is the best part of Halloween: checking out the goodies to stuff yourself with. Also check the candy -- make sure it's all fresh and safe to eat. Watch out for hard candies; these can break your teeth if you bite too hard. And make sure that you take out any candy with ingredients you're allergic to. If you're not sure, don't eat it. Better safe than sorry.
- Some people will give you small toys instead. Don't eat those!
EditFor Adults - Set jack o' lanterns in your windows. If you're feeling gutsy, place them lining your sidewalk; however, know that if they're outside they risk getting smashed and ruined. You can buy pre-made, decorative jack o' lanterns at any big box store or at craft supply stores. But making them yourself is always better!
- Carving your own jack o' lantern can be very messy, but great fun. All you have to do is hollow out a pumpkin, trace on a face, and cut it out. Then place a tea light or an LED light inside to light the way for your trick or treaters.
- Load up on candy. Have a good stock -- you never know how many children will be knocking on your front door. If you have any left over, well, all the more for you!
- You may want to have some spare change available. Since about the 50's, UNICEF has started a trick or treat program where children collect spare change to help children in need in over 190 countries all over the world.[2] If any come to your door with a small orange box, that's your first clue. Make sure it says UNICEF on it, though!
- Decorate your house in the spirit of Halloween. You can choose a theme (like a haunted house or cemetery) or you can just swallow your house in orange, black, cobwebs, and stuffed witches, like many choose to do.
- If you're going for the haunted house feel, make sure to keep dim lighting inside and out. Line the walk, but little else. Play Halloween noises and cover your entrance in fake cobwebs. If you can, have someone in costume outside your house, beckoning the children to your door.
- If you'd like to try turning your house into a cemetery, put gravestones throughout your yard. Dead flowers are a nice added touch. Fake crows, hands clawing out of the dirt, coffins, screams playing in the background, and fog rolling in will seal the deal.
- Of course, if you're handing out candy, you have to dress up too! You're part of the show as well. It's not complete without you.
- Have a Halloween pre-party. Why only have your decorations up only for kids 2 or 3 hours one day a year? You went to all that work -- might as well put those fake skeletons and dry ice to good use. At your party, have halloween games, finger foods, drinks, and music. Not every party has to be scary, but you certainly can add a "room of horror" if you so choose.
- One annual game for the holiday is bobbing for apples. This is only advised if you're not having a costume party -- or all the makeup will run off! Grab a huge bucket or barrel and fill it with water and some apples. Tie guests' hands behind their backs while they duck their heads into the water, trying to catch the apple with their teeth.
- Halloween food decorations get better and better each year. Buy eyeball candies to place on Red Velvet cupcakes with white icing for the blood vessels. And sugar cookies can easily be molded into witches' fingers (think of an almond slice for a fingernail).
- Make dry ice (or buy some) to perfect that witch's cauldron. Your drinks will be smokin' in no time.
- If you're really intense, you could always stage a blackout or, with enough tight-lipped friends, a zombie attack (blood capsules will come in handy). Halloween is a great excuse to fulfill your strangest fantasies. (But don't let your guests in with weapons.)
- Welcome in the trick or treaters. The time has come. Make sure all the right lights are on, the music is playing, you're in your costume, and the candy is ready. You'll probably get a few that come before your city's designated time, so stay on the lookout.
- If you run out of candy and have no substitutes (and can't go out for more), turn your lights off. Do this as a courtesy to the children so they know that your home is off the Halloween market.This time comes only once every year, be nice to them and give them open heartedly. Children are going to love you for that! Make your Halloweens magical by just following few steps!
- Always inspect your children's candy collection when they return from trick-or-treating; some people give out strange things.
- If bobbing for apples, take care that the players do not cut their mouths or otherwise hurt themselves while they try to grab apples with their teeth. This is not the safest, nor most hygienic, of games.
- Please carry a flashlight or a reflective item with you if you're going to stay out late. A lot of car accidents occur on Halloween, so please stay aware and make sure that you stay safe.
- Make sure that the candles you use in your jack o' lantern (or any other candles) do not cause a fire.
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| How to Cut Your Own Bangs Posted: 31 Oct 2016 01:00 AM PDT Are you tired of making the trip and paying the money to go to a salon just to have your bangs cut? Well start saving time and money now by cutting your bangs yourself! Whether you cut yours blunt or to the side, shearing your own locks is an easy task that you shouldn't be intimidated by. EditCutting Side Bangs - Part your hair. Take a fine-tooth comb and brush your hair until it is smooth and tangle-free. For side bangs, you will need to create a side part. Part your hair to the side it naturally falls on.
- Pull hair forward. Taking the tip of a comb, draw a part an inch or two behind your hairline, perpendicular to your side part. (In other words, from side-to-side, rather than front-to-back.) If you are looking for thicker bangs, you can draw a part farther back. This will help separate your bangs from the rest of your hair.[1]
- Find the highest tip of your eyebrow. This is generally towards the center of your eyebrow, or the highlight of the brow, and it will help you gauge the width of your bangs. If you are starting off with bangs from scratch, measure a line upwards from the highest tip of your eyebrow to your hairline. Make a part where that line ends. Move the hair on one side of the part towards the middle of your forehead and pin the hair on the side of your head back to keep it out of the way.
- After you have done this step, you should now have a section of hair in the front center of your face that is separated from the rest of your hair.
- If you already have bangs, you should have a width already determined, so take your preexisting longer bangs and part them towards the middle, also separating them from the hair line.
- You can also create wider bangs by making a line upwards from the end of your eyebrow instead of the highlight of your brow.
- Pull your bangs up and look at them from the side. They should be about one to two inches thick. If you want thicker bangs, pull more hair forward from the horizontal part behind your hairline, and if you want thinner bangs, do the opposite by pulling less hair forward from your hairline part.
- Pin back the rest of your hair. Pull back the rest of your hair with a clip or bobby pins to separate it from your bangs. This will make it easier to cut your bangs without worrying about cutting the rest of your hair.
- Make sure your bangs are straight. This may require you to dampen your hair with a spray bottle if your hair is naturally curly and your bangs have some bounce. Lightly mist your hair with a spray bottle and comb through so that your bangs are flat. If your hair is naturally wavy or straight, cutting bangs in dry hair is best so that you won't cut them too short.[2]
- Never soak your bangs or make them completely wet. Your hair is longer when it is wet, so anytime you cut wet hair, when it dries it will be shorter. To avoid cutting bangs that are too short, try to cut your bangs with slightly wet or dry hair.
- If your hair is very wet before you cut your bangs, blow dry them until they are 95% dry. When blow drying, make sure you are brushing bangs straight down, or in the opposite direction of your part. Don't blow dry bangs downward in the direction they normally would lie. This will create a "rainbow effect" in which your bangs have a high arch to them. It's difficult to cut bangs when they are like this, so it's better to create some volume in the opposite direction.
- Determine the length of your bangs. Before you cut your bangs you'll want to decide how long you want your bangs. You may want bangs that cover your eye, or you might want bangs that start above your eyebrow. If you're not sure, you can always start with longer bangs and cut them shorter.
- Cut at an angle. To achieve side swept bangs, you'll want to start at the side of your bangs that will fall in the middle of your forehead (the side of your bangs where your part is). Point your scissors diagonally towards your ear, with the shortest part of your bangs in the middle of your face and the longest part next to your ear. Hold your bangs between your pointer and middle finger to create a line. Starting on the part side of your face, cut the hair below your fingers.[3]
- If you aren't sure how long you want your bangs, start by cutting at the tip of your nose and ending in a diagonal at the bottom of your ear. This will create long, side swept bangs.
- Make sure you are using scissors specifically designed for hair, as this will give you the best cut.
- If you want shorter bangs, start near the top of the nose, in line with the eye, and cut at a downward diagonal towards the middle of your ear.
- Always cut bangs longer when you start off -- you can always cut them shorter as you go, but you don't want your first cut to be too short, because there's no way to rewind from there. You can try cutting in 1/2 inch increments to make sure you don't cut too much of your bang off.
- Create a natural look. After you have cut your bangs you may notice that there is a very straight line in your bangs. This tends to look awkward and unnatural, so you may want to give your bangs a little definition. Take scissors and cut parallel to the strands of hair in your bangs, making small snips at the tips of your bangs.
- If your hair is really thick or you want your bangs to have an even more natural look, you can use a razor made for hair or a hair thinning tool to thin out the ends of your bangs.
- Style your bangs. Use a blow dryer and a round brush, brushing your bangs up from the roots towards the ceiling or towards the back of your head. You never want to blow dry your bangs by brushing them straight down as this will leave your bangs with little volume. You can also run a flat iron through your bangs by pulling the flat iron upwards at your roots to create volume.
- You can also blow dry your bangs in the opposite direction of where they naturally fall to give them more volume. As they are close to being dry, flip them back over and blow dry as usual.
EditCutting Blunt/Straight Bangs - Part your hair, creating a triangle in your roots. Because your bangs will be straight across, you won't need to part your hair to one side as you usually do. Take a comb and place the tip of it an inch or two above your hairline, in the center of your head. Then, draw a downward diagonal line from the center of your head to the end of your eyebrow, and repeat on other side. Pull your bangs section towards the middle to separate it from the rest of your hair.[4]
- After you've done this, you should have a triangle-like shape with the point a few inches above your hair line and the sides of the triangle coming down along the sides of your forehead.
- Once you've created a part, you'll want to comb your bangs forward and then pin the rest of your hair back or put it in a ponytail to keep it out of your face.
- Dampen your hair if necessary. If this is your first time cutting your bangs, it might be a good idea to keep your hair dry so you can cut it the exact length that you want it, but if you are just trimming your bangs, it could be good to spritz some water onto them so your hair is going in the right direction and lying flat on your forehead.[5]
- You can also try using a flat iron on your bangs to make them straight. It's important that your bangs don't have any wave to them, because you want to be able to get them as even as possible on your forehead.
- Determine the length and angle of your bang. Straight bangs can come in all different styles, so you'll want to figure out exactly how you want them to look before you cut them. Some people like their bangs to go straight across their forehead above their eyebrows for an edgier look, and others like longer bangs that angle down as they meet with the rest of their hair.
- Begin cutting your bangs. Taking the hair you've gathered between your pointer finger and middle finger, create a straight line that is even with the tip of your nose. Your bangs will not end up this long, as they would cover your eyes, but this will be a good starting point so you don't have to make a perfect cut right away. Cut the hair below your fingers.
- You can also use tape to create a straight cut. Place a piece of tape along your bangs, and cut a straight line below the tape at the desired length for your bangs.[6]
- Continue to cut your bangs in 1/4 inch increments until they are your desired length. If your bangs are wet make sure you leave 1/2 inch extra length on them, because when they dry they will shrink up.
- If you want to angle your bangs downward at the ends, cut straight across from the middle of one eye to the middle of the opposite eye. Then, once you've reached that point, begin to cut at a downward angle. Then repeat on the other eye, cutting at a downward angle until you've reached the rest of your hair. You can cut a very steep angle, or you can cut a slight angle in your hair -- it all depends on how dramatic you want the diagonal of your bangs to be.[7]
- Sometimes it helps to take your bangs and twist them once in your fingers, and then cut the straight line. This just pushes the hair tighter together, so you can just make one or two cuts. It also creates a small arch in your bangs, making them shorter in the front and longer on the sides.[8]
- Even out your bangs. Once you have your bangs at the desired length, you'll want to make them look more natural (unless you are going for blunt bangs, in which case you may want a very straight line across your bangs). Take your scissors and make small snips at the tips of your bangs, making sure the scissors are parallel to the strands in your hair.
- Style your bangs. Straight bangs usually need more attention, so you may have to straighten them or blow dry them every time you style your hair. If using a blow dryer, grab a round brush and pull bangs from underneath, up at the roots toward the ceiling. Then, once or twice pull your round brush underneath your bangs, from the roots of your bangs to the tips, in an arching motion to create volume. You can also do this same motion with a flat iron.
- If your hair is naturally curly, allow a lot of extra length. (For example, people with ringlets shouldn't cut more than half of what seems to make sense to cut.) After each snip, allow your hair to bounce/scrunch/frizz/whatever into its natural shape so that you can identify its new length before you continue.
- Work slowly and carefully, especially if this is your first time cutting hair.
- Work over a hard floor, such as in a bathroom or garage, for easy cleanup. You may also want to wear a towel or old shirt that you can change out of.
- Ask another person to help you; this might prevent mistakes.
- For curly hair: when cutting each curl, hold your scissors at a 45-degree angle, such that you'll make the hair on the outside edge of the curl longer than the hair on the inner edge of the curl. This makes each curl end in a nice point and stay together better.
- If you have curly hair then you might want to straighten out the part that you are planning to be your bangs because it will be easier to see the actual length.
- Make small snips with the tips of your scissors (the sharpest part). Keep your fingers straight, while holding your hair in one hand and making the cut with the other.
- Always cut in front of a mirror, so you know what your bangs look like as you cut them.
- Be careful using scissors near the face and eyes.
EditThings You'll Need - Scissors for hair or sharp scissors
- Narrow tooth styling comb
- A couple of clips to hold excess hair
- A mirror to look into without having to hold it yourself
- Tape
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