Whether you are trying to add new life to your curls or find ways to keep your teeny weeny afro (TWA) in great shape, trimming and cutting your natural hair can make all the difference.
The privilege of experiencing this type of grooming usually only comes at the hands of a trusted stylist, but government shutdowns of non-essential businesses such as salons due to COVID-19 have made this glorious pastime impossible -- at least for the time being.
However, the option of improving your own skills is always available, and many experts are willing to show you how to keep your curls cut and cute without things turning into a full-on disaster.
"Good Morning America" tapped celebrity natural hairstylist and Brush With The Best CEO Felicia Leatherwood to break down the best practices for cutting your naturally textured curls and coils at home.
While cutting your own hair isn't the easiest task no matter what texture you have, Leatherwood suggests you first figure out what kind of cut you want to perform on yourself. There are a variety of options, such as a general trim or dusting, a bang cut, or an all-around big chop.
Keeping in mind your end goal for your natural cut will help you throughout the process.
Leatherwood also warns to pay close attention to what you are cutting so that you don't go too far. "You can always cut more, but you can't put back what you've cut if you went too far," she said.
It's highly recommended to wait until you can see a professional hairstylist for a full cut, but Leatherwood has shared her method for a simple trim below.
Rattail comb, cutting shears/scissors, hair clips, blowout cream or leave-in conditioner (for cuticle protection), hair oil, water bottle.
Pro tips: "If your hair texture is curly, you can cut it wet as this will help stretch hair for the trim," said Leatherwood.
"If you have a kinky or curly hair texture, you will need to lightly blow your hair out to stretch," she adds. "This will help you trim the right amount without taking too much off."
Leatherwood also suggests using a heat protectant product such as a leave-in conditioner or a blowout cream to protect strands from damage.
Step 1: Section hair into four sections, and double-strand twist each.
Step 2: Use scissors to cut 1/2 inch off from the end of each twist.
Step 3: After trimming all sections, seal the ends with an oil such as argan to mend and help stop any splitting.
Lifestyle blogger Ijeoma Kola, PhD, has also posted a video where she demonstrates several ways to trim your own natural hair.
Kola has several methods, one of which is the "Search & Destroy," which essentially means finding any knots or thinned-out areas -- and instead of pulling at them, you cut them out.
It's an easy way to rid your curls of any potential damage, and give your curl shape more life.