Over the past few years I’ve gone back and forth from a blunt fringe to a side-swept style, and between my thrice-yearly haircuts (I know, shame on me), I trim them myself. I do such a bang-up job (sorry, couldn’t resist), they get glowing reviews from my hairdresser every time.

Here are four scissor-wielding rules to follow faithfully:

1. Put the kitchen shears down. Use hair trimming scissors from any beauty supply shop or, as Marie Claire suggests, cuticle scissors.

2. Always trim dry bangs. Trimming bangs while wet gives you a false sense of length and sets you up for a too-short bang disaster.

3. Cut vertically. Hold the scissors upright and cut up into your ends using little snips. Never cut horizontally across in one big chop.

4. Follow the natural edge of your pre-existing style and go a little at a time. You can always cut more if needed.