Meghan Markle's hair stylist shares his guide to cutting your own locks during lockdown - from mastering a fringe trim to NEVER wetting it beforehand
- George Northwood, from London, says aim to maintain general style and shape
- Recommends investing in proper stylist scissors and long narrow-gauge comb
- Says always cut your hair dry in front of a large mirror and with good lighting
- Celebrity hairdresser has worked with Duchess of Sussex for the last two years
Meghan Markle's hair stylist has shared his top tips for keeping your mane in check while stuck at home in lockdown.
George Northwood, 41, from London, has worked with the Duchess of Sussex, 38, for the past two years and was responsible for her chic wedding reception 'messy bun' in May 2018, as well as her styles throughout her and Harry's Australasia tour.
Speaking to The Times, George - whose clients also include Gwyneth Paltrow, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Alexa Chung - offered his expert advice on how to give yourself a DIY trim while hair salons across the country are shut due to Covid-19.
He advised aiming to maintain your general style and shape, rather than trying out a radical new look, as well as investing in some decent tools.
George recommended investing in a decent pair of proper hairdresser scissors (step away from those in the kitchen drawer) as well as a long narrow-gauge comb before you begin.
Hairdresser George Northwood, 41, from London, has worked with the Duchess of Sussex, 38, for the past two years and styled her wedding reception 'messy bun'
IT'S ALL IN THE PREP
Just like being at the hairdressers, George advised cutting your hair in front of a large mirror with good lighting.
He also suggested washing and drying it into your usual style before you take to it with the scissors, so that you can assess whether it's your fringe, split ends or layers which need the most attention.
'Never work with wet hair because you'll probably end up cutting more than you should,' he told the publication.
USE YOUR COMB TO CUT YOUR FRINGE
If you have a fringe, George recommends isolating it from the longer sections of your hair and tying the rest back so it's out of the way.
Next, comb your fringe from underneath several times before using the comb to lift the fringe outwards.
George advised cutting your hair in front of a large mirror with good lighting
'Trim the very tips of the hair,' he said. 'Make sure you chip into the fringe - it's called point-cutting (you point the scissors like a clock's hand pointing to seven). Do not simply cut across in a straight line.'
Resist the urge to pull your fringe forward using your fingers before cutting it, as you're likely to cut off more than you'd like.
'Resting the hair on the comb to cut it doesn't create unnatural tension and you achieve a softer finish,' he added.
GO EASY ON SHORT HAIR
If you're rocking a crop or a bob, George advised a minimal trim, sticking to areas you feel need a quick tidy up.
He said: 'Always follow the line created by your hairdresser,' adding that just a few millimetres can make a short style feel fresh.
AVOID CUTTING LONG HAIR IN A STRAIGHT LINE
After styling your hair into your usual parting, George recommends tipping your head forward and making very small cuts into the ends of the hair.
This is a good way to remove split ends and achieve a softer, more natural result.
Cutting your mane in a straight line will, he warned, result in an 'awkward gappy finish'.
STEER CLEAR OF YOUR BACK LAYERS
George recommends only trimming the layers at the front of your hair unless your locks are long enough to brush forward.
Using your scissors, he recommended snipping sections following the shape of your style as closely as possible.
Like cutting a fringe, he said the point-cutting technique is the best way to do it to ensure a graduated, natural finish.
