How can I trim my bangs at home -- and not wind up with crooked bangs, too-short bangs or just bad bangs? I'm tired of paying so much money just to get my bangs trimmed. Help!

As a hairstylist, I usually don't recommend cutting your hair at home, but with a little patience and a few guidelines, you can trim your bangs nicely.

Make sure you have the proper tools before you start snipping. A pair of haircutting scissors is essential; you can pick up an inexpensive pair at your local beauty supply store. Kitchen scissors, while great for cutting paper, are not suited to trimming hair. The blades actually bend the hair as they cut, and your bangs will end up crooked.

Before you start trimming, your bangs should be dry and styled in your usual fashion. Wet hair is longer and masks your hair's natural texture -- if you're not careful, you may overcompensate and cut too much off. To begin cutting, hold your index and middle fingers horizontally and grasp the ends of your bangs between them. Cut off only a quarter-inch, which is about the length of the pointy part of a thumbtack. This should give bangs a blunt, clean finish.