How to repot a cactus without getting pricked?

I take kitchen meat tongs wrapped in foam)) the main thing is not to squeeze too hard

Repot into dry soil and don't water for a week after repotting, otherwise the damaged roots will rot.

I do it like this: I take thick cardboard or a few layers of newspaper, wrap the cactus around the trunk area and hold the ends - that's the most reliable way because it covers the whole plant. Leather gloves help too, but the main thing is really the cardboard, so that advice above is spot on. After repotting it's really important not to water the cactus for a week or two - I've tested that on my succulents, root rot is a real problem. The main thing is to take your time doing it all, then you won't get any spines in your hands.

Try wrapping the cactus with an old towel or rag - it holds way better than newspaper and won't tear at the worst possible moment! The key thing is wrap it higher up so you cover the whole stem, and then hold the ends of the towel like a handle. After repotting, let the plant rest for a week or two without watering - the roots need time to recover!

A towel or old t-shirt - wrap the cactus completely and hold it by the fabric like a bag. I've got a pretty large echinopsis growing at home, tried newspaper once but it just tore, whereas dense fabric holds up reliably and doesn't slip in your hands. The main thing after repotting is to let the soil dry out for a week so the minor root damage doesn't rot.

The main thing is not to rush and give the cactus time to adjust after repotting. I stop watering a few days before repotting so the soil dries out a bit - that way it separates from the roots better and doesn't crumble as much. Then I take the cactus out, hold it by the top through a thick towel or several layers of newspaper, and carefully free the roots from the old soil. The key is not to pull sharply.

When planting in the new pot, I work quickly so the roots don't dry out unnecessarily. The soil should be loose - for cacti I either use a special cactus mix or mix regular soil with sand. I plant it at the same depth as before. After repotting, I don't touch the plant for a week or two, I don't even check on it too often so it can settle in peacefully. I only resume watering once the soil is completely dry.

I think people often make the mistake of watering too soon after repotting. Roots already get micro-injuries during repotting, and moisture just encourages rot. It's better to underwater than to overwater.