cutting your own hair

[Ludi]

I have long hair (waist length), very thick, which desperately needs cutting. I'm eventually going to try short hair (I think) but I don't want to be traumatised by getting it all lopped off at the salon. Last time I had it cut medium length it was very traumatic! So I want to try cutting it gradually myself. I figure if I can learn to trim horse hooves I can learn to cut my own hair. :)

If anyone has any tips or can direct me to specific useful websites (I'm googling now), I'd appreciate it.

[VeggieMath]

That's highly ambitious. You should donate it to locks of love, Just give them about 12 inches. After that, you can do anything. I don't think I would be comfertable cutting my own hair, the problem is it's attached to my head and my head only turns so far.

[AlittleGreen]

Maybe you should just have a friend trim it. If you just want to trim it straight off the bottom this shouldn't be very hard. Just ask some friends if they've ever done that before and I'm sure someone will feel confident enough to do that for you. My friends and I used to do that for each other and it always worked out fine. Although I think that anything more that a straight trim off the bottom should be done by a professional! If you've had back luck with hairdressers in the past go for a consultation before you let them touch your hair. It's not a guarantee that they will do a good job but it may improve your odds.

[Brandon]

It's definitely possible to cut your own hair. I do mine, but I'm a barber, too. Or I was. I wouldn't recommend doing the initial cutting yourself, waist-length hair is very long hair to try and section, cut, etc. all by yourself. Once your hair is shorter, it would be a much less challenging thing to trim your own hair. However, it's still easy to mess up a short hair cut if you don't know what you are doing.

The nice thing is that it will always grow back. :)

[queenfluff]

I used to do hair for a living and I still cut my own hair to this day.. Saves me tons of money (plus, I don't trust anyone else with my hair ..ha ha!)

Anyhow, since you have hair that is all one length, it will be easier for you to do it your self. (if you had layers, I wouldn't recommend it unless you were a hair dresser).

What you want to do is so:

1. Part your hair like you normally do
2. You can cut with either wet or dry but if you do wet remember the hair will be shorter when it dries up...I do mine dry usually.
3. Comb hair straight down and forward over your shoulders so you can get at it using your part as the sections.
4. Make sure you buy hair cutting scissors (you can get the cheapest ones they have at the beauty supply store).
5. See link below of how to hold the hair when you cut - picture three:
http://www.hairfinder.com/techniques/bobbangs.htm
6. You want to hold the hair between your second and third finger straight across at the place you want to cut your hair
7. You will be cutting the hair that is BELOW your fingers. You might want to measure first to make sure you have a idea on inches so you can get the other side correct.
8. The fingers are to be used as a guide for getting a straight line when you cut. Cut straight across below the fingers with your other hand.

(the pictures have a razor- ignore that..you will be using scissors -ignore the bangs too unless you want bangs)

You can make more sections in your hair if you want since you said your hair was thick and use the same technique.

I am surpirsed I couldn't find more pictures of cutting on the net. This is called a blunt cut (means hair all one length).

Another thing you could do is to put your hair in a rubber band at the spot you want to cut your cut off (it would be like where the fingers might be) and just cut what is below the rubber band. But you will have more control using your hands.

Let me know if you have any more questions!
queenfluff

[Ludi]

Thanks everyone for the input! And thanks so much queen fluff for the instructions. :)

[Bits]

I must admit, when my hair was really long, i used to trim it myself sometimes. My only advice would be to invest in a pair of hairdressing scissors, kitchen snippers just don't cut it (that pun was not intended btw!) they're not really that expensive ( i paid £5 for an alright pair) but they're deffinately worth it :)

[troub]

I cut my own hair.


Twice a week.

:)

[Marie]

All I do to trim my hair is put it in a pony tail when it's wet.. flip it over my head and trim away. It probably wouldn't work for super straight hair though.

[MaryC1999]

Ludi, I know you were asking for tips on cutting it yourself but I wanted to throw this in.
I was pretty put off with the thought of going to the hairdressers. Not really over concern for my hair but more because I didn't want to spend the money or have anyone touch me. lol
What I did was schedule an appointment for a trim. I actually went in for two trims of my longer hair so I could get used to the hairdresser. This last time I let her cut it pretty short and it came out really nice.
Maybe you could go to the salon in steps (if you decide not to go it alone) and just trim it a little shorter each time. You might find yourself pretty traumatized by lopping it all off at home too! It can be quite a shock. My hair was long for about 5 years and cutting all to my shoulders was a bit surprising. Once I got used to seeing it shorter I liked the cut better than my old one but at the salon I found it hard to say anything more than "Thank you". I think the hairdresser thought I hated it. I just looked so different. :)
FWIW.
Mary

[Banshee Beat!]

i say don't be afraid :) I just gave myself sideswept bangs and i must say i think they look pretty good. I was always unhappy with the salon so i just thought i'd do it myself, rather then being unhappy with someone elses work. Cutting the back of your head could be tricky, so i would suggest getting a friend to help you. Good Luck!
ps. use real hair cutter scisors!

[MZCsmpsns]

I cut my own hair all the time. It's kinda thin though, so thicker hair would be harder. I just flip it over my head, comb it out, and snip snip snip. Then I comb it out behind my shoulders, grab the ends, bring it to where I can see it, and snip any odd pieces. I always have a friend check it afterwards to see it it's straight, and it usually turns out pretty good. (my hair is almost half way down my back, btw)

[thebelovedtree]

I cut my own hair. Hairdressers can't seem to listen to me and I end up with layers, etc. which I don't want because I typically wear my hair up and am trying to grow it out.

I pull my hair into very evenly parted pigtails and brush it very very straight on each side then nip the bottom of each pigtail. then I pull my hair into a low ponytail carefully pull the scruncy to the bottom of the pony tail and nip off the "point" that would have made my hemline a V shape. This gives me a gentle U shaped hemline that I like when down but doesn't look messy in updos like layers, etc. would.

Start slow the first couple times you do it (if you want to lose an inch start with 1/4 an inch) so if you mess up you have wiggle room, but it works pretty well once you get it figured out.

[Ludi]

Ludi, I know you were asking for tips on cutting it yourself but I wanted to throw this in.
I was pretty put off with the thought of going to the hairdressers. Not really over concern for my hair but more because I didn't want to spend the money or have anyone touch me. lol
What I did was schedule an appointment for a trim. I actually went in for two trims of my longer hair so I could get used to the hairdresser. This last time I let her cut it pretty short and it came out really nice.
Maybe you could go to the salon in steps (if you decide not to go it alone) and just trim it a little shorter each time. You might find yourself pretty traumatized by lopping it all off at home too! It can be quite a shock. My hair was long for about 5 years and cutting all to my shoulders was a bit surprising. Once I got used to seeing it shorter I liked the cut better than my old one but at the salon I found it hard to say anything more than "Thank you". I think the hairdresser thought I hated it. I just looked so different. :)
FWIW.
Mary

I plan to cut my hair shorter gradually, not all at once, to avoid the trauma. :) (see previous post) I don't have money to go to the hairdresser repeatedly, hence posting this in the frugal forum. In other words, I'm poor. :)

[MZCsmpsns]

Have u considered going to a beauty school and having a student do it? I don't know how much you'd trust them, but if it's a simple cut I'd think they could handle it. Or just have them cut it, but not as short as you really want it, so if you don't like it you could fix it yourself. It'd save a lot of money, and if you're a hair model it could be free. Everyone I know who's gone to one has been pleased w/the results.

[Ludi]

That's good idea except the nearest beauty school is at least 30 miles away!

[Leia]

Please do not donate to Locks of Love! I can't post links here to tell you why not, but send me a message if you are thinking about it so I can convince you not to ;).

I cut my own hair because it is long (past the bottom of my bum; I grew it that long purposefully and have no desire to cut it) and I don't trust anyone near it with a pair of scissors! Here is my method. Comb the hair thoroughly. Tie it in a loose ponytail with a hair-friendly scrunchie. Bring the hair to the front and pull the scrunchie down, keeping it very straight and even, till there is just enough sticking out from below the scrunchie that you want to trim. Then, with a pair of very sharp scissors, you can trim your hair.

For more information about having long hair (and loving it!) send me a message. Also, Google "Long Hair Loom" and check out the site if you have time. Maybe it will change your mind about cutting. :)

[Ludi]

Oh I love my long hair (and would not donate to LoL, no worries) but, as I am getting older I don't know if it makes sense to keep it. I don't care for it properly, often don't brush it for days on end, and constantly keep it pulled back in an unflattering ponytail. So I need to do something different with it, but not something which requires lots of money or time. I'm at least going to cut the front into a fringe, to cover up my worry lines aka wrinkles...

[writetheway]

:) I'm sort of famous among my friends for cutting my own hair. My suggestions:

1. Never cut your hair at 3 a.m. Trust me, it won't work out well.
2. NEVER cut bangs for yourself. See above.
3. Always cut your hair when it's wet
4. If you want layers, cut them evenly, all around. Get someone else to do the back for you.
5. Always cut your hair longer than you think you'll want it, because hair gets shorter as it dries.

(Sorry if this repeats anything before; I didn't have time to read the whole thread.)

[Leia]

3. Always cut your hair when it's wet


Actually, for me, it works better when I cut dry. This is because my hair is quite wavy, and if I cut wet, the waves won't lie the way I like them too and can look uneven. I guess it depends on your hairtype. :)

[thebelovedtree]

Ludi as someone who cut their hair to lower the work load and is still regreting it, let me just say, don't cut your hair because you think it will be less work, it wont. Short hair was a pain in my ass and I can't wait until I hit waist again (probably by winter). I suggest ordering some cheap wooden hairsticks off of E-bay and learning to put your hair in stick buns, its very flattering and very easy. I do my hair everymorning on my way to work in the car (it takes less than a minute) and I get compliments on it all day long.

[Ludi]

Thank you the belovedtree, I really appreciate insights from folks who have gone from long to short hair. I am currently leaning toward just cutting the fringe ("bangs" to us 'muricans), ans shortening the back slightly. Still have to get some decent scissors.

[animallover7249]

my sisters cuts my hair :) she went to school for it

[pgor72]

i tried cutting just my bangs once - and ended up with a perfect 45 degree angle!! lawd, help me, if i ever tried cutting all of it! :lol:

[goettling]

I did some cool razor action on my hair tonight...but I am able.:bow: :p