Cutting your own hair?

JAJameson2010

I just watched this video

Delightfully Tacky: Q + A // how to cut your own hair

I'm very intrigued! I never have left a salon thrilled with the way my hair looks. This video makes it look so easy!

Is there an issue with cutting my hair with the upwards scraping technique she's using in the video? Will it cause more frizz? Or will my hair be ok with it?

Am I crazy for even thinking about this? Or at least how crazy am I? We already know I'm crazy...

I have two changes that I want to see.

More volume up top. Last time I went to get a hair cut I asked for that and the lady kept asking me if I was sure... Then put some shorter layers in to make me happy, but I think I could easily get even shorter layers and some more volume.

I also have these weird long layers at the bottom of the back that don't curl. Maybe shortening them would help encourage them to curl? Or at the very least hide them under the other curls!

Should I buy hair scissors on Amazon today? Any words of advice? Tell me to stop now if it's a horrible idea!
:tongue5:

JAJameson2010

No one is going to talk me out of this? I went and bought scissors on my lunch break...

CurlieCoo

So, nooo... I feel bad that no one else has replied BUT here are my thoughts: #1 Watch more than one video, there are some good ones out there, especially about cutting in long layers, but really be sure what approach you want to take; #2 Cut less first! You can always cut more but you can't glue it back on so start conservatively; #3 I don't recommend cutting those back pieces shorter to hide them, but that's just because I'm a worry wart.


I know that I have no knowledge to share with you but I have tons of hair cutting disaster experience (serious, no joke) and while they have made great stories to share later on in life, I remember being soooo optimistic each time I put those scissors in my hand... and kept cut, cut, cutting!


Wishing you the very best!

ashkins09

I agree with curliecoo. I've made two mistakes of cutting my hair out the 5 times of doing it myself. I'm thinking about going back to doing it myself since my hair is longer and it'll save money.
Make sure the scissors are made for hair or you'll get that thick texture feel on the ends. I cut my bangs short a week ago.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using CurlTalk App

JAJameson2010

Thanks! I did watch a few more videos online, but none of them really helped.

I ended up locking myself in the bathroom as soon as I got home. Did use the hair scissors but they weren't very sharp. I probably need to get a better pair.

I started with my length and kind of scrap cut in an upwards motion like the video said. I kept trying to do chunks that were too big and that didn't work out to well. It looked really nice just being cut when dry. I removed the three distinct layers that my hair did have have had me of a blended look throughout my whole head.

I washed and freaked out in the shower. Once my hair was wet you could feel how much was missing and that NOTHING was even and symmetrical.

Got out of the shower, put my hair stuff in, scrunched, then looked in the mirror. As soon as I scrunched everything looked pretty good.

BF came home and instantly asked how much I had asked to get chopped off. If he noticed that means it was a big difference! Plus my hair was all wet. I was missing about 5 inches in the back. He said it looked really good and even.

You should have seen the look on his face when we went into the bathroom and saw all my hair in the trash! He came flying out and told me to turn around again. LOL but he couldn't find anything wrong with it.

Once I diffused, it still looks great! I can probably add some even shorter layers in up top to get even more volume up there. I no longer have triangle hair! Everything looks so much better when it's all different lengths.

It's not often my half cocked crazy ideas actually with out. We need to mark this in the record books.

bringingcurliesback?

I am so happy to find someone else who likes the idea of cutting their own hair. Especially a curly haired person... the thing is devacuts are not exactly an option for some whether it be a financial reason or just because its hard to find an awesome stylist. It isn't fair that a curly client should have to pay more for his or her haircut because it takes more time and hard work to get it done correctly. I always get bad haircuts.
I have lots of links to help with that if you'd like! Right now I am quite a hypocrite as I got my long hair whacked off by the hairdresser (purposely of course) so I am waiting for it need a cut to start cutting it myself again.
I can send you links if you are interested do message me! And can you post a picture?

CurlieCoo

LOL, well hooray! SO glad this story ends with cheer and not tears. Congrats on such success! :thumbright:

curledlove

I've been cutting my own hair since I went natural. I went to a salon once and got a cut for $35,which isn't bad, but it was no different than when I do it myself. I basically flip my hair upside down, comb and gather the ends, and cut off about half an inch. Since my hair is so curly, you can't tell that it may be uneven. It actually looks really nicely layered. I do this about once every 6-8 months. I went natural in 2007. BCd (did it myself) in March of 09 and have been cutting my own hair since. From my ear length BC my hair is now BSL curly and very healthy.

JAJameson2010

bringingcurliesback? wrote: »

I am so happy to find someone else who likes the idea of cutting their own hair. Especially a curly haired person... the thing is devacuts are not exactly an option for some whether it be a financial reason or just because its hard to find an awesome stylist. It isn't fair that a curly client should have to pay more for his or her haircut because it takes more time and hard work to get it done correctly. I always get bad haircuts.
I have lots of links to help with that if you'd like! Right now I am quite a hypocrite as I got my long hair whacked off by the hairdresser (purposely of course) so I am waiting for it need a cut to start cutting it myself again.
I can send you links if you are interested do message me! And can you post a picture?

I would love links to other videos! I think the biggest part of my success was to cut each tiny little curl by itself. One snip never was able to change anything drastically. I'll upload a pic to post now. :-)

JAJameson2010

CurlieCoo wrote: »

LOL, well hooray! SO glad this story ends with cheer and not tears. Congrats on such success! :thumbright:

Thanks! No one could have seen that this could have turned out well.... LOL the odds are not with me!

JAJameson2010

curledlove wrote: »

I've been cutting my own hair since I went natural. I went to a salon once and got a cut for $35,which isn't bad, but it was no different than when I do it myself. I basically flip my hair upside down, comb and gather the ends, and cut off about half an inch. Since my hair is so curly, you can't tell that it may be uneven. It actually looks really nicely layered. I do this about once every 6-8 months. I went natural in 2007. BCd (did it myself) in March of 09 and have been cutting my own hair since. From my ear length BC my hair is now BSL curly and very healthy.

That sounds really easy! I'll hand to remember this the next time I need to remove length. I will be saving about $100 a year. I should go get more pedicures...

JAJameson2010

I'm thinking of adding in some short layers up top to get even more volume there. I was too chicken last night to do this.

CurlieCoo

Well my goodness, I never would have known that you cut it, by yourself, for the first time ever! I think it looks great!

Annie1980

I also learned how to cut my own hair in long layers. I watched A LOT of YouTube videos. When a professional cuts layers in, they start at the top/ crown area, they cut however much off of that area, and then, from there they use that as a reference. They hold it straight up, and then bring the rest of the hair, bit by bit, up to that 'guide hair' and cut it the same length. Sooo... I learned that if you do it yourself, you can gather all of your hair, bring it straight up, and wherever u want to cut, you ( carefully) put a hair tie to mark it, making sure your hair is perfectly straight/ even, or else itll come out weird. I was reluctant to do it, but once I did, I now have nice layers and its all even. I think it's cool when we can learn how to do it ourselves

Morgan_Adcock

I recommend the cutting techniques described, illustrated, and videoed in Curly Girl: The Handbook (also available here). I've followed them and been happier with my self-cuts than most cuts by hair stylists.

ETA that I realize I'm a day late and a dollar short.

Morgan_Adcock

It isn't fair that a curly client should have to pay more for his or her haircut because it takes more time and hard work to get it done correctly.

I don't have any problem with paying somebody more for more of their time and overhead expenses, or paying them more because they've made the investments (money, time, and experience) required to become better at cutting curly hair. To me, that's fair.

JAJameson2010

Morgan_Adcock wrote: »

I recommend the cutting techniques described, illustrated, and videoed in Curly Girl: The Handbook (also available here). I've followed them and been happier with my self-cuts than most cuts by hair stylists.

ETA that I realize I'm a day late and a dollar short.

Your not too late! You reminded me that I should buy and read this book.... I keep meaning to and haven't yet

JAJameson2010

Morgan_Adcock wrote: »

It isn't fair that a curly client should have to pay more for his or her haircut because it takes more time and hard work to get it done correctly.

I don't have any problem with paying somebody more for more of their time and overhead expenses, or paying them more because they've made the investments (money, time, and experience) required to become better at cutting curly hair. To me, that's fair.

I don't mind paying more, but I do mind paying and never really liking my hair cut

poeykins

Edit

soylaivana

My mom follows this method to cut her hair but while she has the exact hair type as me (3a curls, tends to get frizzy), she straigthens hers and dyes it so I didn't know how it would look on curly hair. It looks amazing on straight hair and from the looks of it it also works on curls :thumright:.

I wonder how much you need to cut to make the haircut work though, I don't want my hair to be much shorter but would appreciate having some layers.

curlicious13

I've tried cutting my own hair & that didn't work at all. My hair looked a hot mess. I got a deva cut & loved it.