Do-It-Yourself Haircuts

I have the same haircut now as I did when I was three. This wasn't intentional -- I found out by accident as I was rummaging through an old box of photos recently. This amusing coincidence probably would never have happened if I hadn't started cutting my own hair.

Hair at age 3....and at age 34 (Photo by Joshua Richey)

Do-it-yourself hair began about a year ago for me. One morning in the bathroom I caught my reflection in the medicine cabinet mirror and realized that I looked entirely unlike the "me" I was internally. At the time my hair fell well past my shoulders, in a non-committal sort of style I had been tolerating for years. There was nothing wrong with it. My medium brown, long, straight hair was just as good as the next person's. But that was the problem-- it could have been anyone's. My hair was attractive unto itself, but it didn't add any depth to how I expressed individuality in my appearance.

I knew, right then, that it was time to cut it off. I had been tiptoeing around the idea for months. My stylist, a gorgeous girl with long chestnut locks that swung around her shoulders like a Pantene commercial, had not been encouraging. She would squint her eyes when I'd mention going short and say, "But it's so pretty long! Let's just put in some highlights, maybe razor some layers around your face, if you want a change."

Highlights weren't going to fulfill me this time, scissors were. Except that I didn't know of a stylist who would really get the look I was going for, even with pictures in hand. My relationship with beauty experts has always been a bit tentative. For me, finding a real connection with someone is as rare in beauty as it is in love.

I walked into the next room where my boyfriend (now ex, although not because of this hair thing) was sitting with his daily cup of coffee and asked, "Would you help me cut my hair off?" He was reticent at first, ("What if I cut it too short? You'll kill me!") but he eventually agreed. He was very brave. I rubber banded my hair into a low ponytail and pointed "cut here, about two inches down from the base of my ponytail."

As this was a spontaneous act, the only scissors available were the kitchen scissors, and they were none too sharp at that moment. The sleek chop I had envisioned became a wildly variable hack job with an oddly asymmetrical appearance. It was a disaster! My heart pounded as I cut further into my wild woman hair to try to make it look okay. My efforts were less than successful.

I lived in barrettes and a headband for a week, trimming a bit here, a bit there until I finally accepted that something must be done. I needed help and it was time to call in a professional. I gave myself over to fate, walked into a cool Santa Monica salon and asked for the next stylist available. The receptionist shuttled me off to a rebellious looking 20-year-old whose hair was completely covered by a beret. I took off my headband, unclipped my barrettes and showed her what I had done. I knew we would get along fine when she grinned and told me she thought it was awesome that I cut my own hair and that I had done a really good job for doing it myself, for the first time, with kitchen scissors. She trimmed up the back some, encouraged me to keep on going, and sent me on my way.

My ensuing hair odyssey has been less than smooth sailing. I don't recommend it for everyone, as it can be an emotional challenge at times. Along the way I have cut some horrendous bangs. In a moment of blind confidence, I was trying to reshape my whole hairstyle and ended up resembling a suburban soccer mother who had just come out as a lesbian. When things get really dicey I return to my 20ish rebel at the cool Santa Monica salon and she fixes me the best she can. Fortunately, the world is full of headbands and each disaster I create always grows out, eventually.

I'm pretty happy with my hair these days. It has sort of gradually settled into a Dorothy Hamill-meets-Louise Brooks style that I am doing well at maintaining. I still need help sometimes, but I am surprised at how much I like fiddling with my hair, and how much freedom comes with knowing I can cut it myself.

Comments

[fleaba]

I love how your hair looks, plus you are so pretty.
I cut my own hair often, with not always great results, but hey, I don't have the time or inclination to sit in those stuffy salons, listening to other women whine. Plus I always feel so out of my element when I go in to those foo-foo salons. And don't get me started on the price. I would love to have a haircut buddy, so that we could swap.

By the way, there is a great book out about coloring your own hair by Lorri Goddard Clark.
I have not actually tried the recipes, but I think the woman knows what she's talking about as she has done hair for many in Hollywood. Check out the website. I found the book at the library, but it isn't too expensive and it's very easy to use.
http://www.lorrigoddardclark.com/

[gfk]

With a face that gorgeous, you could go bald and look beautiful.

[choppedliver]

Your hair looks great -- but you DID require professional assistance.

I cut my own hair for years. I decided to go to a stylist before a trip to China last fall. My hair looks so much better in those photos than any from the previous five years that I know for sure it's worth the trouble and expense to let my new stylist do it.

I was lucky enough to find someone who had a firm opinion about what would look good. Every few months I let her have her way with me, and I have never gotten so many compliments about my hair! That stylist and I have very little in common and our conversations are less than fascinating -- but I will keep coming back, and hope she never leaves!!!

[isisdawnra]

Cutting your own hair just is not as easy as it looks............or sounds.

Your lucky if it just looks choppy......And the the best case scenario

My advice is to watch fresh new haircuts come out the door of a salon.

Note the color , the length of the hair and maybe what color top or jacket they wore out.

Then you can well describe the client...... then ask for that stylist.

[nastyvirus]

Or save the money and cut the hair yourself. Unfortunately, this would put you out of business.

[Kevbo68]

Cute kid. Beautiful woman.

While I enjoy having a young female running her hands through my hair at the salon, I relish the arrival of summer when I can get out the clippers my parents bought with green stamps around the time I was born. On goes the tallest guide on the trimmer and off goes all my hair, save for a half-inch. It's a money saver and totally liberating from my normal thick waves. The upkeep is easy, i.e. there's none at all. I wish you gals could share the experience. It takes a year or two off your age also.

Plus it looks much better with the thinning hair on top of my head and my motorcycle helmet fits better.

[Triangle1]

I can cut my own hair and clean up the mess in less than 15 minutes. I need my hair cut about every other week. To get a haircut (I'm a guy) I need to drive to a salon, sit there for half an hour waiting, step onto someone else's hair to get into a chair, undergo scrutiny while feeling like I'm being picky, it usually isn't done right, I pay $10-20 plus a tip, then drive 15 minutes back, clip the missed hairs off and take a shower. For less than $20 I bought a pair of electric hair clippers years ago. Every couple years for no good reason, I'll have my hair cut by a "professional." It never looks the way I want it. It costs almost $500 a year to have it cut wrong by a professional. Now I spend $20 on a new pair of clippers every 5 years. You need a bathroom mirror and a hand mirror to see the back. You can EASILY Google (or cuil) "how to cut my own hair" videos. They have them on youtube. Watch how your stylist is cutting your hair. It's best to cut a little, then be able to cut more, than to cut a lot and have nowhere to go (if you mess up).

[hphoenix]

Warning: this could be habit forming. I've been mostly cutting my own hair for 50 years, and got really serious about it after the last AmericanBeautyQueenCirca1958 cut I got. That was the last straw! Every few years I try a salon for a few times, and just give up because it looks better when I do it. Saves me $100+ a month these days.

[scooperss]

I started cutting my own hair when I was 16. My mother wanted me to leave my hair long but I couldn't stand it. Long curly blond ringlets looked good when I was 6 but my face outgrew them and so off they went.
I only quit when my fingers and hands got too stiff for me to feel comfortable with my scissors.
But I really miss cutting my own hair.....no appointments and any mess I claimed as my own (sometimes to laughter).

BTW, you look MAHVELOUS.

[AtomiClash]

I've cut my own hair for going on 6 years now. It's really fulfilling and you take all the anxiety out of the haircut. You're the only one responsible for your hair and the way it makes you look and feel. And the best part - it's free! Plus, as my mother always says, there is no such thing as a bad haircut, it always grows.

[Marlyn]

"my mother always says, there is no such thing as a bad haircut"

I've got to disagree with your mother.

[land]

i encourage more people to do this.
NOBODY under $100 seems to understand that men's hair shouldn't look like a laser cut helmet. when i ask for soft organic transitions from hair to no hair (at the edges/hairline) they nod and do what they please.
when i was younger and finally forbade my mother from cutting my hair, she would take me to one of those big chain affordable hair salons only to find that the barely certified hairdressers there had about as much skill as a first grader with construction paper and waaaaay less style than my own mom.
getting my hair cut was always a toxin producing frenzy for my body and soul. so by high school I had grown so sick of this i took to doing my own hair. this was at the beginning of the choppy is acceptable and even hip development in hair trends so it allowed for a cushy introduction to DIY haircuts. by now ive gotten to know my own texture, cranial shape and all those personal things that a good hairdresser should know about you, and that the big chain clippers never bothered to pay attention to.

[curly2]

A few years ago I decided to go from hair halfway down my back to hair 1/2 inch long. I went to a stylist, who took me to short but refused to go to the length I wanted. Two days later I was back in the chair, at an Aveda beauty school where they'll do anything you want, you just need to ask. I walked out with the short short hair I wanted.

I'm not brave enough to cut my own but to those who are-- you rock! You understand that it's hair- it will grow back.

[dlc1]

Get a Flowbee . . . I have been using one for about 15 years and love it!

[sleepless]

I have semi curly hair and a cowlick that only I understand (it always means right side dries shorter than left, which I hate). Every time I trim my hair I say my mantra: 'It's my hair'. After years of looking I found Eddie, who does a great job. But even early into one of his cuts I am there claiming control. My husband says it is my hobby. My ok fixes have outnumbered my disasters. Now I cut my dog's hair too.

[Ariadne]

I cut my own bangs all the time but I am too afraid to try to cut a style myself. It would be great to be more confident to try because I also don't enjoy salons and always wait too long to go.

[hartkid]

you are a beautiful woman.