Haircuts During The Pandemic

When everything shut down and no one could get their hair done, people accepted that but after a while, some got desperate and decided to do it themselves.  Of course if someone wanted to cut their hair, dye it, or perm it, they immediately checked TikTok or YouTube for instructional videos or they just decided to go for it.

One day, I came across two different hair dressers who scour youtube or tiktok for fails so they can provide information on doing things correctly.  In the space of a couple of days, I learned so much about what not to do.  

I'll start with one of the more popular methods shared in regard to cutting your own hair.  It is referred to as the "ponytail method" and can be done in one of two ways.  The first way is to divide your hair into two pigtails that are each secured with an elastic set just above the length you want to cut at.  Then you take your scissors and cut the hair off, just below the elastic.  It sounds easy but it doesn't work at all.  What happens is that the hair is about the right length in the front but it goes longer as you go to the back.  It is almost like the head of an arrow.  

The other way is to bend over so you can gather your hair into a ponytail above your head.  Again, gather the hair with an elastic set just above where you want to cut it.  You cut just below the elastic and in theory you end up with a nicely layered cut but what you end up with is chunks.  The other problem with either of these is that the hair tends to be a bit shorter than expected when the extra weight is taken off.  This little fact is often forgotten when people trim their bangs.  People often cut their bangs exactly where they want them to be and once they've removed one or more inches, their bangs end up a lot shorter than expected.  

Fortunately, there are methods you can do to trim your hair at home.  One of the first things one must do is invest in a proper pair of styling sheers instead of using a pair of kitchen sheers.  Unfortunately, kitchen sheers are often dull and they can cause  additional split ends.  Styling sheers are sharp and designed to cut hair.

Next, take off less than you think you want to take off.  Remember, it is easier to take off additional hair than put it back if you take off too much.  This is especially important to consider when you cut your hair while wet because once it dries the length is going to be shorter. Now if you have straight hair, it is good to cut it while wet but if your hair is wavy or curly, you need to cut it while dry because it gives you a better idea of how the final cut will look.  In addition, if you bring your hair to the front so half is on one side and the other half on the other side, you need to decide if you will trim it straight across or at a bit of an angle depending on what you want for a finished look.

Now if it is possible, have a friend help you trim your hair because they can see the whole effect but if you have to do it yourself, try to set up several mirrors so you can see the whole effect and not just the view from the front. When you use multiple mirrors, you get a more 3 dimensional view. 

Before you begin cutting your hair, wash it and condition it well before making sure it is completely dry.  Then brush your hair, getting rid of all the tangles. Use clips to help section the hair as you trim it with a proper pair of scissors.  When you use the scissors, use only the tips rather than the body to have better control.  

If you have long hair, section your hair using clips.  Bring one section forward at a time and remove one quarter to one half inch of hair but start with a smaller amount than you want.  Once you trim the hair, snip the edges to add a bit of texture. This video does a nice job of explaining how to do it.  On the other hand if you have short hair, let someone else do the cutting so that you don't have too much taken off.  Many of the videos I've found that are decent, are actually on cutting men's hair, not women's.  If your hair is curly, you'll need to trim each curl at an angle while it is still dry to make sure it's all looks good together.

If you decide to look at Youtube for suggestions on cutting your hair yourself, make sure it doesn't have you divide your hair into a single or double ponytail, secured with elastic bands before telling you to cut it straight across below the band.  Look for one that addresses sectioning and cutting the sections for a more professional look.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.