Sunday, September 16, 2007

How not to cut your own hair

My husband clips his own hair. My son has difficult cowlicks, so we have his hair cut with a coupon. I can stretch the time between his cuts by careful home trimming; it takes about two months until it loses its original style.

Tonight was our trimming night. Following my mother-in-law's tradition, we cut hair outside. As my son started to balk at the itchy trimmings, I had a wild hare. "Andrew, would you like to cut Mommy's hair?"

My mom has nagged me to get a hair cut no less than 10 times each visit. Another week has passed, and no appointment.

Hadn't I read instructions in the Momadvice blog last month? I was supposed to pull my hair into a low ponytail and make an even cut. The pull of the ponytail would create all the undercutting I needed.
Hmmm. Maybe I should have done a little more research.

  • Despite the resurgence of leggings, this is not the '80s. Make sure your ponytail does not list to one side, Punky.
  • A towel around the neck is a good thing. Now you know why your son was crying.
  • Don't let the toddler stand on the concrete step and lose her balance just when the kindergartener is making the critical cut. It is impossible to cut evenly when you are both trying to save her.
  • Scratch that last one. No kindergartener can cut evenly. Make sure both children are in bed, asleep, before you try any more frugal experiments.

My hair is too wet for the "after" shot, so I'll have to leave you in suspense. Let's hope everything looks better in the morning.

Do you think my husband will even notice?

22 comments:

nannykim said...

hmm, verdddy in-ta-resting, NOW you better show us the picture of the results!

Karla Porter Archer said...

i've thought about doing this too... maybe I'll do some more research first too.

Blessings,
Karla

Anonymous said...

Meredith, this is HILARIOUS (the "wild hare" pun, the photos, and your list of cautions)! I'm hoping to see the complete "after" shot. Or, did you go somewhere like Great Clips to get everything evened up? Desert Lady

It's a Mom Thing said...

oh wow. at least it's hair and it will grow back. i think you would like too cute with a bob.

Tamara said...

I am literally cracking up! You are hilarious! AND BRAVE!

Alexandra said...

Love to see the after pictures! ;) Too funny, actually he did a pretty good job for his age!

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

All I can say is you're one brave woman!

Mary said...

I tried a similar thing with my bangs. It didn't work. And then I had to have my driver's license renewed and live with that bad hair day memorialized for a couple years. My suggestion for cutting your son's hair? Dust his neck with baby powder first. Helps with the itchiness.

Martha said...

Too funny! I have had similar - and lived to tell about it! :) This too shall pass - or should we say - This too shall grow back.

Eagerly awaiting after pics.

Jane

Monica Wilkinson said...

Meredith - you are one brave Mama!

Jenn @ Frugal Upstate said...

Yes indeed-a brave woman!

I'm betting it didn't wind up as bad as it could be-and I'm also betting that the lovely DH didn't notice-men are a bit slow on that sort of thing. . . .

Betty Canuck said...

I can't believe you did this! LOL!

Oh, I hope it isn't too bad!

This is one area where I don't frugalize! I only get 2 cuts a year (tops) and I'll go to the budget hair dresser but I won't... let anyone else cut my hair!

Michele Moore said...

You are just the bravest thing! I have cut my bangs and had it turn out terrible. I have cut my husband's and son's hair, but since they just want it mostly shaved off it is hard to mess up. But, I don't think I would EVER let my son cut my hair.

But, if it is really bad you can always go get it fixed. I guess now that I think about it, there have been times I have paid a good amount of money for an awful haircut. So, maybe it won't be that bad.

OH, hurry and post the after picture, it is like a car wreck, I am scared of what I will see, but I just have to look. :)

Michele

Anonymous said...

Smiles! You will have one confident little man! Good for you.

deb meyers

Anonymous said...

I have never heard of this ponytail method. Maybe the ponytail could have been a bit lower to start with (and the cut a bit straighter, though your son did a pretty good job with cutting through that thickness!). I like your willingness to go for it.

My husband used to cut my hair and the results were usually pretty good. Nowadays I go to Great Clips with a coupon.

Kim C. said...

I used to cut my own hair when I was a teen and thought it looked pretty good.
I tried again in my late 20's and had to make an emergency trip to hubby's barber. She actually laughed at me.
Now I have to wonder how my hair *really* looked through my teen years. There are mercifully few photos to provide evidence.

Anonymous said...

You crack me up! How wonderful that you go through life with such a wonderful sense of humour and are not full of yourself. :)

ancient one said...

You are so funny!! I saw the finish picture at the top of your blog and it turned out great! Congrats on a great hair cut!!

Anonymous said...

For my DIY layered haircut, I make the ponytail on the TOP of my head!

Anonymous said...

I couldn't help but laugh because not only do I cut my own hair, but I wore a side ponytail in the 80's! I grew up with letting my Mom cut my hair, and try as she might, she couldn't do layers. It resulted in my had first above the neck cut and since I have curly hair, it actually looked pretty cute. (Those were the Jennifer Aniston hair days)
Now when I feel like a layered cut I start with a ponytail on top and work my way down, depending on how many layers I care to do.
I'll have to try the baby powder thing for my sons next time we do haircuts.
Thanks for making me laugh!

Anonymous said...

Oh no! For next time, your ponytail wasn't low enough! Put your hair down, and gather a really low ponytail (like, at the nape of the neck), and then slowly and evenly pull the ponytail holder down your hair... until it's at the length you want. (go a little longer the first time just to be sure!), then cut the tip of the ponytail off, either on the bottom or the top of the ponytail holder.

That's how I cut my hair, and I have waist length hair. :) It turns out even, at least as far as anyone can tell and that's all I care about! :)

Anonymous said...

I'm a guy. I cut my own hair because the stylist has messed up too many times. I think short (guy) hair is harder to deal with. It shows the shape of the head a lot more and can be messed up beyond fix in a snap. I've talked to girls who honestly believe long (girl) hair is harder to deal with. What do you think?