fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #3651 ]

[ SECRET POST #3651 ]

⌈ Secret Post #3651 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

__________________________________________________

02.

__________________________________________________

03.

__________________________________________________

04.

__________________________________________________

05.

__________________________________________________

06.

__________________________________________________

07.

__________________________________________________

08.

__________________________________________________

09.

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 52 secrets from Secret Submission Post #522.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thanks for the heads up.

My hair is straight as a stick and I keep it long with no layers. It's boob length and I'm hoping to get it to shoulder length.

That's it? That should be ridiculously easy to do on yourself.

You could accomplish your hair goal just by gathering it into a ponytail tied off at about the length you're looking for with a hair tie around the bottom to act as a gauge. Then just chop the whole thing off an inch or so below the desired length, and do an all over trim afterward to get any uneven bits or strands you may have missed.

Bam. Not an overly fancy cut, but you will have managed to do exactly what you wanted.

NO PLEASE DON'T DO THIS. I have no personal problem with you, Herpy, but oh my gosh doing this will create more than just a tiny bit of uneven length. Overdirecting the hair causes MASSIVE changes in length from back to front.

I'm going to respectfully suggest that as a cosmetologist, I don't doubt your word, but that maybe to most non-cosmetologists, the less-than-professional result cutting your hair isn't really the huge tragedy that you seem to view it as.

I totally get that, believe me, but trust me when I say that cutting a ponytail to get a straight line actually is that big of a deal. Like 'up to a four inch difference in length from the back to the front' kind of a big deal depending on your hair.

EDIT to clarify: Also, while I actually do see some pretty horrible hair cuts that the people in question don't have a problem with (I have cut a mullet intentionally, worst day ever), particularly with home jobs, I am still being slightly over the top for effect and not 'no if you cut your hair at home I WILL LITERALLY DIE'

Edited 2017-01-01 22:15 (UTC)

But you went full capslock even without knowing what technique OP was considering. I'm not sure exaggerating "for effect" is really helpful. Why not just be honest and more accurate about the possible repercussions?

I went full capslock on the ponytail technique saying please don't do this but elsewhere I left detailed instructions on the best way to cut your hair at home so I think I achieved 'honest and accurate' there.

As for why? Because honestly it's been a really long time since I was on FS and I'm tired and have an aggressive need for people to like me and I figured if I played up 'melodramatic overreaction' (from my perspective it was clear, so I thought everyone else knew too, so my fault but that was where I was coming from) it would look less like 'snooty hairstylist wants you to pay money' and more like 'professional who can goof around' and did I mention I am tired bcause I don't think I'm making sense even here.

Re: Cutting your own hair

(Anonymous) - 2017-01-01 22:34 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Cutting your own hair

nonnymouscawitz - 2017-01-01 22:37 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Cutting your own hair

diet_poison - 2017-01-02 00:01 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Cutting your own hair

(Anonymous) - 2017-01-02 04:44 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Cutting your own hair

(Anonymous) - 2017-01-02 05:15 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Cutting your own hair

nonnymouscawitz - 2017-01-02 11:01 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Cutting your own hair

diet_poison - 2017-01-03 20:31 (UTC) - Expand

And I don't have any personal problem with you, but acting like people are too incompetent to trim their own hair when it's at shoulder length is kind of laughable.

So I hate text instead of chat but as I clarified in my other comment, I am being slightly melodramatic on purpose. Apologies, I think I'm funny but no one else does, not even my friends, so you are not alone!

But I don't think anon is incompetent. I gave them detailed instructions on the best way to cut your hair. But pulling your hair into a ponytail to cut it is something I have actually done. Recently, for a donation. And for what anon wants, one length at their shoulders, cutting that way is going to give them the complete opposite result. Pulling the hair back towards the back for a ponytail means you're overdirecting the hair, creating more length in the front. The back pieces would have very choppy layering from gathering in the ponytail and the front pieces would be noticibly, dramatically longer, more like an angled bob than a one length cut. So it sounds like an easy way to achieve the result, but would actually create more work.

Well... see, I think we're coming at this solution from different angles. I respect your training, definitely. I'm quite sure you can give a better haircut on another person than I can (although I do pretty routinely cut and color other people's hair I'm definitely an amateur).

From a DIY first timer perspective (I've literally been cutting my own hair for about ten years now), getting a reasonably even length all around is going to be hard if you try to free hand it. I know the ponytail method is going to result in a longer front and shorter back, but it's a lot easier to deal with extra length in the front than it is in the back.

Anyway tl;dr I get where you're coming from now and I hope you also see my side of the coin.

Yeah, explained that way I see it. I just worried without that clarification anon was going to try the ponytail method expecting an easy straight cut and I panicked a bit. I really, really should not be typing detailed nonsense when I haven't slept much, but I saw the question and I was like 'YES THIS IS THE ONE THING I AM GOOD AT I CAN CONTRIBUTE GIVE ME POSITIVE ATTENTION.' It's been that kind of week.

So hey who wants to start and over/under on how weird and uneven Herpy's hair looks?

I am really tired and I'm not sure if it looks like I'm snapping at you or not (I swear I'm not) so I'm just going to apologize anyway just in case. I am trying to be friendly, not irritating, but I am having some major focus issues so I think I'm failing.

Hey, stop beating yourself up. That one anon with the capslock was being an overly nitpicky ass. Fwiw I thought your advice was helpful AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH USING CAPS TO EMPHASIZE STUFF.

Re: Cutting your own hair

nonnymouscawitz - 2017-01-02 11:03 (UTC) - Expand

you are right about the ponytail thing. I cut off my ponytail in a fit of teenage angst once, and my only choice for fixing it was to get an A bob. I remember the hair stylist being exasperated with me for doing it lmao.

Yeahhh.... I have seen a small handful of 'thanks I did it myself' that looked just like it was done in a salon (and, to be fair, a few 'a STYLIST did this to you???' cuts/colors), but often I am not surprised when someone says they cut their own hair, because I've already seen the evidence. The ponytail thing drives every stylist I know nuts because it's so common. We do it for donation because you have to keep the hair together, but then it's such a pain to fix the cut, and now there are all these 'save money!' 'Stylists HATE her!' tutorials out there revolving around one or multiple ponytails. Overdirection is really easy to get wrong.

I've done the teenage angst cuts too, though! from past my shoulders to a chin bob in my bathroom, no idea how I didn't mangle that.

I cut my hair this way (because I'm cheap) and the other commenter is right: it will be uneven. But uneven with no split ends, which is what I'm going for since I usually braid or pin up my hair when I'm doing 'tidy'.

Okay. So. Really really REALLY suggest you go to a professional, that is always my first thing, but I acknowledge that finances and transportation and mistrust are all valid things so.

IF you are going to do this, you will need: 1) A mirror and/or a friend to help you because again, you CANNOT see the back and you don't want to secretly have jacked up hair. 2) SHARP scissors meant for hair. Kitchen scissors are huge and clunky and if your shears aren't sharp enough the hair will bend and cutting a straight line will be a bitch. 3) a comb, duh. 4) clips!

Section your hair into three sections according to your part line (So for example if you part down the middle, your first two sections will be from the Apex of your head to behind your ear with the middle separating them), and then the back as your third section. It is best if you cut hair layer by layer, so, let down a small section at the bottom, as straight as you can, cut that, and then bring the next down. If you want hair to curve under, cut that ever so slightly longer than the bottom and keep cutting this way. Do the back section first, then the front, layer by layer. If you part to the side, the heavier side with more hair may look longer without actually being longer. This is okay! But cut to your comfort. If you are going for shoulder length, remember your shoulders will push up your hair if it touches them and you may feel it curls or twists awkwardly because of this. If cutting wet (please cut wet), make sure you leave a half an inch to an inch longer so when it dries you don't panic that it's too short. (especially true for bangs which often have cowlicks that make them bounce!) If you are cutting bangs, point cut with the tips of the scissors rather than cutting straight across and getting school girl bangs.

If you do not frequently wear short hair, i recommend cutting longer than shoulders and working your way up because some people panic.

This is really hard to explain without visuals so please do not be afraid to come to me with any questions! I paid 17,000 dollars to learn this I am thrilled to get to talk about it.

Not OP - this is really useful. Thanks!

You're welcome! I really enjoy talking about my career, and I was worried I'd gotten a bit rambly, so I'm glad someone got something out of it!

I actually have a question about haircutting!
See, I have curly hair, and I am kind of tired of incompetent stylists who say they know how to cut curls, but really don't. I'm in America, where it seems curly hair is just less common, and I really don't want a lousy haircut again :(
How can I find the people who *do* know what to do and will make my hair look good? This is especially crucial because I wear it short, so the haircut can make a huge difference...

This is a problem I see frequently, and as a woman with straight hair in an area without a whole lot of curly haired clientele, I try to make it my business to research curl. Not everyone does that, unfortunately, and it can be difficult to find someone. I've absolutely had curly haired people in my chair who are super nervous.

It can be hard to tell with stylists because we are trained not to let on if we are struggling, bevause it makes clients uneasy. A good stylist will be upfront and honest with you (I try to be) but a lot of us will try to fix the damage ourselves first. There is a reason there's still a pretty big racial divide in styling, and it's not entirely unwarranted.

My suggestion is to find someone who sounds like they know what they're talking about. I work in a relatively cheap salon that still has great stylists, but the saying in our industry is "you get what you pay for" so avoid chop shops like great clips where the goal is to have you out in fifteen minutes and move on. If you can find a stylist who HAS curly hair, great! In bigger areas there are salons that cater almost exclusively to black clients, (thanks to that unfortunately often true stereotype that white people don't know how to cut curly hair) and I don't know your ethnicity but if you have a tighter curl you might want to check that out. If that's not an option, find a stylist who will consult with you thoroughly first (we should all do this but unfortunately we don't ) and who listens to your concerns. They should be able to tell you exactly what they're going to do to your hair and why. I've cut curly hair wet before, and you can do it with some kinds of curl, but if you've had had experiences I'd recommend finding someone who will cut your hair dry. (Some types of curl should ONLY be cut dry)

Ugh I'm mobile and it's six am (why doed anyone need hair done at 8 in the morning on a monday GO TO BED) So please ask if any of that was confusing or if you feel I didn't really answer your question.

Thanks for the suggestions! Looking for a curly-haired stylist is definitely a good idea (so obvious, almost, yet I didn't think of it!). My hair isn't curled tightly like black hair. My stylist back home cuts it wet - but then, she has curly hair herself, and many curly-haired clients, and has never given me a bad haircut.
But I will look around and see if there is somebody who can cut it dry, so at least I'll know more about what they're doing and how it'll look.

My issue is that a lot of the salons aren't very accessible to me :( and some of the nicer ones are quite expensive, and I just don't know if they'll really do a good job for that price, or also a mediocre cut, and then it'll just be money down the drain... ugh. I do love my hair, it's great hair, but difficult to find people here to treat it right.

aaaaaaaaaaand I completely didn't notice that I wasn't logged in -_-

Thanks for the answer, though!

No problem! If you've had a wet cut before and it came out good you should be fine with a wet cut but dry cutting takes out all the guess work of "how much will this curl bounce up?"

Definitely check out reviews for salons you near you (with a grain of salt of course, as with anything). If they have a Facebook page, they'll have pictures of their best work and what stylists did it so you can get a feel for their skill. Unfortunately price isn't always an indicator but there should be ways to check them out beforehand.

I'm so glad you love your hair, though! It makes me so sad how many curly haired clients I have insisting I dry it straight because they hate their hair so much.