The Undercut Thread!

[olivetime]

I know undercuts are not popular here but I figured we could have a thread anyways! Feel free to post pictures or stories, the good and the bad!

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e42/olivetime/Photo07161_zpswphoe6e5.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/olivetime/media/Photo07161_zpswphoe6e5.jpg.html)
Here is mine! My undercut is one of the 2 reasons I don't chop all of my hair off. Layers and less hair gives my length nice movement. It's also a fun way to measure growth! My hair grew 3/4 inch in the last 4 weeks! One day I will grow it out...maybe :rolleyes:

[Ophidian]

I had one for a long time with shorter hair. I've really been missing it lately and I'm not crazy about the scruffy nape hairs that never seem to grow longer than a few inches and get caught in my collars. Hmmmmm......

[akurah]

I've always loved the look of undercuts. And always wanted one.

I can almost guarantee I'd never get one, because I'm hella lazy and don't like having to do things like either trimming the undercut myself or paying someone else to do it. And if I did do it, and decided not to maintain? I can imagine growing it out would be a royal pain.

The laziness in general is part, but not the primary, reason my hair is long. I can get away with doing nothing to it beyond a quick bun or braid, and so many short hairstyles require you to do something time consuming to it, like deliberately style it. Or deliberately dry it so it's not sticking straight up cause you slept on it funny while damp.

[Wreckinbelle]

I'm so glad that you started this :joy: I hope to see lot's of pictures! This is my avatar pic aaand from a month or so a go but its the only good shot I have of my 360 undercut. I looove my undercut because, like you, I have soo much hair. This cut has made it so I can comfortably continue growing my hair to classic. I love the look of undercuts, I love the feel of baby fresh hair when it starts to grow out, I love the feeling of the shower, the wind, the rain and the sun on my scalp. Plus my husband adores it and that's a big plus!

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/wreckinbelle/e25abac4-5a3f-4749-a257-73283d874341_zpscu5fxwpe.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/wreckinbelle/media/e25abac4-5a3f-4749-a257-73283d874341_zpscu5fxwpe.jpg.html)

[Cherriezzzzz]

My hair isn't undercut but I had to post anyway for this funny thought I've entertained. My hair is very thick but in the reverse of a regular balding man's type hair. So to make any difference in my thickness with an "undercut" I'd have to cut the mohawk strip on my head! Hehe!

[Wreckinbelle]

My hair isn't undercut but I had to post anyway for this funny thought I've entertained. My hair is very thick but in the reverse of a regular balding man's type hair. So to make any difference in my thickness with an "undercut" I'd have to cut the mohawk strip on my head! Hehe!

My friend (Olivetime) sent me a picture of someone with THAT cut that she found on Google images!! ahahaha

[Aredhel]

Beautiful undercuts ladies! :D I wish my hair was thick enough for one, I love the way they look! If I were to get one though, I'd have suuuper thin hair, which would not look good on me. :p I think my favourite shaved look is the side shave, with a tattooed scalp... one of my dream looks.

[lucid]

Wreckongbelle, I can't get over how thick your hair is, and it looks so shiny and healthy! And the undercut is cool as well.

Olivetime: Really cool shape!

I wanted a side cut for a long time, but I won't sacrifice my thickness for it - I'm already on the lower end of ii amd 1a makes it appear thinner as well compared to wavy/curly hair. Oh well :p

[Rowdy]

I just cut one into my BFF's hair! She has an over 5" pony and can't stand hair touching her neck so she loves it. I'm hoping that now she will let her canopy hair grow a little bit so I can do cute short hair braids :D

[Wreckinbelle]

I've always loved the look of undercuts. And always wanted one.

I can almost guarantee I'd never get one, because I'm hella lazy and don't like having to do things like either trimming the undercut myself or paying someone else to do it. And if I did do it, and decided not to maintain? I can imagine growing it out would be a royal pain.

The laziness in general is part, but not the primary, reason my hair is long. I can get away with doing nothing to it beyond a quick bun or braid, and so many short hairstyles require you to do something time consuming to it, like deliberately style it. Or deliberately dry it so it's not sticking straight up cause you slept on it funny while damp.

I hear ya! I'm fortunate enough that my husband takes care of the maintenance <3 I don't think I'll ever go back. Plus I also kinda like it when it grows out a bit (though I do prefer it bicked!)

[Wreckinbelle]

Wreckongbelle, I can't get over how thick your hair is, and it looks so shiny and healthy! And the undercut is cool as well.

Olivetime: Really cool shape!

I wanted a side cut for a long time, but I won't sacrifice my thickness for it - I'm already on the lower end of ii amd 1a makes it appear thinner as well compared to wavy/curly hair. Oh well :p

Hey! Thank you for the compliments <3 It, for sure, is thick! That's why I like my shave so much; I had a lot of head and neck aches before and now...NONE of that..well not hair related anyway ;) Have you ever tried any of the faux shave braided hairstyles? I think they look so cool.

[Wreckinbelle]

I just cut one into my BFF's hair! She has an over 5" pony and can't stand hair touching her neck so she loves it. I'm hoping that now she will let her canopy hair grow a little bit so I can do cute short hair braids :D


No hair touching my neck is also one of my fave things! As well as not getting foundation in the hair at my temples! I can just blend to my ears if I want :) Maybe she would allow you to post a pic?

[Wreckinbelle]

Beautiful undercuts ladies! :D I wish my hair was thick enough for one, I love the way they look! If I were to get one though, I'd have suuuper thin hair, which would not look good on me. :p I think my favourite shaved look is the side shave, with a tattooed scalp... one of my dream looks.

I've seen one or two inch ones that I thought were cute. But you could also do, like, viking braids on the sides! That would be awesome!

[Wreckinbelle]

I had one for a long time with shorter hair. I've really been missing it lately and I'm not crazy about the scruffy nape hairs that never seem to grow longer than a few inches and get caught in my collars. Hmmmmm......

I do love not having those fine little hairs at the back of my neck...no pressure but I totally wanna see pics if you decided to <3 :)

[lapushka]

So far the only 2 pics of undercuts have been from people with ii/iii or iii hair. I wonder if it's a thickness issue. I know I can't do much with my hair at shorter lengths as far as putting it up in a bun goes. So there's the temptation to do that. I had to wait until hip length to be able to do a bun. So I totally get why there's this urge to do an undercut. I once had one (19 years old), but it was bald and on a jaw length bob (it didn't look that great). People thought I was sick. :( Yeah. Great. And boy the pain of growing that out! No, never again. I guess it's just not for me. I tried once, though, if that counts. ;)

[Decemberrose]

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27353&d=1495384544

This is mine ;) my boyfriend trims it down to 3 mm once a month.
I really like that no neckhairs fall out of updoes, and no sweatty hairs on my neck this summer :cool: Yay!

[Wreckinbelle]

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27353&d=1495384544

This is mine ;) my boyfriend trims it down to 3 mm once a month.
I really like that no neckhairs fall out of updoes, and no sweatty hairs on my neck this summer :cool: Yay!

Yeay! So glad to another undercut! I love the colour of your hair.

[Hairkay]

My sis has her sides shaved. it's a way to still keep her hip length locks because that's a lot of hair.

[PixieP]

Husband has ended up with one, he has hair between CBL and SL and it's so thick, so I ended up giving him an undercut to help deal with it. We are both old goths so he's has undercuts and sidecuts before!

I would get one if I had more hair, my nape hairline is very low and I hate it. And undercuts just look so friggin cool!

[*Wednesday*]

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e42/olivetime/Photo07161_zpswphoe6e5.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/olivetime/media/Photo07161_zpswphoe6e5.jpg.html)


I love it. If I was in my twenties, I think I would this ☺🌸

[olivetime]

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e42/olivetime/Photo07161_zpswphoe6e5.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/olivetime/media/Photo07161_zpswphoe6e5.jpg.html)


I love it. If I was in my twenties, I think I would this ☺��


Hehe, I am in my thirties ;)

So nice seeing all of the undercut love! I also am lucky that my husband helps me to maintain it. I wouldn't have it otherwise!

[Aredhel]

I've seen one or two inch ones that I thought were cute. But you could also do, like, viking braids on the sides! That would be awesome!
Yess that is a sweet look too! I actually got my hair braided a lot last spring - I was super unhappy with my hair then, and the braids helped keep things tolerable and interesting. :)

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27367&d=1495404452

(Sorry for hijacking the thread with my unshaved head:p)

[lucid]

Hey! Thank you for the compliments <3 It, for sure, is thick! That's why I like my shave so much; I had a lot of head and neck aches before and now...NONE of that..well not hair related anyway ;) Have you ever tried any of the faux shave braided hairstyles? I think they look so cool.

Yes, I used to wear such styles a lot (only simple versions where I twisted and pinned back my hair) :D And head/neck aches are the worst, I'm glad you found a way to be able to grow your hair long without it causing pain. :)

Aredhel, really cool style! I'll give that a try that when I get better at dutch braiding!

[Aredhel]

Thanks lucid! :) Unfortunately I'm not talented enough to actually do this myself, so a friend of mine who braids hair for a living did it for me. But perhaps I'll try learning to do it myself when I develop better braiding skills too.:)

[Ondine11]

Huh. I didn't even KNOW about undercuts before this thread. I'd never seen one before. Got to admit, Wednesday's undercut/topknot combo is definitely cute! I like the fine inverted V shape. With my crazy hair texture, it would be a bad idea, though, because as it grew in, it would become hopelessly entangled with the longer hair above it. I'd have to wear a topknot for 2 years, until I had a good 12" regrowth. Looks like something that might relieve some of the weight & eternal drying time for those with extremely thick, full, long 1a-2b hair...

[lapushka]

Huh. I didn't even KNOW about undercuts before this thread. I'd never seen one before. Got to admit, Wednesday's undercut/topknot combo is definitely cute! I like the fine inverted V shape. With my crazy hair texture, it would be a bad idea, though, because as it grew in, it would become hopelessly entangled with the longer hair above it. I'd have to wear a topknot for 2 years, until I had a good 12" regrowth. Looks like something that might relieve some of the weight & eternal drying time for those with extremely thick, full, long 1a-2b hair...

Go back to the start of this thread, maybe? It's olivetime's picture and undercut. I don't know what happened, but somehow Wednesday took over the picture. :lol:

[Ophidian]

I do love not having those fine little hairs at the back of my neck...no pressure but I totally wanna see pics if you decided to <3 :)
I'll see if I can dig up some pics

[Wreckinbelle]

Yess that is a sweet look too! I actually got my hair braided a lot last spring - I was super unhappy with my hair then, and the braids helped keep things tolerable and interesting. :)

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27367&d=1495404452

(Sorry for hijacking the thread with my unshaved head:p)

Yeay! I love this!! It looks wonderful :)

[silverstars]

As I grow out my pixie, I have been keeping the sides short to avoid a mullet. Its turned into an undercut of sorts, but the sides (and back) are faded from a number 4 on a clipper to about an inch long on the top after a fresh trim. I'm kind of tempted to buzz all of the short bits down to the same length. I find undercuts interesting and never had the courage to have one while my hair was hip-length. My hair is on the thin side of ii when I last had the ability to ponytail.

[MoonRabbit]

Yess that is a sweet look too! I actually got my hair braided a lot last spring - I was super unhappy with my hair then, and the braids helped keep things tolerable and interesting. :)

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27367&d=1495404452

(Sorry for hijacking the thread with my unshaved head:p)

Beautiful! I've been wanting to do this style for so long but I was never good at really precise tight braids. I will have to start practicing. It really does look like a cut without the commitment of actually getting a haircut.

[Stub]

Several years ago I had an undercut like Decemberrose's, maybe a little higher, but I don't seem to have ever taken any photos of it and I think I must have shaved my head soon after. In fact I may have been planning to shave when I did the undercut. I loved it for the time I had it though.

If I had dark hair I'd totally do a side cut though!! Like this: https://vanessaruns.com/
I think she's cut her dreads off and let her side cut grow out since this but it was so cool. She used to be on FB but it looks like she deleted her account or went private or something.

[Ondine11]

Go back to the start of this thread, maybe? It's olivetime's picture and undercut. I don't know what happened, but somehow Wednesday took over the picture. :lol:


HAHAHA! Thanks! I could have sworn the photo was of Wednesday. Whomever it belongs to, it is unique & cute.

[Aredhel]

Yeay! I love this!! It looks wonderful :)


Beautiful! I've been wanting to do this style for so long but I was never good at really precise tight braids. I will have to start practicing. It really does look like a cut without the commitment of actually getting a haircut.

Thanks ladies!:D Like Wreckinbelle said, this is a pretty happy compromise for people who can't really commit to the epic shave! I'm not good at these braids either unfortunately, but I definitely want to learn to do them myself too.

[MoonRabbit]

Thanks ladies!:D Like Wreckinbelle said, this is a pretty happy compromise for people who can't really commit to the epic shave! I'm not good at these braids either unfortunately, but I definitely want to learn to do them myself too.

After seeing your hairstyle, I looked at some tutorials on YouTube to try and recreate it. But as I was scrolling through the comments, I was amazed to see that the vast majority were upset with it. Many people were saying it was cultural misappropriation. I feel so conflicted now. I had this issue when I had dreads, I understand that some people do not like that style but I was told many times it was wrong to wear them because I don't belong to that culture. Now I am always hesitate to try a certain style because of the negative impact it had.

[Wreckinbelle]

So far the only 2 pics of undercuts have been from people with ii/iii or iii hair. I wonder if it's a thickness issue. I know I can't do much with my hair at shorter lengths as far as putting it up in a bun goes. So there's the temptation to do that. I had to wait until hip length to be able to do a bun. So I totally get why there's this urge to do an undercut. I once had one (19 years old), but it was bald and on a jaw length bob (it didn't look that great). People thought I was sick. :( Yeah. Great. And boy the pain of growing that out! No, never again. I guess it's just not for me. I tried once, though, if that counts. ;)

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the whole "growing it out issue" and I can't see myself actually doing that unless I do a huge chop. Right now I see myself with long silvery hair and THIS undercut! It'll go in and out of style a few times I imagine :-D
Also, you are right about the thickness. For me, the only way to have this length of hair without the hassle of headaches and whatnot is with an undercut. Obviously, the one I have is overkill but I love it ;-)

[lithostoic]

Could've sworn I posted here before but I guess not! Love undercuts but would never be able to pull it off.

[Wreckinbelle]

Fresh Shave! I, seriously don't think I'll ever grow it out.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/wreckinbelle/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/wreckinbelle/media/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg.html)

[papayatree]

Fresh Shave! I, seriously don't think I'll ever go back!

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/wreckinbelle/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/wreckinbelle/media/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg.html)

Go back to what? I'm confused

[Wreckinbelle]

Go back to what? I'm confused

To having a full head of hair! I was going to word that differently...and then decided not to... I guess maybe I should! :)

[papayatree]

To having a full head of hair! I was going to word that differently...and then decided not to... I guess maybe I should! :)

You do you! It looks great on you

[lithostoic]

Always envious, Wreckinbelle! Bet the shave feels good in this heat.

[Wreckinbelle]

Always envious, Wreckinbelle! Bet the shave feels good in this heat.

It's still pretty chilly here but I do like the way it feel out in the weather!

[wispe]

Fresh Shave! I, seriously don't think I'll ever grow it out.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/wreckinbelle/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/wreckinbelle/media/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg.html)

It's looking good! The tone variation in your hair is also beautiful, btw!

[Aredhel]

Fresh Shave! I, seriously don't think I'll ever grow it out.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/wreckinbelle/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/wreckinbelle/media/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg.html)

Looks awesome and comfortable as hell!:)

[Simsy]

Thanks to this thread, I find myself contemplating an undercut, just a small one at the nape of my neck. The only thing stopping me is the knowledge that if I don't like it, I have to grow it out. And the little strands against my neck are already painful to try and braid.

[olivetime]

Fresh Shave! I, seriously don't think I'll ever grow it out.



Looking good, WB! I need to re-do mine this week! For possibly the last time?! I haven't decided yet. :confused:

[Wreckinbelle]

Thanks to this thread, I find myself contemplating an undercut, just a small one at the nape of my neck. The only thing stopping me is the knowledge that if I don't like it, I have to grow it out. And the little strands against my neck are already painful to try and braid.

If you decided, please post pics!!

[lapushka]

Fresh Shave! I, seriously don't think I'll ever grow it out.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f304/wreckinbelle/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg (http://s50.photobucket.com/user/wreckinbelle/media/20170616_133253_zpsdu0zrabv.jpg.html)

Who knows. The first few months are always the hardest (I had an undercut once in my life with a very short bob).

[Stub]

https://s25.postimg.org/j14k6z0r3/IMG_2357.jpg

I'd actually been thinking about a minor one before you started this thread, finally did it 2 weeks ago. This pic is 10 days post shave. My hair has mostly quit growing (menopause hormones I think) so the upkeep is AWESOME. Haha! I LOVE it. So cool in the heat and no more neck wispies tearing out when they tangle with a chain necklace. Thanks for the push WB!

[olivetime]

I'd actually been thinking about a minor one before you started this thread, finally did it 2 weeks ago. This pic is 10 days post shave. My hair has mostly quit growing (menopause hormones I think) so the upkeep is AWESOME. Haha! I LOVE it. So cool in the heat and no more neck wispies tearing out when they tangle with a chain necklace. Thanks for the push WB!

Welcome to the "club" :cool:

[Aredhel]

https://s25.postimg.org/j14k6z0r3/IMG_2357.jpg

I'd actually been thinking about a minor one before you started this thread, finally did it 2 weeks ago. This pic is 10 days post shave. My hair has mostly quit growing (menopause hormones I think) so the upkeep is AWESOME. Haha! I LOVE it. So cool in the heat and no more neck wispies tearing out when they tangle with a chain necklace. Thanks for the push WB!
Looks great, Stub!:D

[papayatree]

https://s25.postimg.org/j14k6z0r3/IMG_2357.jpg

I'd actually been thinking about a minor one before you started this thread, finally did it 2 weeks ago. This pic is 10 days post shave. My hair has mostly quit growing (menopause hormones I think) so the upkeep is AWESOME. Haha! I LOVE it. So cool in the heat and no more neck wispies tearing out when they tangle with a chain necklace. Thanks for the push WB!

That looks great!

[Wreckinbelle]

https://s25.postimg.org/j14k6z0r3/IMG_2357.jpg

I'd actually been thinking about a minor one before you started this thread, finally did it 2 weeks ago. This pic is 10 days post shave. My hair has mostly quit growing (menopause hormones I think) so the upkeep is AWESOME. Haha! I LOVE it. So cool in the heat and no more neck wispies tearing out when they tangle with a chain necklace. Thanks for the push WB!

Yeay, I adore it! I'm glad you're happy with it <3 <3 <3 Aaand your braid is beautiful and thick :)

[Stub]

Thanks so much everyone!! :D

[ghanima]

I love undercuts! they give such a contemporary look to long hair!
great hair you guys

[Wreckinbelle]

Crossed something off my bucket list. I went to a barber and got my undercut straight razored! Hot towels, warm shave cream, smelly stuff and all! It's the best feeling ever!
I wish I had taken a better pic of the actual shave but this is the only one I have...but look how shiny it is! :sun::sun::sun:



https://i.imgur.com/sf3Hgf4.jpg?1

[Stub]

That is awesome!! I have shaved my head with a razor a couple times before but I have folliculitis and the bumps got so red and inflamed after shaving that I was too embarrassed to go out in public with my head uncovered. I even have a photo of myself with a mud mask on my head after shaving to try and tame the bumps. haha! Your scalp looks fantastic!

I'm currently letting my undercut grow out for winter warmth reasons, but I will definitely be putting it back next summer! SO nice and cool. Plus, my hair is currently growing so slowly (like, millimeters per month) that it may not even get beyond an inch long by next spring anyway. I last buzzed it on August 8th and it is not even 1/4" long yet!

[Wreckinbelle]

That is awesome!! I have shaved my head with a razor a couple times before but I have folliculitis and the bumps got so red and inflamed after shaving that I was too embarrassed to go out in public with my head uncovered. I even have a photo of myself with a mud mask on my head after shaving to try and tame the bumps. haha! Your scalp looks fantastic!

I'm currently letting my undercut grow out for winter warmth reasons, but I will definitely be putting it back next summer! SO nice and cool. Plus, my hair is currently growing so slowly (like, millimeters per month) that it may not even get beyond an inch long by next spring anyway. I last buzzed it on August 8th and it is not even 1/4" long yet!

Aw man, that's such a bummer! I love how everything feels with have my head razored. Masks are a great idea! I've never thought of that, I do struggle with some scalp issues...especially if I'm using a dull razor :(
I thought about growing out for the winter but I dig my undercut too much ;-) Darn, even your undercut is growing slowly, I wonder why? That sucks!

[Stub]

Oh, I think it's hormonal. ALL my hair, not just on my head, is growing this slowly. I barely needed to shave my armpits even once a week this summer! I mean, I did it once a week just because, but it often didn't even really need it! I think it's starting to grow again now though. *whew*

[valkyrie90]

I have been growing out my side shave for 5 months now but this thread just make me wanna pick the razor right up ! You ladies look so badass with your undercuts . Major hair envy !!

[Lizzie.torp]

I'm about 98% sure I'll be cutting in a small triangle shaped undercut and learning how to buzz designs in it. I hate my nape hair and have a dumb amount baby hairs in the back that take over. Plus, undercuts are so cute and hideable and make buns interesting.

[Wreckinbelle]

I have been growing out my side shave for 5 months now but this thread just make me wanna pick the razor right up ! You ladies look so badass with your undercuts . Major hair envy !!


I'm about 98% sure I'll be cutting in a small triangle shaped undercut and learning how to buzz designs in it. I hate my nape hair and have a dumb amount baby hairs in the back that take over. Plus, undercuts are so cute and hideable and make buns interesting.



*Chants: " Doo it, doo it!!" :hifive:

But, for real, I love mine. It makes the rest of my hair much more manageable and I just dig the look. I think if you want to you should just do it. It will grow back if ya really hate it, and until then, you can do really cool stuff like wear bandanas or headbands :) Oooor...you might just looove it.

[Lizzie.torp]

I did it but I tried to shave in a simple enough design or so I thought and it turned out uneven so I'm a little embarrassed about it. I'm deciding whether or not to post a picture. However, it does feel great and I'm excited about it but a little nervous about it slowly growing when I reshape. Any advice on not cutting in new hairs every time?

[ghost pisces]

I wouldn't say I have an undercut, but a few months back I did clean up and raise my neckline by about an inch. There was an almost immediate 80% drop in the number of knots in my hair. It was a very good decision.

[Wreckinbelle]

I did it but I tried to shave in a simple enough design or so I thought and it turned out uneven so I'm a little embarrassed about it. I'm deciding whether or not to post a picture. However, it does feel great and I'm excited about it but a little nervous about it slowly growing when I reshape. Any advice on not cutting in new hairs every time?

Yeay!! Post a pic! No judgments here, I just looove undercuts :) I'm glad you like it. No sorry... no advice on that front...hubby almost ALWAYS cuts news hairs...OR I go around with a line of half inch hair around my hair line :( BUUUT, I did go to the barber last month for a straight razor shave and she did an amazing job of fixing my DH's "mistakes" and also, the straight razor was AH-MAZING


I wouldn't say I have an undercut, but a few months back I did clean up and raise my neckline by about an inch. There was an almost immediate 80% drop in the number of knots in my hair. It was a very good decision.

Yes, that was a huge bonus for me as well. I did just a back undercut first and was so thrilled with the fewer amounts of tangles and knots!

[Lizzie.torp]

https://flic.kr/p/YZgwbG

So, here it is. The design is already growing out and I had to spend at least an hour reshaping it. I was almost regretting it but now that it's even, I think it's super cute!

[Wreckinbelle]

https://flic.kr/p/YZgwbG

So, here it is. The design is already growing out and I had to spend at least an hour reshaping it. I was almost regretting it but now that it's even, I think it's super cute!

I like the v shape! Super cute aaand hideable!

[Lizzie.torp]

I like the v shape! Super cute aaand hideable!

Thank you! I think it's perfect. You can't tell at all when my hair is down and I can even hide it with an English braid or a low bun! I'm thinking about trying to shave a simple design but it didn't work out last time. :rolleyes:

[lapushka]

Thank you! I think it's perfect. You can't tell at all when my hair is down and I can even hide it with an English braid or a low bun! I'm thinking about trying to shave a simple design but it didn't work out last time. :rolleyes:

Well I think it looks good, and you're right a shape like that is easy to hide should you want that. :D

[queenbee1]

I wouldn't say I have an undercut, but a few months back I did clean up and raise my neckline by about an inch. There was an almost immediate 80% drop in the number of knots in my hair. It was a very good decision.

Wow! I want to try this now :P

[lapushka]

Wow! I want to try this now :P

I had that one time, underneath a bob cut (I was 18/19), totally bald it looked like I had a procedure done there. :( Someone even asked me. But with a bit of fluff there it probably would look nice, IMMHO.

[Wreckinbelle]

I'm thinking about growing out the middle of the back part of my undercut so when I decide to go shorter ( and I think I already have :-) ) I can do a cool mohawky type cut. I think it's going to be weird because I'm only growing out part of mine, I'm leaving the sides and some of the back. Anyone else grown out an undercut?

[Stub]

I started to, last time I had one, but then when it got about an inch long I couldn't stand it so I shaved my head. But then, I'm prone to shaving my head anytime I don't like my hair. I've never tried like, cutting half my length first to see if that would be ok! :rollin:

[Lizzie.torp]

So, I trimmed my undercut and tried shaving in a design again and cut a little chunk and had to even it out. No biggie, but I had to go slightly bigger. I'm never attempting shaving a design again but I will be bleaching and painting designs. :eyebrows:

[olivetime]

Giving this thread a bump. Anyone keep up with their undercut? I'm the OP...and I grew mine out then cut all of my hair off...I know Wreckinbelle did something similar...

I knew the undercut would be my long hair undoing, Hahaha! It's all good though. It was fun while I had it, I just don't plan on doing it again!

[Stub]

I was a little bit afraid it would do the same to me (has in the past) but so far I am just keeping up with the undercut. Luckily I made it fairly small to start with, only about halfway up my ears. Although I sometimes have a slip with the clippers and have to straighten it out so it creeps higher and higher every few months. :)

[Wreckinbelle]

I was a little bit afraid it would do the same to me (has in the past) but so far I am just keeping up with the undercut. Luckily I made it fairly small to start with, only about halfway up my ears. Although I sometimes have a slip with the clippers and have to straighten it out so it creeps higher and higher every few months. :)

Hey there! Do you have a new pic of your undercut? I have a mohawk type 'do now, but I'm still a huge fan of the undercut look!

[DakarNick]

Cut my wife's!

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kari/i-kGcspwc/0/931b8a21/L/20180806_082723-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Kari/i-zLPmzXG/0/cb4c39f4/M/SmartSelect_20180806-080414_Photos-M.jpg

[manticore]

I’ve wanted to give myself a side shave for ages, and I finally did it! I’m very happy with it and love the funny fuzzy feeling of the short hair - I’ve never experienced that before. I’ll post a picture later when I’m on my home computer. :)

[manticore]

also! To Dakar above - I am very impressed with your steady hands. Very smooth lines

[DakarNick]

Thanks! I look forward to pics of your cut!

[The Lizard Wife]

The Practicality and Care + Keeping of Undercuts, or, Is an Undercut Right for Me

So I saw a cute fanart last night and I've suddenly decided that maybe I really need an undercut and I hope all of you with experience can help me figure out if this is really the right move for me before I commit to a chop! I have many, many questions, and I want to fully consider both the good and the bad.

My hair is currently almost waist-length, ii/iii, straight and with decent slip, combined with a very sensitive scalp and a therefore unfortunate love of long hair. I've thought before that a little undercut at the nape could be an option if my long hair gets to be too heavy to bear, because I'd be able to hide the undercut and I have an unreasonable obstinacy to the phrase "the hairdresser can just thin your hair for you." I've since learned that the nape of the neck is my sweet spot for buns, and the undercut wouldn't take away enough hair weight to compensate for putting the bun higher, so I think what I need is something more drastic. DakarNick has pics on the page before this that are closest to what I think I'd need (the nape of the neck and also a section over each ear undercut, but perhaps dipping into a soft curve at the back of the head instead of a straight line across). I also want to leave the undercut part a little longer, sort of like a pixie cut? Sort of shaggy? Are there actual terms people use to describe these things that I could communicate to the person cutting my hair?

Question 1: (after in my case paying a professional to cut this for me the first time,) can you maintain an undercut yourself at home with reasonable ease? Can I really cut hair on the back of my head without losing my mind or making a huge mistake? What kind of equipment might I need for it, anything other than basic hair-cutting scissors? If I can't upkeep this myself and I have to make appointments for a hair stylist to tend to it regularly, that's absolutely going to make-or-break this for me.

Question 2: anybody have something like the style I've tried to describe and have pics, perhaps that I could show a hair stylist for reference? Google hasn't been super helpful, probably because I don't know what more-specific terms I should be using, and also because I'm not looking for trendy styles for myself.

Question 3: fun styles I should totally consider doing with my remaining long hair? I bet finally learning how to do a dutch braid would be cute, and I've experimented a bit with sectioning off my hair to see what I'd have left after the undercut, and I can suddenly do center-hold buns that I've been wishing I could do! It went up great, it felt fairly great given that my scalp has gotten out of training for half-ups, and I liked the way it looked.

Question 4: styles that can't be done now that haven't occurred to me yet and are going to break my heart and fill me with regret? I've just realized that it'll be difficult to pull off the "princess braids" I love (I take hair from in front just above my ears, some of which I plan to sacrifice to the undercut, and then join the braids together behind my head). Crown/coronet braids that I've always admired won't be a possibility anymore, although they tended to either be painful (dutch braiding around the head) or not feasible (too much slip for hair taping to secure a long braid I wanted to pin around my head). I don't know how I'll protect this for sleeping, since I currently do two loose braids for sleep, one below each ear.

Question 5: in another thread I saw a mention that buzzing your undercut too short could cause it to become like velcro, snagging the longer hair. Is there any chance I'd run into any problems like that with leaving the undercut a little longer?

Question 6: I'm in the habit of stretching my washes further than I should (once a month when it would probably look better to do it once every two weeks), which I get away with because I put my hair up before I go out in public. This is probably going to be a terrible idea with an undercut. Or will it look less awful when I let the short hairs get all oily because they're underneath rather than all next to my face? Oily bang area in a pixie was always what upset me the most. Anyone have any experience here? I could always just wash my hair more often but...I don't want to...

In summation, my pros and cons list

Pros:
- It would take weight out of my thick hair, saving my sensitive scalp from headaches and making me less worried about what will happen when I continue to grow out my hair.
- It would take volume out of my thick hair, making my buns more manageable and proportional for my child-sized head.
- It would move my bun area to the place where I usually do half-ups, which I'm reasonable confident I can train my scalp to withstand, especially since there will be less hair. My current sweet spot is at the nape of my neck (this is literally the same spot as "no higher than the tops of my ears" on my small head), which means that if I could successfully bun at this length, I then can't freely move my head and neck because my bun is already so huge, and also that my bun will rub against the back of my shirt or my collar, and it will cease to be a protective style because I'll be getting damage in the mid-length.
- It's like doing sectioned buns, except I hate that idea because I've never managed to pin up the rest of my hair properly--but now I wouldn't have to!
- While pondering undercuts, I sectioned off the hair I thought I would leave long and threw it up in a disc bun that took me 5 seconds of glancing briefly at the text tutorial. And it went up with only this token effort. And it stayed. And was secure. And it actually looked like what a disc bun should look like. And it didn't hurt more than the moderate strain of "but you never put your hair in half-ups anymore so some of those hairs shouldn't go like that." I'm still in awe. I hadn't realized just how much I'd lost faith in ever being able to have a bun until that moment.
- The resulting ponytail from that was about 2.5 to 2.75 inches circumference, and when I let it down it still looked like I had an average head of hair.
- This might be completely unfounded optimism, but what if getting rid of the hair at the nape and having my long hair hanging down from higher on my head makes my braids and ponytails and hair hanging down just /not/ get trashed by mock-neck and turtle-neck collars? It would be so wonderful not to have to remember to occasionally fish out and untangle the rats-nest throughout the day when I wear those kinds of shirts. But this might not be an actual thing and I should not get my hopes up.

Cons:
- If I can't maintain this on my own after the initial cut, that's a dealbreaker at this point in time.
- I looked at the little ponytail I made of hair that I would be chopping, the practically-waist-length ponytail, all that hair I made myself, and how can I just chop that off??? Even if an undercut sounds like it will make me so happy???
- I have always been in love with the idea of ~princess hair~, which is why I'm growing it out now--a full head of extra-long hair that's amazing and impossibly thick and somehow always looks amazing and stays put behind my ears instead of flopping into my face and never tangles and doesn't hurt my head. This is an unreasonable thing that does not exist! But instead of being frustrated that it does not exist, I will continue to unreasonably pine for it while I have an undercut.
- Do I even have the self-assurance to pull off an undercut though, even if it looks amazing on me.
- What if I can't use all of my giant hair toys that I spent a lot of money on for extra-big sizes because I was growing out long thick hair????? (Okay actually I can still use a fair amount, and this actually frees me to use some I currently couldn't, like my TTs, but this was a very big legit panic)
- If I regret this, growing the undercut out is going to be very bad. Everyone says it's very bad, but I'm sure I have no concept at all of how bad it will be and how much more regret will pile on because of it.

I really do want to know if there are reasons that I shouldn't do this, but also I'm very excited about this idea and secretly I really do want to be talked into it, as evidenced by the fact that my cons list is mostly variations on "but I'm scared" apparently.

(I'm sorry this post is so long, I'm an ISTJ)

[Rowdy]

Okay I went through this with my sister when I cut hers in so I'll see if I can offer some insight to some of your questions.

Question 1: I don't know about scissors, I use Wahl hair clippers to cut my sister's. It's more even. She can't (more like won't:rolleyes:) do it herself but I don't think it would be that hard if you have some mirrors set up to see the back of your head and a steady hand. But that's not something you can know until you try. Above you said you want to keep it longer, my sister keeps her from 1/4 inch to however long it gets until she wants it trimmed again. She usually comes to me when its about 1 - 1.5 inches long and it looks just fine still. It starts looking a bit overgrown past the 2.5 inch mark. So if you had to get someone to do it 3x a year might not be terrible?

Question 4: Crown type braids, I do them on her just fine still. Her undercut goes from where the ear attaches to the head, curves slightly up across to the other ear. Its roughly 1/3 her hair. I do the braid so the the part going across the undercut sits below where the shaved hair starts. It looks very pretty, I think I have a picture in one of my albums here of it.** Also with braids, no reason you can't do them still. 2 english braids will just start where the undercut starts instead of below the nape. You can also still do a nape bun, you just don't secure it to scalp hair.

Question 5: I'm not sure if it snags her hair but at 1/4 inch it is pretty prickly, .5 inch to 1 inch that goes away.

Question 6: I'm not sure about this one either. I do know her undercut area literally never looks greasy at all and she does go for awhile without washing (3b/C/iii). If yours did show perhaps taking a washcloth to it would take care of that?

Other stuff:
I'd recommend shaving it off in smaller sections, gradually going higher and seeing how you like it.
My sister has a 6+ ponytail and she wanted an undercut for all the reasons you describe and also loves it for all those reasons.
If you regret it a center part and nape ponytail or nape bun can hide the grow out for quite a few inches :)

Hope that helped a bit!

**The first 4 picture in my hair pictures album are of her with her undercut when it is freshly cut, so the shortest it ever is.

[0xalis]

I kind of have an undercut at the moment, comes with the territory of having a bob this short. Pic in my profile, I'd post but I'm on mobile! I've had undercuts before, always done by me. They're kind of the bomb.

[The Lizard Wife]

Thank you for the insight, Rowdy! And your sister's hair looks really great in those pictures.

I'll be looking into the Wahl hair clippers! I didn't know what they were called but I was wondering if something like that might be better--I remember my hair stylist using something that looked like that when she used to trim the bottom of my pixie cut. So since I'm aiming for the same look, it could be an excellent tool to have.

That's good to know about the lengths for trimming. Having the freedom to be a little more lax about maintaining it would help a lot if I found I really needed someone else to trim it.

"You can always cut off more later" is always good advice, but I'm worried that if I don't cut off enough in one go I'll hit the terrible limbo spot where I have not enough hair in the right place to do my usual least-painful styles but too much hair to transition to the new hopefully-not-painful styles. I just ran my fingers through my hair to check sections, and below-my-ears is not even an actual undercut, and tops-of-my-ears is "that...barely takes out any hair either!"

I'm glad to hear your sister loves it for all the reasons I'm hoping to love one! And thanks for your help!

0xalis, that bob and undercut looks very neat! So you trim your own, then? Any tips? Maybe I'm making it out to be harder than it is--I agonized a lot over trying the Feye's self-trim on my ends, and that turned out okay in the end. I guess I'm just afraid to trust myself with the scissors!

[0xalis]

Thank you! Honestly I just have been cutting my own hair since middle school, practice makes progress! It helped that I did my partner's hair in the exact same style before doing my own, so I knew what I was in for. Good lighting and multiple mirrors are must haves. Take your time and be patient, you don't wanna rush something like this. If you have a friend or family member you can trust to spot for you while you cut, that can be helpful. They can tell you if you need to even it up or have stray hairs etc. And of course, binge watch some tutorial videos!!!

[The Lizard Wife]

And of course, binge watch some tutorial videos!!!

Okay thank you for stating the obvious because I literally never thought of this, wow. "You're smart enough to learn this if you just googled for Youtube videos" is a thing my sibling tells me a lot and yet. I never consider.

Well, now I've watched some tutorials! I feel like the usefulness is a little limited, because I'm not seeing any specific examples of people doing what I'm picturing (it's more popular to cut the undercut really short or shave it; and people tend to be opting for the straight-across line that I fear won't fix my problem of weight distribution at all). But on the other hand, I found tutorials for doing the back of a pixie cut that are basically the same gist, and if it's just a clipper and not me having to figure out what angle hair needs to be trimmed at in order to fall nicely especially at the back of my head where I can't see...I'm starting to get a feeling of, "How hard can this be? How badly can I really mess up? Which would upset me more, me being unable to cut a clean line or a hair stylist being quicker with the scissors than my mouth is to yell No?"
(Every tutorial says "You really should pay a professional to do this and don't do this yourself at home but here's my tutorial anyway" but it looks like I won't be listening)

So I might invest in hair clippers and get someone to spot for me and do the first undercut myself...it would probably take less time than finding a stylist and booking an appointment...and I'm really looking forward to this cut and what it will do for me...might as well start practicing now!

[CanadaSquirrel]

If people are posting photos in this thread, they are not showing up on my phone. Could someone please share a link so I can see what an undercut is? I have never heard of it.

[CuteCrow]

I think my experience may not be that much help as my hair is the exact opposite of yours, curly, fine and thin. But I've known of several persons who had undercuts done to make their hair less heavy and it worked.
I had my undercuts in almost all the stages from shaved to shaggy, sadly I don't have many photos to show it.

Question 1: I cut and maintained the undercut myself (well, my partner). If I wanted it shaved I used a Wahl clipper and my partner had to do it because I couldn't trust myself, but I've seen people on YouTube doing it with just two mirrors and when I wanted to keep it longer I just used normal hair shears and I could do it myself as you can trim a little at a time and it's harder to make big mistakes.

Question 2: my undercut wasn't exactly what you are looking for but if you search for "grown out undercut" in Google, you'll probably find things closer to what you are looking for, like this (https://www.google.com/search?q=grow+out+undercut&safe=strict&client=ms-android-google&hl=en&prmd=isvn&sxsrf=ACYBGNQ2DobBXPaakv6skO1Nkn_2d2svCA:157467054 1859&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiWoqTy-ITmAhUMWsAKHebzDP0Q_AUoAXoECA4QAQ&biw=393&bih=680#imgrc=VTI6tihkM4F1YM)

Question 3: I think you can't do pretty much everything with an undercut that you do without it but anything that shows of the cut like high ponytails or buns looks the best in my opinion. I used to wear two anything (buns, braids, pigtails)

Question 4: I think you could even do those hairstyles that you mentioned they'd just look different. I think it's funny to experiment around with the hair you have left.

Question 5: Yes, it happens, but it's more like a funny situation rather than something to worry about. At least for me, it never pulled or snagged my hair at all, but it could also be because I have fine hair it could be different with coarser hair.

Question 6: My undercut NEVER got oily, I thought I was the only one but it seems it's rather normal. Still, I loved the feeling of washing it so I never went too long without washing my hair :lol:

I think o ly you can say if your cons have more weight to you than your pros. I can't say about the growing out process as I still had it when I buzzed out all my hair.

Well, here's a couple of pictures of my undercut, I had a triangle nape one so it's quite different from what you want. But maybe they are of some help. I have to say that I loved my undercut and never regretted it.

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=39147&d=1574515941


Top left is a couple of days after shaving it
Bottom left is "long" but trimmed
Top right is grown out untrimmed
Bottom right is the only photo I could find of the "shaggy" state.

[0xalis]

Best of luck, Ms. Lizard!

CanadaSquirrel, here is an article that has examples of both undercuts and sidecuts http://pophaircuts.com/stylish-fancy-undercut-hairstyle

I re-shaved my undercut today in the shower. I just use a normal shaving razor, the same I use for my armpits haha, because I am going for that completely hairless look.
I also donated the buzzer I had as it was not great, figured I'll get a new one if I need it.
I like shaving it all the way down, and then watching it grow. Must have already had about a centimetre! I cut it the first time on November 4th so I'm right on schedule :)
I'll just keep on doing this until my bob is long enough to cover it, and then I'll stop shaving it.
Might get another undercut in the future though, if I find length causes weight, because weight causes me pain :(

[CanadaSquirrel]

Best of luck, Ms. Lizard!

CanadaSquirrel, here is an article that has examples of both undercuts and sidecuts http://pophaircuts.com/stylish-fancy-undercut-hairstyle

I re-shaved my undercut today in the shower. I just use a normal shaving razor, the same I use for my armpits haha, because I am going for that completely hairless look.
I also donated the buzzer I had as it was not great, figured I'll get a new one if I need it.
I like shaving it all the way down, and then watching it grow. Must have already had about a centimetre! I cut it the first time on November 4th so I'm right on schedule :)
I'll just keep on doing this until my bob is long enough to cover it, and then I'll stop shaving it.
Might get another undercut in the future though, if I find length causes weight, because weight causes me pain :(

Ah, OK. Thanks for the link. I've seen that before, but didn't know there was a name for it.

[lapushka]

Instead of an undercut (it really does not suit me), I went for heavily layered hair (see signature) to get bulk out of my hair. It is layered waist/hip to under the bum, as is clearly apparent in the picture. No that is not natural taper at all. :)

I think an undercut with iii hair is understandable, but if your hair is ii you are going to lose a lot of hair due to it, maybe at least 1/3 and you have to be prepared for that.

Maybe consider layers instead?
Try that first, if hesitant.

Why? Because an undercut is a lot, and I mean a lot, of maintenance, which is not for me at all, which is why I passed this up almost straight away as a solution to the "bulkiness" issue. You need to be shaving this at least once, maybe even 2 times a month and if you can't do it yourself, then be prepared to spend a *lot* of time at the hairdressers.

[0xalis]

At least in my case I already have layers, my hair wasn't all one length when I went for the bob, I think it will grow out quite nicely. I know that too blunt of a hemline makes certain updos difficult.
It is definitely something to consider, it's quite a bit of hair to shave off. For me personally my hair is relatively voluminous despite having such a small ponytail circumference so I've never felt robbed by an undercut.
If your hair already looks thin and is very straight it's probably not the best idea... YMMV. Always consider such drastic changes very carefully!

[The Lizard Wife]

CuteCrow, your undercut looked very cute! Thanks for posting pics. You're right, "grown out undercut" is what I was really looking for. I think that's what would look best on me--it gives me the impression of being "softer", and keeping that bulk instead of shaving closely will help the back of my head not look so tiny.
I will have to experiment with hairstyles! So much more will be open to me once I have less bulk to work with. I'm so excited to finally bun my hair the way I've been dreaming of for years while growing out.

Thank you, 0xalis! I've purchased my clippers and hopefully gotten a friend lined up to help me later this week.

Lapushka, layers are absolutely good advice but I don't think it will work great in my situation. My ends don't like to tuck at all, and I'm terrible at getting them pinned/pinned without pain, and my hair's already in too-heavy territory at waist when it's damp. Plus, I don't think layers alone will take off enough weight to satisfy my tender scalp. My hair is closer to iii, so I think I can stand to lose a fair amount. When I've played around with sectioning off the hair, the remaining ponytail circumference is always generally around 2.75", so still pretty average thickness. It looks a bit thin in the front, because I'm planning to take some hair off over the tops of my ears as well, but...well, if I keep my hair cleaner it will look fuller, and the point of getting the undercut is so that I can put my hair up. I'll just have to get used to my less-bulky look.
My fingers are crossed that I can easily learn to maintain it myself because you're right, shorter hair requires so much upkeep, and I can't devote myself to those hairdressing appointments. That's why it was my biggest consideration in whether I should even consider an undercut as an option or not. My other hope is that the shaggy look I prefer on myself will give me more wiggle-room in that regard.
Now that I've had days to settle on the idea, every time I put my hair up and get a headache or let my hair down and get a rats-nest from my shirt collar, I think, "Boy, won't it be great to get that undercut and not have to deal with this!" So it'll probably have to go really badly for me to regret it. But it's definitely not a decision to be considered lightly.

Thank again everybody for weighing in with experience and advice and tips, this has been super helpful to me and I really appreciate it! I'm feeling much more confident that this is indeed the right choice for me.

[0xalis]

You're very welcome, best of luck!!!

My favourite part about my undercut is watching it grow, knowing all my hair is growing with it.
Shaved it shiny-bald yesterday, already have prickles today! I can't stop touching it haha.

[lapushka]

Lapushka, layers are absolutely good advice but I don't think it will work great in my situation. My ends don't like to tuck at all, and I'm terrible at getting them pinned/pinned without pain, and my hair's already in too-heavy territory at waist when it's damp. Plus, I don't think layers alone will take off enough weight to satisfy my tender scalp. My hair is closer to iii, so I think I can stand to lose a fair amount. When I've played around with sectioning off the hair, the remaining ponytail circumference is always generally around 2.75", so still pretty average thickness. It looks a bit thin in the front, because I'm planning to take some hair off over the tops of my ears as well, but...well, if I keep my hair cleaner it will look fuller, and the point of getting the undercut is so that I can put my hair up. I'll just have to get used to my less-bulky look.

The thing is, if you layer, the bulk is gotten out "dispersed" throughout the hair, if that makes sense? With an undercut, you have one part that is *gone* and the rest still has the weight and the bulk.

[The Lizard Wife]

The thing is, if you layer, the bulk is gotten out "dispersed" throughout the hair, if that makes sense? With an undercut, you have one part that is *gone* and the rest still has the weight and the bulk.

That's true, and it's probably a great idea for a lot of people. Layers should definitely be a first consideration for anyone who's struggling to manage thick hair, because they're so much less of a commitment than an undercut. But if my hair is already too heavy at waist, that means I need a lot of layers shorter than waist in order to be able to continue to grow my hair longer. And for me, that's going to render me unable to do the hairstyles I want to do--because I can't deal with my ends efficiently, and I'll have so many more ends with layers--and that means I'll have to give up growing my hair longer. I've actually already done the undercut, I'm going to make a post with pictures in a minute here; for me, the undercut immediately took a lot of weight off my scalp (because I took off probably like half of my hair....), which has ended my headaches.

As for your concern about weight dispersal: yeah, I was definitely worried about that possibility in the back of my mind. That because the hairs remaining on top of my head would still be just as thick and just as long, they would continue to stress the top of my scalp. But actually, for some reason I'm not sure of, this actually hasn't been a problem. My entire scalp has been as happy as if the weight were evenly dispersed. Though, that might change as it gets oilier and picks up a ton of hydration weight, or as it get significantly longer. I'll just have to see. But at least I know I can be happy at waist, now.

Another goal of mine was to move the sweet spot of my buns off the nape of my neck, which I don't think layers would have impacted as drastically, though I might be wrong there. Still, in an unexpected bonus, the place that I now bun is actually extremely well-balanced for buns, now that the bun is a manageable size (I think what I have left is technically smaller than I used to make my half-ups). I've had my hair up for 8+ hours for work in a disc bun a couple days and it hasn't hurt at all--whereas putting up the folded braid, my least-painful style, nearly always made my scalp upset as soon as I'd gotten it put up, though using the visor from my uniform to prop it up from underneath helped take some of the pressure off. So this has been a lifesaver, or at least a sanity-saver, for me. I love this cut so much.

Again, undercuts aren't for everyone, but layers were definitely not going to cut it for me.

[The Lizard Wife]

Well, we did it! We did the undercut! Now it's time for pics!

I came at it all gung-ho that I would cut it myself but then, when I had the friend there to help, who happened to have some hair cutting experience, well...they agreed, it will be easier for me to do the maintenance next time after all the hard work has been done and the long hairs cleared out of the way. Also they had better scissors which they brought along. This is why it looks so nice and tidy!
For reference: we divided the bottom into three ponytails, trimmed those off with length to spare, and then went in with the clippers. First a full-size clippers with the 1" guard, then they went back over most everything with a mini-size clippers with the 1/2" guard to clean up. Then even further cleaning up with the hair shears.

The undercut really blends very subtly above my ears into the longer hair, which is what I was really hoping for but had resigned myself to not getting. In fact, the friend did such a good job that no one at work noticed I'd cut my hair. Half of the people didn't even notice after I told them until they really scrutinized it. Success!

https://i.postimg.cc/4dvzcMjb/20191130-184814.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/XN8f7Rfn/20191130-184919.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view of undercut

Sorry the pictures aren't great, I've been waiting for it to get sunny again for a few days but no luck! The angle might be a little weird--it looks in the picture like I took off a lot more than I'd originally planned, but I remember it not looking quite that drastic at the time, and I verified that the remaining ponytail circumference was 2.75", which was my goal to have left. Also because I left the undercut long, and I was in a hurry getting my hair up for work, sometimes the long strands end up catching parts of the undercut on their way into the bun...which is where those random fly-aways sticking straight out came from. Whoops! That or I accidentally tucked them into the bun too.

https://i.postimg.cc/JnCNGmYz/20191128-102826-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view with hair down covering the undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/3NnmSG8k/20191130-185239.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view with hair down covering the undercut

Still lots of hair left! It's not as full and luscious as it used to be, but it's not as disappointing as I dreaded either. I'll get used to the new look.

And then I had fun styling~

https://i.postimg.cc/SRycfdh0/20191128-103554-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of disc bun with undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/QxdpBfm1/20191130-185433.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view of disc bun with undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/BvK5Stgz/20191128-153639-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of lazy wrap ponytail with undercut

Anyway, I love this undercut so much!!! It's everything I hoped for and more. No more headaches from my hair down, suddenly the freedom to bun, and additionally to bun without pain from weight or tightness, and the bun spot is extremely well-balanced which I had not realized was going to be a thing but which I very much appreciate. Also it's cute and the best of both worlds--short hair to pet and long hair to run my fingers through. I washed my hair after the cut and it was like, "Oh, I guess my hair is wet already? Even though I only just turned on the water? Well that's cool." "Oh, I guess cutting the amount of shampoo in half was still way too much shampoo? Guess I'll actually try the recommended dime-sized drop next time?? Okay then." "Shower is done? Hair is blow-dried already? I guess I'll just watch TV???" All the joys of short hair while still having long hair. I'm so happy~

[0xalis]

That looks absolutely fabulous!!! And your hair is so beautiful! I'm so glad it worked out for you :D

[lapushka]

That's true, and it's probably a great idea for a lot of people. Layers should definitely be a first consideration for anyone who's struggling to manage thick hair, because they're so much less of a commitment than an undercut. But if my hair is already too heavy at waist, that means I need a lot of layers shorter than waist in order to be able to continue to grow my hair longer. And for me, that's going to render me unable to do the hairstyles I want to do--because I can't deal with my ends efficiently, and I'll have so many more ends with layers--and that means I'll have to give up growing my hair longer. I've actually already done the undercut, I'm going to make a post with pictures in a minute here; for me, the undercut immediately took a lot of weight off my scalp (because I took off probably like half of my hair....), which has ended my headaches.

As for your concern about weight dispersal: yeah, I was definitely worried about that possibility in the back of my mind. That because the hairs remaining on top of my head would still be just as thick and just as long, they would continue to stress the top of my scalp. But actually, for some reason I'm not sure of, this actually hasn't been a problem. My entire scalp has been as happy as if the weight were evenly dispersed. Though, that might change as it gets oilier and picks up a ton of hydration weight, or as it get significantly longer. I'll just have to see. But at least I know I can be happy at waist, now.

Another goal of mine was to move the sweet spot of my buns off the nape of my neck, which I don't think layers would have impacted as drastically, though I might be wrong there. Still, in an unexpected bonus, the place that I now bun is actually extremely well-balanced for buns, now that the bun is a manageable size (I think what I have left is technically smaller than I used to make my half-ups). I've had my hair up for 8+ hours for work in a disc bun a couple days and it hasn't hurt at all--whereas putting up the folded braid, my least-painful style, nearly always made my scalp upset as soon as I'd gotten it put up, though using the visor from my uniform to prop it up from underneath helped take some of the pressure off. So this has been a lifesaver, or at least a sanity-saver, for me. I love this cut so much.

Again, undercuts aren't for everyone, but layers were definitely not going to cut it for me.

Makes a lot of sense.

Yes, layers are certainly not for everyone. I compact cut, which means I make a ponytail on the top of my forehead and snip a chunk off to create layers from waist/hip down to classic length, as you can see in my signature, it is a very sharp V actually (comes up to a point). It works very well for me, I have to say. And I can still do a Nautilus just fine. I have never (until last week) had layers pop out of my bun. Certainly not with a LWB. :)

Anyway I'm glad you are fine with the undercut. No regrets there, that's awesome! :) I was a tad worried about that, but why do I have to be, it's not my hair, still, I did want to make the point about layers and the weight overall.

Happy growing to you!

[lapushka]

Well, we did it! We did the undercut! Now it's time for pics!

I came at it all gung-ho that I would cut it myself but then, when I had the friend there to help, who happened to have some hair cutting experience, well...they agreed, it will be easier for me to do the maintenance next time after all the hard work has been done and the long hairs cleared out of the way. Also they had better scissors which they brought along. This is why it looks so nice and tidy!
For reference: we divided the bottom into three ponytails, trimmed those off with length to spare, and then went in with the clippers. First a full-size clippers with the 1" guard, then they went back over most everything with a mini-size clippers with the 1/2" guard to clean up. Then even further cleaning up with the hair shears.

The undercut really blends very subtly above my ears into the longer hair, which is what I was really hoping for but had resigned myself to not getting. In fact, the friend did such a good job that no one at work noticed I'd cut my hair. Half of the people didn't even notice after I told them until they really scrutinized it. Success!

https://i.postimg.cc/4dvzcMjb/20191130-184814.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/XN8f7Rfn/20191130-184919.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view of undercut

Sorry the pictures aren't great, I've been waiting for it to get sunny again for a few days but no luck! The angle might be a little weird--it looks in the picture like I took off a lot more than I'd originally planned, but I remember it not looking quite that drastic at the time, and I verified that the remaining ponytail circumference was 2.75", which was my goal to have left. Also because I left the undercut long, and I was in a hurry getting my hair up for work, sometimes the long strands end up catching parts of the undercut on their way into the bun...which is where those random fly-aways sticking straight out came from. Whoops! That or I accidentally tucked them into the bun too.

https://i.postimg.cc/JnCNGmYz/20191128-102826-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view with hair down covering the undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/3NnmSG8k/20191130-185239.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view with hair down covering the undercut

Still lots of hair left! It's not as full and luscious as it used to be, but it's not as disappointing as I dreaded either. I'll get used to the new look.

And then I had fun styling~

https://i.postimg.cc/SRycfdh0/20191128-103554-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of disc bun with undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/QxdpBfm1/20191130-185433.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view of disc bun with undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/BvK5Stgz/20191128-153639-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of lazy wrap ponytail with undercut

Anyway, I love this undercut so much!!! It's everything I hoped for and more. No more headaches from my hair down, suddenly the freedom to bun, and additionally to bun without pain from weight or tightness, and the bun spot is extremely well-balanced which I had not realized was going to be a thing but which I very much appreciate. Also it's cute and the best of both worlds--short hair to pet and long hair to run my fingers through. I washed my hair after the cut and it was like, "Oh, I guess my hair is wet already? Even though I only just turned on the water? Well that's cool." "Oh, I guess cutting the amount of shampoo in half was still way too much shampoo? Guess I'll actually try the recommended dime-sized drop next time?? Okay then." "Shower is done? Hair is blow-dried already? I guess I'll just watch TV???" All the joys of short hair while still having long hair. I'm so happy~

If that's the hair you've got left... you've got a lot of hair! :) ;)

Your friend did great! :)

And it's not totally shaved short so should be easier to maintain, I think.

[Arciela]

Well, we did it! We did the undercut! Now it's time for pics!

I came at it all gung-ho that I would cut it myself but then, when I had the friend there to help, who happened to have some hair cutting experience, well...they agreed, it will be easier for me to do the maintenance next time after all the hard work has been done and the long hairs cleared out of the way. Also they had better scissors which they brought along. This is why it looks so nice and tidy!
For reference: we divided the bottom into three ponytails, trimmed those off with length to spare, and then went in with the clippers. First a full-size clippers with the 1" guard, then they went back over most everything with a mini-size clippers with the 1/2" guard to clean up. Then even further cleaning up with the hair shears.

The undercut really blends very subtly above my ears into the longer hair, which is what I was really hoping for but had resigned myself to not getting. In fact, the friend did such a good job that no one at work noticed I'd cut my hair. Half of the people didn't even notice after I told them until they really scrutinized it. Success!

https://i.postimg.cc/4dvzcMjb/20191130-184814.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/XN8f7Rfn/20191130-184919.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view of undercut

Sorry the pictures aren't great, I've been waiting for it to get sunny again for a few days but no luck! The angle might be a little weird--it looks in the picture like I took off a lot more than I'd originally planned, but I remember it not looking quite that drastic at the time, and I verified that the remaining ponytail circumference was 2.75", which was my goal to have left. Also because I left the undercut long, and I was in a hurry getting my hair up for work, sometimes the long strands end up catching parts of the undercut on their way into the bun...which is where those random fly-aways sticking straight out came from. Whoops! That or I accidentally tucked them into the bun too.

https://i.postimg.cc/JnCNGmYz/20191128-102826-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view with hair down covering the undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/3NnmSG8k/20191130-185239.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view with hair down covering the undercut

Still lots of hair left! It's not as full and luscious as it used to be, but it's not as disappointing as I dreaded either. I'll get used to the new look.

And then I had fun styling~

https://i.postimg.cc/SRycfdh0/20191128-103554-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of disc bun with undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/QxdpBfm1/20191130-185433.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view of disc bun with undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/BvK5Stgz/20191128-153639-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of lazy wrap ponytail with undercut

Anyway, I love this undercut so much!!! It's everything I hoped for and more. No more headaches from my hair down, suddenly the freedom to bun, and additionally to bun without pain from weight or tightness, and the bun spot is extremely well-balanced which I had not realized was going to be a thing but which I very much appreciate. Also it's cute and the best of both worlds--short hair to pet and long hair to run my fingers through. I washed my hair after the cut and it was like, "Oh, I guess my hair is wet already? Even though I only just turned on the water? Well that's cool." "Oh, I guess cutting the amount of shampoo in half was still way too much shampoo? Guess I'll actually try the recommended dime-sized drop next time?? Okay then." "Shower is done? Hair is blow-dried already? I guess I'll just watch TV???" All the joys of short hair while still having long hair. I'm so happy~

Wow your hair is so pretty! Looks great :)

[plonter]

This is inspiring me... I went from a pixie to almost APL and now I realize how much ponytails can suck! I can basically mostly stand loose buns/braids, and I'm thinking ponytails will be less pull-y if I have less hair. Plus the hair at my nape gets super tangled. As long as the maintenance is ok, I'm thinking of doing this! Can someone with experience verify if it helps keep underneath layers of hair from tangling?

[The Lizard Wife]

I was a tad worried about that, but why do I have to be, it's not my hair, still, I did want to make the point about layers and the weight overall.

True, true. But you just wanted me to be sure I wasn't making a decision I would regret! Which, on a undercut, can be a long length of regret. So thank you for that.


If that's the hair you've got left... you've got a lot of hair! :) ;)

Your friend did great! :)

And it's not totally shaved short so should be easier to maintain, I think.

It's not even as thick as plenty of other people's! It baffles my mind; hair is so complicated.

Thanks! I will pass on the compliments to my friend. I really want them to be reassured that I love this as much as I keep telling them I love it, haha.


Wow your hair is so pretty! Looks great :)

Thanks so much!

[The Lizard Wife]

This is inspiring me... I went from a pixie to almost APL and now I realize how much ponytails can suck! I can basically mostly stand loose buns/braids, and I'm thinking ponytails will be less pull-y if I have less hair. Plus the hair at my nape gets super tangled. As long as the maintenance is ok, I'm thinking of doing this! Can someone with experience verify if it helps keep underneath layers of hair from tangling?

For me, less hair has definitely made my ponytail less pull-y. Unfortunately I can't verify on the tangling yet, it's not been long enough and I've been reveling in keeping my hair up a lot. And it's still pretty freshly clean, which for me means it's tangly no matter what. I did notice when I braid it that I'm getting a lot more braid-shred. Maybe because it's thinner? Maybe because there's an entirely new layer of hair (courtesy of previous mechanical damage) that I never saw poking out before when I had more hair to corral it? Maybe because the braid has more room to swing and is sweeping across my clothes more? Anyway, I plan to come back later with an update after I've tested this out with some turtlenecks (my usual culprits of terrible nape tangles) and learned just how difficult it is to keep it trimmed on my own.

Hopefully someone else can give you some feedback in the meantime, though!

[lapushka]

True, true. But you just wanted me to be sure I wasn't making a decision I would regret! Which, on a undercut, can be a long length of regret. So thank you for that.

You are a gem, such a nice person. You're welcome. I'm glad it wasn't taken in a bad way or so.


It's not even as thick as plenty of other people's! It baffles my mind; hair is so complicated.

Thanks! I will pass on the compliments to my friend. I really want them to be reassured that I love this as much as I keep telling them I love it, haha.

Mine is just over 4 inches, not by a lot, and I have "issues" with it just for washing it!

;) Well, he could perhaps help you maintain it, or freshen it up after a couple months or so. :D

[DakarNick]

Well, we did it! We did the undercut! Now it's time for pics!

I came at it all gung-ho that I would cut it myself but then, when I had the friend there to help, who happened to have some hair cutting experience, well...they agreed, it will be easier for me to do the maintenance next time after all the hard work has been done and the long hairs cleared out of the way. Also they had better scissors which they brought along. This is why it looks so nice and tidy!
For reference: we divided the bottom into three ponytails, trimmed those off with length to spare, and then went in with the clippers. First a full-size clippers with the 1" guard, then they went back over most everything with a mini-size clippers with the 1/2" guard to clean up. Then even further cleaning up with the hair shears.

The undercut really blends very subtly above my ears into the longer hair, which is what I was really hoping for but had resigned myself to not getting. In fact, the friend did such a good job that no one at work noticed I'd cut my hair. Half of the people didn't even notice after I told them until they really scrutinized it. Success!

https://i.postimg.cc/4dvzcMjb/20191130-184814.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/XN8f7Rfn/20191130-184919.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view of undercut

Sorry the pictures aren't great, I've been waiting for it to get sunny again for a few days but no luck! The angle might be a little weird--it looks in the picture like I took off a lot more than I'd originally planned, but I remember it not looking quite that drastic at the time, and I verified that the remaining ponytail circumference was 2.75", which was my goal to have left. Also because I left the undercut long, and I was in a hurry getting my hair up for work, sometimes the long strands end up catching parts of the undercut on their way into the bun...which is where those random fly-aways sticking straight out came from. Whoops! That or I accidentally tucked them into the bun too.

https://i.postimg.cc/JnCNGmYz/20191128-102826-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view with hair down covering the undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/3NnmSG8k/20191130-185239.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view with hair down covering the undercut

Still lots of hair left! It's not as full and luscious as it used to be, but it's not as disappointing as I dreaded either. I'll get used to the new look.

And then I had fun styling~

https://i.postimg.cc/SRycfdh0/20191128-103554-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of disc bun with undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/QxdpBfm1/20191130-185433.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Side view of disc bun with undercut

https://i.postimg.cc/BvK5Stgz/20191128-153639-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Description: Back view of lazy wrap ponytail with undercut

Anyway, I love this undercut so much!!! It's everything I hoped for and more. No more headaches from my hair down, suddenly the freedom to bun, and additionally to bun without pain from weight or tightness, and the bun spot is extremely well-balanced which I had not realized was going to be a thing but which I very much appreciate. Also it's cute and the best of both worlds--short hair to pet and long hair to run my fingers through. I washed my hair after the cut and it was like, "Oh, I guess my hair is wet already? Even though I only just turned on the water? Well that's cool." "Oh, I guess cutting the amount of shampoo in half was still way too much shampoo? Guess I'll actually try the recommended dime-sized drop next time?? Okay then." "Shower is done? Hair is blow-dried already? I guess I'll just watch TV???" All the joys of short hair while still having long hair. I'm so happy~

That looks great! I'm glad you're happy! Any idea what your before and after ponytail circumference is? As mentioned, it's still pretty thick!

Looking forward to more pics!

[lapushka]

That looks great! I'm glad you're happy! Any idea what your before and after ponytail circumference is? As mentioned, it's still pretty thick!

Looking forward to more pics!

Let's hoping she measured before trimming. ;)

[The Lizard Wife]

That looks great! I'm glad you're happy! Any idea what your before and after ponytail circumference is? As mentioned, it's still pretty thick!

Looking forward to more pics!

Thank you! I didn't specifically measure right before I trimmed, but last time I checked my ponytail was 3.5" circumference. It was a solid 4" throughout my growing out until the beginning of the year, then I got sick and had a massive shed, which left me with 3.5" and it's held steady since--so that was another reason I was pretty eager to trim, because I'm sure that's all going to grow back down the line! The new ponytail is 2.75".

If my math is right (not always a good bet, there), taking the circumferences to solve for the radius, then plugging the radius in to get area, then finding the difference between the areas, and dividing that difference by the original area...I came up with about 0.38 or roughly 3/8ths chopped off, so...not quite half of my hair after all!

I need to go back through all the bun tutorials I'd bookmarked, but here's a pinless braided bun, I think! I remembered the gist of the bun but was less sure of the name. I had it in a bit lopsided, but it held all day at work with just the barrette and the ponytail holder at the end of the braid, I love this magic. It's also the perfect use for all the barrettes and slides I bought to contain that original 4" circumference. Yay for repurposing!

https://i.postimg.cc/8kR8J3Nk/20191202-161244.jpg
Description: Back view of pinless braided bun(?) with undercut

The more bun pictures I take the more I realize that if I'd gotten down to hip or so with my full head of hair and could properly bun, you wouldn't be able to see my head for the buns...yikes it's small! This is a much better proportion.

[lapushka]

Thank you! I didn't specifically measure right before I trimmed, but last time I checked my ponytail was 3.5" circumference. It was a solid 4" throughout my growing out until the beginning of the year, then I got sick and had a massive shed, which left me with 3.5" and it's held steady since--so that was another reason I was pretty eager to trim, because I'm sure that's all going to grow back down the line! The new ponytail is 2.75".

I'm 4.25 inches in circumference and people (not just on forums) sometimes refuse to believe it is an actual "problem" that my hair is thick. One of my aunts, for one. Not my youngest aunt because her hair is even thicker than mine. She "gets" me. But these people also refuse to believe that I can go through conditioner in 3 washings, they think I must be wasteful or slather it on too much. Or that I use absolute palm fulls of shampoo! :( No, it is really *that* thick! Thank you so much for demonstrating that fact! I love you for that! <mwah>

[butterflybutton]

This is inspiring me... I went from a pixie to almost APL and now I realize how much ponytails can suck! I can basically mostly stand loose buns/braids, and I'm thinking ponytails will be less pull-y if I have less hair. Plus the hair at my nape gets super tangled. As long as the maintenance is ok, I'm thinking of doing this! Can someone with experience verify if it helps keep underneath layers of hair from tangling?

Yes it does! I have had my undercut for a few months now, I'd forgotten the main reason I did it was because my nape ringlets were constantly tangly. It has been so wonderful not having to deal with them

[Gabrielina]

At the beginning of 2019 I made the decision to grow out my natural (virgin) hair so I quit dying it. Because I was so tempted to even my color "just one more time", in april this year I went from long layered waist length to bob haircut with undercut. Growing out since then... the color, the bob and the undercut :D Though it's not a walk in the park, I'm very motivated now, more than ever, to continue. It's nice to know that my neck length part (ex-undershaved) is all natural. Plus, it looks and feels so nice, soft and healthy!

[Laura1986]

The Lizard Wife that looks lovely, I am happy for you that you found a solution to deal with your hair.

I am starting to consider a undercut for myself as well.. I have had a bit shorter hair all my life (between ear and shoulder length mostly), then a couple of years back I let it grow out to BSL, got so fed up with it that I chopped it back to a lob (which I loved for how it looked) to a unintendedly short pixie (I like a bit longer ones more, generally speaking). That was two years ago. I panicked and wanted it to grow out again, but I find myself cutting back as soon as my hair begins to graze the lower half of my neck. I do have a lot of headaches (once/twice a week).. and I wonder if having a LOT of fine hair (it feels heavy but looks quite dainty) and a sensitive scalp could be the cause?

[DakarNick]

How far up is your undercut? Any pics?

[Siv]

I do have a lot of headaches (once/twice a week).. and I wonder if having a LOT of fine hair (it feels heavy but looks quite dainty) and a sensitive scalp could be the cause?

If your har is about the length in your avatar, I'd say no, not yet. At around SL I doubt anyone's hair is heavy enough for that. For me personally (F and ii/iii) I started getting tension headaches specifically from my hair around MBL when I put my hair up. I'm also prone to tension headaches in general.

But this is my guess! YMMV, as we say.

I think undercuts look really cool and if you've a tendency to sway between wanting short and long, perhaps an undercut will give you more variation?

[The Lizard Wife]

One month later update time~

- I'm still loving this undercut, it's definitely the best cut I've ever had for all my needs. Center-held buns are still working great for me (I figured out that they cause a little more pain if I let them sag a bit like I had a tendency to do at the start; for me, it turned out to be best if I make sure the bun is higher. If I can't clearly see the line of the undercut, I need to move it up! It's a pretty nicely balanced spot, and it seems pretty balanced visually too, like it's a straight line through my head from chin to bun), and the undercut works well with twin English braids for sleep or when I want to let my scalp rest.

- The undercut definitely got rid of nape tangles for me. I can wear shirts with mock-neck or turtle-neck collars without making a big snarled mat! Which is a lot of my winter shirts! That said, I almost never wear my hair loose anymore, because I've noticed a huge increase in matted tangles between my shoulder blades when my hair is down. I don't know if this is strictly because of the undercut--I already had a lot of damage in that area from wearing a single English braid at work, so that might be contributing to it. But I did used to wear my hair down frequently without such a drastic problem with the shoulder blade area before the undercut... So I'd say that yes, the undercut fixes nape tangles, but I'm uncertain if it helps with all tangles.
But this works fine for me, because I want to wear protective styles because of that previous damage anyway, and now I can--either buns, or the twin English braids, which sit over my shoulders in the front and don't mat to the same degree, possibly because they don't move around as much or rub as firmly against my clothes.

- Since it's been one month, I decided it was time to try maintaining it! I don't mind the long shaggy look of a grown-out undercut, it's what I want, but I didn't want to let it get so long that I couldn't see what I was doing. So I grabbed my clippers and went for it!
Results: Yes, I can technically maintain this on my own. As long as I don't cut into the long hair, there's only so much I can mess up. And if I do a messy job, my dark hair helps hide it, much like people didn't notice I got an undercut in the first place.
However, if I really wanted this to look nice and polished, I personally would need the help of a friend or to go to a hairdresser. It's very easy for me not to cut above the undercut! It is, therefore, very hard for me to trim the hairs nearest the line to a proper length! It's difficult to wield scissors behind my head! I forgot I would have to use my non-dominant hand! My hair is really dark! I forgot that to do the area around my ears properly I'd have to take off my glasses, and my eyesight is actually way too poor to make out what I'd be doing! I actually have no idea how to clean up the nape area so it looks smooth and professional! Also while I understand that my brain has trouble processing mirrors and I can't figure out which direction to move my hand to make it go, say, towards my ear, I did not anticipate that my brain has so much trouble processing mirrors that I would move my hand when I meant to move my head, or my head when I meant to move my hand!
But, despite all that, while it could look better, it doesn't look bad. And that was only my first try. I'd say that it's pretty reasonable to expect to maintain a simple undercut at home.
I probably will, maybe a few times a year, get someone else's help so that my mistakes don't get too out of control. But in the meantime, I can handle it myself.

(to be honest my biggest mistake was that, because I've gotten used to trimming ends on long hair, I somehow while pumping myself up for "just grab the clippers how badly can it go!!" managed to forget the number one unbreakable rule of hair cutting especially for short hair, which is, be available to wash your hair immediately after, and I have some regrets, and I can tell you that lint-rolling my undercut while the long hair was still pinned up was not perfectly effective but was also not a terrible idea. Don't be like me.)

- When I first got the undercut, we used the 1 inch and 1/2 inch guards. This time, to see what it would look like, I used the 3/4 inch and 1/2 guards. To me it definitely has more of the undercut look rather than the pixie cut look this time, while still not being shaved. I don't hate it, but I did like the bulk of the 1 inch better, but if I wanted to stretch trims this would be great. I haven't noticed it catching at my hair at all. I didn't have any problems with hair catching when it was longer and less stubbly either, though I did get occasional weird fly-aways when I accidentally tucked some of the undercut up into the bun!

- As far as sensitive scalp weight concerns: I haven't noticed any issues yet, at this length at least, with my scalp being upset because the hairs on top of my head are still as long as they used to be. I don't recall it feeling unbearably heavy any of the times I've washed it--the added water weight generally makes it very apparent when my hair is too heavy! I still don't understand what the science is here, but I'm pleased it's working in my favor. I have no idea how long it will continue to hold up past waist length, but fingers crossed!

Anyway, I think that's all the information I wanted to share for future reference.

[The Lizard Wife]

So you know how in the previous post I said that somehow the undercut has made my hair more tangly, just in new places?

Well, as it turns out, I actually just haven't been conditioning properly.

(Details dump: so sometimes you are browsing on LHC and you see how everyone is doing something a certain way and you decide that must be the right way just because even though it turns out you are the outlier? Well, when I was switching everything up at the start of growing out my hair I went without conditioner for a while, and then when I started bringing it in again I started doing things like "only do your ends" and "a little goes a long way" and "product will travel to your very ends as you're washing it out". As it turns out, the rules for me are: do what you've always done, use more conditioner than shampoo, use your conditioner as if it were a shampoo actually, the same way you lather up a bunch of suds on your scalp and scrunch it through your hair, lather up a bunch of creamy goodness on your scalp and work it all through everywhere and let it sit, perfection; that time you tried more conditioner and your hair didn't seem right was actually a fluke where you must not have clarified properly beforehand, because this time with even more conditioner has been so lovely. The hair near my scalp is gloriously smooth and shiny and tangle-free, my mid-lengths got a decent dosing and so are only moderately tangly, and my ends didn't get the love they deserved so all the tangles are literally right at the ends. But I'm learning!!!)

I got my hair pretty well conditioned last wash, except for the ends, and lo and behold...I can actually leave my hair down without the mid-lengths becoming a disaster. My previous trouble areas are within acceptable ranges of tangly when left down, while my ends this time around have all the tangles in them. I'm still having zero troubles with the terrible nape tangles that used to be caused by turtlenecks and such. So yes! Getting an undercut will solve so many of your tangling problems, presuming you are not doing other things wrong! If I use as much conditioner as I actually need in the way I actually need it, I can definitely go back to wearing my hair down sometimes to enjoy the length.

(I do still have a suspicion that my hair might be more prone to tangles with the undercut because, being thinner, it has so much more freedom of movement now. I think that's what caused me to realize I needed more conditioner, when I could get along only half-conditioning before the undercut. But I can't prove my hypothesis!)

[lapushka]

Where however does it say on LHC anywhere to use a small amount of conditioner? Now I'm confused. I use a 200ml bottle of conditioner about 2/3 times. A lot of people think I'm wasteful, but I just spread it like a layer of butter and that's how much I need.

[Bri-Chan]

I use how much conditioner I need ... I put it on my hair until my hair is full of product...

I don't ever have an undercut, but I am growing out my sidecut since 2 years now

[strawberryfine]

Hello,
Not sure I should be here as I am growing out undercut sides. If you haven't done an undercut yet I would advise you not to do it. You might love it for a while (like I did)but at some point you most likely grow tired of it (at least I did)and decide to grow your undercut out. It is along and miserable (to me) process. I'm in the early stages of grow out right now. I hope that in about 3 more months I will be able to stick it all behind my ears. That should make it much less noticeable.
Can anyone here relate?

[The Lizard Wife]

I loved the undercut and it was great, but I decided to grow it out in October I think? After I got a new job and was no longer confined to constantly having my hair up and thoroughly contained. My scalp had abruptly decided some time prior that top knots were no longer an option, even if I hacked my hair back from waist to between shoulder and APL to ditch the weight, and thinned it further by incorporating even more area into the undercut than is shown in the original photos in this thread.

I think I may be the only person who finds growing out my undercut to be an absolute godsend. I love it.

Does it look Not Nice? Sure. Are there ends sticking out everywhere? Yes. Did I discover a massive cowlick, which I foolishly trimmed very short to try to tame immediately before deciding to grow the undercut back out, so it had the longest possible time of awkward sticking-straight-up-against-gravity growth? Nailed it. But I decided, I am under no obligation to make my hair Look Good! My hair never Looks Good (which made the decision to Stop Caring very easy), so it may as well be functional.

(I got power-crazy with the scissors, too. Trim my own bangs to my own exacting standards? Yes. If they look bad? I'm going to be trimming in 1-2 weeks anyway, This Too Shall Pass. Hate fishing long hairs out from under my glasses arms, really loved not having to do that with the undercut? Just trim the sideburns area above my ears and keep it forever short-ish! Amazing!)

After some months my undercut was long enough to anchor scalp-approved nape buns with (and currently sticks straight out of the center of the bun for several inches), and I could start bunning it at about APL! And that's all thanks to growing out the undercut! Otherwise, I probably couldn't have bunned until hip, and I wouldn't have known how to start! My hair is going to be wildly, ridiculously uneven lengths in reverse-layers, but no need to trim my length for the sake of a matching hemline--for the first time in my life, I am experiencing the wonder of taper. It is as magical as everyone told me it would be. (Definitely going to keep in mind those compact-cut layers that lapushka talked about, if my journey takes my entire length far enough past waist.)

I understand that most people have different goals, and this would not be "functional" for them and would be miserable instead, but. There hasn't been a single part of this undercut experience that hasn't been amazing for me, no regrets.

[florenonite]

I'm glad you're enjoying growing it out, The Lizard Wife!

I started growing mine out c. November of 2019 (I actually last trimmed it in August of that year, but November is when I decided I was definitely growing it out), and from February 2020 until about May 2021 I was constantly in, "No, THIS must be the worst stage of growing it out". The problem I've had is that I often can't wear buns because they hurt my scalp, so a single English braid is my go-to for comfort and practicality. And for that entire 16 months, the undershave perpetually felt like it was thisclose to being able to incorporate it into a braid, but not quite. Now, nearly two years after I last shaved it, bits and pieces still pop out of braids from time to time, but mostly if my hair is particularly slippery or if I'm wearing a collared shirt.

[Eastbound&Down]

I'm glad you're enjoying growing it out, The Lizard Wife!

I started growing mine out c. November of 2019 (I actually last trimmed it in August of that year, but November is when I decided I was definitely growing it out), and from February 2020 until about May 2021 I was constantly in, "No, THIS must be the worst stage of growing it out". The problem I've had is that I often can't wear buns because they hurt my scalp, so a single English braid is my go-to for comfort and practicality. And for that entire 16 months, the undershave perpetually felt like it was thisclose to being able to incorporate it into a braid, but not quite. Now, nearly two years after I last shaved it, bits and pieces still pop out of braids from time to time, but mostly if my hair is particularly slippery or if I'm wearing a collared shirt.

I've been growing mine out for about 4 months now I think after maintaining it for about a year, and I am about 2 more months away from being able to pull it up with the rest of my hair and maybe some snap clips. It is minorly inconvenient right now with the summer heat, but I know if I were to shave it back I would regret it.