Self-cut: Complete makeover (hemline, bangs, face-frame) - picture heavy

[AngelInDisguise]

Please feel free to visit the album for slightly bigger pictures: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=2552

Unfortunately I had to take the pics with my cam of the mobile so please excuse the quality!

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I am no expert in self-cutting but nonetheless I took some pics today of my complete self-trim makeover to encourage some of the other newbies here to simply have a try. If I managed to cut properly, you also will!

First the pictures of before the cut:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31737&albumid=2552&dl=1234616056&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31738&albumid=2552&dl=1234616056&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31739&albumid=2552&dl=1234616056&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31740&albumid=2552&dl=1234616167&thumb=1
The hair was a bit damp but not freshly washed.

Now to cutting the hemline - I use Feye's method, maybe a bit customized for my length:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31741&albumid=2552&dl=1234616167&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31743&albumid=2552&dl=1234616287&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31744&albumid=2552&dl=1234616287&thumb=1
I lost about an inch *sight* which is dramatic when one has the feeling of a complete growing stop anyway.

I parted the hair as neat in the middle as possible, combed carefully and then put an elastic just under the chin. (Sorry, double-chin is not needed. Then a deep breath, a sharp scissor and a brave cut, as straight as possible. Afterwards I took the elastic out, hair still in front I had a look at the hemline. Any awkwardly sticking out strands should then be cut even. Another time combing through carefully, then another ponytail in the low nape with a lowered head (looking on the floor). After sliding the elastic as far down as possible I carefully (not to pull any strands) took the ponytail in front I cut just an mincy bit to avoid getting a V-shape instead of the U I wanted.

My 1b hair never lies really evenly at the hemline, but I think this pic shows the result quite good anyway:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31745&albumid=2552&dl=1234616287&thumb=1

[Curlsgirl]

Very nice! I am glad you are happy with it too. I have had some self-cut episodes in the past that I am not so happy with! shudder:

[AngelInDisguise]

So, now to the face-frame:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31746&albumid=2552&dl=1234616444&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31747&albumid=2552&dl=1234616444&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31748&albumid=2552&dl=1234616444&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31749&albumid=2552&dl=1234616591&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31750&albumid=2552&dl=1234616591&thumb=1

Yes, I know, this looks a bit goofy, but this technique makes it a lot easier to me to cut the face frame. Although I now realise the the parting from ear to ear was not even close to perfect. Here I also took the "tail" of the front and cut bravely a part off. Just be sure not to cut too much or you will end up with a big step between the hemline of your hair at the back and your frame. The hair of just above the ear should be untouched in length, then it might be just perfect. (It is so hard to explain, I hope someone will understand) As you can see on the fourth pic the line is all but even, so even this out a bit. The last pic shows the result, stil damp an not really combed through so please excuse the messiness.

[AngelInDisguise]

And the final touch: Bangs!

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31751&albumid=2552&dl=1234616591&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31752&albumid=2552&dl=1234616961&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31753&albumid=2552&dl=1234616961&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31754&albumid=2552&dl=1234616961&thumb=1
The tickelish part of cutting the bangs is the preparing parting. Take your time here or the bangs will get thicker and bigger every time you re-trim. I wear the bangs side-swept to the left side. To get the right shape I take them to the adjacent side (right side) , pull the hair straight an cut neatly just below the fingers, making sure not to cut in the finger which will be hurtful with this sharp siccors. The third pic shows the result. On the last pic you might or might not see that I thinned out the line a bit with thinning scissors to make the bangs a bit more "light".

[AngelInDisguise]

So, here is the complete makeover result:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31755&albumid=2552&dl=1234617072&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31756&albumid=2552&dl=1234617072&thumb=1 http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?pictureid=31757&albumid=2552&dl=1234617072&thumb=1

O.k. the hair is not freshly washed, which might look even a bit better.

And it might not be perfect but surely perfect enough for anyone like me who gets the creaps when thinking of the past experiences with professional hairdressers.

I know that there are really good hairdressers out there - I just never met one. To me the possibility to self cut gives me some ease!

[LutraLutra]

Great, glad it well well for you :) I'd be just about ok to trim my fringe myself, but as for a 'real' haircut I just don't think I'd have the nerve to do it.

[AngelInDisguise]

Thanks Curlsgirl and LutraLutra.

When I first heard about self-trimming I was quite sure I'll never be brave enough to try it. Acutally I found it easier I would have thought.

But I do need to take time. The complete cut with taking photos took me an hour.

[Elphie]

I think you did a great job, your trim looks very neat and you hair has more bounce than it did before!

[scalawaggirl]

Wonderful job!!! I'm planning to do a fringe cut when mine grow out a bit. I cut them shorter than normal and they're not to my taste but they are growing fast.

Excellent work. :)

[AngelInDisguise]

Thanks Elphie and scalawaggirl!

I think bangs or fringe is hardest to cut because I also tended to take off too much. I hope that with practice this can be avoided. This time the result was just as I wanted it to be!

[karenpetal]

Wow i think its good job done !!!!!! glad you happy with it !!

[Denebi]

Whoa, you did a great job! To me it looks professional ;) Nice result, really. :cheer:

[Lillie]

I can't see any of the pictures... :-(

[AngelInDisguise]

Lillie, this is because the pictures are in my album - you need at least 25 posts to be able to see albums.

[Lillie]

Ahhh, sorry. :oops:

I thought you had them loaded up on imageshack or something like that.

[Johanna64]

Wow,that's great!!
Your hair looks pretty :)

[jeno]

Good job! Thanks for all pictures, I'm going to try this on my daughter today, she wants layers.

[misstwist]

Great work! I'm glad you're pleased with the results.

[AnneAdeline]

Good job! I trimmed my hair for the first time by myself yesterday, though it wasn't as daring as your trim. It was more of a dusting.
Looks great!

[trollkjerring]

Your did a wonderful job with your makeover:)
trollkjerring

[AngelInDisguise]

:o Thank you ladies! I still cannot believe I was brave enough to do this - and looking at the photos now I am not sure where I got the courage from. Anyhow, I did! :cheese:

jeno, this method will only give her a layered face frame. For a complete light layering you might take some hair of the crown as well.

For heavy layering some take the complete hair, brush and comb it thoroughly and then make the ponytail as I did for front layering. The hairdresser Lee Stafford once published a video for it but my link unfortunately does not work anymore. But be careful, this method means really HEAVY layering!

[jeno]

jeno, this method will only give her a layered face frame. For a complete light layering you might take some hair of the crown as well.

For heavy layering some take the complete hair, brush and comb it thoroughly and then make the ponytail as I did for front layering. The hairdresser Lee Stafford once published a video for it but my link unfortunately does not work anymore. But be careful, this method means really HEAVY layering!
Thanks for your advise! We will start with the face framing at first and maybe put in some more layers later on.

[Feye]

Hi, it's looking nice! Your hair has some natural wave which is good for self-trims.

[psvzum]

You did a WONDERFUL job!!! Thank you for all the pictures : ) I could never be as brave as you!

[aprilmay]

That is pretty cool. I like the idea of securing the hair under your chin with an elastic. Visuals are very helpful.

[AngelInDisguise]

Thanks girls!

I was not really sure whether to show the pic with elastic under the chin as it looks really weird and stupid.

But as I also love to have visuals I finally decided to show it....

[Denebi]

I don't think it looks stupid... It shows an intermediate step which is quite important, nothing wrong with it ;)

[Katze]

Wow, good for you for being brave enough to try it, then taking (good) pics! :)

I really like the way the layers frame your face. You've got some nice waves going on there and the overall hairdo looks very good. I had a similar haircut but would blowdry it straight; never thought of waving/curling it inwards. It looks very nice!

[AngelInDisguise]

:o Thank you Denebi!


Katze, unfortunately my hair does not always behave as well as on the photo.... But I found out that trying to straighten the frame always ended up with an akwardly sticking out mess. Letting it airdray has proved to be the most reliable method to have it looking good most of the time.

[suicides_eve]

you did a very nice job and it will grow back before you know it. i would love to have swing bangs but it takes alot to wok for my hair and i am just to lazy

[MadPirateBippy]

it looks really good, I could never do a self trim as complicated as that! You're a hair genius!

[AngelInDisguise]

:o Oh, so much appreciation!

(When I was little I wanted to become a hairdresser so badly. Maybe this dream is still somewhere deep inside me.)

MadPirateBippy, I simply love your avatar!