Self trim thread?

[SummerWarmth]

Good morning! I cannot seem to locate a thread on self trims. If there are any, let me know. :scissors:

Otherwise, any advice, experiences, things I should look out for, etc. when attempting to micro dust my own hair? I'm not expert by any means on cutting hair. However, would it work if I just separate the clumps of my hair and micro dust the ends (or maybe just any split ends I might find?) :eye:

How often should I get a micro dust anyway? At APL now trying to get to waist.

Thanks!

[tinkerbellisme]

Is this what you're looking for?: http://community.livejournal.com/feyeselftrim

[Ravenne]

I use Feye's method for the straight across. It's very simple and easy to do. And hard to mess up. :) I've done the U-shape too. It takes a little more eyeballing, but it worked on the first try. Really the best thing I can say is have really sharp scissors that fit into your hand comfortably, good lighting and it may help to have on a striped shirt to check how horizontal your cut is. :)

ETA: Sorry, the method I use is in the link posted before me.

[SummerWarmth]

Thanks for the link :-)

How often do you trim your own hair, Ravenne?

[chopandchange]

Do you have layers?

If you do, Faye's method is not really applicable, (unless you only care about trimming the base layer, and not the top ones).

The general attitude on LHC to layers (assuming you want to grow them out) is "don't trim them," so most people with layers seem to use Faye's method and trim their baseline only, ignoring the rest of their hair where the layers are. Personally, I do not subscribe to this school of thought, since my layers can get splits too, and I have no wish to have unhealthy split hair and just leave it alone to split even more. People here often say they just S&D their layers, but too much S&D hurts my eyes. So I do pretty much as you described - I just separate my hair into small individual strands and trim each one individually. It works perfectly well (I find I much prefer to do it on wet hair, BTW). I have been doing it this way for three years and the layers in my hair still look balanced and symmetrical. I will continue to do it this way until I grow out my layers. HOWEVER, for me it works well because my hair is thick and wavy. If you have straight or thin hair, any slight unevenness would be more noticable, and perhaps you should proceed with more caution!

If you do decide to do it this way, the first time you do it you might be quite nervous and worried you'll mess it up. But it's virtually foolproof as long as you make sure the amounts you are chopping off each strand are the same. Also, separate the hair into sections - pin or tie it up - and make sure you keep track of which parts you've trimmed and which parts you haven't, to avoid doing the same bit twice. It may sound obvious, but it's happened to me a few times and I've got into a panic!

Hope this helps and your trim goes well!

Edit: oh dear, I see you are 1A or 1B. I guess my method might not work for you then! Ooops.

[SummerWarmth]

chopandchange - your hair is gorgeous!

I do have layers. I'll have to tread carefully! I want to keep my layers, too. I just saw a post elsewhere on taking pieces of hair and microdusting them (yep, this will take an hour or so!). After dusting a section of hair, roll that section up in foam curlers to get it out of the way. Not a bad idea!

I can see s&d making my eyes hurt and I certainly do not want to be obsessed with searching for split ends! I'll have self-control. However, I'm motivated with dusting my own hair because I know my hair will get just that: DUSTING ONLY. The hairstylists usually trim more than I care to see fall on the floor (I definitely know there are thousands of people just like me on this).

[tinkerbellisme]

chopandchange - your hair is gorgeous!

I do have layers. I'll have to tread carefully! I want to keep my layers, too. I just saw a post elsewhere on taking pieces of hair and microdusting them (yep, this will take an hour or so!). After dusting a section of hair, roll that section up in foam curlers to get it out of the way. Not a bad idea!

I can see s&d making my eyes hurt and I certainly do not want to be obsessed with searching for split ends! I'll have self-control. However, I'm motivated with dusting my own hair because I know my hair will get just that: DUSTING ONLY. The hairstylists usually trim more than I care to see fall on the floor (I definitely know there are thousands of people just like me on this).

Oh absolutely! Most hairdressers feel that they know best, regardless of your request. Not sure why there seems to be such an obsession with whacking off perfectly beautiful, damage-free hair....

I'm lucky enough to have a hairdresser who gives a crap about me and not just her pocketbook. She even talked me out of the highlights I wanted on a whim. I haven't been to see her in a long time though. Since I found Feye's method, I've been able to do it myself. Thus saving myself the cash.

I have read elsewhere some good advice though. Walk into a barber shop and ask for however much you want trimmed...they're so afraid of screwing up your long beautiful hair that they'll take off exactly the amount you requested and not a bit more....though I don't know how well that would work with layers...Poor guy'd probably run for the hills...lol.

[marla]

About trimming layers, I remember reading in high school about a self trimming method that is supposed to be foolproof. You lean over so your upper body is parallel to the ground. Brush your hair over your head so there are no knots and hold it straight out from the top of your head. Then grasp it about 2 inches or (however much you want to trim) from the ends. Then you cut it straight across. This is supposed to work because the parts at the top of your head are going to end up shorter than the ones further down your head and it's all supposed to be incremental in proportion. I tried it once and it seemed to work.

[Ravenne]

Thanks for the link :-)

How often do you trim your own hair, Ravenne?

Sorry for the late reply. Just as needed. I try to space them out to at least 2 months, but if the ends are just looking sad and nothing else is working, I'll take off a teeny bit.

[SummerWarmth]

Oh absolutely! Most hairdressers feel that they know best, regardless of your request. Not sure why there seems to be such an obsession with whacking off perfectly beautiful, damage-free hair....

I'm lucky enough to have a hairdresser who gives a crap about me and not just her pocketbook. She even talked me out of the highlights I wanted on a whim. I haven't been to see her in a long time though. Since I found Feye's method, I've been able to do it myself. Thus saving myself the cash.

I have read elsewhere some good advice though. Walk into a barber shop and ask for however much you want trimmed...they're so afraid of screwing up your long beautiful hair that they'll take off exactly the amount you requested and not a bit more....though I don't know how well that would work with layers...Poor guy'd probably run for the hills...lol.

Haha! The barber shop! You're probably right and that's a great idea!

How long did it take you to find the perfect hairdresser? I don't want to keep going around town trying out different ones (or interviewing them...which, to me, seems ridiculous and I don't have time for it).

[SummerWarmth]

About trimming layers, I remember reading in high school about a self trimming method that is supposed to be foolproof. You lean over so your upper body is parallel to the ground. Brush your hair over your head so there are no knots and hold it straight out from the top of your head. Then grasp it about 2 inches or (however much you want to trim) from the ends. Then you cut it straight across. This is supposed to work because the parts at the top of your head are going to end up shorter than the ones further down your head and it's all supposed to be incremental in proportion. I tried it once and it seemed to work.

That sounds like it would work. I only want to dust the ends about four times a year...but the layers do make it a lot more work. I'll give that a try! Thanks for the advice, Marla! :)

[tinkerbellisme]

That sounds like it would work. I only want to dust the ends about four times a year...but the layers do make it a lot more work. I'll give that a try! Thanks for the advice, Marla! :)

Make sure you're very careful and hold your head exactly parallel to the floor. I had a hairdresser who used to have me hold my head like this when I was in middle/high school. I decided that I needed a haircut and figured I could do it myself with my head flipped over the trash can...well..I must have tilted my head further down than I thought. Needless to say I most definitely had a layered cut :rolleyes:.

Maybe you could find someone you trust to help you. If not to do the actual cutting then to help ensure you're keeping your head at the right angle. Just a thought..

[SummerWarmth]

Make sure you're very careful and hold your head exactly parallel to the floor. I had a hairdresser who used to have me hold my head like this when I was in middle/high school. I decided that I needed a haircut and figured I could do it myself with my head flipped over the trash can...well..I must have tilted my head further down than I thought. Needless to say I most definitely had a layered cut :rolleyes:.

Maybe you could find someone you trust to help you. If not to do the actual cutting then to help ensure you're keeping your head at the right angle. Just a thought..


Yikes! I'm going to have to find a babysitter for that self trim day...I can see myself taking forever just to make sure I do it right.

Or...

Maybe I can go to a hairdresser, pull her by the collar and say, "MICRODUST, ya hear?!"

:eyebrows:

[tinkerbellisme]

Maybe I can go to a hairdresser, pull her by the collar and say, "MICRODUST, ya hear?!"

:eyebrows:

:whip:LOL!:rollin: