I Cut My Own Hair

Be courageous! Pick up the scissors and cut your own hair 

By    Roshana Ariel
Ariel Enterprises

Yes, I'm pretty brave. I have the guts to cut my own hair. Sometimes I screw up, but that hasn't stopped me yet. I just really don't like going to salons; not sure why ... yes, I am. I don't like the music, I don't like the smell, I don't like making conversation with someone who's chopping at my head -- I'm nervous about it.

I've had some pretty awful haircuts, and I had to pay for them, too! That just ticks me off!

I didn't visit a salon until I was in my 20s. My sister always cut my hair if it really needed it. Pretty much, though, I kept my hair long and straight. And if I got sick of the split ends, I'd just cut them off. No big deal.

For the past year or so, I went to a stylist who did a pretty good job -- but I still didn't like being at the salon. And when they raised their prices, and I was paying $35 plus tip for a haircut, I was done.

I cut it myself ... somewhat badly.

So I went to a different salon, with their prices advertised in the window: $16.95 for an adult cut. Fine.

Not fine. I said, "Ummm, I've been trimming it myself, and I just want a little trim, a "little" layering to lighten it up; but I do want to be able to tie it up when the summer hits in a couple of months."

She didn't listen to me. She said, "Oh, yeah, this is really uneven, and with this thick hair, you really do need layers."

And she started whacking away, very pleased with herself for "fixing" my hair ... completely oblivious about the cut I thought I had just asked for.

Cut your own hair!

Well, my hopes of being able to tie my hair up for the summer were dashed. I needed to go short. But I didn't trust anyone to cut it. And I didn't want to pay anyone else for the opportunity to do a bad job on it. I can do a bad job on it, I thought, for free!

So I started searching the Web for a good haircutting book.

And I found one! This showed me in just a few minutes what I had been doing wrong, how to do it right, how to make sure it's even, and lots of tips about how to deal with "cowlicks" and the shape of your face, even how to hold the scissors and at what angle to hold the hair out from your head.

Cut your own hair!

I cut my hair with confidence, and it looks great! Nobody can tell that I did it myself. I'm really proud of it, and I know now that I can maintain it because I finally understand the "math" of haircutting. It's like they say, once you know how, it's really easy.

Don't be afraid to cut your hair! Don't be embarassed, either! You can do it. Get this book!