Gettin snippy

Do a bang-up job with your next haircut
By Annie Tomlin " Photo by Megan Holmes
Courtesy of Venus Zine

Youve been there before: gazing into your mirror, scissors in hand, thinking, Id look really great with bangs. Or convincing your friend, Of course I can even out the back for you! The next thing you know, you have bangs that barely make it onto your forehead and a friend (with a bob) who is hardly speaking to you. So the next time you think about snipping away at anyones lovely locks, first arm yourself with these helpful tips from the experts.

Step 1 Prep Work

THE RIGHT STUFF
Regular scissors will just bend your hair, says Amber Stefaniak, a senior stylist at Art + Science Salon in Chicago. Its better to have something thats sharp enough. Professional shears can be expensive, but lower-end beauty stores like Sally Beauty Supply will have adequate versions for less.

BLOW-DRY FIRST
If youre not trained, Stefaniak explains, youre better off cutting dry hair. Youll make fewer mistakes.

Comments

[Aleksandr Skotbot]

Step 1. Go to cosmetology school Step 2. Acquire friends Step 3. Free haircuts for life! hahaha

[inquisitive]

It does not necessarily look bad, BUT please learn from my famous 2 hair debacles: 1) No cutting after your normal bedtime (I had a final yawn on the final snip that made a head altering stub) 2) If you start to feel groggy, PUT ALL THE SHARP THINGS DOWN (you are likely to make a major boo boo-or bald spot. Other than that-what the heck-my hair stylist accepts (and still reminds me) of my rare hair foibles-it REALLY does grow back. Live for the adventure.

[beest]

If you're cutting your own hair, the real trick is just accepting that it's going to look a little, well, bad. At least until you have some practice. I haven't paid for a haircut in over a year, and I'm getting much better at it. I want to see how I'd do on someone else's hair but lack willing participants...

[TheCheese9921]

TRY GREEN LIBERTY SPIKES THE CHICKS DIG EM!!!!

[leevonk]

sissy, I cut my own hair. I always have to ask people afterwards how the back looks, results vary.

[atomicpossum]

Crew cuts. Good thing for me they suit my head.

[trebuchet03]

From my fellow engineers..... Take Masking Tape (cheapo yellow/tan stuff)... Apply to back of head tightly.... Take cutter and buzz it all off.... Perfect line every time... then remove tape. Stronger tape will pull out hair, so I'd avoid it :P

[leevonk]

I use scissors, and I prefer the slightly discheveled cut rather than the straight line. I take a shower, then dry hair with towel so it's all sticking up, then I use the scissors (while standing in the shower to allow easy cleanup).

[fungus amungus]

I did that for a long time too. I made it to the age of 26 without paying for a haircut.