hi ladies and gents!

           I was wondering if anyone had any tips for self-trimming. i've never done it before and i'm curious about how difficult it would be. keep in mind that i sort of cower and wince and flinch when i go in for my occasional trim and i'm afraid that several of my dolls fared badly when i attempted to trim them as a child so i'm very timid about the whole thing.  :-/ perhaps it isn't such a good idea for me, i'm still contemplating. also, does hair sort of shrink up when you get a trim? it sounds ridiculous, i know, but it seems as if it does, temporarily.

                                thanks,
                               
                               - Ophelia -

Hair that is at least mid-back length can be self trimmed.  The basic technique is to put the hair into a ponytail, add additional bands down the tail as necessary. Then bring the tail to the front and carefully trim the end of the tail.

There are instructions for this method around somewhere, I'll have to see if I can find them to link to them for you.

Feye's trimming instructions are currently pending. She is finding a new host right now. I have a trimming page, but I deleted all of it when Feye came back last week or so.... Her trim page should be available soon.

Anais

Well, I'll share my tips but you may find them to be more madness than method... ::)

1. I comb through hair, gently of course.  Apply some oil on length so hair is slicked down.

2. Part hair in center, keeping one side out of the way while you work with the other.

3. Press your chin against your chest, and keep it there.  As you do so gather one of your parted sides with your hands and stretch it out in front of you, keeping it very close to your chest.  

4. Now trim straight across the ends with sharp scissors.  Repeat for other side.  

You will get a slightly layered look from this method. Your hemline in back will also be a sort of natural looking U or V shape.

Best wishes!!! :) :) :)

Good question, Ophelia!  This is something that I have pondered as well.  I did try it once, maybe 7 months ago, with no knowledge of how to do it I used a method similar to Bikerbraid's.  It came out OK, but I don't think my scissors were sharp enough, the ends just kept sliding away in the blades of the scissors instead of cutting right off.  I was actually thinking of attempting it again, because I have a hard time getting to a salon with my work schedule.  It just never seems to work out that they're open when I'm available.  :-[

That brings me to another good question:  What is a good price range (or type) of scissors to buy?  How do you know a pair of scissors is sharp enough without spending too much money?

Just curious. :)

Hi guys!

         Thanks for all of you replies. Everybody has good trimming ideas. Somebody ( Panpeus, I think ) asked about scissor info. There's something else for me to consider, my kitchen scissors will most definitely not do...


                           -Ophelia-

wrote on Feb 10^th, 2006 at 1:14am:

That brings me to another good question:  What is a good price range (or type) of scissors to buy?  How do you know a pair of scissors is sharp enough without spending too much money? Just curious. :)

That's a good question. I haven't priced scissors, but I'd go with a mid-priced pair and use only use it to cut hair. I've read that embroidery scissors are good. HTH.  :)

I purchased some shears from CVS for 15.00 and they work very well. They are salon quility and were in the cosmetics section. I've only done dusting with them but will go for a small trim with your suggested method.

My scissors seem do to quite well.  I got them on sale at Sally's for $10.  I think they were originally $30.  I would recommend buying them at a hair supply shop and asking the people that work there.