Introvert’s Guide To The Good Life: Should You Cut Your Own Hair?

We’re two months in. Do you need a haircut, too? We get some professional advice, like take your time, start small and don’t cut wet hair.

Hair cut at home.
Home haircuts are all the rage. Katrina Br*?#*!@nd / Flickr via Creative Commons
Hair cut at home.
Home haircuts are all the rage. Katrina Br*?#*!@nd / Flickr via Creative Commons

Introvert’s Guide To The Good Life: Should You Cut Your Own Hair?

We’re two months in. Do you need a haircut, too? We get some professional advice, like take your time, start small and don’t cut wet hair.

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Last week, when Nerdette listeners told us what they would have done with a warning before stay-at-home orders, haircuts were top of mind.

But is an at-home haircut ever a good idea?

Nerdette host Greta Johnsen asked her friend (and hair stylist) Julia Pishko for some tips.

Use pointy scissors

Julia Pishko: I’ve known people that are using tiny nail scissors, just for trimming up around the bang. More delicate looking sewing scissors are a great option. You can order some for not-a-million dollars online. Even the drugstore will have some $10 Conair scissors that will probably be an improvement to your giant kitchen scissors.

Don’t cut your hair when it’s wet

Pishko: Not cutting your hair wet is probably going to be your best visual guide. The most disasters I’ve been hearing about right now is people that are experiencing the shrinkage factor of thinking they have more control cutting their hair wet. But you’re going to have to use your artistic eye as your guide. The more you can see your hair as it really is, the easier it’s gonna be to not botch it completely.

Your hair is more elastic when it’s wet, so it’s giving you the impression that it’s much longer than it is. If you take small sections for control and cut it dry, I think you’re going to have much better results.

Reach out to your stylist before doing anything

Pishko: Now that my most cautious friends and clients are hitting that wall, I’ve got multiple zoom haircut advice appointments scheduled this week for people who have just had enough. A few tips can help. Honestly, your stylist — who is probably bored — they might be willing to do this with you for five minutes. And at least sit there and say, like, “That’s too short,” or “You’re angling it too much.” But just taking your time, I think, is going to be the best thing.