How to Trim your Own Hair

For those of you looking to keep your hair long, you probably don't cut it much, just an occasional trim to tidy up the ends and keep them free from splits. It is therefore beneficial to learn how to trim your own hair, as hairdressers may not always do things the way you want them to. Also, I find it rather expensive to visit the salon to trim that tiny bit of hair off the bottom.

While doing some online research, I found Feye's Hair Trimming Instructions. Feye provides very detailed instructions for self-trimming, including lots of step-by-step pictures for the straight-across, U-shaped and V-shaped cuts. She presents everything is a very very clear fashion, such that even first-timers should be able to do a good job on their own hair!

Her trimming instructions have really saved me a lot of time and money that would have been spent at the hairdresser's. I've been using her instructions for a U-shaped cut and it looks great every time. Make sure you have a sharp pair of scissors solely dedicated to hair cutting though. Dull scissors risk damaging your hair and causing splits. Do also note that your hair has to be long enough for you to split into half down the back of your head and bring to the front over your shoulders for Feye's instructions to work. Have fun trying out the different styles!

To silicone or not?

There has been alot of controversy revolving around the use of silicone in hair products. It is said to mask damage and split ends, such that when one stops the use of silicone, all the accumulated damage shows through at once. While this may be true, some people have found that their hair cannot live without silicone! In the past, my hair was very happy with silicone serums, and was shiny and smooth from the use of them. However, it has become very finicky of late,and ends up crunchy if I use a leave-in that contains silicone. Thus, I decided to do a little experimenting to see decide if I should stick with silicone or not.

First thing I did was to abandon my silicone serum in favour of my trusty coconut oil. I shampooed my entire length to get rid of the silicone serum in my hair, and then applied coconut oil when damp. Lo and behold, my hair was much softer and happier with the use of coconut oil. To ensure this was really the result of switching to oil, I tried this for a few more washes, achieving the same result. My silicone serum is happily collecting dust on my shelf now, at least until my hair decides it needs a change again.

Next, I thought that maybe I should try a silicone-free wash-off conditioner too. So I went out and got one, using it for my next wash. This one was a no-go. My hair was tangly and unmanageable, oiling it did not help either. So...I went back to my silicone-loaded conditioner.

Funny isn't it, that my hair loves a silicone wash-off but hates a silicone leave-in? For those having hair problems, it's best to do some experimenting of your own, but be sure to only change one element at a time, so you know exactly what you changed that made a difference. For example, try a different serum while keeping all other parts of your routine the same. Don't change your leave-in and wash-off and the same time! Also remember that hair, like your skin, is always changing. Products you have been happy with for a long time may suddenly stop working!

Importance of Keeping Your Long Hair Well-Trimmed

It is understandable that those of us who have long hair will find it hard to part with any of it, regardless of how little. However, it is important to note that regular trimming is needed if you are to keep your hair healthy. Dry and split ends are very common in long hair as sebum produced at the scalp seldom reaches the ends of the hair. Also, most of us lack enough nutrients in our diet to nourish both our body and hair. Thus, these split ends must be cut away to prevent further splitting along the hair.

I would recommend a visit to the hair salon every 3 months or so. If your hair is rather healthy, you could probably drag that to 5 months instead. Trimming your hair can also make it appear neater and have a more defined shape, thus causing you to look more well groomed.

Many of us have heard horror stories where a lady enters a salon with knee-length hair and leaves with a bob. To prevent such scenarios, here are some pointers:

1. Specify your desire to only TRIM and not CUT (better yet specify the length you want to trim, e.g. 1 inch)
2. Bring a friend with you so that she can help you monitor the trimming process (stylists usually cut shorter than you want because they think they know what's best and you can't see what they are doing anyway. Your friend will be able to pressurize the stylist into not over-cutting)
3. State clearly that if too much of your precious hair is lost, you will refuse to pay and never come back again (maybe use this as a last resort as you might get thrown out of the salon)
4. Periodically remind your stylist not to cut off too much
5. Observe the length of hair falling to the ground. If it looks scarily long, remind your stylist that you only want a trim.