DIY - The Perfect Hair Cut (for layered, semi-long hair)

Okay, you might be suspicious of the claim of this post that it really will produce 'The Perfect Hair Cut', especially because I'm not planning on posting a single picture of it, BUT, I had to take it on faith from the random Google search page that told me about it in 3 sentences four years ago, and it all worked out here! :)

I'm a little tired tonight, so I'm going to cheat.  I was halfway through writing this post, when I remembered that I've already written about it on my personal blog, years ago, so if you'll excuse me while I Copy+Paste...

Now the below post is actually an extended story about me totally screwing up this perfect haircut on poor Tammy (it's nice to reminisce), so I've highlighted the 3 sentences which are actually the instructions for the haircut in the middle there, so you can quickly just read those and move on if you haven't set aside your entire day for reading my blog post :)  If you do read the whole thing though, at least you'll know what not to do, right?? :)  Read the 'Lesson Learned' bit down the bottom - it is particularly helpful.

My New Calling in Life!

This is possibly going to be the most exciting post to date! - Not just because it's the first one after a looooong drought, but because my life has changed, been renewed, I have finally found my purpose!!! - It is.....(drumrolls all over the world...) to be a hairdresser!!!!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

I made myself laugh, becuase I imagined Tammy's face as she read that... I'm just joking. I'm still happy to be a teacher, and can't wait to be a mama, which is more my purpose in life than anything else, really! On Saturday our brother Michael got married (yay!! :)). That morning I offered my darling older sister a haircut 'on me'! :)

Backtrack maybe 6 months...

I really wanted a haircut, and I had decided to deviate for the first time in my life, from the straight across haircut I've always had, and go with slight layers (adventurous doesn't even begin to describe me!). I mentioned it to mum a few times who said she'd be happy to help. One day I felt like I needed it done immediately. I called mum and she was busy at that moment, so she couldn't do it. Assumedly, I really really needed it done right then - I can't exactly remember why but something must have been coming up or I was going through an ID crisis or something, but I turned to James and asked him to please please please cut my hair.

James agreed to cut my hair, and suggested I look @ google to see if there was a 'how to' website. There are many many websites on how to cut hair, and millions of demo videos, but the helpful tip I found most helpful after searching for 'how to layer hair', was something along the lines of:

"Bend over, flipping hair towards the floor. Comb hair out straight and smooth. Make a cut straight across your hair."

These three sentences gave me the best haircut ever and saved my day. Since then James has re-trimmed it in the same style and I'm loving it. He's also cut my sister Bethany's hair this way, and Jessima (another sister) got Jonny to cut her hair the same way - she looks really cute.

........RETRACK TO SATURDAY MORNING.......

Tammy wanted to join the club - it was really turning into a sister thing! I agreed, and Tammy followed the instructions to stand bent over with her hair out...just as I was about to 'snip snip snip', Tammy mentioned that she'd like a trim and not to be afraid to take any length off.

I decided to follow her advice, and took of about 8 inches in parts. It was sort of an accident, in that it looked like 'just a trim' to me when I first began, but it very quickly became obvious that I was fulfilling nightmares. Once you start though, you can't stop with half the hair long and half short (as I learnt about 2 years ago now :)), so I continued, almost laughing and almost crying.

Tammy is one of the nicest people in the world. She didn't get mad. Not even when she looked in the mirror and saw a mullet looking back at her. Not when she realised I'd given her a punk rock chick 'do', and not even when she noticed that she practically had a fringe - a random line of hair coming halfway down her face!

3 happy report items to finish this sad tale:

1. Lesson Learned: It turns out you should always just cut a modest amount of hair off at a time, because it dries even shorter than it is when it's wet.
2. Okay so it's actually really really cute when Tammy's got her sunnys on her head pulling back the weird short bits at the front! The layers kick and curl around Tamster's face and it's adorable! Even mum said so!! :)
3. When I was approximately 3 years old Tammy (on two seperate occassions) played 'hairdresser' with me, and I ended up looking more than interesting. Very interesting fringe length consistency especially. She thought I'd forgotten after all these years... muahaha :)

So I'm not really going to become a hairdresser, but I'm happy to complete some private business on the side, just give me a call! :)

PS: Tammy I really really really am sorry! I love you!!!
PPS: I would have posted some pics of Tamster's cute 'do', but she has a 'no photos' policy (sigh)...

Okay just in case this post wasn't long enough, I thought I'd better try and find a photo of this haircut, but I don't think it was fresh or anything for these photos - they were just the photos I found that my hair was showing in.  I was actually giving Maggie her last 'only child!!' hugs before I went and got induced with Ana!! :)  But you can sort of see my hair in them so here...

(How's Maggie's hair for cute!)

I know, it would have been way more fun to get photos of Tammy's punk rocker mullet.  If I manage to convince anyone else to sit in front of me while I'm wielding scissors, I'll be sure to pack my camera ;)

Does anyone else have a great DIY hair cutting tip?!!!  Or actually know something legitimate about haircutting?! :)