HairCUT and/or Trimming Shinanegans!

Sooooooo, it was starting to get hard to comb my hair.  Usually, I only comb (NEVER brush) my hair in the shower with conditioner on it...that works fine, makes it easier to comb and get the knots and whatnot OUT.  Well, before my 2nd haircut in June 2010, I had not gotten a haircut for two years!  UMMMM, I highly recommend that you DO NOT do that.  Because it had been two years, they cut off about 3.5-4 inches of hair!  I mean, it was dead and ugly, so it needed to go, but I've grown afraid of getting my haircut because of all the brutal experiences I've had in the past.  I mean whoa...ridiculous. So, from June, it's been about 8 months since my hair has been trimmed...time to get er' done!  I'd probably recommend not waiting 8 months to do this...but I guess it depends on how fast/slow your hair grows.

I want to share with you what I did to cut my own hair...last night...oh a whim...because I had time, and it needed to happen anyway I got down to business.  Oh, make sure you have sharp scissors!  Oh, and I have some picures, but it's hard to take pics of the entire process because my hands were always holding something - hair, comb, scissors...LOL!

Okay...
Step 1: I parted my hair in semi-equal (I tried) sessions, used some Dove nutrient oil -just a TINY amount, started at the ends and combed out each section.  I tried to make sections on both sides of my head even so when trimming I could compare lengths.  My hair was dry of course.  If you cut it wet, you may cut more than you think!!

Step 2: After combing each section, I braided my hair as far down to the tips as possible.

Step 3: Once my entire head was done (this took probably 1.5 hours), combed and braided, I took each braid and trimmed off the dead hair making sure the braids were cut as even as possible.  (Sorry, couldn't figure out how to take a picture while trimming!)

Step 3: Then I unbraided each braid, combed the hair out again and then ran my fingers down my hair to the tips, trimming off more dead hair and making sure each strand of hair got the dead hair trimmed off...evenly of course.  After I did this for my entire head and it was all combed out and "fro-ed", I made sure there were no stragglers and took scissors to any crazy pieces.  You can kind of see how the fro is (trying) to be even, but I had to take scissors and just trim it while it was big and out. (I have color on my hair too.)

NOW.  I am not saying this is the perfect and correct way to cut/trim, but it worked for me!   I like experimenting and with natural hair it's super fun!  I don't feel as scared to "ruin" my hair, because it just curls upand I can wear funky and "own" my hair...whatever happens!  Anyway, if anyone tries to cut their own hair...or does it differently, I'd love to hear about it!