I haven't posted in awhile but I've been around, and now I kind of need a little hair-related cyber-hug...I'm so upset My younger sister has ultra, ultra curly hair (think Shirley Temple-type ringlets), she's been trying to grow it longer and get rid of some damage, and it was almost to her waist when dry. Stretched out the locks would easily hit TBL. Since my mom isn't comfortable cutting it she went to a salon for a trim and requested 2 inches off, and she ended up with a cut that's barely below her shoulders! She's so unhappy with it. She's really laid back and she's being a trooper about it, but I feel awful for her. Part of my super-emotional response I know is due to my being pregnant with my second child, so sorry if I'm over-reacting a little.

Anyway, my question is does anyone have any tips or links to tutorials on the best way to cut ultra-curly hair? I told her next time she wanted a trim I'd be willing to do it for her. I figured this would be the best place to find what I needed.

Kace



Hair type: 2c/n/ii

28.5/32/35

Current routine: CWC 3 times a week, occasional ACV rinse, coconut oil on ends daily

Just wanted to say I am sorry on what happened to your sis. Also congrats on baby #2.









1AFii
Hair: All natural dark brown and silver.
Washing: Once or twice a week. Condition from ears on down. Cold as I can stand it final rinse.
Shampoo/Conditioner:Aubrey's Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo and Conditioner. Nature's Gate Organics Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner.
Wide tooth comb
Kind Regards,
lacemitts

...make sure to cut it DRY! Cut it as it naturally curls; don't pull it straight. Curly hair is quite forgiving, and it won't be a problem if the hemline isn't perfectly straight.

If you can find a copy of Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey, read the chapter on cutting curly hair. She has lots of info and pictures and techniques.

And have a hug!!!



~ Nighean Ruadh ~





26.25/waist/tailbone

... congrats on the baby! Kace, thank you so much for sharing such wonderful news with us

I'm so sorry that your sister had a horrible experience at the salon That's really awful, going for a trim and returning with so much hair missing... I'm only glad she's being as calm as possbile about it. I know that, if I were in her shoes, I would probably cry and be very sad. And I would probably have a temper tantrum after the haircut in the salon, but that's just my reaction.
I'm sorry, I don't have any ideas about cutting curly hair; Feye's self-trim method works for me. However, I'd like to agree with what Nighean said. My hair is just wavy, and I don't have to be particularly precise when I cut it; it turns out fine thanks to the wave.







Hair type: 2b/M/C/iii
Current length: classic
Primary goal: thickening the ends

Hair journal:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/663765

Routine:
- NW/SO on the scalp, with periodical length
washes (Alverde birke-salbei shampoo for the length)
- brushing, scritching, preening and massaging daily
- occasional S&D trims
- trimming the ends whenever they start looking funny

How terrible for your little sister! Not trying to come across as pessimistic, but it's going to take forever to grow out again.

I don't trust salons with my curly hair (which looks like Misty's but golden-brown. One of these days I'll get around to posting a picture). Anyways, I went in about 18 months ago to get it cut because it was all one length and tangling. I figured taking off the weight would get rid of the tangles, so I asked the stylist to take it off at the shoulders, and maybe put some layers in it. She wouldn't do the layers, saying that they would have the feared "triangle-head" effect, but leaving it all one length at the shoulders meant that I had the same amount of tangles as before the cut - and much shorter hair. Imagine my frustration when the cut didn't fix the problem, only took away the length I loved.

So, following the Curly Girl method (the book Nighean mentioned), I took it upon myself to give myself layers. I've gotten better at trimming since that first cut about 15 months ago (although one side of my hair is currently shorter than the other due to a haywire trim in June), but you shouldn't have any problems cutting your sister's hair since you'll be able to see all of it.

To cut curly hair, make sure it is detangled and COMPLETELY dry before you start cutting. I've cut mine before when it was a little damp, and cut too much off consequentially. Then, you cut in the bend of each curl, so you'll end up with a bunch of little ringlets all over the floor. Cut each curl separately (a daunting task, and one my mom won't try just cause it takes so long), so that when you're done they all fall the way they want to fall, since that's how they're going to fall every day. Don't pull them tight, just pick it up and let it be relaxed and then slide the scissors around the curl and snip it off. Usually I pinch a curl right above where I want to cut, lift it up so it's relaxed, and then snip it off right below my fingers.

You can cut layers in it too, but don't cut them straight across or your sister will have a bunch of "shelves" in her hair. Instead, you take a curl and cut it, then cut the one next to it a little shorter or a little longer, and just go around the top level like that. Then you can cut the middle level(s) the same way, so that the curls are different lengths but none of them (except the bottom level) is exactly the same length as all the other curls on the same level.

The first time you cut it might take anywhere from an hour to two hours (my first self-cut took 1.5 hours, but now I'm a little lazier about it and only trimming/ maintaining the levels so a trim will take about 30 min for me). But plan for a significant amount of time. And if you mess up a few curls, don't worry about it. Curly hair is very forgiving of mistakes and hides them well. I'm the only one who knows that one side of mine is shorter than the other side, so I don't worry about it. I'll have to fix it eventually, but for now I just leave it be.

Hopefully this helps, just post if you have any questions!

The only suggestion I can think of is that you go with her the next time she gets her hair cut and inform the stylist about what happened this time then watch and defend your sister's hair from any misstep along the way. The stylist should be very careful with you standing over her and not cut too short.

Christmas 08 April 09

Close up of my gray hair.

Oil on ends just before combing to help with snarls, 2x a day.

Shampoo every 5 days
Experimenting with ACV, coconut oil, and honey.

Started measuring August 06, at 36.5 inches
1cCii ~ Natural Silver

I am 54 year old and I've been married for 35 years!!

July 1st 07 - Reached 40 inches
July 14 07 - Cut back to 36.5
August 3rd 08 - Reached 40 inches again.
January 1 09 Reached 43 and classic achieved! Cut for a better hemline.
April thru June 40 still. sigh...
March 2010 Classic!!!

36.5/42.5/Classic

Faithful to barbers - they actually trim 1/8th of an inch!!

Thanks for all the sympathy, tips, and congratulations. I really appreciate it

Kace



Hair type: 2c/n/ii

28.5/32/35

Current routine: CWC 3 times a week, occasional ACV rinse, coconut oil on ends daily

is to cut it WET. I have wavy hair that used to be much more curly - ringlet style. It's odd, because I read these reports about cutting hair dry so that you can "cut into the curl" somehow and bring out the curl. This has never made much sense to me because hair dries differently each time you wash it. I would think one would want a straight-across hemline when wet, so that you know it's actually even, and it will dry how it dries . . .

That said, it's so sad when a hairdresser strays THAT MUCH from what you asked for. A lot of hairdressers don't know how to cut curly hair. It's a shame. They take off so much thinking it'll "look that way" when it's dry not realizing how much it shrinks up.

mermayd