Always Good News

This was my canvas, my starting point

One of my winter resolutions was to let my hair grow until 2010.  It got so long that it gave me the opportunity to try something I’ve always wanted to do: cut my own hair with scissors.  I’ve cut it with clippers several times, but there’s no risk in buzzing your hair down to one length.  With scissors, I knew the stakes were high.  Plus, there was no way I was going to pay 7 or 8 dollars (or possibly even MORE) for a haircut.  That’s crazy talk.

That's what she said

My first obstacle was scissors.  I don’t have any regular scissors, so I had to use these, which I think are called cuticle scissors.  All I know is they are small.  They are probably a big reason that cutting my hair took so long, about 45 minutes.  All in all, though, I don’t think 45 minutes is that bad, considering I had never done it before.

Now comes the exciting part.

On New Year’s Eve I got home from work and started cutting my hair.  I didn’t really know what to do, so I just figured I’d start at the top.  I grabbed a chunk and cut it.  That gave me a good start, so I cut the top and sides.  After about 15 minutes I realized that without trying, I had created something beautiful — a sweet mullet.

The mullet was truly awesome.  I looked so cool that I knew I had to keep it for at least a day.  Friday, January 1st, I went to work with a mullet, expecting laughs, smiles, and hearty claps on the back.  Fanfare.  For the most part, that’s what I got.  But all was not well.  No fewer than three people made the worst comment I could imagine: “It actually kind of suits you.”  WHAT?  I knew then that the mullet could not last.

Making a mullet look good

That night I got home and resumed work on my hair.  All that was left was the back, but that was by far the hardest part.  I didn’t have a convenient extra mirror, so I was forced to pick up a door mirror to look at the back of my head, then put it down and go by memory and feel.  Then I would pick up the mirror again to inspect my work and make any corrections.  After about 30 minutes I was able to clean up the edges with a beard trimmer and I was done.  I think I did a good job!  At work on Saturday about half the people I told about it refused to believe that I did it myself, which was quite a compliment, but also frustrating.  I honestly don’t know how it turned out so well, considering my haphazard approach, but it’s a technically perfect haircut.  I also think it looks reasonably cool and will only get better as it grows out.

All done!

Cutting my own hair was a lot of fun, and I don’t see any reason not to do so again in several months when I decide I need another haircut.

Several more photos below.  These are all clickable for larger versions, if you’re so inclined.

I was pleasantly surprised

You're right, it does look just as good from the side

I honestly feel like it toed the line between ultra stupid and ultra cool

Much tamer, but I'm not complaining

I'm not wearing a shirt because I had literally JUST finished cutting it, I swear