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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To try the MN haircut?

49 replies

slatternlymother · 10/02/2013 17:10

...you know, the one where you put your hair into a ponytail and cut it yourself?

I really don't like going to the hairdressers. It's just not a thing I enjoy. I like doing nails and everything else, and taking care of myself. But the hairdresser is a real chore.

Has anyone done it? AIBU to try, or should I just get back in my box and crack on with the hairdressers?

OP posts:
Original poster
slatternlymother · 10/02/2013 17:10

Sorry, I can't find a link btw Blush

OP posts:
eslteacher · 10/02/2013 17:12

A colleague always cuts her hair like that, and it looks great.

I think partly it depends on the type of hair you have though. Her hair is slightly wavy and she suits the tousled/layered/a bit messy look. My hair is poker straight and fine in texture but thick in quantity, layers show up in it really clearly so for this reason I'm not sure I'd attempt the cut on myself! I'd like to though, I also hate going to the hairdressers and would love to save the time and money...

notsofrownieface · 10/02/2013 17:14

I did it for about 18 months, absolutely fine no problems, I even started cutting a fringe. Again no problem until I managed to cut my fringe off from putting the ponytail too far forward I am now sporting a mullet until it grows back Smile

Original poster
slatternlymother · 10/02/2013 17:15

river yes, my hair is kind of wavy and I have to wear it up for work all the time as I'm in engineering. Trying to find a video on it now...

I don't have any special scissors for the job, just sharp all purpose ones. I don't dye my hair either; never needed to so I don't see the point.

OP posts:
Original poster
slatternlymother · 10/02/2013 17:15

nots I had a fringe cut in, so it isn't something I'd try to avoid.

How far forward should (or shouldn't!) you put the ponytail?

OP posts:
MrsLettuce · 10/02/2013 17:24

here

Original poster
slatternlymother · 10/02/2013 17:26

Eeeeek! I think I'm going to try it when DS is in bed!

OP posts:
CooEeeEldridge · 10/02/2013 17:28

YABU. Don't do it. Even in the how to pics it looks awful. Get a dry cut in a salon for less than a tenner instead.

notsofrownieface · 10/02/2013 17:29

It depends on how long your hair is now. I should have put the ponytail behind my fringe but obviously I had a brain fart and pit it on my hairline. I will cut my own hair again just not my fringe Grin

notsofrownieface · 10/02/2013 17:30

Pic of the mn haircut that goes wrong on my profile (warning boob boil on photos as well)

JeezyOrangePips · 10/02/2013 17:32

Do it. I do it and got compliments the first time I did.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 10/02/2013 17:32

Be careful. The fringe looks like a terrible danger area.

Original poster
slatternlymother · 10/02/2013 17:32

cooee I just hate the hairdresser. Someone else playing around with my hair makes me feel all squeezy and wrong inside Blush

OP posts:
BubblegumPie · 10/02/2013 17:32

I really want to do it, but I'm scared!

Trills · 10/02/2013 17:36

1 - make sure you have the money to go to the hairdresser
2 - make sure you have time to go to the hairdresser tomorrow
3 - try it, but don't cut very much at first, you can always cut more later
4 - remember that if you cut close to your head you will have a tiny short fringe
5 - stop posting Style and Beauty questions on AIBU

Original poster
slatternlymother · 10/02/2013 17:36

I think I'd start fairly long and go shorter to avoid fringe danger zone.

notso my my, that is a boil and a half! Did you name it? Wink

OP posts:
cocolepew · 10/02/2013 17:36

I did it, it worked really well. Remember to leave your fringe out and have the ponytail on the right side of your parting. Mine was too short to put the back up so I just pulled as much as I could up into the ponytail.

Just cut a bit at first, dont go mad. Then if you want more off do it again.

MrsLettuce · 10/02/2013 17:38

I did it for years (well an adapted version in the end) but never short enough to create a fringe - shortest layer was always at at least jaw length. My hair is poker straight and fine but I have loads of it.

IME the key part / danger zone is the snipping into the end of the ponytail after you've cut it off. If you don't do it really thoroughly it looks shit.

Original poster
slatternlymother · 10/02/2013 17:39

On the right side of your parting? What do you mean?

OP posts:
notsofrownieface · 10/02/2013 17:39

Haha no I didn't and it got infected Hmm I should have done though Grin seriously though it's my fault I cut my fringe off, I would advocate the mn haircut to anyone Smile

McPie · 10/02/2013 17:40

I cut mine for the second time on friday and it looks fine, got dh to check the back looked ok for me. It only took me 10 mins but my hair is pretty thin, it gives my long straight hair some bounce rather than just hanging there looking lank when its just been washed. I dont have a fringe but cut it to my chin so it frames my face but I can still tie it back when I go to my exercise classes.

MrsLettuce · 10/02/2013 17:41

Before I did it for the first time I spent ages pratting about and it was most helpful. My hair was almost waist length IIRC.

Anyway, yeah, to get a vague idea of what you'd be cutting off: Put hair in the correct ponytail and wet it thoroughly to the point you think you want to cut the ponytail off. Let it down and shake out. All the hair that is wet is what'd be cut off...

Eebahgum · 10/02/2013 17:42

Wow - that's amazing. Even if my hair was long enough not sure I'd be brave enough though! X

MrsLettuce · 10/02/2013 17:44

Beware - unless your hair is very long you'll not loose any length and can eventually end up with a ratty under layer because the ends aren't being trimmed at all. Thsi is where the adapted cut comes in.

IfNotNowThenWhen · 10/02/2013 17:44

For the love of God, GO TO THE HAIRDRESSER!
Please don't cut your hair yourself. I did, for years (similar hairdresser phobia) and thought it looked OK. Until I bit the bullet and got a proper cut, after which I felt about a thousand times better, and my hair looked amazing.
You can do it.