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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give myself a Ponytail Haircut?

169 replies

ThatOtherPoster · 27/03/2021 11:22

My lovely hairdresser isn’t free for another month.

My hair is all one length, aside from a fringe. It’s about bra-strap length. I just want some long layers, and shorter round the front.

I have proper scissors. My hair is thick snd wavy. Should I just do it?

YABU - wait for your appointment
YANBU - hack!

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9
lifeinlimbo2020 · 27/03/2021 12:39

@SadSongsAndWaltzes

I tried to add layers and have ended up with basically two very distinct levels Blush. My lovely husband is actually doing a surprisingly good job though! 🤣
Haha. That's what I did 🤣🙄
PerveenMistry · 27/03/2021 12:44

I cut my shoulder length hair last weekend and it looks great. The under chin method.

Angle the scissors upward to get it straight across the back instead of rounded. There are many YouTube tutorials.

Everythingiswonderful · 27/03/2021 12:52

I’ve done mine 3 times now. Looks pretty good

2andahalfpints · 27/03/2021 12:52

I've been doing mine and my daughters this way. Mine is waist length so only a little longer, it is really thick with a slight wave in it.
I straighten it really well then do a ponytail on my crown. Take time to get the ponytail super smooth and neat. Pull the hair directly up above your head and snip off (I'd just do an inch to start)
Take it out and check you are happy with it.
Then a ponytail at the forehead, brush the ponytail down so it hangs in front of your face and cut straight across, under the chin, this creates the front layers, the shorter you go the shorter the front layer will be.
The last time I did it I was super brave and cut at my chin and I'm delighted with it 😊
I would advise snipping slightly into the ends while it's still in a ponytail to soften the edges, you can do this with thinning scissors too.
Good luck! I honestly will never pay someone to cut my hair again.

Original poster
ThatOtherPoster · 27/03/2021 12:59

My bravado has worn off and now I’m getting the fear.

I just watched . Apparently he’s a hairdresser who usually believes cutting your own hair is equivalent to doing your own tummy tuck. He’d very particular and would definitely have something to say about most of my reckless life choices.

But in lockdown he did this video on a DIY haircut. I’m so tempted but this looks IMPOSSIBLE to do by yourself, and I know my DH wouldn’t have the guts.

But it’s really helpful about layering, etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatOtherPoster · 27/03/2021 14:53

This is what I want. Is this possible to do at home?

To give myself a Ponytail Haircut?
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Original poster
ThatOtherPoster · 27/03/2021 14:54

This is my hair when I woke up this morning. Please note, anyone skimming, this is a BEFORE photo. Although I might rename it the AFTER picture if I make it look worse.

To give myself a Ponytail Haircut?
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Original poster
ThatOtherPoster · 27/03/2021 14:55

I just want some long, soft layers round my face.

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Sansaplans · 27/03/2021 14:56

I'm in 2 minds, I do think it's a really bad idea, but similarly curious to see the outcome! I 'trimmed' my hair once using a YouTube video and had to have it cut a lot shorter the next day as it ended up ridiculously bad!

Chunkymenrock · 27/03/2021 15:00

JUST DO IT. As I posted before, it will result in soft face framing layers. Just take a small amount off if you're worried. I do it very often. The only drawback is, it doesn't deal with the back, but as you said, you're wanting the front layers. It's hair, it'll grow, boldness is good sometimes.

Lellochip · 27/03/2021 15:03

I've done the mumsnet cut a few times, it worked great... Until it didn't 😂 Still not sure what happened but I lost about 10 inches of length on one side. Had to get a friend to to emergency bob 🤦🏻‍♀️

The Brad Mondo video is fairly easy to follow, if it's layers round the face you mainly want, that's pretty simple because you can see what you're doing, it's layering round the back that's harder to do. If you keep it one length then DH should be able to straighten up if you need?

Dizzy1234 · 27/03/2021 15:06

Google Brad Mondo then put the scissors down.
He posts videos that people send him cutting, bleaching, dying their own hair.
Don't do it!

MythicalBiologicalFennel · 27/03/2021 15:08

I've been doing the unicorn haircut for almost 5 years. I don't have good scissors or a steady hand but I'm very happy with the result. I get compliments every time I cut my hair which I never did when I used to go to the hairdresser's! Like pp I have long wavy hair.

ElderMillennial · 27/03/2021 15:14

I've done something like this on my long curly hair and it was okay but curly hair is forgiving and I'm not shy about cutting bits here and there.

I trim bits off the ends all the time and so I can only imagine what a hairdresser will think next time I see one...

Original poster
ThatOtherPoster · 27/03/2021 15:21

I’m so confused. My hair appears to have different lengths already, so if I just trimmed 1cm (baby steps 😂) off the longest section of this, where will that shorter bit actually BE when my hair is down???

To give myself a Ponytail Haircut?
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Original poster
ThatOtherPoster · 27/03/2021 15:22

I just can’t tell which bit of hair is from where. Is that longest section the sides..? The back barely reached my forehead.

I think I need a drink.

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Original poster
ThatOtherPoster · 27/03/2021 15:26

Where have you all gone??!! I’m literally poised here with the scissors!

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Ladderclimber · 27/03/2021 15:27

Don’t do it! I did this in lockdown 1 and it looked really, really, really bad.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 27/03/2021 15:29

@ThatOtherPoster

I just can’t tell which bit of hair is from where. Is that longest section the sides..? The back barely reached my forehead.

I think I need a drink.

I think what you actually need is to PUT THE SCISSORS DOWN AND STEP AWAY.

And then have your drink and look forward to not looking like a crazy drunk lady hacked your hair about in the last days of lockdown.

Charley50 · 27/03/2021 15:30

I literally just cut mine. It looks fine. Don't really care any more quite frankly. I do have hairdressing scissors though, just cheap ones.

JeanClaudeVanDammit · 27/03/2021 15:30

I’d just do it. With hair that long it doesn’t really matter if it cocks up a bit. If the worst comes to the worst you can just wear it up for a few weeks.

Chunkymenrock · 27/03/2021 15:31

You need to brush the sides more smoothly in. The longest bits where you'll be cutting are from the sides that frame the face. Go on!

SilentAlarm · 27/03/2021 15:34

Please don’t do this to yourself.

I did mine for years thinking I was making a really great job of it. Decided to go to the hairdresser for the first time in ages last year and I was mortified when she posted the before and after picture on Instagram. My hair was SO uneven before. Literally inches shorter on one side than the other. I must have really horrible friends and family because none of them told me how bad it was 😂

Seriously don’t do it. Especially when we are so close to hairdressers being open again!

Chunkymenrock · 27/03/2021 15:34

You have beautiful hair and such a lovely colour! It'll look fab!

Greenrubber · 27/03/2021 15:34

@ThatOtherPoster

I do this as I hate the hairdresser
The first time I did it I took off a little so that if I did fuck it up I was able to get it fixed properly but it works a treat

I've been doing it about 3 years now