new thread
Just need any words of wisdom on how to avoid getting a bad trim - I am letting my hair grow - and went today to a stylist to get the layers evened up a bit - I specifically asked if they were good with long hair - they said yes -well the stylist listened to what I requested and then once my hair was wet started "trimming" the back - the result of this is that he whacked off about 4 inches off of the back - I stopped him at this point and told him that he did not listen to my request and that I was leaving and that I was not paying him for his services - to which he replied - well I thought that it would look better shorter so that is what I did - how can I avoid this stylist attitude next time- which will be a long time - but do not want a repeat of this experiece. Why can't they just do as you request??
As a former long hair, you have to be very specific! As in, you may cut off “this much”, and show them with your fingers.
I once threatened to give a crewcut to my stylist when he cut off too much of my hair (his was down to his tush).
this is the attitude i've encountered repeatedly... i finally stopped going to stylists altogether & relied on the kindness of friends to perform trims. i say boycott stylists entirely. there are those who are willing to follow your instruction- even against their "better judgement"... but they are so few and far between that it's not worth the crap shoot to find them. if you insist on going to a stylist, ask around; find some dude with long hair ask where he gets it trimmed and go there.
I became friends with a stylist who did a great job with my hair when I preferred wearing it longish in the back and shorter on the sides and front. It curled nicely then, and he taught me to "scrunch" it to get the right effect.
Eventually, I decided to let it all grow one length (as I was
originally advised when I said it was time to let it grow long
and discover what I had). This stylist was prone to trim a bit
beyond the split ends, and pushed it too far so that I knew that
getting past my shoulders was going to take FOREVER to accomplish.
I knew our relationship was bound to change when he remarked on
how awful Andre Agassi was looking when he has his wonderful long
and sometimes messy hair. I, on the other hand, found it inspiring.
When I asked guys I'd meet who had great waist-length hair what stylist they went to, they usually said to no-one. I, too, decided
to quit getting my hair styled until I found a long-haired guy who ran
a competent-looking salon (I'm getting homesick for San Anselmo CA).
He knew when trimming ends to be very careful on how much was taken
off, and when I asked him how long he thought would suit my features, he encouraged me to "grow it to my knees." While I don't
think I'll ever get it THAT long (it could be rather impractical),
I appreciated finding a like-minded soul in whose hands I could put
my scalp every few months. I have since discovered that rather than trying for a certain length, such as collar-bone or shoulder blades,
I enjoy continuing to let it grow however long it will, with no
intention of settling on a certain length until it simply stops
getting any longer.
The hardest part was always getting the back of the sides long
enough to stay in place when ponytailed. (I see some new postings on
"Wings" that I'll have to read next. Must be that familiar frustration). A little gel and a lot of patience and eventually we all get our hair long enough that it gets A LOT EASIER TO TAKE CARE OF once it is well established PAST THE SHOULDERS.
Since I've moved to Alaska a couple years ago and some, in a city where I don't dare trust the competency level of most people to even touch my hair, much less style it, I'm relying on some favorite conditioners, new shampoos and foams, and ties without any metal attachments (mostly found on trips back to California) to take care
of things now.
Comrades -- If you really want to get your hair down to the middle of your back or longer, it actually gets a lot easier to take care of
when left to its natural devices. Just be careful of drying
it out or damaging your ends with rubber or metal ties, too
much sun, excessive substance use, etc. without treating it with a good daily conditioner and occasional deep conditioning treatments with heat.
A good boar bristle brush to late night strokes from the scalp to
the ends is good hair exercise, too.
At least that's what my experience has taught me.
<: this is the attitude i've encountered repeatedly... i finally
Well Chris,
I can say that layering and trimming the hair are two confusing words for some of us (most stylists know the technicalities and rarely explains them to us and i think it's better that we ask them too in layman's terms). Layering the hair also involves trimming in layer forms and mostly done on short haired men. And when we refer to trimming only, it means to cut only the lenght or the ends of our hair. For long-haired guys, I understand that trimming is mostly desirable not layering because the latter may make it shaggy and somtimes may leave it somewhat uneven in the strands. But I have
seen other men with such a hairstyle. :)
Oh, Chris, that's damn near a year of your growth! I feel for you man.
If you messed up his looks to last that long, they'd send you to jail. Maybe it's time a few of these idiots who mutilate others without their consent take a trip there. Maybe then they'd listen to people. Until that does happen, the only safe thing to do, dude, is cut it yourself.
Bill
HI Chris --
Barbers and stylists are licensed by the state. Do not hesitate to call the licensing board. Any stylist can tell you how to contact them, and usually
Barber and Beauticians Board,
State Capitol,
State,
will get to them. It wonm'[t put your hair back, but it will get attention and the inbformation will be circulated in the appropriate chanels. Do it.
Duid
Sounds like we're dealing with the same problem. My advice is to try a new stylist. Another helpful source for you is the worldwide beautyboard.
Some areas have shops which specialize in long hair. I know of three such in the vicinity of Pasadena, California, and have been going to the same guy in one of them for about 10 years.
I echo the post that said you have to be very specific. You and the stylist should agree on a specific length that will come off, say 1/2 inch. Haircuts are a good thing if you are growing out layers or an old style and want to get it all one length, but if you just want to grow it all to your butt I would say you could skip seeing a haircutter altogether for a while.
I feel for you man. I've been trying to grow out my hair for nearly two years now and it looks about a year's worth. Why? Because I too fell for the occasional "trim" for the first year. Instead of following my directions, the barbers would always do what they "thought" would look best. DAMN IT!!! It's our hair not theirs to decide what it should look like. What's the solution? Stop getting those "trims"! FINALLY, my hair is a bit past my ears and I can only imagine that it'd be twice that length if I had not gone in for the "trims". You're probably wondering why it's only past my ears, well that's because I shave the sides of my head so all my hair is at the top of my head which makes have to be a bit longer to reach past my ears.