The final graduation ceremony I attended Sunday ended early, so I was able to swing by my cousin's house and get my hair trimmed. I needed it. Badly. My hair looked like a lumpy mushroom right out of the shower, and I wanted to get rid of my old ends.
This was my first trim since I got the relaxed ends cut off in December, and it took a long time to blow dry and press my super-thick hair. By the time my cousin was finished, I looked like I had borrowed a Supremes wig. I was able to pull it back and look semi-decent:
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| This is me and a different cousin at the airport. My shirt is so wrinkly! |
Apparently I had good timing, because it poured most of Wednesday, and I was helping with an outdoor field trip. I don't think there's anything wrong with straight hair (I know more and more women who've traded in relaxers for weekly/biweekly presses, with great results), but I've learned that I can't hack it. My ends are taken care of, my fro looks great again, and it was nice to see how much my hair has grown, but I won't have straight hair again until I get another trim, for sure.
Z will probably offer his opinion in the comments, but he loves my hair curly, so he was meh on the straight hair. (When I washed it, he was actually excited.) He was all paranoid about people only liking my hair because it was straight, which I thought was cute, but I don't care much what they think anyway. In general, women were more interested in the novelty of me with straight hair, while all of the guys I know like it better curly...I wonder why?
I want to eventually learn how to trim my own hair, since I've been spoiled my whole life with so many hairdressers in the family, so my question is: Do any of you straighten/trim your own hair? Do you find it difficult to deal with the upkeep, or is it just an accepted part of the process? Inquiring minds want to know. :-)
12 comments:
My mother was a hairdresser. So usually I trim it myself, sometimes I go to a salon, it depends on the type of cut I want or how lazy I'm feeling that week.
My hair is natural, but when I straiten people swear I've had it relaxed or went to a salon. I've actually been disappointed with the results from salons at times, which is why I rarely go to them, but it's like my mother always told me sometimes the only way to get it done right is to do it yourself :/
If you just want to trim it then and you feel comfortable using scissors on your hair then, it's pretty easy, you might need a friend( or boyfriend ;p )to help you with the back or a double mirror.
Black hair is really easy to trim just because it's so thick and coarse you can pretty much see when to cut it without the combing and separating that straiter/finer haired people have to do.
Hey SotW,
One thing I know, no one is ever going to mistake my pressed hair for a relaxer. My hair is too thick, and SF weather is really not made for straight hair.
I need to buy some hair scissors and practice blowing out and pressing my hair, but I can probably wait another 4-6 months. :-) I've never been good about getting those regularly scheduled every-other-month trims, but my hair doesn't have any damage so I'll keep being lazy.
I'm not good about getting them either. I'm about three months over due for mine and I need one. Badly.
Yeah humidity really kills strait hair. If I was in a warmer place I would be naturaling it up. While I was visiting Georgia when I showered in the morning I'd braid my hair while it was wet. Then I'd go for a walk outside and by the time I got to where I was going My hair was dry and I'd take the braids out and wear it like that.
But it's cold and snowy where I live so as much as my hair loves and needs moisture when it's -5F wet hair is a no no. So I keep it strait and dry most of the time. Or I'll do "in between styles".
I miss the days of letting the sun set my hair though. Or sunlight period, really the Northeast is pretty gloomy most of the year.
SotW,
I think the climate here is why most Black women in California wear weaves or press their hair if they don't wear it naturally curly/kinky/wavy. It rains fairly regularly, and it can get windy/foggy, so I think relaxer upkeep is just seen as too much work. I wouldn't be surprised if things will be different when I move to Oakland, since there are more hair salons catering to Black hair. Where I live now, I only see salons run by Chinese people, with the exception of 1 Black salon near Z's house.
You both look really young in that picture. I agree that straight hair makes you (specific, you) look younger. For me, it's the opposite -- I look older with straight hair.
I never trim my hair, only dust. My sister trims/cuts her hair all the time (right now she has her hair in a Rihanna-esque, asymetrical bob) then talks about wanting to grow it out. I'm like, "How can you grow your hair if you keep cutting it?"
As for straightening, my sister is teaching me to do my own blowouts using a blow dryer and flat iron. It's not as difficult as it seems and the results are pretty nice.
Alee,
My cousin is almost 20, but she's always looked young.
I bet the asymmetrical bob looks cute, but I could never cut my hair into a style that'd be difficult to grow out (like the shaved side craze). Plus since I'm not an expert at trimming, I wouldn't be able to keep it looking nice anyway.
I've just accepted the fact that I will never be good at doing any styles that require precision in the back of my head--my arms get too tired! But it's funny that my average styling gets such oohs and ahhs from my coworkerd--I'm wearing twists right now and they just think they're so stylish. :-P
lmao, hey don't talk about my Supremes! :P
Oh gosh, i wonder how odd it's going to feel with straight hair when i get it pressed, i think i'll have the same feelings/reaction as you.
you look like SUCH a baby, all of 12 years old haha. *pinches cheeks*
thats another thing i was thinking about with straight hair, having to run from water again or even think about humidity...blech, i don't want to waste money getting it pressed then have to worry about it. no fun!
I know Vonnie, I look so young! *grumble grumble*
I don't know how you'll do it with the Chicago humidity, but at least you probably won't have to deal with rain. Straight hair in SF is just a lost cause.
Since I stopped relaxing and blow drying my hair doesn't need trims as often. I no longer get split ends. I had it professionally trimmed once a during the first 2 years. Now it is long enough where I can trim it myself.
Modest-Goddess,
You have beautiful hair; tell me your secrets! :-)
Hey it's me! I like this =D
Brittany,
LOL, you're late!
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