How do I get the haircut I want?

I usually cut my own hair now. Over the years I have searched for someone who was good at cutting, but every time I found them they left. One went to sell insurance, one married and went into partner ship with her husband, two moved salons and were too far away, one retired. I've given up, cutting my hair seems to be the kiss of death for hairdressers.

The only way I can make my hair look how I want it to is to cut it myself. I invested in proper scissors and have been doing it for many years.

I find the best thing to do is first work out what your hair wants to do (never argue with your hair). In my case it means that as my hair always falls over my face, I always have a fringe and also that as it is dead straight, fine and thick it is best not to think of curls or waves. Then take your face shape into account. I have lived with my face for over 70 years so I have had enough hair styles to know what does, or does not suit me

Then given your constraints look through magazines and newspapers until you see a style that takes these into account and that you like, cut the picture out and every time you go for a haircut, take out the picture and keep it in front of you where the hairdresser can see it.

After that judge the hair dresser. if they can cut well to the picture, stay with them, if not shop around until you find one who can. I have been with my current hairdresser for 7 or 8 years and if she is unavailable I know that there are other hairdressers in the same salon who can cut as well.

Me too EliseC465, a wash blowdry and tie it up out of the way. I have a fringe and go every 5-6 weeks for a trim and the longer hair gets trimed every 3months. I gave up trying to create astyle with my hair when i retired and this is so easy now. I ring the changes by using different hair slides to hold my hair up, plain for everyday and pretty with a bit of sparkle for the evening.

Gosh, I only get mine done twice a year now to get the ends trimmed.
I lost the lot after chemo for bc and it’s grown back so thick and fast, like virgin hair. I sometimes dye it to get rid of the odd grey bits, but apart from that, I just wash, diffuse and tie it up. Halfway down my back with no fringe and is easy to look after now.

I totally relate to gransnetters! I've been going to the same hairdresser for a few years now. She has tried all sorts of 'products' etc but the outcome is always the same. Lovely hair-do on the day she does it, next morning it looks like I should be resident in a Victorian institution - flat and severe pudding basin cut! More product than style I think.

I gave up on hairdressers when the one I patronised for 10 years started charging £11 for a fringe trim between cuts when previously it was free. However, I've come unstuck as I developed an eye infection when I got home dye in my eyes and now I'm looking for a new hairdresser. The nurse who prescribed the antibiotics said 'life's too short for home dying - treat yourself to a hairdresser!'

Barmyoldbat My hair would certainly have been like Brian May's if it was not kept short.

My son was very "Brian May" right down to the heavy metal guitar playing and Astrophysics PhD.
DS did get his cut when he was about 30 though.

Ah, hair, always a pain, as is getting the right hairdresser.
Why do they always up and leave the salon just as you get used to them?
Shouldn't really have read this thread as I am having my hair cut today with a new stylist to the salon, a good point upthread about speaking in metric and not inches ( so that’s where I have been going wrong!)

Have longer hair, visit hairdresser twice a year for a wet trim (hate blow waving) , just go on spur of moment and tie back with invisibobble or large claw clip-I like a simple life as no spare time, but do have to cut my own fringe .

AmMaz, can you tell me where you go? Or is that against GN rules?

I can well understand the problem especially the Young not knowing who Judy Dench is. I now drive 54 miles to have my hair cut in a small village on the way to my daughters. Need cutting every 5 to 6 weeks or I start to look like Brian May. When away in SE Asia I have to cut my own and I must say that I do a fairly good job as I get asked by other travellers to them a hair cut. Tip for very short hair, dry on a slow dryer with a quick buzz before the end. Also soft hair wax, just as midge rubbed through will work wonders well it does on my hair

Nvella - I was so lucky finding a Vidal trained stylist in a small walk in. Fabulous edgy cut for £15 included a tip! I’ve never had so many compliments on a hair cut. I was so unlucky that she has now returned to Cyprus.
Before her I had an almost equally good stylist in the same walkin. She went back to Poland.
The current Bulgarian stylist is all right too. This week my hair needs cutting. I’ve held it out of my eyes with a barrette which prompted 3 people to assume I’d had it done. As the rest of me deteriorates my hair seems to be rejuvenating!

What I hate is the fact that my hair looks lovely after a salon visit - but not on me! A hairdresser may be good at styling but it takes someone talented to match a style with a face. I feel like Benny Hill when he used to wear a wig as a 'bard.' I ask for soft and full and I get sleek and straight. Embarassed to change as the salon is so close to home.

Hair it really is a crowning glory isnt it, and it needs the right cut to get it right! I have been going to my present hairdresser for two years since we moved here, she is very good at cutting and now knows my hair, but she had a baby in March and has been off ever since until a month ago when she comes in on Fridays, when she was away another girl cut my hair, she was ok in the beginning as she saw how my hsirdresser cut, but after a few visits she began to hack it, she was so bust talking about her young child she didnt seem to concentrate on my hair, fortunately my hairdresser is back working for the moment on Fridays, so guess who has booked for the next Fridays until Christmas, I must mention I have very short hair and I cut it once a month, and it must be cut well.

Ronnie I'm mortified,your calling yourself an old lady at 71, well I'm74 soon I certainly don't think I'm old

























e I'm mortified,you've just called yourself an old lady

My hair is nothing special, I've only had three hairdressers in over thirty odd yearsand they all have known how to cut my hair.I'm lucky that my hair falls into place after it's been washed.I just agitate it a few times while it dries and Bob's your uncle.

AmMaz I do and I'm so glad I do after years of dissapointment.

I had the same hairdresser for donkey's years and I never had a poor haircut but she retired. My hair is still thick and very curly and as I've got older it tends to frizz. I don't have a hairdryer, I just towel, brush and hope for the best. I've had my present hairdresser for about 16 years and would like a change but don't know where to start. The problem with taking a picture as it's not just the hairstyle that matters but the face shape that goes with it so, for example, you might want a Judi Dench cut but it might look awful because of your face shape. I see people whose hair is exactly right for their face shape and wonder how on earth they've managed it. I want someone to look at me and decide for me what style would suit my face.

I recently had the pleasure of taking one of my granddaughters for a trim. 'Just take a couple of inches off, please'. The blank canvas of a face that greeted me was a picture I will never forget. The young lady only did metric and hadn't a clue. We had a very successful result via sign language! Still makes me smile......... Tapestry of life indeed.

I found a new hairdresser 2 months ago. Before I went along I surfed the internet and copied an image of a hairstyle both back and front...I took the picture along and said "I want it just like this". I also told the hairdresser what kind of hair I have. She did excatly as I told her and I am very pleased. I'm going for a trim next week and will take along the picture again in case she doesn't remember me!

The cut is all! I drive 60 miles every 5 weeks to get mine cut. I realise this is crazy and keep trying local salons but then have to crawl back to my favourite to get it sorted out.

I am surprised there aren't posts from hairdressers on this thread! They complain to me when I am having my hair cut, about unrealistic clients who come in with photos of people who look nothing like them, so the cut they want won't work. The celebrity's hair (as others have said) is different from the person whose hair they are cutting. And we don't have a gang at home to do our hair and makeup — or airbrush the pictures later. The hairdresser is often as frustrated as we are, knowing they haven't made us look ready for the red carpet.

The suggestion to go in one day with hair as it turns out when styled at home is a good one. The stylist may learn a lot from that and be able to give some tips. And you may be surprised to discover the fabulous hair you envy belongs to someone with a lot of wigs...!

Snap I have the same problem unfortunately it is the styling products they use to create the effect and also to cover up any cutting mistakes.
I also think part of the problem is hairdressers aren't trained as they used to be very rarely now do you see signs in hairdressers asking for models.
I also think that as with shop assistants being unable to add up and give change all the hair products on the market have dumbed down the art of hairdressing

My husband has been my hairdresser for the past 56 years; he is now 84 and with failing eyesight, but I can't bring myself to go elsewhere! I have a basic bob these days after years of long hair up in a bun. I ask a friend to check the back, and tidy the sides myself when I see bits that he has missed.
I know the time is coming when I have to find another hairdresser, but I am sorely tempted to go back to my bun, even if my hair is getting rather thin.