Sunday 28 February 2016

Free haircuts for life.

Hello. It had to be done. When my hair gets to a certain length it irritates the hell out of me. A floppy fringe gets in my eyes, straggly bits down the sides wafting in my face, and hair getting trapped inside collars feels uncomfortable. Long hair makes me feel grubby, so time for a cut. I did my usual trick, two mirrors facing each other, spread fingers of left hand and lift clumps of hair through fingers, and chop with the right hand. Trim around the bottom. I wrote about it previously here. 
The 'before' pictures. 
Too long, the weight pulls it down, it just hangs, no shape in it.


Half an hour and the job is done. 
That feels better.

Here is the 'before' of the right side.
And the 'after' of the right side.



Not bad at all, that will do me for six months. I have always hated going to the hairdressers, so now I don't have to, hooooray. Free haircuts for life.

I've been playing outside today, it's been sunny. The rotting pallets have been removed from around this raised bed, and replaced with bricks. This one is ready for planting up now. I shall have to make a trip to the tip with the scrap wood. I've got some more bricks, but not enough for what I want to do, so the search goes on.

That's all for now, time for dinner. Thanks for popping in. Catch up soon.
Toodle pip

50 comments:

  1. A neat and tidy job on both counts Ilona. X

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looking good. I prefer my hair long - makes me look more feminine. I look like a shocking boy with short hair (actually a middle age one). Natalie

    ReplyDelete
  3. You've made a really good job of your hair. I hate going to the hairdressers too and once I finished work didn't bother going for 16 months. I've recently been though but that'll be it for another year at least. DIY trims are a doddle!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're very handy with the scissors and a good result. Try asking on Freegle for some bricks - I've often seen people wanting to get rid of some - nice looking wall :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your hair looks great! Short suits you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. too late now, but maybe next garden bed..

    put all wood pieces at the very bottom of the bed, then cover with dirt/etc.

    it will slowly decompose, and add nutrients, etc. Plus save you a trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much for that tip, it's especially good for someone who is building raised beds from scratch. I am trying to change mine with minimum work and mess. To put my pallets in the bottom and cover as you suggest, I would have to dig out the whole bed. I haven't the room or the inclination to move around mounds of compost. Too much digging for my back.

      Delete
    2. Only use untreated pallet wood though as treated wood isn't great for growing in! Also doesn't decompose very fast...

      Delete
  7. That is a better cut than I have had a some hairdressers. We will al be queueing up for a trim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Line up, only £2 for a cut, ha ha.

      Delete
    2. Put the kettle on I am on my way... It costs me £12.50 for a dry trim at the hairdressers (I have teabags ) :-)

      Delete
    3. Well the hair clippings mixed with the soil would certainly be a good fertilizer for your garden. Hair is rich in nitrogen.

      Delete
  8. Love your blog and look forward to reading it. I agree with you on so many things and pick up some useful tips from you. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you raine, I'm chuffed that you read my blog.

      Delete
  9. Ilona, you really are a very talented person! Your shorter hair looks very attractive - well done. Also, good job on the garden plot. You inspire me! Patricia, Montreal

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love the new haircut it suits you. I haven't been to a hairdressers for 40 years my daughter trained has a hairdresser and then set up her own business, I must have saved pounds. New beds are looking good, I like the tip about putting the rotten wood underneath the soil. Hazel c uk

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hair looks great. Your hair is a beautiful color. Do you color it or is it natural?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lana. My hair is a mousy brown, I have lightened it slightly with a £1 colour.

      Delete
  12. I did my own 'home haircut'yesterday with the clippers. Not entirely impressed with my handiwork but hey! You win some and lose some a
    but save a heck of a lot of money! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It definitely saves a lot of money to do it yourself. Perhaps Louis could do the back for you ;o)

      Delete
  13. I wish I was as good as you. Your hair looks fantastic and I love your raised beds. Wanda x

    ReplyDelete
  14. I worked for a well known central heating company in the 70/80's we had the most fantastic Office Manager and he was a lovely man but very old school and generous too. Letting us pop out for shopping, going home early, buying everyone ice creams on a hot day, drinks down the pub at Christmas etc. When one of us "girls" had been to the hairdresser's he would notice and always comment..."Ah well the difference between a good haircut and a bad one is about three weeks whilst it grows out" and of course he was right! x Rae x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great hair cut and I love the bricks that you are using in your beds, too . . . very nice :)
    I don't like going to the hair dresser either . . . they never seem to listen to what you want,
    and then you leave thinking you could have done better yourself. I used to cut my own hair all the time
    until I injured my right hand . . . now it is hard to use scissors at different angles.
    Happy gardening!
    Connie :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I last went to a hairdresser in 2002. Before that it must have been at least 10 years previously. I've got long hair which is always tied back, so when I cut it it doesn't matter too much if I don't get it straight! To cut it I tie it in a pony tail, hold it up high, look in the mirror and chop! I just cannot believe what some people spend on visits to the hairdresser. I cut my husband's too - practice over 34 years has made me almost perfect! I think short hair is much more difficult to cut oneself, so I admire your cutting skills! I have a sister, who is very trendy, fashionable and arty, who also cuts her own (not for frugality reasons) and does a fantastic job. I used to cut my children's hair (2 boys, 2 girls) until they got old enough to want something different/proper!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Excellent cut. I cut my husband's hair and have done so for many years. Initially his work colleagues asked if he had a fight with the shearer, now he gets compliments. I'm thinking about cutting my own and just might give it a go. Saves heaps being able to cut at home.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great job! It's shorter than usual though? I get my haircut professionally twice a year, they put the shape in and straighten out the length. I trim it myself in between. I buy vouchers from Groupon. Glad troll hasn't turned up today- the nerve of some folk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Probably is a bit too short SS, not to worry, I can't see it unless I look in the mirror.

      Delete
  19. Nice hair. I have mine cut but am waiting for as long as possible now. I wanted to garden but it was too cold. Well done you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Another home cutter here. Haven't been to the HD for 10 years and never been happier. I really should add up how much I have saved over the years. I loved the first photo were you are smiling, but the 'after' result is very impressive. I know you don't need it and would never buy one, but for your readers - I have started using a device which looks like a comb with a clip (amazon/ebay). It keeps your hair perfectly taught and at just the right angle. It does my fringe perfectly but I also bobbed my hair using this and it looks so professional. Not selling anything lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bought one of those clips and just cut my hair with it this morning! They are brilliant. I got mine for £3.99 in a popular high street chemists and I use a cheap hair clipper rather than scissors to do the cutting as I find it easier to use. I've even put layers in by using the clip vertically on sections all the way round. Allie from Scotland.

      Delete
  21. it looks great, I've been cutting my own hair since 2008 when we moved house, the hairdresser used to charge £11 for a dry trim and it was never how I wanted it, I also now highlight my hair as well, blogged about it last month - http://solstice-days.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/for-me.html
    Jo

    ReplyDelete
  22. Another who has fired the salon, good for you. I have been having my husband cut my hair since shortly after we first started dating. I had gone a full year since my last haircut, which was horrible. He does a great job, never gave me a bad haircut, and he has been doing it for years. He does my color with henna, and I figure it saves me over $1500 a year having him do my cut and color. And I have seen friends spend over $125 for a cut and color that looks horrible. So why pay someone to screw up your hair, when you can get better results at home?
    Btw, mixing hair clippings in the soil is good fertilizer, or leave it loose outside for the birds to build nests.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hair looks good, thinking of doing my own, as hairdreser never cuts it how I want it x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Good job done, looks really good.
    Only been doing my own for a few months, little trims here and there to practise. The picture on your link, with how to do it between fingers, is a big help. Will try that next time.
    Love your garden Ilona, wish mine was that big and you've done a great job on the garden bed. x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great job with the haircut. I agree, short suits you. I started cutting my own hair last year. After a few times at the hairdresser I saw how she did it, so I tried it myself. Now I trim it every other month and save myself $30.00!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Another great haircut Ilona, the back of the head usually gives away a home haircut, but yours is spot on. All my hair fell out last year due to the chemo so I haven't had to worry about a haircut! It has grown back curly so it'll just be a wash and go style for a while now!

    Can't wait to see those raised beds filled up with veggies.

    Linda xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Linda. I'm not growing veggies this year, the compost is worn out, so it will be flowers and small shrubs.

      Delete
  27. Hi Ilona, I am up to a paltry, but I am still happy, 157 miles in total!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love the bricked bed for planting and your short haircut...Can't wait to see the bed filled.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm afraid mine would never turn out that well, Ilona...I'll have to keep supporting the one with the training!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I have been cutting my husbands hair since last Christmas when we bought some clippers. At £20 they have long since paid for themselves. He hasn't much hair so begrudged paying the barber the same price as those with a full head of hair. Trouble is, I can only do the one "style". I don't think I am brave enough to do mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The first time my husband asked meto cut his hair I nearly wet myself. He trusted my cutting ability a lot more than I did. Thankfully I have got better as the years have gone on. It has saved a fortune in barber costs.

      Delete
  31. You have lovely hair you looker fresher but still have lovely hair when its long half ya luck :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. A lot of comments about hair cutting.
    Still important for ladies?
    Are there also men that follow the blog?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello. There are not many men who follow the blog, just a few.

      Delete
  33. Hello, I have just heard you on Newstalk, and as soon as I have more time, I'll start reading your blog, because it sounds very interesting. I have recently started buying stuff from the discount sections and put aside the savings for our holiday. It's a start... Where is your name (Ilona) coming from?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello. My mother was from Germany, Ilona was her favourite name. She always said her first daughter would be called Ilona. I was the first daughter. It is used a lot in Hungary.

      Delete
  34. my husband can do his own with his Wahl hair trimmer. Looks just as good as the barber can do. I occasionally do my own ( when I'm fed up with it.) I just need him to trim around the back of my neck.I do like your shorter cut, Ilona.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I think your hair looks great Ilona. I've been reading your blog for quite a long time, and really love your common sense approach to life. Allie from Scotland.

    ReplyDelete

Some comments will be accepted. I decide which are published.