Who knew posting one little picture on instagram with Clara would start a tell-me-more-about-the-bangs frenzy? You guys are a curious bunch, demanding a post about my hair. Haha. There were even conspiracy theories that they weren’t real and I was pulling a Kim K on you guys by flipping my ponytail and faking them. Hilarious! But they are in fact real. Can’t say the same thing about my chest (just kidding). I just got off the sofa on Saturday afternoon, walked into the bathroom and cut them, came back out and sat on the sofa, and waited for John and Clara to notice. They seemed not to mind them (in fact John said they made me look “young and hot” so I’ll take it) and they do very conveniently cover my forehead wrinkles. So… score!
Because I cut them in the bathroom mirror all by myself, they’re definitely not perfect, but they seem to pass as actual bangs in real life, as opposed to looking like a child who took the kitchen scissors to her head. And since many (many) of you guys demanded a tutorial, here she blows.
I guess we should call this the sister post to the how-I-cut-John’s-hair post that I shared here. It’s pretty straightforward so quite honestly the most awkward part was getting these photos taken. Gah, I’m terrible at posing for John. So it went something like this:
John: click, click, click, “Do you need anything else?”
Me: “Ahh, this is stupid. Nevermind! We’re done.”
John: “What? I only took three photos? You sure?”
Me: “Ok, what about one like this? Ahh, too close. Back up! back up! Maybe we need to buy a lens to make my face artfully blurry.”
John: “Um… ok. So we’re done?”
As for the actual tutorial, it goes like this:
All I did was pull the hair in front that I thought should be bangs (which made a soft curved shape at the crown) forward and then I pulled the rest of my hair back into a ponytail to keep it out of the way. My hair might look ambiguously wet/dry in the picture above, but it’s fully dry.
Which leads us to step 2…
I looked up a few pictures on google of people with blunt bangs just to notice where they stopped. The ones I liked most sort of grazed the eyelashes (good thing I looked since my first instinct would have been to cut them above my eyebrows- eeks!). Then I cut them dry while looking in the mirror with the part of hair that I sectioned out just flopping in front of my face. Cutting them dry is key for me since wet hair can look heavier and longer and then dry and shrink up, thereby ruining your life. Well, that’s a little dramatic, but it can definitely pull a fast one on you, so dry hair seems to work best for ending up with bangs at the actual intended length.
Then I dipped my head into the sink to get my bangs all wet and used a blow-dryer to blow them dry in front of my face. This was helpful because after I dried them a few long stragglers stuck out and I snipped them straight across for a more blunt look. I have a ridiculous cowlick, so I’m trying not to be a crazy about how they fall. Although in this instagram picture there was a funny comb-over effect going on since a few from the other side of my head danced over to that side (hence those few guesses that this was a bang hoax I guess, haha).
Thanks to the aforementioned cowlick, sometimes I pull them apart like this. Just if it’s humid and they’re being wonky. Sorry about this bad self portrait, I was past the point of embarrassment after posing for John, seeing the pictures he took, deleting them in horror, and telling him to back out of the room slowly while whispering “it’s not your fault this is just so awkwaaaard.”
I can still pin them all back with two tiny bobby pins and rock my regular old pony (which I did last night for the Austin signing since it was crazy rainy and my hair + humidity = Frizz-fest 2013). So I guess I get three looks from this little snip-fest: 1) blunt bangs, 2)parted bangs, and 3) no bangs at all thanks to Mrs Bobby and her friend Pins.
Anyway, I hope this quick little tutorial helps someone out there save some money on a bang trim or something. Or just gives you all a good laugh at how uncomfortable capturing these photos actually was for me. It might sound crazy but I’m used to taking pictures of the house, not my mug. So it took me right back to high school yearbook photos and I was all clammy and weird about it. Seriously I didn’t know where to look, how to smile, it was a mess. Anyone else tackling some DIY haircuts at home? Or rocking some freshly shorn bangs? Tell $herdog all about it.
Patti says
Love the bangs! I cut my own bangs every few months. Now I see where I went wrong… I tend to wet my bangs and they end up being a bit short. Dry cutting it is!
I let my hair grow out every two years and then cut the hair to shoulder length – this gets me 14-16″ of hair to donate to Locks of Love. The bangs will get a professional cut at that point. Can’t wait! May 2013! I usually take a before and after picture. :) Thanks for sharing!
Koliti says
Sherry, BAADDA BING BAADDA BANG! lots of pretty looks for you!
I used to get my hair cut at the “beauty school” – I figured I was helping them learn and the price was right. Then I got tired of calling for an appointment, hoping I got a “good” student who would do a “good” job with an “open, want-to learn” attitude. I got to thinking, “Heck, I can cut my own hair if I could make sure I could do a decent job on the back of my head”.
Have you ever heard of a “Flobee”? Well, they still make ’em and I purchased one this past September. I love it! Just follow the instructions, hook it up to your vacuum, and voila! WAAAAAY better than a beauty school and no mess! My ideal hair length overall 3 inches and I’m experimenting with different ways to trim the hair around my face.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I have heard great things about the Flobee actually!
xo
s
Hally says
Hi there $herdog,
You look fantastic with bangs. I got bangs too, but it actually came with a super short haircut I’ve wanted to do for forever! (Excuse the crappy rental apartment in the photo, I’m but a lowly college kid!)
http://i.imgur.com/YR2MQ.jpg
YoungHouseLove says
Looks awesome!
xo
s
Jess says
Garnier Fructis anti-humidity hairspray. It’s made of magic!
Kara says
GORGE!!
Lynn P says
great bangs! FYI: My hairdresser gave me a trick…always blowdry, with a brush in the direction of your cowlick, then blowdry in the opposite direction…:) It works for me! I have TWO, yes TWO cowlicks…and many a count dracula photo to prove it, BEFORE I learned to do this!
Jen says
This is such a great look on you! I love bangs- you always have a hair style no matter what!
Carissa says
So fun! I hope you can wear them down for Ft. tomorrow, we’ll be there!
Steph L says
I LOVE the new bangs!! They look fantastic on you.
I wish I could look good with bangs :( My big round head and too much forehead (I like to call it my “five-head”) just don’t deal well with bangs.
I’m jealous :)
Langley says
LOVE! you pull them off well :)
Dani @ Live Lightly Everyday says
You look so cute!! I would never have the guts to do it!
Katherine says
Wait so.. if John took the pics then didn’t he know you were going to cut them? Or did he only take the after pics (and you did the sectioning-hair pic yourself)?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, these are all faked (er, recreated?) after the fact!
xo
s
Misty says
So glad you posted about the bangs! When I saw the insta pic I was so excited! They loook sooooo hip on you!
Lisa G. says
I too have given myself the bang chop, and I have a FEROCIOUS flock of cowlicks. Yes, not just one, but several. The best way that I found to train my bangs to stay down was to put masking/painter’s tape across when the bangs were down to train them to lay that way. They look great and so youthful!
Karen Q. says
Looking fab-u-lous! Love them- super adorable and you did an amazing job. :)
caroline says
Hey, I loved the video of you cutting your husband’s hair and I’ve cut my 17-year-old son’s hair this way and he looks fantastic. The question I have is–doesn’t it make your hands hurt? It seems to take forever to keep cutting and cutting and cutting–maybe his hair is just very thick or something. I was wondering if you’ve ever done it wet, and if that might make it easier? (That actually sounds kind of dirty, but you know what I mean.)
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, it doesn’t make my hands hurt. Maybe getting a sharper scissors would help?
xo
s
Meghan says
Cute! I too have a violent cowlick and recently had bangs cut, and I find that they fall nicely when I brush them in the opposite direction of the cowlick when I dry them, then brush to the alternate side for a bit when they’re almost dry so that they don’t all go to one side. They’re less flat than when I just aim the dryer straight down and the angle helps show that hair who’s boss!
Sara says
You’re making me wish I could get bangs but it would never work on my hair- (I’ve tried twice now so I know the pain that follows that initial excitement). I actually think the bangs make you look more mature and grown-up ( especially in the last photo with the part). Great job DIYing your own hair!
J says
Love them! You look adorable!
I too have a cow lick and blunt bangs. I bought a straightener for them. A cheap one from tjmaxx that way I don’t have to wet them or shower everyday to restyle with a blow dryer and it forces the cowlick to go away at least until I sleep then in the morning bam! There it is again. Also when I straighten all of my hair with the bang it looks pretty awesome but mostly I’m a bun on top of the head kinda gal.
mary says
I have to agree, the bangs draw more attention to your eyes. To risk sounding like a total creep, I’ve never realized you had such pretty eyes!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw shucks thanks guys. You’re making me blush.
xo
s
Karla says
Cute! I trimmed my sisters bangs the last time I was home. I was amazed she let me! But I am still to much of a chicken to try trimming my own.
Melissa @ HOUSEography says
You look AMAZING with bangs! And you’re very brave :)
trish says
Clara looks just like you all the way now! Such a resemblance! I was never good at cutting bangs..you are super duper! So cute.
Kate says
BEST way to avoid a cowlick is to blow dry your bangs in every direction.. blow them so they all swoop to the right, then the left, then up a little, then straight down. Sometimes if my bangs are acting up i will put a little pomade on the tips and hair spray.
They look great though!
Stephanie says
Love the look on you! You need Ktizzle Bower to take some photos of you when you are in Atlanta! She probably makes you laugh for real so you won’t feel like a goober smiling for the camera!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes she has tricks to make me laugh. Like she’ll yell out something crazy like “Bacon for president!”
xo
s
Jennifer says
I love the bangs! You definitely have the face for them and it brings out your eyes. I think a few cut longer on each side would be cute too, especially since you wear your hair up so much. I don’t know if you’ve checked out Caitlin Wilson’s blog, but she has her hair cut that way.
YoungHouseLove says
Off to check it out!
xo
s
Nikki Kelly says
Speaking of free bangs, Toni & Guy does free bang trims and the are salons scattered across the country. I work at the Denver location.
Dacia @ Lemon Drop Life says
So so cute! I love this look on you!! And brava for being brave enough to do it yourself!
Sherri says
They look very cute on you! I’ve tried this a billion times, and I always end up looking like I’m twelve. It’s a no go for me, but I think they work perfectly for you!
Tori says
Super cute!
Yenny says
They look great!! I cut my own blunt bangs in 10th grade and have bangs ever since! Although they changed into sideswept bangs pretty soon after I cut the blunt ones (less maintenance). I still trim them myself AND when my hair gets oily, I just shampoo my bangs and towel dry them and my hair looks fresh right away! Yay for the lazy way to look fresh & ready! :D
KathyL says
A neat trick to trim them is to “chop” them with the scissors pointing up…you can take teeny baby snips all the way across, back and forth until you get the length you want, (of course while dry!!) try it, you’ll never have a crooked bang again.
YoungHouseLove says
Love all the tips guys! You rule for being so hair-smart. Haha.
xo
s
Cheryl C says
You look fab! I too cut my own bangs because I have never had a stylist who could resist the urge to cut them too short (there are gaps in my photographic history because of mini-bangs–some girls can rock ’em, but not this one).
One tip I have learned to help with my cowlick is when I blow dry my bangs I’ll comb them all over to one side, dry for a minute, then comb them all over to the opposite side and dry for another minute, then brush/tousle forward.
Jenny @ House Full of Pretty says
OMG super cute Sherry!!! That takes some real balls, so job well done!
Also, a little trick to getting them to dry straight is touse a comb, and with your hairdryer, dry them all to one side first, then the other, then back again, etc…
Once dry they will fall perfectly in the middle!
Cat R. says
Sad an Eminem fan like you missed the chance to play off of Lil Wayne’s “Blunt Blowin’,” but as this is a family blog, I understand. They look adorable!
Leah says
You look gorgeous! I just cut bangs as well… So fun to have an updated look.
Jenny L says
I think the bangs look great! I cut bangs again a few months ago for the first time since high school. I like them – but they drive me crazy when they get in my eyes, so I have to trim them way more often than I’d like to! I’d be interested to know how often you have to trim your bangs!
Jess says
You guys just made my day! I am in Ft. Lauderdale for a conference and my scheduled dinner just got canceled and I checked the blog on my break and saw your book tour header…and am pumped because now I get to meet you guys tonight!! Yay! I am going to have to buy my second copy of your book today BC mine is in Ohio :) so excited!!! So many !!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Can’t wait to meet you!
xo,
s
Catherine Lajoie says
man I wish I didn’t have poodle hair and be able to rock blunt bangs – awesome new look, you’re lucky to be able to rock it – and you’ve got thick hair for it too! Double score!
Jessica Johnson says
The blunt bang is a really flattering look for you :)
Lindsy says
I have DIY bangs too! Also a cowlick, so I do the same 3-style effect with my bangs. I’ve found that putting a bit of smoothing cream or serum on the cowlick (underneath the bangs) can help, followed by dampening the bangs and then drying them at high heat: first to the left, then the right, and finally straight down. Maybe this confuses the cowlick? And then I comb them and give ’em a good hairspray.
Sarah says
You look great with bangs! After growing out my bangs before grade school, I went back to bangs at 19 years old (cut by my mom, in a hotel, using Swiss Army knife scissors) and haven’t looked back for 10 years. Bangs forever!! (However, now I do pay someone [$8] to trim them at regular intervals – no more Swiss Army knife jobs.)
Alexa says
Suuuper cute! What an easy way to make a dramatic change! I love that even your bangs are DIY! I found when I had my own bangs it was less anxiety-inducing to cut my own than to have a styling do the snipping.
Avone says
A)How great to have 400+ comments on how beautiful and young you look. You must be having a great day! :)
B)I’m much too spontaneous to read things like this. Hide the scissors; I’ve just spent a year growing out my bangs!
Laura @ Chaotic Domestic says
I love blunt bangs! They look great!
littleoakcreations says
Ha! I got awesome (read: not awesome) curly bangs when I was about 12 because I have a severe 5-head and have had them ever since. I don’t curl them anymore and wear them parted just like your last picture! And weirdly enough… I just bought those same earrings off eBay!! I paid only like $2.00 including shipping for a necklace, bracelet and earring set. The necklace and bracelet are junky but I love the earrings! :)
Monica says
I always have so much fun reading your blog!!! It doesn’t matter the subject!!! You guys make people happier!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Monica. That’s the highest compliment ever.
xo,
s
Katy says
I love them. I’m all for the bangs. I do have wavy hair so I have to blow dry them but I don’t really like my hair without them. My only annoyance is that they look greasy so quickly. And I definitely trim my own. They grow way too fast otherwise.
MaKaela says
I have done this several times and I always swear I’m not going to do it again. But, now, reading this I am tempted to get off the couch and go cut my bangs too! Very cute Sherry!
Kelli from LittleCottageOfMine says
They look great Sherry!