Cutting your hair

[She]

I was trimming my&nbsp;hair&nbsp;this morning. My hair is thick VERY thick LOL and can be costly to cut. So first I keep it short. There is nothing&nbsp;worse&nbsp;than waking up on a hot summer day and finding your hair plastered and not being easy to comb. You thick headed ones know what I mean. LOL So I found this wonderful <span style="color: #ff0000;"><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Barber-Comb...pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&amp;hash=item3cca798307"><span style="color: #ff0000;">comb</span></a></span>. This isn't the exact one I bought but its close. &nbsp;It takes regular razor blades. Mine is made from steel but I can't seem to find any made like that anymore. Its great for in between haircuts. So I save money. I think its being green? Instead of getting a trim every month I go about every 4 months. If I had thinner hair I guess I could go longer. And my hair looks fine. i was thinking for long time boondockers this would help&nbsp;alot.&nbsp;

 

[Ricekila]

Carol from the walking dead has the best cut on the planet - next to Grace Jones <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />Wally-World has Wahl trimmers and longer attachment's are available <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />And they still sell Folbee's on line -- when your on the road - stop at a "you-do-it" car wash --- make-up an adapter for the larger hose end --- hair trimmings / dust / food crumbs / a little I-Q all will be sucked clean

<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flowbee.com/">http://www.flowbee.com/</a>

 

[HoboBerg]

And they still sell Folbee's on line -- when your on the road - stop at a "you-do-it" car wash --- make-up an adapter for the larger hose end --- hair trimmings / dust / food crumbs / a little I-Q all will be sucked clean

<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flowbee.com/">http://www.flowbee.com/</a>

<br /><br />Been using Flow-Bees since High School&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[peacetara]

I've had waist length hair for years. I've always loved long hair, but I read about how awful it is to have super long hair and live in a van.&nbsp; So when I first moved in, I had my friend Megan cut it to about 6 inches past the shoulders (in half basically).&nbsp; It definitely has been a LOT easier to manager.<br /><br />I still don't have any sort of good system for washing my hair, but my sister turned me onto a Baking Soda and water mixture, that seems to work really well, so I'm going to try it out on the road.<br /><br />I'm not sure what I'm going to do long-term, probably wait and see if I can come up with a fabulous hair management system, before I decide, but I'd really like to have long hair again!<br /><br />That all said, that comb is a little scary looking, but I agree it's probably really great at what it does!&nbsp; I may have to invest in something like that someday, but I'm hoping I can just make it back by Megan's every once in a while (the joys of long hair, it hides a LOT!).<br /><br />With Love,<br />Tara

 

[katelyn]

i have long hair and i'm not planning on cutting it before my long term vandwelling next spring..having gone to beauty school this is how i cut my hair....<br /><br />http://www.livestrong.com/article/29007-cut-layered-hair-cut/<br /><br /><br /><br />super easy and i get layers!

 

[ttpadilla]

Katelynn, that's how I cut mine, too.&nbsp; Not fancy, but functional!

 

[ttpadilla]

That is very brave, Ann!&nbsp; I have always had trouble liking my hair, long, short, and in-between.&nbsp; I cut it pretty short a year ago, but it was too short for me.&nbsp; Now it's long enough to put in a ponytail and keep out of my face, so I think this is where I'll keep it...

 

[blueberry]

I grew my hair to waist length a few years ago - loved it but it wasn't the least bit flattering and I knew it wouldn't be practical for vandwelling. So I bit the bullet and had it all chopped off in a pixie two months ago. It was wonderful - so free and easy to take care of! But now it's overgrown and needs another cut. That's what I hate about short hair - to maintain it, you have to keep going back to the salon. <br /><br />I admit to vanity about getting a nice cut that flatters the face, so I'm not sure I'd have the nerve to use clippers or that comb, but it's worth a try just to see how it looks. What the hell, it'll grow back, right?<br /><br />@Ricekila - totally agree about Carol's haircut on Walking Dead! And there is no way any of them would have such nice hair after a year on the run from walkers!

 

[virtuousman]

Started cutting my own hair years ago. Went in recently to get a "professional" haircut at Greatclips and they charged me $15 plus tip. That was the last one.

 

[twokniveskatie]

I had been growing my hair in again until I hit san antonio in August. All the natural wave stuck every which way so I got it layered.....3 times. It was uncontrollable. I had been debating chopping it all off before going on the road, but then my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer last week. We dyed it pink, but it came out after a few washings. Now we are just waiting to see what her treatment plan is, cause then I'll just shave it in solidarity.

My blog post about showering on the road. Tara, there are pics of my system for hair washing in the van, although I use a 3 gal paint pail:

http://twokniveskatie.blogspot.com/2009/06/hygeine-on-road.html?m=0

This is a list of my blog posts about hygiene in general.....one on laundry and 4 on "No-Poo", or using no shampoo, but baking soda instead.

http://twokniveskatie.blogspot.com/search/label/hygeine?m=0

Maybe some info some folks can use.

 

[wrcsixeight]

I found long enough to put in a ponytail, or short enough to never worry about bed head is easiest. &nbsp;I am somewhere in between right now, eyeballing my clippers. &nbsp;No6 on top, no 4 on the sides. &nbsp;My hair is pretty thick, I don't have to worry about a receding hairline.<br /><br />I have not paid for a haircut in 20+ years. &nbsp;If it is ponytail length, I occasionally just &nbsp;chop off the end. &nbsp;Sometimes I'll have a neighbor trim my neck but have gotten OK at doing it myself with 2 mirrors.<br /><br />I have not ran a razor around my face for nearly 2 years now. &nbsp;Shaving rash on my neck was always an issue. Now I just run the clippers around &nbsp;daily on the lowest setting for the eternally scruffy look, and don't have to spend money on shaving cream or blades.&nbsp;

 

[mockturtle]

I have found that wearing my hair about shoulder length means only having to have it trimmed about every three months and I can pull it back into a ponytail to stick through a baseball cap, which I often wear.

 

[peacetara]

twokniveskatie:<br /><br />Awesome thanks!!!

 

[fluffabear]

I keep it close. When I don't have power for my buzzers, I can razor shave. I let it get a little longer in the winter to keep me warmer, but the buzz is easiest for me.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I have gone buzzcut for a while now, just so much easier and i save about 15 bucks a month.&nbsp; I just do it myself.&nbsp; I use a number 2 comb and a nice pair for clippers and do it all in the one size.&nbsp; <br /><br />The back/neck can be tricky to cut straight so I have done 2 methods.&nbsp; I put on a knit cap (toque) and fit it to where i want the hairline to be and using a finger to protect the cap from snagging i cut up to that.&nbsp; When i didnt have a cap, i took some string i had a made a loop that went at an angle, resting on my mustache or my chin (going all neck could kill ya lol),&nbsp; to below my ears and around my neck, creating a nice neat (tho somewhat curved) line to cut to on my neck.&nbsp; Then i just pulled the bow and was done.&nbsp; If i wanted a less abrupt line, i would slide the cap or string up a little than use a number 1 comb on the clippers and cut to that line....but im too lazy now.

 

[She]

LOL didn't&nbsp;expect&nbsp;a&nbsp;response&nbsp;like&nbsp;this!!! Wow I guess we need to talk about our hair!! Well I gotta go trim some more off....

 

[twokniveskatie]

DG- I went ahead and did it. I don't know what comb it is, but its 1" length all around. I am so in love with it. I lack a moustache to prop a string on, but as I get older, nature may fix that for me

I'm gonna buy a pair of clippers, but so far can't find an inexpensive one with a 1" comb.

 

[lampliter]

Flowbee-as &nbsp;long as you have 110 to plug it in and a small shop vac to suck the cut hair into-been using one for about 15 years.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I'm gonna buy a pair of clippers, but so far can't find an inexpensive one with a 1" comb.

<br /><br />Most dollar general/family dollar stores sell a pair for like 10-15 bucks with various comb sizes.&nbsp; They don't last long and will snag in long/thick hair, but if you don't have a lot of money they work.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My sister has gone through 2 pairs in a couple of years but she has 4 kids to cut.&nbsp; <br /><br />I splurged on my wahl homepro clippers, they cost like 20-30 bucks, with like 4 combs, small bottle of oil, small scissors, hair clip and a little cleaning brush.&nbsp; I figured if I add up the cost of a 9 dollar cut vs the life of a decent pair of clippers, I'd be making out in a year or so.&nbsp; Ive had these clippers for 5 years and they work as well as the day I bought them and i haven't even bothered to oil them since the original oil ran out (like 4 years ago lol).<br /><br />Well five years later they cost 9 plus shipping lol&nbsp; The quality of these clippers is way better than the dollar store conair version, so id recommend these.<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IVEQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00<br /><br /><br />edit:&nbsp; i got confused with these and the professional oster clippers, which were 70 bucks, that i decided against.

 

[Guest]

I've been using clipper for years and I love the savings. &nbsp;I never understood why I should spend $15-20 per month on a haircut, so I stopped caring what other people thought of my looks and now I can't imagine having hair longer than 1/2 inch.