HAIR BASICS

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Long Hair
It has been said that if we could hang upside down and cut our hair, it would be the perfect cut. Unfortunately this is impossible and would result in uneven layers anyway. If you have long hair and only need to trim the ends, wet your hair and make an even, middle part starting at the top of the head and going all the way back to the nape of the neck. Bring the hair forward on each side, and comb out so that it's perfectly smooth. Hold your head steady and cut the shaggy ends off straight across. This will give you a nicely curved look when your hair is combed back. If you want it to be perfectly straight, you can line a ribbon up against the bottom edges of hair trim straight across.

Children's Hair
Cutting a child's hair is often nerve-wracking. Most of the time we treat children like adults and expect them to sit quietly while we make them look tidy. Wake up and be prepared for anything!

First, sit the child at a level where you can comfortably reach his or her head;
bending over to cut hair is a real pain in the back (and neck). A high chair in front of a mirror works well. You're probably best off letting the child watch what you're doing. I've found that my children will look down while I'm snipping—they seem to enjoy watching their hair fall.

Another good way set up a hair cutting session is to lay a sheet on the floor and have the child sit in the middle of it, admiring his or herself with a hand mirror while you work around them. In any case, keep that child busy. Have him or her collect the hair as it falls (later, they can put it outside for birds, which use hair to build nests). Don't hurry; be calm, patient, and choose a time when the child is in a fairly cooperative mood.

One last important tip: If you're cutting bangs, be sure the child isn't raising his or her eyebrows while you're snipping—the bangs will be way too short and give the child an unfortunate look of permanent surprise.

Beards and Mustaches
Anyone can achieve a nicely groomed beard and/or mustache, as long as you take your time doing the trimming. Don't use a sideburns trimmer, which will make your beard look (and feel) bristled and prickly; use sharp scissors. Comb the beard and sideburns down, and then, starting at the sideburns, bring the hair out with a comb and trim off the excess, making sure that the scissors fully close with each cut. Continue; when you're done, the beard should feel smooth and soft.

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