Undercutting
Posted by Mark on July 27, 2002 at 11:55:39: Previous Next
i have a couple of questions here on this. naturally on most long hair sites the posters r girls and undercutting doesnt seem to be something they talk about so....
1/ what is undercutting and how is it done.
2/ do girls do it too? if not, why?
this is something i see come up time and time again, yet not really having a clue about.
Re: Undercutting
Posted by Treyn on July 27, 2002 at 13:21:07: Previous Next
In Reply to: Undercutting posted by Mark on July 27, 2002 at 11:55:39:
Click HERE to see an illistration of an undercut hair style. This is easier than trying to explain it. Answer to your second question: I don't think it is common for women to do undercuts, but I have a female 1st cousin who has had her hair this way for quiet some years now, and her hair is almost to her waist. Looks really good on her. I have been seriously thinking about doing this AGAIN myself. But I will probably wait a few years so my hair can get longer than it currently is. Hope This Helps! KEEP IT LONG!!!!!
Re: Undercutting
Posted by MG on July 27, 2002 at 22:17:57: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Undercutting posted by Treyn on July 27, 2002 at 13:21:07:
: Click HERE to see an illistration of an undercut hair style. This is easier than trying to explain it. Answer to your second question: I don't think it is common for women to do undercuts, but I have a female 1st cousin who has had her hair this way for quiet some years now, and her hair is almost to her waist. Looks really good on her. I have been seriously thinking about doing this AGAIN myself. But I will probably wait a few years so my hair can get longer than it currently is. Hope This Helps! KEEP IT LONG!!!!!
This is an example of a rather severe undercut. My undercut is only
about an inch or inch and half above my ears and then slopes down
behind my ears and across under my ponytail all about 1" to 1 1/2"
I like it. Works for me anyway. Anyway, the idea is you can control
just how much of an undercut you want. Hope this helps a little.
Re: Undercutting
Posted by slacker on July 27, 2002 at 23:39:30: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Undercutting posted by Treyn on July 27, 2002 at 13:21:07:
: Click HERE to see an illistration of an undercut hair style. This is easier than trying to explain it. Answer to your second question: I don't think it is common for women to do undercuts, but I have a female 1st cousin who has had her hair this way for quiet some years now, and her hair is almost to her waist. Looks really good on her. I have been seriously thinking about doing this AGAIN myself. But I will probably wait a few years so my hair can get longer than it currently is. Hope This Helps! KEEP IT LONG!!!!!
Keep in mind you dont need to cut it as CLOSE as in this picture (#0), although most men with undercuts seem to go for 0-4, so they only need to get it re-clipped every month or three (and save money). Of course, if you do it yourself or have a friend/family member do it, which is easy, then you don't need to worry about that.
Also, you don't need to cut it as HIGH as in the picture, i.e, you can leave more of the hair long.
You can clip as little as the bottom 1/2 or 1 inch, or you can go as "Extreme" as leaving just the strip in the middle of the top (the "mohawk" hair).
The guy in the photo is clipped a little bit into the top, but not as high as a mohawk, as you can see from the first picture, with the side view.
Most people go for something in between.
The "higher" cuts are most often seen on younger people. If you clip up to the top, the clipped part will probably show through some when/if you wear your hair down, unless you have really thick hair. Personally I like that look, but I am 19. I dont care for #0, though.
As I said, this guy is clipped a little into the top and the short, clipped part (in this case, skin) would defintely show through if he had it down.
The advantages are you keep cooler, There is less hair to wash and style and deal with, easier for Whoever is cutting it, easier to keep "neater" (especially when growing it out), is more acceptable in the workplace (tied back) and, as long hair goes, it is in style.
Females get them too, but they usually arent cut as Close or as High, although sometimes they are, mostly with Teen females.
They are common in older women, too, but usually more "discreet."
For example, my mom has one, but instead of 0-1/2 inch with clippers, the "shortest" layer is like 3 inches, and its the bottom inch or so of the hairline, then theres a couple more layers up to the top, where all the hair is around shoulder length when she gets it cut.
It isn't noticeable with the hair down, as is usually the case with the female version. But, you can sometimes see that they have an undercut because the top hair ends and gives way to shorter hair growing from the back. The "stacked" look is common now, where the layers get longer further up the scalp, and each one ends at around the same place, and they stack up.
Another example, my mom has an undercut but it isnt noticeable unless she ties her hair back, and then it still isn't very noticeable because it is layered and the hairs at the back are several inches. The "shortest" layer is the bottom inch or so of the hair line, and the hairs are 3 inches or so. Then theres a few layers as it goes up but it does not stack, because the top (the longest layer" is down to her shoulders, roughly 12 inch or so, which covers the hairs in back that are only a few inches
If you are thinking about getting one, try separating out the part you want long, like all of the top, for example. Comb it forward from your crown and hold it out of the way. Then comb the rest of the hair down or back and if its long, but a band or something on it to get it out of the way. Tie a headband or bandana around your head right under the hair you want long. Then let the "top" (the part to remain long) loose, and you can see how long it will look with the undercut, how much you can see through it, how thick it is, how well it lays down, etc. If you plan on wearing it tied back part of the time, then tie back the "top" part seperately and see how thatll look (and if the hair is long enough for a tail).
Then, if you think you want more or less hair, include or un-include in the "top hair" higher or lower areas of hair. Move the headband up or down to the bottom of wear the "top" grows again, and see what that looks like. You get the idea.
I highly recommend doing a few quick experiments like that before you undercut, so you can get it done right the first time and avoid the whole "oh my god what have I done" thing, if you decide you like the look at all.
Remember, undercuts won't effect your hair TYPE(straight/wavy/curly, dry/oily, frizzy/smooth.) It will get rid of the crappy hair near the edges of the hairline, but if your hair that grows from the top "sucks", your hair will still suck after an undercut, and may even look dumber.
The important thing is how High you cut it.
How Close you cut it isn't that big of a deal: if its clipped a little too short, it'll grow back fast. Just have em start with something you know is safe, like #4-6, and go from there.
Good luck!
slacker (ex-semi-long hair with undercut)
Re: Undercutting
Posted by Jon on August 01, 2002 at 12:48:43: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Undercutting posted by Treyn on July 27, 2002 at 13:21:07:
I keep my hair in an undercut like the one in the above picture, and I find it looks great, especially if you're trying to go for a more radical look. I recommend keeping it shaved regularly - there's nothing worse looking than a scruffy, unkept undercut. When I usually get mine done, I ask for it "shaved high, with the 000 (triple-zero) blade", and it looks perfect.
Let us know how it goes.
Regards
Jon
: Click HERE to see an illistration of an undercut hair style. This is easier than trying to explain it. Answer to your second question: I don't think it is common for women to do undercuts, but I have a female 1st cousin who has had her hair this way for quiet some years now, and her hair is almost to her waist. Looks really good on her. I have been seriously thinking about doing this AGAIN myself. But I will probably wait a few years so my hair can get longer than it currently is. Hope This Helps! KEEP IT LONG!!!!!