Home haircuts, a task not many eagerly anticipate, disrupt our usual salon routine. Those enjoyable visits to our favorite salon involve catching up with our trusted stylist, discussing haircut ideas, and experimenting with new looks. However, the pandemic and lockdowns have thrust upon many of us the unexpected role of an overnight hairdresser for ourselves, family members, or roommates. Regardless of the scenario, cutting hair is more intricate than it seems. A couple of misguided moves, and you might find yourself dealing with a hair disaster.
If you’re still determined to take matters into your own hands, we recommend opting for a hairstyle that is easy to execute and forgives mistakes. The ‘bowl cut’ might be your safest choice.
The bowl cut, mushroom cut, or helmet cut is one of the simplest haircuts to attempt independently. In this style, all the hair is kept the same length, with straight bangs across the face. The name originates from the earlier method of achieving this cut – a bowl was placed on the head, and all the hair outside was trimmed. However, this technique has evolved, and no actual bowl is used. Continue reading for an uncomplicated tutorial on achieving a bowl cut at home. (1) (2)
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Prep Time
Before you get extra zealous with those scissors, think again if you need that cut. If you still feel unsure about it, make some preparations. Read up, get some good haircutting tools, watch videos online, or even try a video consultation with a hairstylist. Instead of doing it yourself, we suggest that you let someone else cut your hair.
Then, collect all the gear you will need, such as a cape, a spray bottle, a tail comb, a few hair clips, and, most importantly, a pair of haircutting scissors. Invest in good-quality scissors that are specially meant for cutting hair. These are razor-sharp and will give you precision while chopping.
If you’re doing the cut alone, get hold of a few mirrors and take as many breaks in between as you need. First, follow the same steps that one observes at the salon. Next, give your hair a good wash and condition them thoroughly. Let them dry out a bit before you start. Also, brush them painstakingly to remove any tangles.
Why a Bowl Cut?
Bowl cuts have a history attached to them. They were trendy in the 80s and were related to the ‘mom-cut-my-hair tag.’ It was a style sported by many celebrities in the 90s, from Leonardo Di Caprio to David Beckham. However, it took a backseat later on as short and crisp hair made its way in. (1)
But as all retro things have made a comeback, this hairdo is also a severe trend, with many supermodels and actors donning it. And why not? The Bowl cut has many advantages. First, bowl cuts look hot and are a crucial trend these days. Second, short hair is practical and takes the least time to style. You’re ready for the day with a quick blow-dry and some wax/ gel. Finally, a bowl cut adds volume to the hair and works well for many face shapes, including oval or long faces. (2)
5-Step Guide to a Perfect Bowl Cut
Let’s follow a step-by-step guide about attempting a bowl cut at home. But before that, a word of advice.
Before getting extra friendly with those scissors, remember the ‘less is more’ rule. Like you are always careful about plucking different hair from your eyebrows, be cautious here, too. While you can always cut more, you can’t glue them back. Hairstylists say it is an excellent trick for amateurs at home to start with vertical or somewhat diagonal lines first and not go straightaway for blunt vertical lines. Vertical lines look good when done correctly but are less forgiving for mistakes. (3)
1. Start with wearing your salon cape. It will keep that tiny chopped hair away from the skin and save you a lot of mess. Use a soft cloth attached to a plastic sheet if you don’t have a haircut cape. But whatever you use for this purpose, spray some water over it.
2. Take a tail comb and create a center parting by brushing the hair properly. At the same time, make another parting right at the back of your head. By this, you will end up dividing your hair into four sections.
3. Now, let’s start with the chopping part. Comb and hold almost a quarter of an inch or 0.25 inch of hair at the bottom of the head using the tail comb. Twist the rest of the hair and clip it up using hair clips so the hair remains in its place. Meanwhile, if your hair gets dry, spray some more water on it. Comb it again as soon as possible to take care of those strays.
4. Take a pair of scissors and start cutting the hair from the front. If you are looking for a short haircut, keeping the length of the front hair right above your eyebrow would work best. Once you finish the front part, you will arrive at a pattern you can maintain during the rest. So, for the hair at the back of your head, follow the same pattern and come down gradually angularly as soon as you reach the side of your head.
5. Give extra focus to the hair present around your ears. Make sure that the length of hair is the same on both sides. Again, go to the back of the head and take about half or a quarter of an inch (0.5 or 0.25 inch) of hair down again. It would reveal the actual line that you can follow properly. Finally, go around it 3 to 4 times and ensure no hair is left there.
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Summary
If you want to try a new haircut but are still unsure about visiting the salon because of the pandemic, try the do-it-yourself ‘bowl cut’. This is a very easy haircut to try at home. This short hairstyle looks really hot and is one of the top trends this season. It is not only easy to carry out but also has low maintenance. Just gather some basic haircutting gear such as a pair of sharp scissors, a cape, a spray bottle, and a tail comb, and you are ready to start. In this article, we have listed a step-by-step guide about how to carry out the mushroom cut at home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best way to style a bowl cut?
This is a very low-maintenance haircut and can be styled very quickly. First, wash your hair and give it a quick blow-dry. Otherwise, you can use a styling gel (medium to stronghold). Apply the gel to towel-dried hair and work it into the strands using your fingers.
In case the cut goes awry, how do you fix it?
If you can still give up on some more length of your hair, try getting a shorter bowl cut. Take a smaller bowl and work around it. Otherwise, try styling your hair differently. Instead of the fringe, try a parting using some hair clips.
Is the bowl cut more suited for men?
No. Traditionally, many male celebrities have been seen sporting the mushroom cut – Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt, and Hugh Grant, to name a few. But there is no shortage of female icons donning a sleek Bowl look. Who can forget the iconic images of Rihanna, Charlize Theron, and Celine Dion in this elegant cut?
