A Self-Clasping (say what?) Apron

More a tip than a project, this one's for those of us who although can tie an apron would be happier not having to (okay, I admit I use the cheap kind of aprons with strings that more often than not knot on me. And on occasion I have had to cut the damn things to get loose).

I use an apron a lot. I am not the big baker this might indicate. I get all wet when I do dishes and the apron saves my clothes from getting soaked (when it's very cold I just do them with a windbreaker on). Although it might be good coordination exercise to keep tying the apron behind my back I find it's a pleasure not to. This is my way out of it.

Note: this is not wise to do to an apron you treasure and intend to keep for years. Velcro does not usually last for more than a few months (fluff gets attached to it and wears it down).

What you need:

1. apron
   
2. 4 inch (10 cm) strip of sew-on Velcro*
   
3. pen or pencil or 2 pins (for marking)
   
4. scissors
   
5. stapler
   

*optional: another Velcro strip of the same length for doubling (see step 4 below)

Step 1: Marking Place on Apron

Put on the apron. Pull the strings together behind your back to loosely close the apron. Mark the point where they meet on both strings (this is easier with the help of a glance in a mirror).

I am NOT huge. It's the pants.

Step 2: Placing Strips

Take the apron off and place it open on a table face down.

Open the Velcro strip. There should be one strip that is sort of pointier (the "hook" side) and one that is softer and hairier (the "loop" side).

The strips go on the apron strings. To place them: the center of the strip* (abrasive side up) goes on the marked meeting point.

*Since I'm right handed I find it easier to close the apron when the softer "loop" strip is on my right side (I found this out after doing the opposite). Hence I suggest putting the "loop" strip on the right and the "hook" strip on the left.

center of strip to mark

strip on apron string

Step 3: Stapling the Strips

Holding the strip in place, turn the apron string over and staple the apron string onto the strip.

Why from the apron side? Well, in my case the apron strings were narrower than the Velcro strips and if I did this the other way around I was likely to miss the apron strings.

staple from the apron side (so not to miss string)

Optional Step 4: Double-Siding the Velcro*

Open the second Velcro strip. Making sure you are attaching the same kinds of strips ("loop" to "loop" and "hook" to "hook") staple the strips, back to back (apron string between), onto the strips already on the apron.

*It's really convenient to have the Velcro double sided - this way the strings will clasp even if they get twisted.

strip to strip, back to back (abrasive side out)

There you go. No more knotting, oops tying, strings behind your back. Now all you have to do is throw the apron on and bring the strings together behind your back.

no more knots!

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Oops, going to be late

I'm going to be late this time. Not for lack of projects but because I messed up the choice of glue (thisTothat.com recommended for this) and It fell apart ;-(.

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Beginning with a Bang(s): A Short Messy Haircut for Winter

Here I go. A new, soon to be tested, rule of thumb of mine is having short hair in the winter and long in the summer. Sound the wrong way around? Well, in winter it's pure misery to have your long just shampooed hair drip all over your shoulders (and I have NO intention of wasting years away drying it) and in summer nothing is easier to deal with the heat than putting long hair up.

So now I'm going to put this to test. It's been years since I've had short hair and I have to shake off never-again resolutions made on bad-hair-with-no-option-of-putting-it-up days to do it. I'm sending a prayer here to the goddess of good haircuts for once (actually a second time) for it to look good on me.


The last time I had a good short haircut (and NOT for the lack of trying) I was two.

aw. wasn't that cute?

After giving some thought to the matter it finally struck me that instead of trying for yet another ill fitting short cut I could try and aim for the cute messy haircut I had then. So that's what I'm going to do.

What you(I) will need:

1. a hair band.
   
2. a ribbon (or shoelace) in a color seen clearly against your hair.
   
3. scotch tape.
   
4. scissors (I have the professional sharp kind. they're probably better for your hair. I imagine a blunt pair is more likely to fray the ends).
   
5. a mirror (recommended: have a stool across the mirror to be comfortable as you cut).
   
6. (a picture as a guideline)
   

Step 1: Preparing a guide for cutting the length
Tape the shoelace to the middle of the hair band.

shoelace to the middle of the band

Step 2: Put the hairband in your hair. Look in the mirror and decide on the length you want. Cut the lace at that length.

deciding on length

Faithful to my cute haircut of two, I'm going for jawline length.

Step 3: Cutting the Length

With the hair band in your hair (NOT pushing it back. it's there as a guide to length), sit across the mirror and guided by the shoelace length, cut the bottom of your hair.

important note: since I have curly hair, which is way shorter when it's dry (it curls up) I cut my hair when it's dry and recommend this for others. This prevents unhappy 'where did all my hair go?!' surprises.

cutting length

in retrospect: I found out that it's nearly impossible to see the lace when getting towards the back. What I did: I used the hair I had already cut (from the sides) as a guide to cutting the back. This lead to me having it slightly longer in the back. I think I am going to enlist my sister to straighten it out.

note: at this stage you can stop and walk away with a nice classic short bob. I was almost tempted, but this leaves me with hair getting into my eyes. So I am forging on.

contemplating stopping

Layering

Looking at my baby picture it looks like I had a mess of two layers there. With the help of the mirror, when I measure the place of the top layer, it comes out on (grownup) me to be at around 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) and the second layer is between that and the bottom.

Step 4: Layering

Top Layer: randomly take small groups of hair all around and cut at around 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) long.

Middle Layer: same thing, only this time cut midway between the top layer and the bottom.

important note: always lift the group of hair you're cutting - you won't cut ears or other hairs by mistake - and cut below, not above, the fingers holding the hair.

top layering

in retrospect: yikes! this was harder than I thought and my hair looks a little chunky. A thought: maybe I should have used the layering technique in my last post instead (starting with that. then the length. then bangs).

Step 5: Baby bangs

Wash your hair and let dry naturally. When nearly dry, while looking in the mirror cut off the hair that falls into your forehead around half an inch from the top (yep, really short).

Originally I had intended to make a straight cut with a crooked lock sticking out just like in my baby picture. Thinking it over, I suspect the picture was taken right after someone had done the cut because curly hair (which I still have) doesn't lie flat like that and would curl up (and look funny) after being washed. That's why I opted for a get-off-my-forehead technique instead. I think that part turned out okay (see below).

again, contemplating my hair with coffee

Conclusion: I'm more or less okay with the length and bangs (cute :-)), though less happy with the layers. I will be grateful to people with know-how on layering giving me advice on this (please do)!


epilogue: a midnight trip to the bathroom reminded me what bad hair days are like (yikes!). I have to put in here that that's the price of having short curly hair and NOT the specific cut. I guess I'll have to have some styling cream on hand till summer. oh well.

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First things first: Layering Medium to Long Hair

Why is this first? Well because if I finally work up the nerve to do it (stay tuned) next week I am giving myself a short haircut and will not be able to demonstrate how to layer medium to long hair for a LONG time (gulp).

Even though cutting your own hair might sound to some as almost as bad as taking out your appendix on your own this is a really no risk, even rather conservative, haircut that actually comes out more symmetric than a stylist's. This will cut the ends of your hair with a layering of around 15 cm (5-6 inch). It's great if you have long to medium wavy or curly hair and want a seasonal trimming of layers. And the neat part is that it's amazingly easy (thanks to FunkyHelix of metafilter for letting me in on it!).

What you need:

1. two hair bands.
   
2. a small hair band, rubber band or even a piece of tape to mark the new length you want.
   
3. scissors (I have the professional sharp kind. they're probably better for your hair. I imagine a blunt pair is more likely to fray the ends).
   
4. a mirror.
   

note: since I have curly hair, which is way shorter when it's dry (it curls up) I cut my hair when it's dry and recommend this for others. This prevents unhappy 'where did all my hair go?!' surprises.

Step 1: Look at your hair in the mirror and decide on the new length you want (the length of the longest layer in your hair). Mark the length on a strand of hair by putting the small hair band, rubber band or piece of tape just beyond it.

Step 2: With the hair band gather all your hair up into a tight ponytail on the highest point of your head.

For even hair all the way around have it exactly on the top (crown) of your head. For having your hair gradually a bit longer in the back have it slightly towards the back (where you'd make a high ponytail). Important: make sure it's in the middle horizontally, or your sides won't be even.

tight ponytail on the top

Step 3: Catch the end of your hair with the other hair band, creating a rope-like stretch of hair in between the two hair bands.

another band at the end

Step 4: In one fearless straight cut, cut your hair just below your marker.

1, 2, 3, Cut!

and Voila! You have just layered your hair evenly (that is IF you gathered your hair in the middle as advised back there)! The layers are created by the differences in distance from hair roots to the top of your head (the farther away a hair is from the top the longer it will be). Wasn't that amazingly easy? I am totally grateful to FunkyHelix for letting me in on this amazingly simple method of cutting hair. Enjoy!

* * *

and while I still have curls, here are two tips for enhancing curls (for those with hair with SOME tendency to be wavy or curly hair):

1. (the more important one) Do NOT comb or brush your hair - this combs/brushes your curls out (this might be a 'da' moment for you, but I didn't know this one). That doesn't mean that from now on you have a jungle of dreadlocks. Combing your hair when applying (washout) conditioner is enough. Then let it dry naturally or with a diffuser.
   
   
2. An optional second phase to cutting your hair to enhance curling: wash your hair with shampoo for curly hair and let it dry into curls (again: no combing!). Then curl by curl, gently cut the ends of curls diagonally ("/") from the outside in upwards. DON'T take a lot off (or you'll ruin your nicely layered haircut)! The idea is just to snip the edges of curls, leaving them with an ending that is easier for them to twirl into and form a curl. I admit I have never had the patience to do more than a few and have never even gotten to the back (so please don't ask me how!).
   

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