Cutting your OWN hair

[Frodo Baggins]

Things I'm tired of:

Semi-Long Hair
Paying £13 = $26 for the cheapest haircut in town
Fighting the crowds for a haircut


This, in addition to the fact that someone in my residence has a clippers with different size clips, and I'm seriously contemplating just running that thing through my hair. I've never had really, really short hair (think: Ben Stiller in Zoolander), and I know my hair looks terrible when it's shorter than medium (it sticks out), so if I cut, I'm going to cut short enough so it doesn't stick out.

Any advice? Any tips? Can I do this alone?

[Malpine Walis]

Yes, you can do it on your own but you need a hand mirror and some coordination to see what is going on in back of your head. If you mess up your cut back there, you will be stuck wearing a hoodie everywhere you go for at least a week or looking like a dork.

Honestly, I find it easier to just shave the whole thing every morning.

[SolidxSnake]

How about shaving it all off? Or just letting it grow out long?

[JamesXP]

Oxford sucks, I pay like 9$ for my hair cut (4.50GBP)

[NiTrO bOiE]

I've been cutting my own hair since I started college. I usually cut it once a week to keep the same "look". It's not hard at all, the trick to cutting the back is just listen to the clippers. It's like cutting grass, you'll hear the motor strain a little when it's cutting something, but if nothing is there the pitch won't change. When cutting the back, I make sure to overlap the previous path about 1/4 to make sure I don't miss a spot. I haven't used a hand mirror yet... you can also feel a spot when you miss it.

If the guy has clippers, ask him if he'd cut it for you at a reduced price?

[Adragontattoo]

I went from having shoulder length hair to having a number 2 over my entire head.

Then I realized that I was paying 15ish (tip included) for them to shave my head.

I bought clippers and about 5 years later I still shave my head (now with a razor), once you get used to it, it is VERY hard for me to miss a spot on my head and I shave my head (clippers and razor) without a mirror.

[PhysX]

$26 isnt that bad, usually i pay "here in canada" around $23, + tip of 20%.

[cursor]

Suck it up and get it done by a professional. You don't want to go around looking like a dork (or if you're paying in pounds, I guess the appropriate vernacular would be "wanker").

I bring my MP3 player and listen to podcasts when I wait. However I've just found a barber shop that takes appointments and I'm going to start going there--that way I save time. It's $16 and I'll leave about a $3 tip.

[hUMANbEATbOX]

I haven't had a real haircut in almost 4 years. My ex cut it for about 3 years, and always did a great job. Since then, I have random female friends do it. They are more astute than I.

Mind you I rock the medium length hair you hate, so it may be easier for me to get a homebrew cut.

[fordsierra4x4]

All i can say is - get to tottenham court road. Mr Toppers, £6.

[Fr3@k3r]

ive been cutting my own hair for the past 9 years... saves me almost $200 a year LOL

$50 pair of Wal-Mart wireless clipper set and a self done semi crew/military cut and 10 minutes and im done..

Never did like long hair, never did like having to comb/wet/gel it ... Short makes it alot easier

[drenader]

Frodo Frodo Frodo. You take how you look to be of important value. You spend good money on nice suits, nice shirts, and a nice watch. Why ruin this look with a ****ty hair cut?

[Shell]

If you have the perception and motor skills to do it in a mirror, well good for you(and me), you now get exactly what you want and you don't have to pay anyone.

Almost everyone I know does their own hair...

[SteveLord]

Seek the wisdom of Britney Spears.

[AZNBoiOnFIYA]

I did it for two years after entering college. I couldnt find anyone who was any good at cutting the style I wanted so I did it myself. I wouldnt recommend getting clippers or buzz cutters though. I used a pair of those thinning scissors with the teeth to cut mines. The key is not to cut too much off as it will be very noticeable. Cutting your own hair is easier for long hair as its not as noticeable; no clue as how easy it is for short hair as my hair is now pretty long. I just go to the salon now since its much easier. Before it took 45mins to cut my own hair. Now it takes 15mins.

[Krome]

Flowbee FTW! http://www.flowbee.com/

http://www.flowbee.com/images/webrickbotflat2%20copy.jpg

[AZNBoiOnFIYA]

If youre interested here is a site I found that might be helpful.

http://www.hairfinder.com/howto/how_to_cut_hair.htm

[puremanb]

Never went in to have my haircut never will. I always have my GF use the clippers when My hair starts getting too long. After a few days you get the same look as you would if you would have had someone cut it.

[MRD]

I usually have my mom do it when I see her. =P

She's actually good at it, and people have complimented me on my haircut lol.

I would cut it myself before waiting 4-5 hrs for the only barber in town. Not really the money, more the convenience.

[Ben333]

Seek the wisdom of Britney Spears.

I think she paid for that actually :p lol

[Enablingwolf]

Flowbee FTW! http://www.flowbee.com/




Minus the pic. I was going to give Frodo a hard time and mention the same thing. They actually work good for certain types of cuts and hair.

I am lucky. My wife in her teens did school for haircutting and worked in a few shops. So free hair trimmings for me. yay! Right now I have the long hair of defiance. She made a boo boo and I am not letting her touch my hair for a bit.
Usually I go with high and tight. Easy to do with clippers. A good set has the right and left guards. Then mow the top with the non-angled. Not hard once you get used to it. My wife handles it in under 5 minutes usually. If I do it, that is like 10-20 minutes.

I found if you have fine hair and your using clippers on yourself. A blow dryer helps lift the hair some to get the strays. Or just ruffle it up some with your hands.

[DerekDRP]

I usually have my mom do it when I see her. =P

She's actually good at it, and people have complimented me on my haircut lol.

I would cut it myself before waiting 4-5 hrs for the only barber in town. Not really the money, more the convenience.Same or I have my girlfriend at the time do it SinceI just get the basic butch cut.

[MRD]

I tried to scissor-cut my hair once... I realized very quickly I am not coordinated enough to do that in a mirror backwards. So I gave up before I did any real damage.

I would do it though if I had to before paying for it (and spending my whole Saturday waiting).

[curtis1552]

I'm cheap - Hair cut set 20$ vs. Hair cur 20$
My wife is getting really good at cutting hair; and I need more vacuum cleaner bags - she shaved my back.

[hUMANbEATbOX]

...and I need more vacuum cleaner bags - she shaved my back.

URP!

[Enablingwolf]

My wife is getting really good at cutting hair; and I need more vacuum cleaner bags - she shaved my back.

:rolleyes: Way to easy, I am going to pass this one up.

[rainless]

Wow... You're only 21 years old... which means you were born in 1986... Wow...

Anyway just buy some clippers and cut it while looking into a mirror. That's what I do (to the back and sides at least). Either let your fingers tell you how even it is or use two mirrors.

@off-topic: Weren't you supposed to be a harvard professor or something?

[Captain Slug]

I've been cutting my own hair for 13 years now. But I'm not someone to take any advice from because my hair is extremely uncooperative so I've mostly just kept it extremely short. I did have a mowhawk for a year though. I eventually got tired of ironing it.

Start with the LONGest tines you can use with the clipper so you can get used to controlling the clippers in a pair of mirrors. It takes a while to learn how to coordinate moving your hands effectively while looking in a mirror.
You will need a minimum of two if you plan on doing the sides shorter than the top. The easiest setup is if you have a bathroom that has a foward facing mirror and a medicine cabinet with a mirror door that's perpendicular to the forward mirror.

If you're cutting it to a uniform length you can do that just by feeling by hand where you have already trimmed and where you need to go over it a few more times with the clippers. Then do final touch-ups infront of a mirror.

And other than trimming the edges of your hair it's pretty much impossible to accomplish much using scissors and a mirror.

[wa77ss]

Wow... You're only 21 years old... which means you were born in 1986... Wow...

Anyway just buy some clippers and cut it while looking into a mirror. That's what I do (to the back and sides at least). Either let your fingers tell you how even it is or use two mirrors.

@off-topic: Weren't you supposed to be a harvard professor or something?

He's real smart like. He can do whatever he wants.

[SolidxSnake]

Wow... You're only 21 years old... which means you were born in 1986... Wow...

Anyway just buy some clippers and cut it while looking into a mirror. That's what I do (to the back and sides at least). Either let your fingers tell you how even it is or use two mirrors.

@off-topic: Weren't you supposed to be a harvard professor or something?



And you've been here since mid-06? You can't have just noticed this now :D

[Enablingwolf]

And you've been here since mid-06? You can't have just noticed this now :D

Hey bro. If anyone else would if said this. I would not of thought anything. :D hahahha You grew up on ocf. :thup:

[nvidiaOCmaster]

I cut my own hair every time, but I shave it with dog clippers :D

[Niku-Sama]

Wow... You're only 21 years old... which means you were born in 1986... Wow...

Anyway just buy some clippers and cut it while looking into a mirror. That's what I do (to the back and sides at least). Either let your fingers tell you how even it is or use two mirrors.

@off-topic: Weren't you supposed to be a harvard professor or something?

well heres a test for rainless...

how old do you think i am?
rember i played holdem on live. rember that?

[Jon]

I've cut my own hair for about 13 years now. It's considerably easier now since I started shaving my head about 3 years ago, but I did have a normal head of hair for the majority of that time.

All I can really say is that it does take some practice. You'll also mess up a time or two :)

As already said, just get a good pair of clippers and a hand mirror. That's all you really need.

[Frodo Baggins]

OMG. YATTA YATTA.

Today at work, I promised myself when I got home, I'd knock on my neighbour's door, borrow his clippers, then sit and stare at them until I decided whether I wanted to go through with it or not.

And if you see the pic below, you'll know I finally did it.

Not the shortest cut, mind you (#4 clippers), but this is the shortest hair cut I've ever had in my life! I was surprised that I didn't come out looking horribly scarred or anything. I can't say I look great, but y'know, I saved £13 = $26 so I can't complain.

At this point, I can't say whether or not I'll do it again (e.g. 'update' this one once it gets longer or run back to the barber), but I'm glad I know that, at least I don't look horrendous.

[imposter]

my mom does it. I know what your talking about when hair gets in your way

http://a973.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/85/l_d76b00ec799af05b40a30583ec11281c.jpg
(im on the left)
me 6months ago. Im getting REALLY SICK of it. Its going all off or semi short within 2-3 days.

before and after pics pleasE? lol EDIT nvm.

i have been known to be jesus or some mad scientist. I got lazy. but no more!

[Hazaro]

OMG. YATTA YATTA.

Today at work, I promised myself when I got home, I'd knock on my neighbour's door, borrow his clippers, then sit and stare at them until I decided whether I wanted to go through with it or not.

And if you see the pic below, you'll know I finally did it.

Not the shortest cut, mind you (#4 clippers), but this is the shortest hair cut I've ever had in my life! I was surprised that I didn't come out looking horribly scarred or anything. I can't say I look great, but y'know, I saved £13 = $26 so I can't complain.

At this point, I can't say whether or not I'll do it again (e.g. 'update' this one once it gets longer or run back to the barber), but I'm glad I know that, at least I don't look horrendous.

I like your avatar better ;)

[JamesXP]

OMG FRODO, WHAT DID YOU DO? THAT'S DISGUSTING!


Nah it's okay, whats with all the professional photography going on? did you hire someone just to post at your OCF buddies? just kidding with yer :P

[Frodo Baggins]

OMG FRODO, WHAT DID YOU DO? THAT'S DISGUSTING!


Nah it's okay, whats with all the professional photography going on? did you hire someone just to post at your OCF buddies? just kidding with yer :P

Well, at this point, Rainless -- oh, excuse me, Team Rainless -- would say something like, "You don't need professional photographers to make ME look incredible. In fact, a professional shoot of me would probably be too much for women across the globe to handle."

[imposter]

You love making sig worthy moments dont ya frodo? hehe :giggles:

[Frodo Baggins]

You love making sig worthy moments dont ya frodo? hehe :giggles:

I attribute it to my superior wit, suave charms, rugged good looks, and -- oops, sorry.

Forgot to switch back to my usual dour, self-deprecating self.

[Mr.Guvernment]

i cut my own hair since high school, but i just shave it, either with the beard size setting, or nothing (not bald, but almost)

as for getting fancy smanchy you just need to learn to look in a mirror and do everything reversed :)

P.S How do you mess up a hair cut whe you shave it all the same length using a guard (or not)?..lol is kind of like falling over side ways on a bike with training wheels?

[Rickster]

P.S How do you mess up a hair cut whe you shave it all the same length using a guard (or not)?..lol is kind of like falling over side ways on a bike with training wheels?

Or like drowning in a pool with arm floats?:D

[nerdlogic]

And if you see the pic below, you'll know I finally did it.


Why are you always looking to the left in your pictures?

[=ACID RAIN=]

Hey Frodo, how's it hanging?

A little to the left...

[Th3 F4ll3n P1mp]

Oxford sucks, I pay like 9$ for my hair cut (4.50GBP)

14 for cheapest here. Dont complain.

[JamesXP]

I'm not complaing, I'm saying the fact that its 26$ in oxford sucks, it's all around the london area, everything is inflated.

(e.g 800k$ for a small flat)

[dribblesnort]

Yes, you can do it on your own but you need a hand mirror and some coordination to see what is going on in back of your head. If you mess up your cut back there, you will be stuck wearing a hoodie everywhere you go for at least a week or looking like a dork.

Honestly, I find it easier to just shave the whole thing every morning.

Unless he takes a leather belt and wraps it around his head with the top of the belt under his ears, and then cuts everything below the bottom of the belt on the back of his neck...

That gives an excellent straight line with no gaps.

Tapering the cut can be done by moving the belt down lower on his neck in the back so the taper process startes from the same height all the way across the back of his neck.

Then, he holds the clippers in both hands and just rotates his wrists to bring the clippers upward in one smooth stroke. Move over 2 inches and repeat. Works great.

[Dak9767]

Buy a pair a clippers for about $25-$30 and shave your head. the clippers will last over a year if you keep them oiled and they will pay for themselves in the first 2 haircuts.

[Mr.Guvernment]

but buy good clippers!!! i spent about $60 on mine, because most of the cheaper ones are that, cheap, plastic, dull blades

[wa77ss]

The left side is his better side? :p JK IDK

All of his pictures are all like top of the line photographs, its just a picture of your hair bro. Did you have someone take that picture for you?

[MRD]

I can't believe how much my mother and sister pay for haircuts. Usually well over $100. Anything more than $15 and I think it's a ripoff. It's just hair.

[=ACID RAIN=]

I pay 12 for mine, plus a 3 dollar tip :)

Means I can walk in with a 10 and a 5 and not have to mess with change when I leave.

[threeme2189]

I cut my own hair every time, but I shave it with dog clippers :D

I didn't cut my hair for about 4 years and just let it grow into a puffy, bushy ,messy ,curly pony tail.

now my mom just mows my hair down to 3mm with dog clippers once a month-ish, they're just like regular clippers, on steroids :soda:
She's pretty good at it.


Threeme2189

[MRD]

If your just getting a buzz cut you're kind of dumb to pay for that. Anyone can do that with a decent set of clippers and the right length attachment.

[imposter]

I just got a full haircut OMG i am free!! lol

[Enablingwolf]

I just got a full haircut OMG i am free!! lol

Just one full hair? :rolleyes:

Couldn't resist

[Th3 F4ll3n P1mp]

Just one full hair? :rolleyes:

Couldn't resist

Lol, I hate it when people make that joke...its dumb as hell.

[imposter]

lol i dont get it...?

[Enablingwolf]

Hair implies one... Hairs implies more than one... It is.. an old dumb joke. lol

person 1: I got a hair cut today

person 2: Which one? (insert rimshot)

[tom10167]

I bought decent(certainly not great) clippers and cut my own hair in the bathroom. In the summer I do a 1 or no guard and in the winter I've been doing a three.

I got a compliment on my haircut the other day! :O

[imposter]

Oh ;)

[Mr.Guvernment]

I can't believe how much my mother and sister pay for haircuts. Usually well over $100. Anything more than $15 and I think it's a ripoff. It's just hair.

Ya but women's hair, you know how they are, also women's hair dresser's ios like a religion they find one person, usually a guy and if they cut it right once they go to them for life no matter the cost, one X g/f went to the same guy every 2 months or so, $60 each time, her hair was short, above shoulder length and the usual, get it cut and be like "ummm, i thought you went to get your hair cut" "ya i did,..." "sure he did anything???"

[Mr.Guvernment]

I can't believe how much my mother and sister pay for haircuts. Usually well over $100. Anything more than $15 and I think it's a ripoff. It's just hair.

The left side is his better side? :p JK IDK

All of his pictures are all like top of the line photographs, its just a picture of your hair bro. Did you have someone take that picture for you?



when you have a nice camera,tripod, remote shutter release (if he has one) it is hard to take bad pics, or like me you take about 100 to get just 1 you like (20D owner).. (like my avatar pic, many shots till i got one i liked then post processed to alll hell)

we all love to self-whorifcation ourselves, so why not make em look good :)

[nerdlogic]

Ya but women's hair, you know how they are, also women's hair dresser's ios like a religion they find one person, usually a guy and if they cut it right once they go to them for life no matter the cost, one X g/f went to the same guy every 2 months or so, $60 each time, her hair was short, above shoulder length and the usual, get it cut and be like "ummm, i thought you went to get your hair cut" "ya i did,..." "sure he did anything???"

Hair is one of the first things people notice, whether it's good or not.

[MRD]

I'm not so sure nerdlogic... I think that's because you're a woman. All I know is that I've yet to notice when a girlfriend of mine gets a haircut. After like 3 days of not noticing, I get the, "Notice anything different about me?" Then I guess a few things randomly until I get it right. "Did you lose weight?" "No." "Is that a new outift?" "No." ... Eventually I get it. Mostly by luck.

[nerdlogic]

I'm not so sure nerdlogic... I think that's because you're a woman.

And women tend to have a lot of pressure to maintain their looks. You may not notice your girlfriend's hair but you'll probably find it hard to believe that I've met plenty of people (men especially) that do notice things like hair. It's not "bad" because hair is a good indicator of health: shiny, full hair is usually unconsciously seen as attractive. How many of you guys started dating a girl that has thin, stringy, greasy, dull hair? I know the husband notices my hair right away.

[Frodo Baggins]

How many of you guys started dating a girl that has thin, stringy, greasy, dull hair?

Gawd, nerd. Haven't you seen She's All That? Girls with thin, stringy, greasy, and dull hair always grow up to be total hotties!

[MRD]

Wow Frodo, I just looked at your avatar, and I like what you've done with your hair. You look like a whole different person!

Nerd,
I tend to think that some people have crappy hair and some have good hair, and that all the beauty products in the world really just serve to transfer money from your pocket to someone else's, without really affecting how your hair looks. Guys' hair is really easy to cut. I've had my mom do it and been complimented on it and asked where I had it done. I always laugh when that happens. It's really just that it's so easy to cut a simple men's hairstyle. Women's hair is more complex in general.

I'm also not one of those guys that really cares about women having long hair. I know a lot of guys see this as the ideal, but I don't realyl care much. Bald would be bad, but otherwise I'm pretty flexible. Clean is obviously important for both sexes. I also don't care much about color... if anything, I prefer brunettes, but I'm really not overly picky about that. I suppose everyone looks for different things though.

[orionlion82]

once i found out i could buy clippers for the price of a haircut, i started cutting my own hair.

once i found out my hair is so thick the clippers die from exhaustion HALFWAY through the second haircut, i went back and trusted the professionals to do their job.

then i mentioned to the profesionals how my clippers die and theirs dont, they said i should OIL THEM.

then i got 2 and a half cuts out of them before all the oil and hair blew up, along with the clippers. all that smoke and fire was NOT worth it.

professional people with professional tools are the only way i can go.

[Moto7451]

I second the flowbie ;).