Let’s face it:
Some men walk around with shaggy, bushy hair because they haven’t got the time to pay their barber a visit.
And who would blame them?
We live in an era where there’s a lot to do but not enough time.
And that’s why it’s only natural if you’ve been procrastinating your long overdue haircut.
But:
Luckily, there is a way around that.
Have you ever considered cutting your own hair men? Or, have you ever wondered; should I cut my own hair male?
Well, a lot of guys are doing it nowadays.
And it is not just because of the amount of time it saves them but also the benefit of cost reduction.
Someone once said, “a dollar saved is a dollar earned,” right?
And with the price for a decent haircut in barber shop averaging at around $28 in the U.S., it’s all the more reason why do it yourself haircuts for guys are gaining popularity.
Now:
If you are here, it means that you want to take that bold step – become your own barber.
If so, I’ve got you covered amigo.
This step-by-step post covers everything you need to know about how to cut your own hair men, a few self haircut tips, as well as everything you’ll need.
Are you ready?
Let’s dive in…
Contents
Become a Home Barber!
STEP ONE
Assemble What You Need
Before you learn how to cut your own hair for men, you need to arm yourself to the tooth with all the necessary items needed for this undertaking.
Basically:
Having the right tools not only simplifies your work but also increases the chances of a better outcome…
Especially, if you are a first-time home barber!
Pro Tip:
When shopping for a good self haircut clipper, always go for the ones that come with a complete clipping kit.
For example,
The Wahl Color Pro Complete Hair Cutting Kit comes with:
- A clipper.
- Clipper guards.
- A cleaning brush.
- Clipper oil.
- Taper guards.
- Scissors.
- Both a barber and a styling
comb. - And a nice storage case.
From the example above the only things missing for a home haircut would be:
- A handheld mirror.
- A bottle of shampoo.
- Hairstyling products.
So, getting the best self haircut kit will work in your favor because you won’t have to look for much to get started.
But:
Even with that in mind, make sure you’ve done your research about the clipper kit before buying it. Just to be sure that it meets your standards and needs.
Looking for suggestions?
In my post about the best hair clippers today, I’ve compiled a number of comparisons that can help simplify your search for a decent hair clipper.
Once you have everything you need, it’s time for the next step – preparation.
STEP TWO
Make All the Necessary Preparations
Once you’ve assembled what you need, the next step would be to prepare your head and workspace.
How is it done?
Well, it’s mostly about cleaning and
making sure that everything is ready for an easy self haircut.
Here is what you should do:
- Find A Suitable, Clean Workspace – Basically, an ideal space has a mirror, a sink or disposal bin, enough space, proper lighting, and a platform where you’ll place your tools as you do your DIY mens haircut. Bathrooms often fit this description.
- Test Your Clipper – Is your clipper working? If it’s cordless, does it have sufficient battery power to complete the haircut? How does it feel, generally? You have to make sure you are familiar with your hair clipper before you begin.
- Put Everything You Need in An Easily-Accessible Spot – Your tools and necessities should be at most an arms-length away from you. The last thing you want when you do your own haircut is to run around the house looking for stuff. It’s messy and inconvenient.
- Clean, Dry, and Comb Your Hair – Use your shampoo and hair conditioner to clean your hair. This is important because clean hair is often easy to cut than dirty, greasy hair. Once, your hair is dry, comb it to remove any existing tangles.
- Decide on the Type of Haircut You Want – The last step is to know which hairstyle you want. Knowing this will help you plan how you are going to go about the whole process and which guard comb numbers you’ll be using.
Boom!
You are ready now…
STEP THREE
Start by Cutting Your Sides
You don’t know how to do haircut at home?
Don’t stress about it.
All it takes is a simple How to Cut Your Own Hair YouTube video.
In fact, there are tons of self haircut tutorial videos, posts, and infographics online.
You can start with this one.
Therefore, learning is quite easy.
But:
I believe that everything you learn here and my home haircut tips will be more than enough for you to become a decent self barber.
Now:
Depending on the type of haircut you want (buzzcut, fade, or any other hairstyle) and the final length, attach the right guide combs.
For example:
If you’d like to know how to cut your own hair with clippers fade, here’s what you should do.
- Attach a lower number guard to your clipper; you can start with a #0 or #1.
- Cut your one of your sides against the direction of hair growth; in most cases, that’s often about an inch wide with the clipper moving from the bottom upwards.
- Do several passes to ensure you get all the hair. The length of the cut (upwards) should be an inch long. That makes it easy for you to cut the lower part slightly shorter than the top part.
- Do the same process for your other side. Once both sides have been trimmed, you should have something that looks more like a Mohawk.
- Do some blending to get rid of the lines between the two layers of hair on your sides. Blending makes a haircut look more professional. To blend hair, use a clipper guard number that’s between the numbers used to cut the top and bottom parts of your sides.
By this point, having a symmetrical mohawk means that you are on the right track.
STEP FOUR
Cut Your Back Hair
Basically, the process here is just the same as the one on your sides.
In fact, you’ll need to use the same guard numbers you used on your sides to achieve a continuous cut, blend, and hair size from one side to the other through the back.
Now:
The only difference between this Step and Step 3 is that you will have to use a handheld self haircut mirror in order to see what you are doing.
Also, when you are working on your back, you should move steadily and slowly to avoid over/undercutting your hair or even skewing your hairline.
Ensure that your back blends in with your sides easily. That way your DIY fade haircut will exhibit a bit of uniformity and continuity.
Note:
Cutting your back hair is probably the hardest part about how to cut your own hair short back and sides.
Therefore, don’t rush this step.
Take your time in order to ensure that the final outcome will be presentable. The best part is that, after several cuts, you’ll be able to make easy mens haircuts at home.
Moving on…
STEP FIVE
Trim the Top of Your Head
Congrats!
You are just a few steps away from learning how to cut hair with clippers yourself…
The top part of your head is often quite significant.
How?
Well, it’s the part that determines the final hairstyle and how it looks.
Note:
Unlike fades, bald haircuts and buzzcuts don’t need a lot of work; all you need is to ensure that all the sides including the top and back are even in length.
However:
If you are aiming for a fade, then these self hair cutting tips will come in handy.
For hair longer than an inch, you may have to use a pair of styling scissors to make precise cuts; hence, giving your hair more texture.
To do this:
- Separate your top hair into straight lines and start trimming it with your scissors.
- Compare each line with the previous one to ensure that there is length uniformity.
- Once you’re done, do a quick sweep to see if there’s any part you missed.
If your hair is shorter:
A clipper and the right guard number should do the trick. In most cases, a #5, #6, #7, or #8 clipper guard always works well.
All good?
Well, by now you should be having an even and symmetrical top with faded sides.
Pro Tip:
A fade is never that easy; even for an experienced barber. Therefore, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t nail it the first time.
Like everything, it takes time to perfect.
Side Note:
A client once asked me; do barbers cut their own hair?
Well? Of course, we do. How hard is it to cut hair?
The only time a barber will go to another barber for a haircut is when they want to get a complex, unusual haircut that would be impossible as a DIY haircut men.
STEP SIX
Clean Up Your Hairline
Now that you have a clue on how to cut short back and sides yourself, the next complicated thing would be to clean up your hairline.
This step is often best done using cordless hair trimmers.
Why?
Because they are flexible and designed for haircut finishes.
However, if you don’t have one, your clipper will have to do.
Here’s what you should do:
Hold your clipper upside down and move it around your hairline to clean up any strays. Be cautious about how far up you go around your ears.
Use a leather belt or a plastic guide to style your neckline.
Don’t forget your sideburns and ear line. Ensure all lines and curves are cut nicely and continuously.
Remember:
Symmetry and uniformity are what you are most interested in. But for a first-time DIY mens long haircut, it doesn’t have to be perfect; just decent and presentable.
STEP SEVEN
Finishing Up
By now, everything looks great, doesn’t it?
The only thing remaining is to wash up.
By that, I mean you should wash, shampoo, dry, and condition your hair to make sure you clean off any cut hair residue.
Do a final inspection to make sure everything is good…
If you are satisfied with the cut, whip out your hair products or anything else you use to style your hair.
And just like that!
You are now a knowledgeable and mildly skilled home/self barber.
Remember that practice makes perfect; the more you practice how to cut hair by yourself, the easier it will get for you.
And yes, I know you still have some questions.
So, here is a short Q&A section for you to go through…
About The Author
Barber Mike
I’m Barber Mike – For 8 years now, I’ve been running a Barber Shop in San Diego. A career that has always motivated me to share very informative guides and reviews to everyone interested in learning about the barber life. If you’re wondering why? Well, it’s quite simple! To give you the best barber life experience ever. You can get all the inspiration you need from here!
| Mike Barber | Hair Stylist e: [email protected] | w: wisebarber.com |
