Mens Haircutting - Barber or DIY?
Discussion
I used to have my haircut by a male barber every month. During Covid I bought not one but two hair clippers - don't ask. They were used perhaps once or twice.
For no good reason, having gone back to the barbers when they re-opened after lockdown, I decided to cut my own hair. And i have been cutting it for almost a year now. I have looked at umpteen videos of how to cut your own hair using clippers.
Should the hair be cut
wet
dry
or damp?
The videos don't agree.
The bit on the neck is ok. That is number 0.
The bit over the top is ok, that is number 7? or 8?
What about the sides? How do i do them? Number 3 or 4?
Mrs Alickadoo doesn't like short hair, so don't say number 2 all over.
Useful and helpful hints, tips and advice welcome.
For no good reason, having gone back to the barbers when they re-opened after lockdown, I decided to cut my own hair. And i have been cutting it for almost a year now. I have looked at umpteen videos of how to cut your own hair using clippers.
Should the hair be cut
wet
dry
or damp?
The videos don't agree.
The bit on the neck is ok. That is number 0.
The bit over the top is ok, that is number 7? or 8?
What about the sides? How do i do them? Number 3 or 4?
Mrs Alickadoo doesn't like short hair, so don't say number 2 all over.
Useful and helpful hints, tips and advice welcome.
t, but I'm going to be only 10% as good at best Go to a genuinely good barber. Get your hair cut, and get photos and a video of the end result.
The following month, cut your own hair, get photos and a video of the end result.
Then ask yourself the question "barber or diy?"
and moreover, compare how the hair grows out after each cut - this is a subtlety that is missed by many. Your hair will grow out much better from a good cut.
The following month, cut your own hair, get photos and a video of the end result.
Then ask yourself the question "barber or diy?"
and moreover, compare how the hair grows out after each cut - this is a subtlety that is missed by many. Your hair will grow out much better from a good cut.
Edited by TheJimi on Friday 19th May 10:39
I think by the time you get to 7 or 8 length, it gets a bit tricky to keep it tidy. Thats the advice I've received from a barber.
Mine is 5 on top, and 2/3 around the side/back. My partner does the back though as I can't get it right myself.
I think the shorter it is the easier it is to make look acceptable.
Nobody has said anything, and I really think my friends and colleagues would if it looked absolutely terrible...
Mine is 5 on top, and 2/3 around the side/back. My partner does the back though as I can't get it right myself.
I think the shorter it is the easier it is to make look acceptable.
Nobody has said anything, and I really think my friends and colleagues would if it looked absolutely terrible...
welshjon81 said:
Dude, how much money are you actually saving? 200-300 a year? Just got to the barbers....
Well, you're right, of course. About £180 a year. I have promised myself that I will go back to my barbers when the year away is up.But, but, I have got two pairs of Wahl clippers which cost about £70. Do I just leave them in the drawer? Stop being so mean?
If you don't want it all the same length all over, you really need to go to a barber.
I just cut mine to 6mm all over, and call the wife to "finish me off" as it were, just trimming around the edges and tidying it up.
I used to go to a hairdresser to have my hair cut - she had a huge chest and short arms - so I quite enjoyed the experience, but when she stopped, I didn't bother to find a new one.
I just cut mine to 6mm all over, and call the wife to "finish me off" as it were, just trimming around the edges and tidying it up.
I used to go to a hairdresser to have my hair cut - she had a huge chest and short arms - so I quite enjoyed the experience, but when she stopped, I didn't bother to find a new one.
My wife did BTEC Beauty Therapy at college 30 years ago and that apparently had a Barbering module in it.
Within days of lockdown starting she looked at me with a squint and decided it was time to shave my hair off. I stuck with that until after Summer last year when I decided it was time to grow it back out again.
I now have a Grade 1 on the back and sides and 'short as you like' on top. I just want to put a bit of wax in it and flatten it down, nothing more.
I think I look so much smarter than I have over the last couple of years. The Barber was pointing out that the blade on a Wahl can blunt and I expect that's the case with ours. His cut is literally sharper.
For the sake of £12 and 30 mins at most if I time it right every few weeks, I'd rather get it cut by someone who knows what they're doing.
Within days of lockdown starting she looked at me with a squint and decided it was time to shave my hair off. I stuck with that until after Summer last year when I decided it was time to grow it back out again.
I now have a Grade 1 on the back and sides and 'short as you like' on top. I just want to put a bit of wax in it and flatten it down, nothing more.
I think I look so much smarter than I have over the last couple of years. The Barber was pointing out that the blade on a Wahl can blunt and I expect that's the case with ours. His cut is literally sharper.
For the sake of £12 and 30 mins at most if I time it right every few weeks, I'd rather get it cut by someone who knows what they're doing.
Alickadoo said:
welshjon81 said:
Dude, how much money are you actually saving? 200-300 a year? Just got to the barbers....
Well, you're right, of course. About £180 a year. I have promised myself that I will go back to my barbers when the year away is up.But, but, I have got two pairs of Wahl clippers which cost about £70. Do I just leave them in the drawer? Stop being so mean?
Unless you genuinely don't give a stuff about how your hair looks, go to a decent barber.
I went a few years when I had my hair cropped, #1 all over. My wife did that for me as I always messed up around my swirling crown.
I then grew it longer and have to go to a local hairdresser, which isn't cheap. Barber shops here are rubbish, and expensive.
Let's say, now I'm older, my "swirling crown" isn't so much of a problem - since the crown's, erm, expanding with less coverage over time ....
I'll give it another year, max., then it'll be back to buzz cuts again, saving me about €600 / year.
I then grew it longer and have to go to a local hairdresser, which isn't cheap. Barber shops here are rubbish, and expensive.
Let's say, now I'm older, my "swirling crown" isn't so much of a problem - since the crown's, erm, expanding with less coverage over time ....
I'll give it another year, max., then it'll be back to buzz cuts again, saving me about €600 / year.
I now have well over 30 years experience cutting my own hair (my wife does the back and neck).
I know exactly how I like it, and with so much experience I'm quite good at it.
Whenever I rarely go to the barbers, I'm disappointed with the result, and sometimes will go home and finish off the bits that aren't perfect.
I have short hair and solely use clippers. Grade 2 or 3 on the back and sides, but freehand on top.
So I don't cut my own hair for economy reasons (although that's how it started).
Furthermore I don't have to leave the house once a month to get it done.
What I have enjoyed however is the full Turkish barber experience: Wet towels, singeing off of errant ear hair, neck & arm massage, clicking of fingers!
Edited to add: I'm now at the age where I also need to include an eyebrow trim
I know exactly how I like it, and with so much experience I'm quite good at it.
Whenever I rarely go to the barbers, I'm disappointed with the result, and sometimes will go home and finish off the bits that aren't perfect.
I have short hair and solely use clippers. Grade 2 or 3 on the back and sides, but freehand on top.
So I don't cut my own hair for economy reasons (although that's how it started).
Furthermore I don't have to leave the house once a month to get it done.
What I have enjoyed however is the full Turkish barber experience: Wet towels, singeing off of errant ear hair, neck & arm massage, clicking of fingers!
Edited to add: I'm now at the age where I also need to include an eyebrow trim
Edited by Jarcy on Friday 19th May 12:01
Cutting your own hair when it’s a set (and very short) grade all over is fine. During Covid I even managed to have number 2 on the sides, 3 on top, and a bit of a grade between the two.
If I was still doing that now, I’d be back at a barbers, but sadly it became time for a number 1 all over due to getting old and losing some hair.
Basically - pay someone to do it. If you’re annoyed that you bought some clippers that are no longer used, either eBay them or keep them for the time your hair leaves you.
If I was still doing that now, I’d be back at a barbers, but sadly it became time for a number 1 all over due to getting old and losing some hair.
Basically - pay someone to do it. If you’re annoyed that you bought some clippers that are no longer used, either eBay them or keep them for the time your hair leaves you.
Alickadoo said:
Well, you're right, of course. About £180 a year. I have promised myself that I will go back to my barbers when the year away is up.
But, but, I have got two pairs of Wahl clippers which cost about £70. Do I just leave them in the drawer? Stop being so mean?
You've got your clippers now and want to get your moneys worth out of them. I get that. Use them for your pubes or something. For your head I'd go to a proper barber.But, but, I have got two pairs of Wahl clippers which cost about £70. Do I just leave them in the drawer? Stop being so mean?
I bought some lockdown clippers. Had the worst ever haircut from the other half.
Then I got sacked by the hairdressers. And started thinning on the crown, so found a decent nearby barber - should have gone there years ago (isn’t an attractive woman though…ahem!). I go every 6-8 weeks. £15 a time means it’s less than £150/year.
Gave the clippers to my dad when he started losing his hair during chemotherapy. Also gave him some haircuts with them when it grew back. The cancer has returned so I suspect he’ll be breaking them out again….
OP I only know one person who cuts his own hair and who makes a good job of it (ie not an all over buzz cut that anyone can do). If you don’t feel happy with your DIY job, sell the clippers and pay a barber.!
Then I got sacked by the hairdressers. And started thinning on the crown, so found a decent nearby barber - should have gone there years ago (isn’t an attractive woman though…ahem!). I go every 6-8 weeks. £15 a time means it’s less than £150/year.
Gave the clippers to my dad when he started losing his hair during chemotherapy. Also gave him some haircuts with them when it grew back. The cancer has returned so I suspect he’ll be breaking them out again….
OP I only know one person who cuts his own hair and who makes a good job of it (ie not an all over buzz cut that anyone can do). If you don’t feel happy with your DIY job, sell the clippers and pay a barber.!
Edited by OMITN on Friday 19th May 12:29
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff