There are plenty of reasons to decide to cut your own hair. You may be wanting to avoid the cost or the time the upkeep takes. No matter why you’ve decided it is time to take on your own hair maintenance, doing so takes a little bit of planning and preparation
In this article, we will share with everything you need to cut your own hair. We will cover some of the most common ways that men cut their own hair, as well as how to avoid some of the most common pitfalls. Finally, we’ll provide you with some suggestions for the supplies that you may want to consider picking up to make the entire process a little easier.
- Reasons to Cut Your Own Hair
- Preparing to Cut Your Own Hair
- Tools You Will Need
- Preparing to Cut Your Hair
- Your First Cut
- How to Cut with Shears
- Cleaning up the Edges – The Perfect Hairline
- Tips for Getting the Perfect DIY Cut
Reasons to Cut Your Own Hair
Saving money is probably the most common reason some men may choose to cut their own hair, but not the only reason. Some men lead busy lives that make regular maintenance of their hair hard to fit into their schedule. This is especially difficult for men that prefer shorter hairstyles and have hair that grows very quickly.
Other men may choose to cut their own hair to reach a specific style that they do not feel able to reach from a stylist. Some stylists have the unfortunate tendency to cut hair the way they want to and not take the customers personal style and desires into account.
Preparing to Cut Your Own Hair
While you may be tempted to grab the clippers and jump in, please don’t! There is some preparation that should be done way before you ever cut a single strand of hair. Taking the time to properly prepare will make for a better possible outcome and keep you from being overly stressed or make a mistake you will regret.
Choosing a Haircut
The first step is to choose a haircut that you can easily cut and maintain without too much trouble. While it may be tempting to select some trendy style that needs expert knowledge, at least at first, we suggest selecting an easy to maintain style without much variability.
Common Self Cuts – Short Hair
There are some styles that would be more difficult to do on yourself, especially at first, but here is a quick rundown of the most common cuts that men are easily able to achieve at home.
Crew Cut
A crew cut, commonly referred to as a buzz cut is a haircut that is achieved using clippers. While there are some ways to personalize the cut, overall, the hair is all cut to approximately the same length. While a crew cut requires the most maintenance, it is perhaps the easiest cut to do yourself.
Fade
A fade is similar to a crew cut. However, a fade is more involved as the length of the hair decreases toward the neckline. A fade can be done at several points along the side of the head depending on the look you want to achieve. Extra style can be added by how defined the fade is cut. The fade cut is one of the haircuts that require the most maintenance to keep up, though with practice it can be a simple process.
A clean fade is a more modern take on the flat top that requires sculpting and precise cutting of the top of the sides and back to make the top of the haircut flat in appearance.
Faux Hawk
A very popular style trend is the faux hawk. This haircut is achieved by cutting the sides shorter than the top and back. The top and back of the hair are left longer allowing for added style options. The faux hawk requires more maintenance than other cuts to keep the definition in the faux hawk.
Undercut
While there may be many styles that would fall into this category, an undercut includes faded or crew cut sides with the hairs on the top left longer allowing them to fall over the shorter cut sides. Unlike a faux hawk, an undercut is cut around the back as well.
Fringe
In recent years, a popular haircut is the fringe cut. While styles vary from side fringe to lifted or pushed back fringe, the basic cut is the same. The sides of a fringe cut at graduated lengths as it moves up the sides and back. The top is left longer and can be styled in several ways.
Common Self Cuts – Medium Hair
Medium length hair cuts can be a little bit trickier than most shorter cuts, simple due to having to do the majority of the cut by hand with shears. Although it can be more complicated, that does not mean impossible. With some patience and practice, even a haircut that leaves your hair a bit longer is achievable on your own.
Quiff
A quiff cut is the men’s version of the bob. This versatile haircut can be nearly any length and works well for all types of hair; curly, straight, or anything in between. This cut can be done to only the top of the head with a fade, crew, or undercut on the sides or combined with a long fade for a more individual style. This cut, when left long is how many men are able to wear the man bun.
Long Fade
Much like the shorter fade, the hairs on the sides and back of the head are cut in graduated lengths. Many may refer to this cut as a layered or smooth layered cut. The cut can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be depending on the angle of the cut.
Faux Hawk
A faux hawk can be done on medium length hair as well. This cut is simply leaving the top and back of the hair even longer and is usually paired with either a fade or undercut on the sides of the head. This is a highly trending haircut for young professional athletes since it allows them to show some personality, yet keep their hair out of the way when wearing helmets or other headgear.
Tools You Will Need
Now that you have picked your haircut, it is time to select your tools. As with anything else, using the proper tools can make a huge difference in the outcome. Trust me, you do not want to take an old pair of paper scissors to your hair, or worse, grab the clippers you have been using for your beard. Go on and get yourself a nice new pair of clippers that you will only use on your head hair. Many of these come in sets with guards that will make a DIY haircut so much easier.
Here are our favorite tools that you may want to consider picking up.
Clippers
Wahl Clipper Self-Cut Personal Haircutting Kit – Best Corded Clipper Set
Wahl has been making easy-to-use hair clippers made for at-home use for some time. They are one of the most popular brands for DIY haircutting whether on yourself or others. This set from Wahl is specially designed to be lightweight and powerful. The ergonomic design of these clippers means less arm fatigue. You will also enjoy the easy to install guides that smooth, quiet motor.
Remington HC6525 Color Comb Vacuum Haircut Kit– Best Vacuum Clipper Set
One thing you are going to have to deal with when cutting your own hair is the hair you cut off. This vacuum clipper helps reduce the amount of hair that goes flying all over the room. You can choose from a corded or cordless option and each comes with an easily removable chamber that collects most of the hair as you cut.
WONER Cordless Rechargeable Hair Clippers– Best Cordless Clipper Set
Whether you need to cut your hair while traveling, or just do not want to mess with the hassle of a corded clipper, this set is just right. The rechargeable clippers come with several blade guards that will allow you to achieve several styles with ease. This kit also includes a high-quality set of shears, perfect for longer styles.
Remington HC4250 Shortcut Pro Self-Haircut Kit – Best for Bald Cuts
This easy to handle clipper is the perfect shape to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. While we do not recommend this for longer hair lengths, although it does come with some guards. This clipper is great for men who want to go with no hair and not want to use a razor.
This clipper is also a good option for men who may have some physical issues that can limit the use of traditional clippers.
Hair Cutting Accessories
10 Piece Hair Cutting Kit
Probably one of the best purchases you could make when you are going to cut your own hair or anyone in your family is this great kit. This kit includes everything but the clippers and it all fits in a compact leather bag that is included.
RevoHair & RevoNeck Haircut Tools
This is an amazing set of guides that will make getting a clean neckline almost foolproof. In addition to working great on your hairline, these tools can also be used to define and sculpt your facial hair.
Hair Cutting Cape Apron
An absolute must-have is a good haircutting cape. Especially when you are cutting your own hair, you will tend to get hair EVERYWHERE. This salon-quality cape will help keep you and your clothes free of stray hairs, making cleanup a little easier.
Additional Supplies to Have on Hand
Even if you do not choose to grab some new clippers, there are a few other tools that will make cutting your own hair a little easier. Here is our must-have list:
Preparing to Cut Your Hair
You are ready to jump in and get cutting. But first, you need to prepare your hair and work area for the cut. Begin by washing your hair. If you have really thick hair you may want to use a mild conditioner. If you choose to condition your hair, make sure to thoroughly rinse your hair. A conditioner may clog your clippers making them overheat or dull more quickly.
If you picked up an apron, make sure it is secured well around your neck and allows your arms to move freely. This will help to keep those small hairs from irritating your skin. You will, most likely, have hair to clean up afterward, if hair does not get into your clothes it will be an easier process.
Your First Cut
You have all the tools ready; you have your apron secured around your neck and are staring at yourself in the mirror. This is it; you have to have the nerve to make the first cut. Don’t worry. The great thing about hair is that it will (usually) grow back. On average, men’s hair grows between a quarter to a half-inch every month. So, even if you really mess up, your hair will grow out quickly.
For most of shorter cuts, the majority of the work will be done with the clippers. Play it safe and begin with a larger blade guard than you may want your hair to end up. You can always go a little shorter.
Start with the sides of your head and move the clippers in an upward motion. Unlike you may have experienced at a barbershop or salon, you will want to cut each side before moving on to the top and back. Make sure to make a few passes over each area to catch any stray hairs.
Cutting the Back of Your Head
After you have cut the sides it is time to repeat the process on the back of your head. Use a handheld mirror to help you see what you are doing. Move slowly and take a break if your arm gets tired.
TIP: When using a handheld mirror, it is easier to see more clearly and a larger area when you have your back to the vanity mirror.
Cutting the Top of Your Head
Cutting the hair on the top of your head may require using shears for longer cuts. If you choose a haircut that shortens the top as well, you may be able to use the clippers. Except for a crew cut, when cutting your whole head with clippers, you will be leaving the top longer than the sides.
If using clippers, cut against the direction of hair growth, making several passes to catch all hairs. Men with cowlicks will want to make sure to cut the area in all directions to avoid leaving longer strands.
How to Cut a Fade
As mentioned above a fade is a graduated cut. This is achieved by blending the area between the top and sides of the head gently. This can be easily done with clippers. Using the same guide that was used on the sides, you can often lengthen the blade length on your clippers, giving you an in-between size. Or, you can choose a guide between the sizes used on the top and sides.
With a gentle rocking motion, cut in an upward direction, pulling the clippers away from your head toward the top. Move slowly across the fade area until the area is blended well.
TIP: For short cuts, you may be able to use the guides provided with your clippers that are labeled for the right or left ear. These guides are slanted, allowing an easy way to achieve a graduated cut.
How to Cut with Shears
Hairstyles that are too long for clippers will require using shears. While this can be intimidating at first, it does not have to be especially difficult. Begin by separating the hair into smaller sections of about 1-inch.If necessary, use hair clips to hold the other sections out of your way.
Begin with a section of hair near the crown of your head and determine the finished length that you want to achieve. Remember that you may want to go slightly longer this first time. Comb the hair straight from the root, holding it between your first and second fingers. Keeping your fingers straight and parallel to your head, carefully make your first cut. This section will be your guide to cut the rest of your head.
Moving to the next section of hair you will want to pick up both part of the new section and some of the previous section to use as a guide to cut. Remember to keep your fingers parallel to your head, cutting each smaller section an equal distance from the head.
Cleaning up the Edges – The Perfect Hairline
There are a few ways that you can get the perfectly clean hairline even when you are cutting your own hair. Listed above is a neat little tool called the RevoNeck that can be used as a guide to get the perfect neckline. If you choose not to purchase this tool, there is likely something you already have that you can use.
Depending on the length of the hair at the nape of your neck any straight edge can help clean up those edges. Remember to use your hand mirror to get a good view of the back of your head to make the job easier.
An easy and affordable tool is masking or painter’s tape. This low-tack tape can be removed, and repositioned if necessary, helping to achieve a clean line. To make things really easy to use a wider tape that will protect even more of the hair.
Always trim the hairline with the clippers held straight against the head and work in sections just smaller than the width of the clipper. Move the clippers down the neck and away from the hair. You can use your clippers to trim the entire hairline if necessary and is great for cleaning up the hairs that grow down the base of many men’s necks.
Tips for Getting the Perfect DIY Cut
Achieving a great cut at home is possible. Men all over are choosing to do their own hair cuts and are very successful. Here are a few tips to help make the whole ordeal a bit easier to deal with and achieve the best possible outcome.
Take Care of Your Tools
The most important thing to remember is to take care of your hair tools. Clippers should be cleaned and oiled after every use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any special instructions. Shears should ALWAYS be cleaned and dried thoroughly, as well as stored in a safe place… hair shears are very sharp.
Less is More
We mentioned above that you will likely want to go for a bit longer haircut the first time. This will help to make sure that you do not take over way more than you intended. As you get more comfortable cutting your own hair, you will be able to go shorter.
How to Fix a Mistake
When you first start cutting your own hair, you are bound to make a mistake, or two. If you do, don’t worry, it’s only hair, it will grow back. However, there are a few things you can do to fix an oops.
Final Thoughts
Cutting your own hair does not have to be a scary job, but does take some patience and practice to get just right. When it comes to cutting your own hair, just be sure to not rush through the job and give yourself a break. Hair clippers can feel surprisingly heavy when you are going slow.
We hope this article has given you the information that you need to get started cutting your hair at home. Whether you are getting into this process to save money or not, you will be able to benefit from having complete control and learn some great skills at the same time. Best of luck to you and your hair!
