DIY haircut

[darkmother]

I apologize for the non-cycling content.

The hair on my head has grown past the point of respectfully long. I had hoped for a haircut from a professional, but a new surge in coronavirus cases locally means that I will have to do it myself.

Last time I did this, I slapped a #3 spacer on my clippers and cut all my hair the same length. Functional, and easy, but obviously not ideal from an aesthetic point of view.

What I am wondering is if I can do better with the tapered spacers, or different technique. It would be nice if I could cut my hair to a reasonable, if not perfect, standard in house.

Thank you,

-J

[Rich Beaudoin]

I use the clippers with #1 spacer up to about ear level then increase length/spacers as I go higher.
It generally works ok but I need the medicine cabinet mirror to check the back.

[gt6267a]

Andis cordless

I say try without the spacers. Its fast, repeatable, and cheap after the initial purchase.

[j44ke]

Work from long to short. Don’t cut the top. Do all of the sides and back with a #2. Then with #1, follow the shape of your temples to the knob on the back of your head and below. Then sideburns over your ears and down around the back of your next as short as possible - #000 if you have one. Then go back with scissors and carefully work on the transitions so they have a nice shape. A fine toothed comb helps.

Wear a hat. :-)

[kdawg]

The guards you get with clippers are 1/8" increments - the longest you usually get ia an 8 (i.e. 1") but that's a bit short for me. I bought a 12 which is more respectable - run that over the top then a 3 back and sides and blend it in - basically stand upright and run the clipper up your head - but then when you get about halfway keep going vertically rather than following the shape of your head. I find less than a 3 hard to blend in.

I also have ear guards - basically angled guards that go from about a 3 to a 1 - there's one for each side and you can use these to go around your ears which gets the straggly bits which are hard to see.

I'm trying to keep on top of it and do it every 3 weeks or so - I've got thick hair and it's a lot harder to do when it's out of control, a 3 weekly tidy up is easy.

[vertical_doug]

I bought a clippers last April, and it has more than paid for itself. #3 all around, then #1 to trim up the back and sides a bit. I hate the neck scruff.

It's all good until your daughter decides it'd be funny to give you a tonsure style cut.

[rwsaunders]

Doug...kids refer to neck scruff as nerd fur.

[defspace]

If you're working from home on video calls, you only need to look good from the headset forward. Get a headset, use the #3 all over.

[Rich Beaudoin]

If you're working from home on video calls, you only need to look good from the headset forward. Get a headset, use the #3 all over.

Mullets are the new work-from-home style

[darkmother]

Thank you for responding to my question. My next haircut will be better for it.

At the moment, I am working from...work.

[Mabouya]

# 1 all over for me.

Really doesn't look any worse or better than what the barbers do.

[darkmother]

# 1 all over for me.

Really doesn't look any worse or better than what the barbers do.

I like that.

[defspace]

For years I just did the #2 all over. Nobody said anything. Only when I tried to do my own multi-length haircut did I start to get questions. I'm a bit gun shy.

[pomole]

I wish this thread had photos.

[darkmother]

Well, that went worse than I had hoped, but better than I had feared.

Using two mirrors in series to view, and attempt to correct the angle of my awkwardly contorted arm/hand/clipper proved to be difficult.

There will be no photos of the outcome.

Not a good haircut, but a haircut all the same.

[j44ke]

Well, that went worse than I had hoped, but better than I had feared.

Using two mirrors in series to view, and attempt to correct the angle of my awkwardly contorted arm/hand/clipper proved to be difficult.

There will be no photos of the outcome.

Not a good haircut, but a haircut all the same.

That's the spirit!

[Mabouya]

There will be no photos of the outcome.

Well, some of it will grow back...

Plus, it's still salvageable with a #1 or a #2 spacer.

[kdawg]

I find it also helps to be pretty ambidextrous - but I realise that that commment on its own doesn't help those who aren't...

[prcrstn8]

Cut off less than you think you should. Re-evaluate the next day.