I think I should just start a series on all of the things that I am learning to do that I was afraid to do. I certainly have enough entries on here to create a series: fear of working with dough, fear of gardening, fear of mowing, and now fear of cutting hair.
I hate to pay for hair cuts and had invested in buying a pair of clippers to do our son’s hair and my husband’s. I tried doing it once and just was too nervous and scared that I would mess their hair up to have done a good job. After attempting this a few times, I usually ended up taking our son over to a Super Cuts to correct my tedious and bad hair cuts. Just taking him over there instead of messing with it at home seemed to save me the time and hassle of attempting it myself.
We had been having my sister-in-law come over to help cut the boys hair and I would make dinner for her. It was a nice arrangement, but she is such a busy person that I felt a little guilty taking advantage of her free time. I still will have her do it, when she is available, but I wanted to learn how to do it myself so we could be more self-sufficient. I could also take advantage of the times when my son was in a good mood or when we had somewhere to go (pictures, family get togethers, etc..) where I wanted him to look his best.
I checked out a book entitled, “Cutting Your Family’s Hair” and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is trying to learn how to do their own haircuts. The book offered a picture (not a drawing!) tutorial on step-by-step instructions for hair cutting. It also offered a listing of basic tools you would need to get the job done.
The tools that were suggested in the book were a good quality pair of scissors (purchased from your local beauty supply store), a comb, a cape & towel (the cape can be purchased at your beauty supply store), a spray bottle of water, & a pair of clippers. My personal addition to this list is a booster seat to get your child at the right height needed to cut their hair well.
For a basic clipper cut the instructions were:
1. Set clippers at a low setting. Begin at back, cutting hair short. (For my husband and son, I used a number three, to make sure it wasn’t too close or too long- it worked well).
2. Use a comb to pull up the hair and move the clippers across the comb to cut the hair.
3. Continue up the back. Stop 3-4″ from the crown.
4. Move to the sides, using the clippers to trim the hair above the ears.
5. Continue clipping up the sides 2-3″. Leave the top hair to be cut with the scissors. Move around to the back, being sure all the clipped hair is the same length.
6. Cut hair at top back, pulling out hair with your fingers and cutting it to a one-finger length.
7. At sides just above clipper cut area, use a comb to pull out hair and cut (A one finger length is too long at the sides).
8. Cut the top guide line to the desired length, beginning at the crown. Here, it’s cut to a one-finger length. Cut all hair then to this length.
9. Blend the hair that was cut with the clippers with the top hair, using scissors and a comb.
10. Comb front hair forward and trim.
11. Trim across the bottom of the back with clippers.
12. Use clippers to trim sideburns.
13. Hold ears forward and use clippers to tidy up behind the ears.
Although it is hard to go by the written instructions alone, it does give you a better idea of how the pros do it. I found the pictures to also be a great reference for me and it helped make me feel more comfortable doing it.
I did both Ryan & Ethan’s haircuts this weekend and they turned out really well. I “practiced” first on my husband because I felt like I could really take my time and figure everything out. This is something I couldn’t do with an energetic four year old who kept saying during his haircut, “Are we done yet? Are we done now? How about now? And now?” I took my time with Ryan and made sure I felt comfortable with everything and then did our son’s hair after that. I must say, both of their haircuts turned out really well and I am really proud of myself for attempting something that is definitely outside of my box.
While I wouldn’t be up to cutting my own hair, I did pick a low-maintenance style that allows me to go less frequently and I do color my hair at home to save myself quite a bit of money for the family. I also try to do weekly pedicures as a special beauty treat for myself. These savings alone are probably in the fifty-sixty dollar range monthly.
Do you do any of your own beauty treatments at home? How do you save your family money in this category of your spending?
I’ve been cutting my husband’s hair now for most of the 7 years we’ve been together. I couldn’t do it when he was deployed, but that’s really the only time it hasn’t been convenient. Savings – $1768! He used to pay $13 every two weeks to have it cut at a barbershop.
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I feel like you and I are conquering our fears together! I just checked out a similar book for my own hair.
My husband and I have been cutting his hair for about 8 years. He mostly cuts it after I created a stripe up the back of his head (!). I resorted to trimming Andrew’s with shears when no stylist would treat his cowlicks correctly.
I have been running to Great Clips for my own, but time without kids is more precious now. I don’t want to spend it in a chair, so I’m trying the ponytail trim on my own this week.
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I just started doing it with my boys. They are still young enough not to care, and now if they do, I’m not too bad at it now. I still go get my hair cut, but I only spend $10 a month.
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What a savings, Daisy! That is a huge savings for your family. You should be so proud of yourself!
Meredith- I will be anxious to read the results from your haircut experience. You are very brave, my friend. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!!
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Yup, I cut everyone’s hair but my own. That’s how I save the money for my own hair care
Plus, I told my boys that if they didn’t start combing their hair properly I was going to shave it down to next to nothing to solve the problem. They knew I meant it too
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Hi Amy! First of all, I just have to say great job for tackling these areas that have previously intimidated you!!! Way to go!
I have cut David’s hair with clippers since we got married. And, I have cut my own hair since I moved away from CO – four years! Yes, I have had a couple of hair cuts at a salon in four years, three I think.
I took Emily to have her hair cut for her *first* time, but plan to trim it myself from now on.
I am one of those people who has very fast growing eyebrows – so I pluck my own at home.
My own hair cut: $15 a month
My brow wax: $15 a month
David’s hair cut: $15 a month
Savings: over $2000 in the last four years! Wow – I hadn’t thought of it that way!
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Amy, Once again you amaze me. I have been wanting to try this with Mike and/or Alex for some time now, but sounds like the scariest thing ever to me. Now I know there’s a book to turn to, so good to know. I have no confidence in this dept. whatsoever. But I think I’ll look into this book and see how I feel afterwards. Mike jokes that there’s no way I’m coming near his hair…we’ll see about that!
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I need to bite the bullet and buy the clippers. My husband is so anal retentive (good for some things annoying in others) that I have the feeling he’ll take over the chore, if necessary.
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So funny that you should post this topic, my husband just cut my three year old son’s hair over the weekend. He gave him a buzz cut. My husband buzz’s his own hair as well. My husband does an ok job but I think could use some pointers. I also have a three year old daughter (twins) and I am shocked at how much it costs to trim her hair ($12 – $15 not including tip). I was thinking about trying to learn to trim her hair myself. I will definately check out this book. I love your blog!
Noreen
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Hi,
Great comments
I’ve cut my own hair for 2 years and yep it looks great!
Have you heard of Robocut Vacuum Clippers?
I just dial in the length I want and vacuum my head.
No mess, no clippings, yes a foolproof haircut : )
take care all,
Brad
http://www.diyhomehaircut.com check it out…thanks
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If you don’t have a booster seat, just use a phone book or two instead.
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I cut my husband’s hair with clippers and only use scissors for trimming around the ears. We use one attachment for the back and sides, one attachment for the top and the in between attachment for blending the two. It works great, but his hair is kept fairly short, so that is why this works for us.
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I have been a stylist for 16 years & I’ll tell you the instructions that come with clippers are confusing to someone trying to cut hair at home. The easiest thing to do is set the clippers on lowest setting. If you use #3 guard on back and sides only go up to eye level on sides then use #6 on top. Go back with #4 between the two to blend the line. You may need to “rock” the clippers back & fourth to get all of the line out. Just remember this. If you use the clippers at home use a low guard b/s, next size up to blend, next size up on top….no matter what you start with go the next size up as you go up to blend. Good Luck
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I have been getting my hair cut at home for the last 12 years. By whom? My husband. Surprised? A lot of people are. Some ask why I don’t just go the salon as “you can afford it”. Well I don’t like the hassle of taking the time to make an appointment, sitting and waiting even though I am on time or even a little early, and getting my hair yanked and pulled. The comments by the “professional” telling me I need to cut my hair short, because it is long, was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
That and the excessive prices they charged, ouch!
I bought a DIY book, read it, bought the proper tools: a wide tooth comb, professional grade cutting shears, hair clips, a cape, a spray mister, and a “how to cut hair video”. I spent a little over a hundred dollars.
Money well spent. I then told my husband that I was through with the hassles of the “pros” at the salon. I wanted him to cut my hair from now on. He likes it long, and I told him as long he would cut it for me, my long hair, would remain long. He really liked that deal. Frankly, I believe most husbands would, if their wife offered them such a deal. I have yet to see a man happy that his wife cut her long hair short. It is more like a sense of hurt, like his dog died or a betrayal that his wife willfully cut her hair short, knowing he likes it long. So my husband watched the video a few times before picking up the shears and comb. We agreed that taking off an inch or less was best. When it is haircut time, I wash it and comb it out, then sit in the bar stool caped, and tell him I am ready. He pins it up trims it and after wards he shakes out the cape while I vacuum up the trimmings. My hair is just below my shoulder blades, and he trims it so it is a little bit longer in the back than the front. No bangs. WE save money, he is happy that my hair remains long as he likes it, and no hassles at the salon. Oh, and we save money as well. I started cutting his after he had been cutting a few times. I have gotten much better over the years.
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Thanks for the book info – I will see if our library has it. I cut my 20 month old’s hair but need to be quicker because he hates it. It’s not fun at salons either but at least they are faster at it. I wish his hair was curly to hide it when I mess up! He had a full head of hair when born and it has just kept growing.
I convinced my daughter (she’s 7) to let me cut her hair and my husband to cut mine too (just straight trims across the bottom). He was so scared to try, it was funny. Where we live, kids haircuts are $20 and mine could be as much as $50. That might be worth it when I want a different style, but just for a trim I can’t stand paying that much!
I used a flo-bee one time on my husband and it took too long and didn’t suit his taste, so he still gets his cut… but thankfully he doesn’t spend very much!
A cheap hint about the spray bottle is to recycle an empty bottle of detangling spray and put water in it instead. It smells good and is good for nature.
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