Author Topic: Cut my own hair! (Read 13705 times)

bzzzt · « **on:** April 18, 2015, 09:38:28 AM »

I've been getting exceedingly "cheap" vs. frugal on haircuts over the last few years. In the cooler months, I was letting it get to the point where I didn't like looking as myself before I'd go spend the $14 (with coupon) + tip or a haircut because I hated paying for them and spending the 1.5 hours driving there, waiting, getting cut, driving home (almost 3 months).

I finally ordered a set of Wahl clippers on Amazon for $18 (cost of one haircut). I've been getting the same haircut for 15 years, so I've seen it done a bunch of times. Read the flyer in the package, lined up my guides, and started trimming. 30 minutes later, I look like a new man.

The cut isn't perfect, but I look a hell of a lot better than I did. Frugality for the win. Now, I can cut my hair once a month and not resent it!

chops · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2015, 12:15:31 PM »

I've been doing this for 5 years. Still using the same pair of clippers which is unbelievable. The ROI on doing this in terms of both $ and time saved is insane, probably beats long term index funds easy.

The best part is, the learning curve is short, after a couple of times, you'll see a big improvement in your haircutting skills! Soon your homemade cuts will be indistinguishable from a paid barber haircut!

Keep on cuttin'

- Chops

Hank Sinatra · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2015, 01:03:05 PM »

I do this too. Have been for years and years.

Paul der Krake · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2015, 01:19:52 PM »

The other perk is how much easier and faster it gets after just a few attempts. My routine still needs a little help from my SO to perfect the line in the back and around the ears, but everything else I do myself in under 10 minutes.

After a few years of doing it, I have the whole process to under 30 minutes, which includes an after cut shower and cleanup of the floor. It is much easier than scheduling an appointment, getting there and back, awkwardly chatting about how coarse and thick my hair is, and paying them.

firewalker · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2015, 07:43:54 PM »

I, almost, cut my hair. It happened just the other day. It was getting kind of long. I could have said ... Ok, I'll stop there.

diesel15 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 09, 2015, 11:54:45 AM »

Congrats on making the leap! It does get easier with time and you will improve. I've struggled with some aspects of cutting my own hair and discovered a little trick that helped me get a better finishing look. I posted it since I thought it might be useful to some others. http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/do-it-yourself-haircut-easy-way-to-cut-a-straight-back-line-without-assistance/

bzzzt · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2015, 04:58:02 PM »

Good call! I'll have to try that.

Cannot Wait! · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2015, 08:36:07 PM »

Just yesterday I convinced my daughter to let me trim her long, straight hair an inch. Before I knew it, all 3 of my teens were cutting each other's hair with the help of youtube. Ka-ching!

nixjasr · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2015, 09:53:27 PM »

I started by giving my wife haircuts when we were both in college in the 1990s. Now, I give myself the #2 buzz cut (splurged and upgraded to Oster Classic 76 clippers), still cut my wife's hair, and cut my son's hair.
I didn't feel guilty about spending $60 for a barber chair on Craigslist since I do all three (and it's great to sit in it to drink beer while watching football).

mrpercentage · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2015, 12:41:42 AM »

Just did mine with scissors. Wasn't even hard. Im done paying for haircuts.

Fritzy · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2015, 10:05:42 AM »

I cut my sister-in-law's hair this past weekend. It was kind of exhilarating and scary, but it looked great! I always watch the people who cut my hair, so over the years I think I've at least learned the basics. My husband cuts his own hair as well. I sometimes trim my hair, but when I'm doing a dramatically new style I go to the nearest Aveda institute. I think my last haircut was $10 there with a coupon. Without a coupon it is maybe $16 or so.

FIRE me · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2015, 11:02:45 PM »

Quote from: Fritzy on May 19, 2015, 10:05:42 AM

I cut my sister-in-law's hair this past weekend. It was kind of exhilarating and scary, but it looked great! I always watch the people who cut my hair, so over the years I think I've at least learned the basics. My husband cuts his own hair as well. I sometimes trim my hair, but when I'm doing a dramatically new style I go to the nearest Aveda institute. I think my last haircut was $10 there with a coupon. Without a coupon it is maybe $16 or so.

It is no surprise to me that so many Mustachians are DIY hair cutters. I've been cutting my own for 20 years, using the same set of clippers. I would guess that I have saved over $1,500. And it is more convenient to cut it myself since there is no drive to the barber and then waiting my turn.

Novillero · « **Reply #12 on:** May 24, 2015, 06:51:12 AM »

Since losing too much of my hair, I have a pretty simple hairstyle and therefore - more recently - I have felt the barbers were putting on a show for me to justify charging me for a simple buzz cut.

I have always hated going to get me haircut, yet feel so much better after getting one - probably from getting haircuts from my grandfather as a kid, I always hated going. That loathing feeling extended to middle age. I break down and get my haircut because I can no longer take how my hair looked. (Not a money issue)

I just bought clippers and am one haircut down and it was so simple that I see myself being regularly and better groomed in the future. So the benefit will be more than just the money saved, but looking and feeling better.

forummm · « **Reply #13 on:** May 24, 2015, 07:16:11 AM »

I might start doing this once RE. I have wacky hair that needs some more skilled attention or it looks goofy. For employment reasons, it seems like a reasonable thing to keep paying for at the moment.

Ozymandiaz · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2015, 03:46:38 PM »

My friend told me for years about how he cut his own hair with a pair of "Costco" clippers (Wahl). I finally got a pair about two years ago, and my wife has been cutting my hair (and my son's hair) ever since. It's much easier than going to the barber, and it's free!
That said, I don't see how people cut their own hair, especially the back?

bloomability · « **Reply #15 on:** June 13, 2015, 03:53:53 PM »

About two years ago I chopped 5" of hair off myself. It was a teeeeeeeny bit crooked. Now? I get compliments on my layers, and everyone is shocked I cut my own hair. I kinda miss the scalp massage, but I prefer other types of rare pampering and the relief of knowing the person cutting my hair knows what she's doing. :)

bzzzt · « **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2015, 09:57:47 PM »

Paid myself again. Only took about 10 minutes this time. I still think saving $18 + an hour and a half of my life is bad ass!

zephyr911 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 14, 2015, 08:29:03 AM »

Quote from: Novillero on May 24, 2015, 06:51:12 AM

Since losing too much of my hair, I have a pretty simple hairstyle and therefore - more recently - I have felt the barbers were putting on a show for me to justify charging me for a simple buzz cut.

I get that feeling too. Simple cuts should be quick.

I started trying DIY when I was still in high school. I f'd it up a few times but through 4 years of college and 15 years of military service, practice made perfect. I've paid maybe 10-15x in 20 years, mostly for lack of equipment while traveling, and every time enhanced my resolve to perfect the DIY. Shop service is slow and even the easy ones never seem to come out right. If I can cut it in less time, despite the disadvantages I have, and actually get closer to what I want, why would I pay for it? So I dialed it in till I could do it all with one mirror - do the back by feel - and I'll never go back.

Attached: done Friday night before drill.

patrickza · « **Reply #18 on:** July 14, 2015, 08:31:02 AM »

I used to do my own hair too. It's easier if your hair is long as you can keep hacking away until it looks reasonable. I imagine very short hair is easy enough too, it's those middle lengths that seem to be the issue.

JeffC · « **Reply #19 on:** July 14, 2015, 10:16:14 AM »

I'm approaching baldness so the cut kept getting shorter and short, until I was just having them buzz me with a #2. I already had the trimmer for the beard, so now what I've been doing for the last year is to buzz myself with a #2 every 2-3 weeks, and then every third time, I go have the pros do it to sharpen up the edges. Unless you have someone to do this part for you, or have an extreme mirror setup and finally honed skills, this will be necessary to avoid a sort of mini-mullet effect going on back there.

JeffC · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2015, 10:25:27 AM »

Quote from: diesel15 on May 09, 2015, 11:54:45 AM

Congrats on making the leap! It does get easier with time and you will improve. I've struggled with some aspects of cutting my own hair and discovered a little trick that helped me get a better finishing look. I posted it since I thought it might be useful to some others. http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/do-it-yourself-haircut-easy-way-to-cut-a-straight-back-line-without-assistance/

GAMECHANGER! thanks for sharing!

2ndTimer · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2015, 10:57:55 AM »

Hijacking your thread long enough to celebrate the fact that Monday I gave myself the break even hair cut with my Flowbee. Now it's paid for. Free hair cuts for the rest of my life!

Shinplaster · « **Reply #22 on:** July 14, 2015, 12:42:00 PM »

I've been cutting my own hair since I was a teenager, and I'm in my 60's now. I've been cutting hubbie's since we got married (36 years), and cut our son's when he lived at home too. Hubby says it's the only salon in town where he gets to kiss the barber as his 'tip'.

I actually went to a salon once, just last month. Son was getting married, and I thought I would spruce up a bit. First thing hubby said was "I like the way you do it better". So after that brief foray, I am back to cutting my own. The amount of money we've saved over the years boggles my mind.

Mrs. Crackin' the Whip · « **Reply #23 on:** July 14, 2015, 01:10:29 PM »

My husband has been cutting his and the oldest child's hair for years! I take our 3 year old to have his hair trimmed about every six weeks and it's $12 - $14 each time for a child's haircut! I can't wait until he is tolerant of the hair trimmers.

Phenix · « **Reply #24 on:** July 18, 2015, 11:03:06 PM »

I finally took the leap last month. My hair is getting so thin on top that it doesn't make sense to pay someone else full price when they're not even cutting a full head of hair! So from now on it's DIY buzz cuts for me.

Roothy · « **Reply #25 on:** July 26, 2015, 02:40:37 PM »

Just did this. $3.50 for a knock-off crea clip, $30 for a good pair of tweezerman scissors. I will never, ever waste two hours of my life (and $50) by going to a salon again.

Roothy · « **Reply #26 on:** July 26, 2015, 05:53:14 PM »

My hair is very wavy. Before I used the crea clip, I washed and blew it dry straight, and then ran a straightening iron over it. Also added some silicone antifrizz treatment. This made it very silky and easy for the crea clip to go through it. It worked like a charm--I couldn't believe how easy it was.

MissionPossible · « **Reply #27 on:** July 31, 2015, 10:30:02 PM »

I have nobody to do this for me but it's something i've thought about before. Where I moved to temporarily the prices are much higher too, I pay $20-25 per month for this shit, and it's a very simple haircut.

I'm afraid to fuck it up, but seems like something that you could get good at eventually. The ROI of time saving etc is a good way of looking at it too. Seems like it's worth the risk of messing it up a bit.

Mrs. Crackin' the Whip · « **Reply #28 on:** August 01, 2015, 12:48:54 PM »

Doing it yourself is much better than doing without in regards to a haircut. :) Lol

bzzzt · « **Reply #29 on:** August 01, 2015, 04:48:10 PM »

Quote from: MissionPossible on July 31, 2015, 10:30:02 PM

I'm afraid to fuck it up, but seems like something that you could get good at eventually. The ROI of time saving etc is a good way of looking at it too. Seems like it's worth the risk of messing it up a bit.

I've definitely found it to be true, but I have a hard hat on most of the day. If I screwed up, my wife would probably be the only one to notice/care. ;)

Seppia · « **Reply #30 on:** August 01, 2015, 07:43:40 PM »

I have been cutting my hair since 2001 continuously, with the only exception of the day I got married (my mother pretty much forced me to get a "real" one.
I have extremely thick and coarse hair, and basically every two years I would need to replace the clipper as it died because of the extra effort.
About four years ago I decided to go all in and I bought this:

True, it costs about three to four times the cheaper ones, but it is night and day.
I now have the routine down and go from "full head of hair" to "very good haircut and clean bathroom" in no more than 20 minutes.
If you cut your hair short you can get very very close to professional results, I work in sales so it has to be very clean.

JJ360 · « **Reply #31 on:** August 03, 2015, 06:21:23 AM »

I've been clipping my head and face for years. Currently bicing (shaving clean) my head. If you do this I would recommend clipping tight first then using a decent quality razor. They end up being a better value as you can reuse them so much more than a cheap razor.

I guess the most mustachian thing would be to learn to do it with a straight razor I could sharpen. And straight razor guys here?

Mrs. Frugalwoods · « **Reply #32 on:** August 05, 2015, 04:07:57 PM »

Nice! Love seeing all these fellow home haircutters. I've been buzzing my husband's hair with a Wahl clippers for a few years now and he started cutting my long hair last year too (we use the scissors that came with the Wahl set). Saves so much money and time--that's one of the things we really notice, it takes vastly less time to cut it at home than it does to wait around at a salon. So many better ways to use our time and money. I doubt we'll ever revert back to professional haircuts.

bzzzt · « **Reply #33 on:** August 06, 2015, 09:19:02 AM »

Thanks for starting the blog, Mrs. FW. Between MMM and FW, it really pushed me in the right direction to quit spending ridiculous amounts of money on crap. It's looking like going from a ~20% savings rate up to ~60% SR. Frugality for the Win!

MustacheMike · « **Reply #34 on:** August 06, 2015, 08:48:49 PM »

I wanted to throw this in here, as I had a little panic with my summer cut this weekend:

While using the #1 guard on my fade, I checked out the back (with an small, old makeup mirror from my wife). To my horror, the fade between the #2 guard and #1 was egregious. I looked like Forrest Gump crossed with Kim Jong Un.

I finally figured out the trick to blending a crazy fade is taking the shorter guard, in this case, the #1, and shaving WITH the hair growth direction (in this case, down toward my neck) on the #2 area, which blends the two guard lengths so it's smooth and seamless.

Now my fade is tight.

PEACE OUT!

TheRabbit · « **Reply #35 on:** August 16, 2015, 09:43:48 AM »

I chopped 12 inches off my hair myself in my first ever DIY haircut, and it was liberating! Not everyone is so extreme, but I loved the feeling of doing it myself.
www.howtohairgirl.com is an invaluable resource!
Cheers y'all!

force majeure · « **Reply #36 on:** August 17, 2015, 03:57:42 AM »

I invested in a Babylis electric hair clipper. Finally the ROI is giving payback.

A tip I can give you all; the first time I tried cutting my hair, was after I had finished off a full bottle of wine. I had a look in the mirror next day.... I had to redo it, ended up with a marine-style #1 cut, to fix things. These days, I do the cut while sober and its looking better.

sstants · « **Reply #37 on:** August 17, 2015, 07:29:25 AM »

I'm a younger lady mustachian and I've been cutting my hair on and off for a few years now. I probably get a 'real' haircut once a year or even less often. Sometimes that is good enough to establish a pattern and then you can just trim at home every few months and follow what the stylist did. I think this is a good middle ground for a lot of us who want a more detailed/layered style but want to save money too!

I have curly hair, which is so much more forgiving when you don't cut it perfectly as well. I say ignore all those people who say that curly haired gals need the best hairstylist! I just run a flat iron through it and give it a good trim. Youtube is a good resource, as is a two-mirror setup so you can see the back of your head.

ClassyCat · « **Reply #38 on:** August 17, 2015, 08:10:31 AM »

After watching some videos, I'm debating getting this for trimming my own hair. It looks like people here have had mostly positive experiences with crea clip equivalents. Any tricks/tips with them, or is it really as easy as it looks?

News:

Author Topic: Cut my own hair! (Read 13705 times)