Do You Cut Your Own Hair?

How many people have their own barber clipping set and cut or trim their own hair?
I just realised that we're paying $15 for a 5 minute quick trim at the barber every few weeks.

Poll Options

  • 175
    I cut my own hair
  • 166
    I don't trust my trimming skills
  • 80
    I get my mate/wife to cut it for me

Comments

  • Easy if you have a straightforward haircut. If all you need is a few snips here and there with a scissors and trimmer, then I envy you. I have a weird head shape which means only a few types of haircuts work well on me, and that's something only a skilled barber can do.

    • +15

      that why you wear a hat!

      • Snapbacks bro.

    • +2

      I use to think the same until I cut it all off and went bald, now it looks good, no bad hair day :)

  • +6

    I have had bad experiences with hair cuts at the hair dressers because I was never happy with how it looked. So I saved myself the trouble and learnt how to cut my own hair the way I want it. I also cut everyone else's hair in my family now and also a few of my mates every now and then.

  • +4

    I cut my own hair - bought a set of Remington (cordless) clippers from HN for $36,but other types (especially corded) are a lot cheaper - down to $15 in some cases. Pretty easy to do yourself if you only have your hair one length. Even as an individual, it will pay for itself within 3 cuts. For a family, it would pay for itself the first time everyone was done.

    • Yes, the clipper cut is ok. Then you have to chase the stray hairs with a comb and scissors for a week or so, to really get it an even cut all round.

  • +5

    A #2 buzz cut with a Wahl home clipper set. Head (what's left of it) and beard. Takes me longer to clean up than cut.

    • +5

      I do the same, but outside… No cleaning up.
      Take my phone with a podcast, balance it precariously on a beam near my head so I can hear it over the buzz,
      - unpackage the clippers,
      - oil the blades
      - and away we go..
      - Blow out/Brush down the clippers,
      - wrap up the cord,
      - go inside to shower.

      Gotta pick your days in winter, but otherwise, it's quite relaxing.

      • You oil the blades? I just buy a new set every year or so. Did you splurge on a good set or are you using your average KMART corded set?

        • +1

          I got mine from KMart, and it says that oiling isn't required.

          …but after a year, it heats up very quickly.

        • +1

          I have to oil mine before I start, otherwise it just sits there buzzing but not oscillating the blade. I think it is a good thing, indicating they are tight and and actually cutting the hair, not pinching it. I just use a spray can of WD40 with a straw, a small can has lasted years.

        • +7

          Pretty expensive, for clippers anyway.
          Wahl Baldfader.
          From memory about $120..
          takes all of 5 seconds to oil the blades.. The sum total time of me oiling the blades is negligible compared to the time required to earn the $20 and time to go to KMart every year to buy a replacement dodgy set, plus the Baldfader cuts super-short.. I highly doubt a cheapo set would cut as close.
          Must've had my Wahl for 7 years or so, so that's $140 worth of $20 annuals. I reckon I'm ahead.

        • @scubacoles: How do you oil them? Just use your average kitchen oil or WD40 or what? Does it even matter?

  • +3

    Was getting the missus to cut/shave my hair off but now Im getting a hairdresser to trim my hair as I want a scissor cut on the back, keeping the top long. So I want a style that cant be done with the trimmer/wife lol.

  • Anyone used this crew cut clipper http://www.shavershop.com.au/online-store/hair-clippers/hair… ? It can't get any easier than that.

    • Nearly bought that a couple of weeks ago. Seems there is an art to using it. I am still using the clippers, but definitely looking to get this soon.

  • +4

    you also need some thinning scissors as well to thin out the top/sides. it might be ok if you just want a #2 all over but i think you need someone's help to blend the sides and do the back edges.

    • +2

      Protip: Thinning scissors are about $2 at Daiso.

      • +5

        EXACTLY $2.80 at Daiso.

        • Haha, i don't know how much it was. Tbh, i got mine from Malaysia for 5RM :p

  • +1

    grow my hair until it is not manageable.
    Girlfriend then shaves my head
    ad infinitum

  • +1

    I tidy it up with my $20 Philips trimmer (deal was posted on OzB a while ago). I also use scissors to take out some of the thickness. It is easy. I will have one or two decent haircuts a year but once you give it a go it's not that hard to do it yourself.

  • I have a question for the ladies ( and maybe gents too): do you do your own waxing? Does it hurt more when you do it yourself, rather than by a trained beautician?

    • +3

      Waxing is for pussies. (-:
      Use clippers

      • +1

        I know someone who nearly clipped off his left nipple.

        • +1

          Hair removal cream.

        • @strikerzebra:
          Never near the nipples! They are too sensitive and will bleed!

        • @diddy50: My hair is so thick I'll lose a layer of skin before it comes off. That removal cream is for angel hair.

    • Would cyclists recommend waxing/shaving down under to reduce chafing?

      • +1

        I don't know about chafing but the cool breeze is nice.

        No hair means less oil, sweat and odour for me.

      • +1

        No, that will increase chafing. Use baby powder or chamois cream.

        Shave your legs in the hair's direction to reduce in grown hair.

        • +24

          Oops too late! Was home alone last night, watched some diy youtube videos,found the wife's Nair sugar wax (which did look a bit like syrup and smelled delicious!) and did the job. The pain was ok but its the noise it makes when your ripping your pubes off that really gets to you.Like velcro that has been stuck there for centuries and that you're trying to pull apart. Also it would have been a hell of a lot easier if I had a vagina: my manly bits got in the way. I had to do some contortionist's moves to hold on to them, while at the same time putting the wax on, stretching the skin…etc Towards the end, I almost found the experience pleasurable. But I could have been delirious from the pain, the alcohol and the sweet smell of toffee apple that was coming off the wax.
          @Scrooge M, I get what you mean by the cool breeze feeling. But you also feel the sweat rolling down there which is quite an odd sensation.
          @isamurai, went for a run this morning and yep there's definitely more chafing.

          Edit: Now do I have a surprise for the wife when she comes back from her trip :p
          Edit 2: Yes it looks obscenely huge!

        • +4

          @Jar Jar Binks: lol reminded me of http://www.amazon.com/Veet-Hair-Removal-Creme-200ml/dp/B000K… Enjoy the reviews at the bottom.

        • +2

          @Jar Jar Binks: lol…I now know more than I ever wanted to know about you Jar Jar Binks.

        • +1

          @YTW: Just between you and me, I also like fish ;)

  • +1

    Using the same $15 clippers for 20 years now, haven't paid for a haircut for at least 25 years #1 or no blades every time.

    • +1

      do you see a big difference with #1 (3mm) and no blades?
      I want to try no blade but wonder how short it actually can go?

  • +5

    Using wahl kit for the last 10 years.
    Each haircut is $20.
    5 a year
    $1000 saving.
    Hairstyles for ozbargainers is a no no!!!!

  • No . 3 buzz cut fading sides and back. Then trim sides and back a little later to leave the top with volume as it grows out. If I ever want something fancy I go to hairdresser and make them redo it until I'm happy. Clippers are on the best investment s you'll ever make.

  • i have a wahl cordless set, it works very well. on the downside my sons and i all have the same hairstyle a #2 or #3 buzz cut all round. its not that hard once you've done it a few times, though i think using scissors would require a lot more work.

  • +1

    I cut my own hair.
    Picked up a VS Sassoon clipper set from Kmart for $20 about 5 years ago. Comes with a set of length attachments.
    1 set of clippers over 4 years versus 4 years of haircuts ($20, about 8 cuts a year = $780 saving).
    Doesn't take long and comes up pretty neat.

  • -1

    You can do more than a simple buzz cut yourself

    I got sick of fixing the hairdressers cuts after I came home, so decided to learn it myself.
    I've received comments like your hair cut is so sharp did you get that done at Toni & Guy.

    Heres an image for your reference. seriously
    http://pophairstyles.com/wp-content/uploads/David-Beckham-Po…

  • +1

    Since I was about 12. Dad used to cut my hair, I started to get sick of how long it would take and started to do it myself. He still cuts his own and still takes ages! Maybe only 20 mins but I think that's a long time.

    I never seen the inside of a hair dresser until I was about 26

    When I was about 13, I wanted a flat top, went to shops and asked, he said my hair was "too thin". I was devo. About a week later I went back with a flat top cut by myself. Asked if he remembered me and he said yes, I told him "too thin my ass, I cut this myself" and walked off. It took me over an hour to do since it was my first.

    For me, its not a money thing, its time. If all you have to do is get a cut, 15 min drive + finding a park, 15-30 min wait, 15 min cut, its basically 1hour min. I can cut, shower + wash hair and dress in under 30 mins and be out the door, if im only shaving the sides it adds less then 1 min to my shower time.

  • Wow made me thinking should save about 430 bucks a year.. Any recommendations how to?

  • I don't have a lot of hair left so wasting money paying someone to do it is pointless. I shave it all off with the clippers every 1-2 weeks. Last time I paid for a haircut was in preparation for my wedding 14 years ago!

  • +4

    Yep, and I use the clippings to make merkins to sell.

  • How often do you guys get haircuts? If I were to cut my own hair would probably do more often.

  • +3

    My wife usually does mine and my kids hair. When she was pregnant, and very sick once I did it. Clippers over two kids, then myself, I can't style it. Thought I had done alright, then went inside for inspection. She said I had missed a bit, so I went back out, picked up the clippers and went for the missed section, but without the comb on the clippers. Only solution: take it all off. Haven't done my own since then, but will probably have another crack in the future, lesson learnt.

  • +3

    I made the wife learn how to cut my hair. I said if she doesn't, I'll either shave my own head, or grow dreadlocks again. If she stuffs it up, I shave it. She learnt.

  • -5

    I pay AUD 40-50$ for a good haircut. I need to look good to have a good self esteem and feel well. I never save money on a look, health and well being. There are other ways to save money, trust me.

    • You don't have to have an professional haircut to feel good. If your head and face suit a buzz/short cut there is nothing better. And you also make modification L's at your leisure. People ask where I get mine done as it still looks trendy. 3-4 on the top fading to a 2 on the sides.

      • +1

        I used to do the same before going properly bald..
        Liked to keep it long on top to hide the thinning.

    • -1

      "I pay AUD 40-50$ for a good haircut.I need to look good to have a good self esteem and feel well."

      Thats pretty sad

      Also there are plenty of good looking women and men sporting buzzcuts

      • The shape of some people's heads doesn't work well with a buzz-cut. If your head shape doesn't suit it you can look really weird and goofy (I remember a friend of mine years ago shaved his head and looked absolutely hilarious).

    • I like how this is 2mins after mine. What contrast :)

    • Not sure why this comment has been negged - it's pretty much each to their own.
      Some people take pride in their appearance more than others.

      Comes down to a matter of priorities when spending. If you have the money and that's what you like to spend it on, then why not?

      Some of us choose to spend our money on the "bargains" that pop up on this site for no reason other than it being a bargain.

      My haircuts cost me $10, but there's obviously a market for the high-end hairdressers, otherwise there wouldn't be so many of them.

  • +1

    There are few youtube videos on how to cut your own hair, which are quite useful for learning how to trim round the corner, which size to use etc. The annoying part though is cleaning up after the cut.

  • +2

    I did not expect so many people to be doing haircuts themselves.

    I bought a full length mirror off gumtree and perch it on a cheap chair in the yard (or just lean it against something).

    Use the hair shaver for the sides and back mostly and comb + shaver to get the top length right. To get the layered/thin effect I just twist tuffs of hair and shave off the desired length. Because of the skull shape sometimes following the shaver-length-comb attachment all around will make your hair shape look strange. I just use a philips face shaver to fine tune the shape. (the face shaver is more forgiving for jerky hands and slightly mistakes).

    My hair and nails grow annoyingly fast and I hate hair growing long. I cut it every 4 weeks or when it starts to get annoying. I like the way my hair looks when it is short, I've never really been completely satisfied with what the normal hair stylists do unless I pay more than $80 for a cut. (I used to do that, like twice a year expensive cuts and just maintain using a cheaper stylist). After I tried doing it myself, realize its much easier and cheaper. Not to mention that it saves so much time popping out into the yard for a quick shave.

  • +5

    I started cutting my hair early this year. It's saved hundreds of dollars easily.

    My tips for cutting your own hair:
    - Get thinning scissors. This helps a lot with reducing volume but not length
    - Cut it yourself on a Friday night after work. If it fails, you can still rescue it at a proper barber over the weekend. Or your hair will grow out a little bit by the time monday comes.
    - Don't start with the shortest clipper size! you can't undo it!
    - If it needs rescuing try using product to mess it up etc.

    The other option is to go bald. But I don't have the head shape for that.

    • +7

      The other option is to go bald.

      That's what I thought until it happened naturally. It's amazing what you'll accept when you have no choice.

  • +1
    • lol no way i'm ever going to cut like that. i use 2 mirrors and find it extremely difficult doing the back. i think most ozbargainers who try to cut there own hair are going to end up looking like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocHnsN6R9Xs

  • I usually do maintenance cuts myself. If I'm going from long to short then I might get it done at the hairdressers though my self hair cutting skills have improved so I can probably do that myself as well.

  • +1

    Been doing this for years with a little help from the missus. Three kids never been to a hairdresser.

  • +1

    My old man has been cutting my hair since 2010. I used to get my hair cut every 2 weeks or so (simple no.2 buzz cut) for $10. I've saved well over $1000.

  • -1

    Dont know why the op is complaining about a $15 visit to the barber, I have a pensioner card and with reduction pay $18 and thats just for a number 6 all over

    • +2

      If it's a number 6 all over then you're over paying IMHO. Anything 'all over' can be DIY; only gets gritty when you have to blend/thin/crop.

  • +3

    Before marriage: Used to get my hair cut once every 6 weeks at $20 a pop.
    After marriage: Wife complains my haircuts are too expensive and too often. She asks me to buy her a kit.

    I bought a $40 kit. Her first time using it, it was so and so. 2nd time. Almost there. 3rd time. Perfect.

    Currently on my 6th haircut and already made back my $40 and saved $120 in haircuts since getting the kit.

    • +39

      True, but you didn't take into account the running costs for your wife.

      • +11

        He just needs a few eloops to keep her running.

      • +3

        Bravo, I nominate this for joke of the month.

    • +2

      They say the difference between a bad haircut and a good haircut is a couple of days.

    • +3

      Congratulations on getting an Ozbargain-spirited wife. That is one of my life's ambitions ^_^

  • -2

    Only costs me $15 to get my hair cut at one of the local hair dressers.

  • Nah. Mine grows shorter

  • -1

    I did cut my own dingo's hair before someone read a poem to my wiener.

  • +2

    As a fairly long-haired asian male, if I tried to trim my hair by myself, I would probably have to commit seppuku in fear of dishonoring myself.

    /Thread

  • I get my hair cut once every two months or so. Costs $8-10 each time, so it's not exactly a major drain on the finances.

  • Yes and the wife's and kids hair. Ozbargain has made me too poor to pay.

  • +1

    I cut my own hair. The best bargain of my life.

  • Also got Wahl rechargable clippers and recently pulled apart and replaced the crappy batteries with Eneloops! much faster now and last a lot longer than it ever did.

  • +4

    I want to know where you people that get your hair cut are getting it done for $10-20. I live in the ACT, and the going price for a haircut seems to be about $25-30 for a pretty basic men's cut, no matter where you go.

    I actually got given a set of clipper at X-mass last year, and haven't been to the barber since. I have a wonderful combo of thick, steely, curly hair, and sever thinning and receding on top, that gives me a distinct 'crusty the clown' look if my hair is any longer than about an inch anyway.

    • +2

      Here in Melbourne, you can get a haircut for $10 in the CBD (Elizabeth St) on Mondays to Wednesdays.

    • I feel your pain, bro :'-(. Here, have a mensch upvote.

  • I use a set of Wahl clippers to trim it down, then shave it clean with a Mach 3.
    It's a lot cheaper (considering I change hairstyles every week or two), and has more space for options.
    I've got pretty unconventional hairstyles.

  • I wish I had the head that would look good witha buzz cut.

    Unfortunately I don't.

    When I do it myself, it's not a simple buzz… it's a long and delicate process (1 hour).

    …but after complaints from my family, I finally got to a professional hairdresser ($20) and they were happy. The end.

    • +2

      Nah just go to a 2 dollar shop, get a bowl the size of your head

      Put the bowl on your head

      Cut around the bowl

      ???

      Profit.

      • +1

        i have a feeling i know what nationality you are lolofied…. lol!
        my parents tried that bowl thing on me when i was younger! :D

        • Well I did say I was an asian male in a earlier comment so it shouldn't be too difficult :x

      • Dad used to do this for me when I was a kid. And before doing it, tear a hole in the middle of a doublepaged newspaper and put it over my head first. I'm female:'(

  • +3

    I've been cutting my own hair for as long as I can remember, well over 15 years. Before that I used to go to a barber just so I could get that hot chick to cut my hair, but because she was sometimes busy with other clients I decided it wasn't worth it anymore. My brother offered to cut my hair, not a buzz cut, a proper one. Then it was my turn to help him, he asked if I could trim the sides with a comb, so I did, left him with a step, he was sooo pissed off, he never cut my hair ever again. So I thought, stuff it, I'll just buzz cut it, but instead of shaving the whole lot off, I left the front spiky, so my hair would look a bit like Guile at the time, not that long though.

    Everyone is surprised when I tell them I cut my own hair because of the spiky bit at the front, my recent cut, I left it longer so parts of it can dangle on my forehead or on the sides.

    I cut my hair once every 2 months, multiply that by 15 years, multiply that by $10, I have saved over $900, doesn't seem like much.

  • +2

    I have been cutting my own hair for the last 5-7 years. I cut it every couple of weeks so I get good value out of it. More often than not, the barber usually used to stuff my hair cut up and now with hair cuts going over $20+, I thought it was worth me getting my own gear. I used to do the wahl etc but those are not great IMO. I do a proper blend on the sides and back starting with 1mm so very important to have proper gear for this. When i say proper gear, for me its something that rotates, doesn't need oiling and you dont have to take out those cutting heads for different sizes.

    you need a proper DIY gear. I use a mix of two, the Philips Norelco DIY clipper. This has a rotating head and also a adjustable hair size so you don't have to keep changing the heads to your size, there is a dial so you can set what mm you want. Here is what they look like:
    http://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-pe/hair-clippers/diy-clippers…

    I also bought the braun cruze shaver(which was on a deal here) which allows you to do the 1mm-3mm cuts. With the combination of those two, I can just spend 2 mins and get a perfect haircut every time once a week.

    • +1

      I've often wanted to buy a Norelco but have heard that it's not as powerful as a Wahl (therefore, it 'catches' on hair). You don't have that problem?

      • +1

        Never had that problem but I don't have rock star long hair. I am sure with Philips you can easily return them if you have that issue. I bought mine in Japan (where it was a lot cheaper) and had just come out so maybe its different quality. I am extremely happy with mine.

        • Thanks for the reply, dude! I've been cutting my hair with razor combs - gives a 'natural' (ie. no steps, blends in well) but hella tedious; now looking for something easier. Sounds like Norelco's the go.

  • +1

    I go to a gay hairdresser who loves me flirting with him.

    It's only 10$ and im sure he wants me to look good.

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