If you are tired of the endless wait for an appointment at your favorite salon or looking to go light on your pocket, cutting your own hair at home can be a great option. Although cutting your own hair may sound daunting, it is easier than you imagine it to be. With the right tools, tips, and some practice, you can achieve professional-looking results at home too. From scissors and clippers to combs and mirrors, you’ll come across everything you need to know to about home haircuts in this article. So, if you are looking to trim your sideburns or give yourself a complete haircut, this article has got you covered, consider this a beginner’s guide to cutting your own hair.

Top Tips for Home Haircuts

Let’s dive into some tips for cutting your own hair at home. 

Invest in Quality Tools

One of the most things to consider before giving yourself a haircut is investing in good-quality tools. Using high-quality tools ensures that your hair is cut evenly without pulling or snagging. It also ensures that no damage is done to your hair which is important if you have hair that is delicate or requires special attention.

In addition, quality tools will make the entire process more efficient, quick, and enjoyable and result in an overall good-looking haircut. Moreover, good quality tools will last you longer if you take care of them which makes them a worthwhile investment. As such, before attempting your first home haircut, be sure to purchase the right tools.

Have a Plan

Before you flicker those clippers on, it is important to plan the type of haircut you want. As with everything else, you would find a bunch of YouTube tutorials for the haircut you want. We recommend that you watch a couple of videos before you take the first attempt and learn the tiny details, for example, what length of clipper guards you should use and when to change them for a fade effect.

Start with Dry Hair

You should ensure that you start with dry hair as wet hair may appear to be longer than it is, and as such, you can cut your hair shorter than your requirement, resulting in an uneven cut. So, if you are going in to cut your hair, make sure you blow it dry before starting.

Use a Large Mirror for Home Haircuts

Using a mirror large enough so that you can see yourself is crucial for home haircuts. In addition to this, you also need a mirror that shows the back of your head as cutting the hair in that area is one of the most challenging parts of home haircuts, and without a mirror, it can lead to a disaster.

In order to see the back of your head, you would need a dual mirror system where you have one mirror that shows the front and one mirror that shows the back. The mirror showing the back of your head would be reflected in the mirror showing the front of your hair so that you can cut the hair at the back with ease. To make this system work, both mirrors need to be fixed in place or held by someone who can help you.

Section Your Hair

Sectioning your hair is an essential step in cutting your hair at home. By making sections in your hair, you can focus on one particular area for the moment which leads to a more even cut and helps you avoid cutting too much or missing a spot.

You can use hair clips or ties to separate the hair into sections that will help you not mix up the sections and work efficiently with the hair. We also recommend that you start with the bottom layer of your hair and work your way up as it will give you a clear view of the hair, help you track how much you have cut, and how much is left.

Take Your Time

A home haircut is not an easy and quick task, and as such, it is important that you take your time and not rush the process. One of the most common mistakes people make while cutting their own hair is being impatient which leads to uneven cuts or missing spots and are mistakes that are frustrating & tough to fix.

So, we recommend that you take regular breaks, step back, and assess your haircut’s progress from different angles. This will help you spot any unevenness & missed spots or adjustments that you would like to make. Also, without breaks, you may cut your hair a bit too much, leading to a haircut that is too short for your liking.

Practice, Practice, and Practice

The famous saying practice makes perfect also applies to home haircuts. It may take some time to get the hang of the entire process and achieve the haircut you want, but with practice & patience, you will be able to master the art of home haircuts.

With home haircuts, you should be willing to experiment and try out new things. Everyone’s hair type and preferences are different and what works for someone may not work for you. As such, you should continue to try out new techniques and ways until you find the one that works the best for you.

You should also keep in mind that home haircuts are not just a one-off event but rather an ongoing process where you have a learning curve. So, if you are not satisfied with your first attempt, it’s okay as mistakes are part of the learning process. The more you practice, the better you become. So be patient, continue to practice, and you will achieve the results you want in the end.

Tools You Need for Home Haircuts

When it comes to cutting your own hair, you must have the right tools to achieve the results you want. In this section, let’s have a look at the tools you need for home haircuts and the functions they serve.

Scissors

Scissors are one of the most tools to have for haircuts, and as such, you should invest in good-quality scissors. Good quality scissors allow you to cut your hair evenly & efficiently and help you achieve a professional look. Cheap quality scissors can damage your hair as they will pull on it and lead to uneven cuts. They may also be equipped with a bad grip which will make the entire experience uncomfortable and can cause fatigue. Whereas, good quality scissors will last longer if you maintain them well and will ultimately cost less over a long period of time.

Clippers

Clippers are also essential in a successful home haircut. They can be used to trim your hair to a shorter length, create a buzz cut, and smoothen out a fade cut. Most clippers come with varying guard lengths which allow you to control the length of the cut. As with any tool needed for haircuts, you should invest in good-quality clippers as they allow you to cut your hair evenly and precisely due to their sharp teeth. Moreover, high-quality clippers come with a wide range of guard sizes thus providing you with a variety of cut lengths. As such, get yourself good quality clippers so that you can have a successful and enjoyable home haircut session.

Comb

Although a comb may seem like a basic tool and be dismissed as unimportant, it plays an instrumental role in any haircut. A comb helps you pick up hair from the bottom layers. Moreover, it allows you to comb the hair straight before cutting as unstraightened hair may lead to uneven cuts, overcutting, or missing spots. You can purchase a wooden, anti-static comb made for hair, mustache, or beards.

Trimmers

Hair trimmers are designed to line up edges, create outlines, shave dry, and clean up areas such as the back of the neck, around the ears, beard lines, and sideburns. It provides the finishing look to a haircut, removes the unnecessary hair at the edges, and grooms up the person. You should invest in trimmers that have sharp teeth as trimmers must be able to line up edges and brush up any undesired hair.

Mirror

The importance of having a mirror that helps you see both the front and the back of your head cannot be overemphasized as you must see what you are doing when cutting your own hair. You also would need two mirrors to see the back of your head so you should keep this factor in mind as well while purchasing a mirror.

Hair Cape

A hair cape, also known as a salon cape, is a cloth used to cover a customer that is receiving a haircut so that the hair being cut does not fall onto the customer’s clothes or get inside their clothes and cause uneasiness. It also prevents any hairstyling products from getting to the customer. When cutting your own hair, it is also important you wear a hair cape so that you do not ruin your clothes or cause itchiness after a haircut. 

FAQs

1. Can you cut your own hair?

Yes, you can cut your own hair if you want to. However, you would need some tools and follow certain tips in order to make sure that you do not end up with uneven hair.

2. What tools do you need to cut your own hair?

You would need a pair of good-quality scissors, trimmers, clippers, a mirror, a comb, and a cape. You may not need all these tools and would depend on the type of haircut you are looking for.

3. Does cutting your own hair save money?

Yes, many people claim that cutting your own hair saves money as after the initial investment of tools, you can recoup these expenses after a couple of home haircuts.

Conclusion

Cutting your own hair and getting the results you want is truly a skill you can boast about. Home haircuts come with many pros including saving money, being in control of your hair, avoiding contracting any illnesses, and many others. Some tips for home haircuts are to invest in good-quality tools, be patient & practice, take your time & don’t rush it, plan, have a good mirror, and section your hair. You would need some tools for home haircuts and these tools include scissors, combs, clippers, trimmers, a mirror, and a cape.