A lot of people on this forum just shave their head. I don't, because I'd look like the guy's round face on that kids game where they use a magnet on iron filings to give him hair and whiskers, except there wouldn't be any iron filings.
I cut my own all through high school with thinning shears and a pair of scissors. It was below my ears though and not much of a taper to it.. Since retiring from the Navy I've been keeping it pretty short with a set of Wahl clippers and the 3, 4, and 5 comb attachments to taper it.
I cut my own hair and have for many years but military haircuts are pretty easy . I just use a set of Wahl clippers with a #1 guard for the sides and back. Then I run the clippers (without a guard) along a comb to blend the sides into the top. Then trim the top using my fingers to hold the hair and the clippers to trim. Last, I use a little mirror to see the back of my neck and clean that up. I used to use the clippers for that but lately I've been using a razor for the clean up and it works good.
This collection of pictures & videos is geared towards stylists, but the principles (clipper angles, settings etc) will still apply to the DIY barber. It also shows the variety of styles you can get with the clippers. Men's Taper Fade Haircuts http://coolmenshair.com/2009/09/mens-taper-fade-haircuts.html
Either a #1 or #2 with the clippers. Usually have to get a friend to clean up the back of my neck, I tried a couple times but using mirrors makes it difficult for me to move my hand in the right direction.
I've been cutting my own hair since I was 10, when I decided to give myself a buzz cut. Being in the military for the last 14 years, plus 4 years of ROTC, I've been giving myself a military fade once a month. I use Wahl clippers. I use a 7/8 or 1inch guard and go over everything. That gets me the length I want on top. Then I cut the sides with no guard. I just go from the bottom up. I follow the side of my head until it starts to curve towards the top, at that point I just continue in a straight line up. It is really easy.
For anyone new to clippers-- the numbers correspond to hair length after using a "gaurd" or comb-like attachment on the clippers. The exact lengths can vary by manufacturer, but they generally go up in 1/8 inch increments: #0 = no guard, no hair #1 = 1/8 inch #2 = 1/4 inch #3 = 3/8 inch #4 = 1/2 inch #5 = 5/8 inch #6 = 3/4 inch #7 = 7/8 inch #8 = 1 inch Just FYI, the numbers go backwards for pet clippers (yes, many people use pet clippers). For those, higher numbers mean shorter hair. I do "adoption makeovers" at an animal shelter & another volunteer uses the same model clippers for her dog, her horse & her husband!
My wife got me this set last Christmas to replace my probably 15 year old clippers. Rechargeable is nice but I know the batteries won't last as long as the clippers will. http://wahlhomeproducts.com/Products/Men'sGrooming/LithiumIon/79600-2101
There is a self cutting system advertised on WSHH all the time. It is basically a 3 mirror setup where the center mirror is in front of your face and the 2 fold on either side at different angles to allow you to see completely behind your melon. They actually have self cut competitions at a lot of the barber shows. If you have never been to a barber cut competition it is definitely worth watching, especially some of the Africian American ones. I have seen some pretty crazy hair cuts.
This is all good info guys, I appreciate it a lot! Now all I need is the confidence...errr confidence in my wife to do it for me. I gonna get some clippers next week. That'll be $360 bucks a year I can do something else with. Plus I can keep my hair looking like it always looks like I just walked out of a barber shop.
I've been doing this exact same thing ever since I got out of the military. Easy to do once you get the hang of it.
flyboy718, the $$$ you save by cutting your own hair will totally go towards buying more gear for the hair on your face. Good luck & let us know how it goes! Ha! It's crazy, right? It brings to mind that old saying, "the higher the hair, the closer to The Lord..." Thank you. The shelter takes pics. I'll ask for permission to post. Today we had the sweetest Yorkie mix who was badly matted, so he got a "business in the front, party in the back" 'do. ...I'm so intrigued by those barber competitions. Off to YouTube...
