Cutting Men’s Hair at Home: What to Know Before You Start

Desperation can lead a person to do some pretty crazy things. That includes cutting your own hair at home. If you haven’t had a trim in months and the mullet isn’t doing it for you, you may be eyeing the kitchen scissors right about now. You may be saying, “It can’t be that hard to give myself a trim.” Let’s get this out of the way. If you don’t know what you’re doing, a lot can and will go wrong. Still want to go through with it? Here’s what you need to know before you start cutting men’s hair at home.

1. Put Down the Scissors 

As a general rule of thumb, you should never cut your hair with scissors from the kitchen drawer — or the pizza cutter or steak knife. Put everything you use to cut food away and opt for some quality cutting shears instead. Look for stainless and carbon steel, as they are the sharpest and will result in a cleaner cut. 

You should also grab a comb, trimmer, spray bottle and any styling products you might need. While you may not use all these tools, they’re good to have on hand so you aren’t running to the store with half-cut hair. 

2. Consider Your Hair 

Before you begin snipping away, you should also consider your hair’s natural texture and part. If your locks are curly or wavy, cut or trim them while your hair is dry so you’ll have a better idea of what the final look will be. On the other hand, if you have fine, straight strands, it’s best to dampen them using your spray bottle. Then, comb it for the straightest cut possible.

Likewise, before you cut your hair, make sure your part is where you usually wear it. Otherwise, you’ll be left with weird layers and a mop of a cut if you can’t figure out where the part was when you cut it. You want great hair all this season, and there’s no better time to start than now.

3. Start Small 

After gathering all the necessary tools, prepping your hair and second-guessing yourself a few times, it’s time to get to work. If your hair is long, begin by sectioning it off, then slowly work your way through each one, lightly trimming the ends. Shorter-haired fellas can just use the longest guard comb to buzz their hair. 

Beginning slowly and taking a little bit off at a time will prevent you from cutting too much and regretting your decision. After all, you can always cut your hair shorter, but you just can’t put it back once it’s gone. That goes for cutting men’s hair at home — or cutting anyone’s hair, anywhere.

And hey, if you like it so much, you can always take up haircutting as a hobby on the side. You probably have a few friends who could use a buzz right about now.

4. Cut Vertically

Videos and tutorials of people cutting thier hair straight across should come with a “don’t try this at home” label. Horizontal cuts like these will only result in an uneven trim and a much shorter look than you were planning on. 

The simplest way to avoid such a tragedy is to cut vertically. Hold your shears straight up and down or at a slight angle and snip the ends little by little. This method is especially important as you trim bangs and the strands around your face. The vertical cut will create a softer, less blunt look. 

5. Ask for Help 

When you reach the back of your head, don’t reach for a mirror. Instead, reach out to your partner or roommate. Ask them to buzz or cut your locks just as you did around the sides and front to create a uniform style. 

You might also call up your hairdresser and ask for advice when you reach this trouble spot. Many salons are even offering video call cuts so they instruct you in real time. If yours provides this option, considering going with a pro from the very beginning. They probably know a thing or two about cutting men’s hair at home. Plus, they’ll likely have a few pointers, even if you feel like you can handle it on your own. 

Cutting Men’s Hair at Home Can Be Easy

If you really want to nail your DIY cut or just want to have hair on your head when you’re done, keep things simple. That means leaving the fades, hard lines and maybe even the bangs to the professionals. When cutting men’s hair at home, you’ll need to compromise a little.

If you have to wait a little while longer to book an appointment, a simple trim should hold you over — unless you’re a werewolf or something. If that’s the case, we can’t help you.