Anyone cut their DS's hair with clippers? How hard is it?

[sksjasams]

DS14 gets a haircut about every 8 weeks. He would go more often if I would take him. He gets a standard buzz-type cut with a 6 on the top and 4 on the sides. Sometimes shorter in the summer...he just got a 4 on the top and a 3 on the sides. The haircut is $15 plus $3 tip - she has been cutting DS's hair for 10 years. It take her no more than 7 min from start to finish.

I am considering buying a nice hair clippers and cutting it myself. Is that crazy? How hard is it to use a hair clippers? I have watched her tons of times and of course she makes it look so easy. DS said he would trust me to do it and would be happy if he could get it cut more often. His trust may be misguided though. I have absolutely no experience.

The parts I am concerned about are the taper from the the top to the sides, and the edges around the ears and along the neckline. Do I need a separate type of clippers for the edges - I notice she uses two kinds.

What do you think? How hard is it? What would I need to purchase?

Thank you for your input!!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I often cut DH's hair with clippers. It isn't hard and most clippers come with instructions, you can also youtube and find thousands of videos that will show you what to do. You can do everything with one good set of clippers but sometimes it is easier to do the trim work with a beard trimmer

 

[debster812]

DS is 16, and wears his hair buzzed, with a #3 or #2 all the way around, so there is no tapering to worry about.

He alternates between having it done professionally, and having DH do it. That way, DH can use the 'professional' cut as sort of a guide. And, when DH started doing it, he started with a longer guide, so if he TOTALLY botched it, there would be enough length to have it fixed.

 

[disneyhand]

30 years ago my husband bought a flowbee. At the time it was an as seen on tv type product and also sold at fairs. I think now you can buy them online direct from flowbee.

Anyway it hooks up to a canister vacuum, so no mess and has several different size attachments for hair length. My husband hooks it up to his shop vac. He wears his hair very short and likes to cut it about once a month.

We had to replace it about 5 years ago and the 2nd one is still going strong. He loves this thing and for sure he got his monies worth. He uses a simple inexpensive clipper for the edges, but you don't have too.

 

[PinballFamily]

It is pretty easy to do! If your DS wants you to give it a shot, you probably should! I've been doing DS's hair for many years now. We have a Wahl set (from Amazon?) and it came with many different attachments, including a tapered one for each ear. For clean-up trimming around the ears, I use a small pair of scissors, and for the neckline, just snap the attachment off of the clipper and you just place the "naked" clipper along the hairline where you want and keep moving it to trim evenly along the back hairline. (I'm probably not explaining that last part clearly, but I'd guess any how-to video will show it better than I can with just words.) Good luck!

 

[MrBean]

Yep, I cut my 2 yr old DS's hair. With the cost of a child's haircut right at $20, there's no way I'm paying that when I can do it myself in minutes and use that money for more important things!

 

[scrapquitler]

DS14 gets a haircut about every 8 weeks. He would go more often if I would take him. He gets a standard buzz-type cut with a 6 on the top and 4 on the sides. Sometimes shorter in the summer...he just got a 4 on the top and a 3 on the sides. The haircut is $15 plus $3 tip - she has been cutting DS's hair for 10 years. It take her no more than 7 min from start to finish.

I am considering buying a nice hair clippers and cutting it myself. Is that crazy? How hard is it to use a hair clippers? I have watched her tons of times and of course she makes it look so easy. DS said he would trust me to do it and would be happy if he could get it cut more often. His trust may be misguided though. I have absolutely no experience.

The parts I am concerned about are the taper from the the top to the sides, and the edges around the ears and along the neckline. Do I need a separate type of clippers for the edges - I notice she uses two kinds.

What do you think? How hard is it? What would I need to purchase?

Thank you for your input!!

I have been doing DH's hair for at least 10 years and DS's for at least 5. I have a pair of clippers that cost about $30, and I replace them every couple of years. It's really easy to do, they both like their hair super short (I use the 1/4" blade for DH and the 1/8" blade for DS), and I cut their hair about every 3-4 weeks . There are lots of videos on YouTube if you need to learn how to do it. Definitely better than paying to get it done!

 

[rbork]

I have a 14 and 16 year old. Thanking the lord that they still like a crew cut with a #2 and #3. They don't even own a comb or brush. It saves me 30$ a month to do it myself. I do it outside in the summer and take them to the barber in the winter.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Your instincts are correct. The hardest part is the transition between the top and sides and cutting around the ears and neckline. They may use 2 different clippers at the shop but you can use the same clippers at home. You just take the guard off for the ears and neckline.

It is much much simpler if he used the same size guard all over. Then it is really a no brainer. I have used clippers on my DS12 back when he use to like to keep short hair. I used a 4 all over. But I would never attempt to do two different guards on it and have to blend the top and sides.

For that I would just take him and pay someone else to do it. Or I would ask him if he could go with a 4 or 5 all over and let you do it that way. Then you could do it once a month and save a ton of money.

This is the clipper and case with guards that I have only the model I bought was $45 at the time. This one is only 30 something. http://www.amazon.com/WAHL-79520-50...sr=8-3&keywords=wahl+hair+clippers+and+guards

Wahl is a trusted brand of clipper. Lots of professional stylist use Wahl clippers.

Trimming around the ear takes practice but if you have a steady hand you can do it and trimming the neckline is simple if you can cut across a straight line then it should not be a problem.

Unfortunately my DS12 now lets his hair grow out kind of Bieber-ish hanging near his eyes and down over his ears. I miss the short hair days.

I use the clippers on my DD13's hair. She has the sides of her head shaved above her ears and I use no guard on her and clip hers about once a month.

I also have hair cutting scissors and trim my own bangs once a month. I haven't paid for a hair cut for myself in about 4 years. (But I am getting one today- cutting it short)

 

[runsandjumps]

I cut my kids hair. The fading is the hardest part but I do pretty good now.

Ana

 

[3boymthr]

I cut the hair of all three of my boys and DH. It saves me $60/month plus the cost of tips. I have a Wahl clipper set. It came with the guides - size one to 8. You just change out the guides to get the length you want. It took me a while to get used to doing the taper but once you get used to it the cut looks pretty good. The hardest part I think is making sure to get both sides of the sideburns even. I have a cousin who cuts hair and she said you use the ears as guides but to make sure the ears are even too!

 

[ICan'tWait]

I just started clipping the hair for DS10 and DS13 this year. I'm still learning but at this point I think I'm the only one who notices the small goofs (I think.... ) I'd say go for it! Wish I hadn't waited so long for giving it a try.

 

[Narnia_girl]

My husband bought a Wahl trimmer set 18 years ago and has never been to a barber since. When our boys were little, he cut their hair all the time.

As they got older, they were more interested in styled cuts. He told them that he would pay the $15-20 for a stylist to cut it, but if they would continue to come to him for haircuts, he'd pay THEM $5. He figured he still came out ahead. Our 18-year old is still getting his haircuts from dad and collecting his $5 each time.

 

[penjen]

Ds is almost 10 and he has only been to the barber 2x. The second time was about 6 months ago and she cut it as well as I do so I continue to cut his hair now.

When I began, it was a bit tough. He was a toddler too but maybe start during the summer so if it doesn't look too good you have time to grow it out

I just bought new clippers on amazon my old ones were getting dull.

 

[amomma23]

Yep, I do DS10, DS6, and DH. About every 2 months I take $45 ($15 haircut x 3) and put it in the Disney fund.

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

I agree with everyone else. Get a Wahl clipper set with attachments ( you can get from Wal-Mart). The other item I use is an Oster T-finisher (purchased from Sally's). This is what I use for the sideburns, over the ear and back of the neck area. I find it easier to cut the hair when it is wet. Another important thing to do is to keep the clippers well oiled. Hope this helps good luck. Best time to try is in the summer that way an oops can grow out before school.

 

[zumbergc]

iF you get one with all your attachments.
Just start with the longer attachments, practice.

Then use the size that your son usually uses.
Plus start with the longer size that you would use on the top of his head.
If things don't go well, you can always let it grow out or take him to the barber later.

First couple times take longer, but it gets easier.
Right now the 2 yr old wiggles and not a fan of the clipper, so either if I do it or the barber, there is lots of crying.

 

[DLgal]

Get a Wahl Peanut to do the sideburns, around ears, and back of neck.

Cutting boys hair is totally easy. I've Been doing my boys and husband forever.

You can get a nice Wahl haurcutting set at Costco foe around $20. Includes the clippers, 8 guards, storage pouch, and cape.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I cut my ds12' hair for years. Until this exact week last year...we were just talking about this earlier when ds told me he needed a haircut. Anyway I had just trimmed his sideburns and neck and noticed a long hair up top...forgot to put the guide back on. He had a 4x1" long bald spot on the top/side of his head. He would not let me shave the rest off and there was nothing the stylist could do either. I cried for a week. He wore a ballcap until it grew out enough to get a short buzz. I haven't been allowed to touch his hair since...and he's in bad need of a cut right now.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I've cut DH's for 20+ years and DS's for 17. As other have said, basic buzz cut isn't rocket science.

FYI, too, if you want larger guides than what came in the kit, you can get others at beauty shops. (DH likes longer on the top, then I taper sides/back.)