Couples typically encounter a surprise or two when they create a budget for the first time after getting married. The biggest surprise for me was how much money my husband spent on haircuts. He prefers to keep his hair short, so this requires a monthly trim. At approximately $20 per cut, he was spending $240 each year for haircuts.
Given my aversion to paying someone else to do something I can effectively do myself, it didn’t take long for us to purchase a haircutting clipper. We read some reviews and selected the Wahl Chrome Pro
Have you discounted the possibility of giving haircuts at home because you don’t know how to cut hair? It’s not all that difficult!
How to cut men’s hair
The clipper we purchased came with a small booklet that provides some instructions.
We also found some excellent videos online that provide step-by-step directions.
Men’s or boy’s hair is relatively easy to cut, but what about women’s hair? How difficult is it to cut at home?
How to cut women’s hair
After struggling to find somewhere I could get a good haircut at an affordable price, I literally took matters into my own hands.
My husband initially thought I was crazy, but the truth is that I’ve paid for haircuts that were quite poor compared to what I can do myself. By cutting my own hair, we save approximately $100-150 each year. I viewed a video before taking the scissors to my hair.
When I cut my hair in this way, it ends up a little shorter in the back than it is at the sides of my face. This works for me, but if you’d like a different shape or you want to put layers in your hair, you can search a bit and find additional videos. There are also instructional videos for cutting the hair of another woman or girl.
That doesn’t look so difficult, does it? If you feel emboldened to give it a try, I recommend only trimming off a short amount on your first attempt. (This leaves enough hair that you can get it fixed by a professional if something happens to go wrong!) As you gain experience, you can trim off longer portions with confidence.
Do you already give haircuts at home? If so, what tips can you share for giving good haircuts? If you don’t already give haircuts at home, do you think you’ll give it a try?
Shared on the following link-ups:
Hearts for Home, From House to Home, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Works for Me Wednesday & Welcome Home Wednesday.
I have always cut my boys’ hair, and also usually cut mine and my husband’s as well. I just can’t justify the cost for just a hair cut!
Hi Sarah,
That’s our conclusion, too! Glad to hear I’m not the only one who cuts my own hair. 🙂
Getting hair cuts is expensive! Like you, I’ve learned to cut my hair myself. It’s really easy and I’ve been very happy with just flipping it over my head and snipping it off. I like the layered look. 🙂
It really is easy, isn’t it?
Although I’m cool with cutting my boys hair, I don’t think I would ever attempt my own! Great tips and post!
I think I tortured hairdressers, doctors and lawyers in a past life. Lol. I’ve cut my hair before but its wavy and I can’t figure out how to cut the back. Plus I’m not quite always spot on cutting the front part and have to go in for a remedial cut now and then. Any ideas for cutting wavy hair, your own, in the back?
Hi Pam,
Do you cut your hair when it’s wet or dry? I know people who do it both ways, but I’ve always had more success when it’s wet. This is because when it’s wet, I’m able to pull it taut (despite the fact that it’s naturally curly when dry).
I wonder if it might be possible to adjust the approach shown in the pictures and first video under cutting women’s hair. Would it work to place it in a ponytail at the nape of your neck but use numerous hair ties (spaced about an inch apart) to keep it straight during cutting?
I’ve also put my hair in a ponytail at the top front of my head (like the horn on a unicorn) and cut it that way. (This allows me to cut it in front of my eyes.)
Someone may have made a video specifically about cutting your own wavy hair, so it might be beneficial to search the internet for this. Let us know if you find useful tips!
After cutting my own bangs for a couple of decades, I started cutting my hair over 6 years ago–my husband worked late at the time, it was difficult taking 3 kiddos along with me to get a so-so haircut at Great Clips, and I was often too tired to go (alone) when my husband came home from work, or GC was already closed. I’ve cut my hair when it was long, as well as cutting it rather short. (Short is not for the faint of heart, but you can do it. Gradually go shorter so there’s room to fix any mistakes. Long is much easier for me to maintain, and I’m growing it out again.)
I cut my husband’s and children’s hair (scissors or clippers), except for my 16 year old–he cuts his own hair now! 🙂 My wavy hair is more forgiving than my daughter’s straight hair, so hair type does play into the equation.
My tip is for those of you who are cutting your young children’s hair: for the wiggly ones, try cutting hair while the child is playing in the bathtub (pouring water with several cups or something else that will keep them relatively stationery). I was able to sit my daughter on the bathroom counter and she would watch in the mirror as I cut her hair, but her brothers were way too wiggly to go for that! A sucker while you’re cutting helps keep ’em happy, too. Be patient, and don’t expect to get it ALL cut in one sitting. Just be pleasantly surprised if you do. 🙂
I’m impressed you cut your hair short! I’m not brave enough to try that.
Thanks for the tips about cutting little ones’ hair.
Thanks for the tips. I gave my 20yo son another haircut yesterday. He refuses to spend money on hair cuts, probably because I’ve been cutting his hair for 20 years.
I guess I am not the only one that thinks home haircuts are a great idea. I won’t cut my own as I don’t need to. My husband cuts mine, my two daughters, and always does a great job. And yes, it saves us a lot of money.
How wonderful that your husband does a great job with this!
My cousin bought her family a set of clippers, scissors and cape for Christmas. She asked me what she needed, a detailed list of must have items. So over the next week, my cousin asked me to help her with her first home haircuts. I told her to go slow first, leave more hair on their heads, it is Winter time. It also leaves room to fix mistakes. Her boys are still quite young and her daughter has medium length hair to her shoulders. So wish her (and me) well and grant me the patience to be a good teacher 🙂 I didn’t talk to my husband about it and I hate to drag him into it last minute. But I hope he doesn’t feel I set him up if I ask him to come along for “moral support” and we were invited for dinner as part of the invitation. I figure I’ll tell him not to fret the details but once he hears what we are doing, he will be willing to help (offer to save us:) ) the ladies through it. Chivalry is not dead.
Yes, definitely leave the hair longer at first in case there are mistakes! Hopefully there will not be any, though. I hope it goes well!
Sorry for the double post. Things turned out OK, I (we) helped her get through them. Used a number 8 on the boys on top, then blended it from a number 4 to the top layers. Showed her how to do the side burns and neckline. Turned out quite well. My guy explaied it a little better than me, but we emphasized that she needed the hands on experience. The boys hair grows so fast though, She had to do it again less than a month later. I told her she would get more practice that way. My guy was the sanity check on her daughter. Focused on technique with minimal removed, less than 1/2 inch. He always cuts mine, I don’t cut the girls, only do an S&D on my ends whn I see white tips and I’m not due for a trim. He walked her through it ok, with no tears. She has done the boys three more times since and now her husband even lets her cut his. So she is saving money.
Wonderful! I’m so glad it has worked out well.
If the boys’ hair continues to grow quickly then she’ll be an expert in no time!
My cousin bought the family a set of clippers, scissors and cape for Christmas. She asked me what she needed. So over the next week, my cousin asked me to help her with her first home haircuts. I toild her to go slow first, leave more hair on their heads, it is Winter time. It also leaves room to fix mistakes. Her boys are still quite young and her daughter has medium length hair to her shoulders. So wish her (and me) well and grant me the patience to be a good teacher 🙂 I didn’t talk to my boyfriend about it and I hate to rag him into it last minute. But I hope he doesn’t feel I set him up if I ask him to come along for “moral support”.