avatarN.J. Elliott

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<b>ensure you leave at least an inch for blending</b></p><p id="7a40">If possible recruit someone from your household to cut the back of your hair. If not, try and use two mirrors, one in front and one behind you.</p><p id="cf90">Ok so now you have very short hair at the back and sides and a tonne of hair on top. Now you have the choice of whether to blend into the top of your hair.</p><p id="7322">Generally, the shorter your hair is on top the easier it is to blend in. If you have very long hair on top, experiment with styling it. Wet your hair and comb it back. Tie it up if the length suits or, go for the just got out of bed ruffled look. You may be surprised how good it looks, if not move on to step 3.</p><h2 id="39ac">Step 3— Blend to the top</h2><p id="ccaa">This is the most difficult part of the process.</p><p id="1151">Gradually move up in guide comb lengths until the largest length, for the remaining hair on the back and sides.</p><p id="e00a">As you move up your head use a flicking motion by lifting your clippers for each stoke. This ensures your hair is shortest at the bottom of each movement. Once you reach the largest guide comb size on your clippers, you can simply hold your clippers above your scalp to continue blending.</p><p id="1f4e">If you have tied up your hair, untie it to get a feel of what it looks like.</p><p id="9483">This is where you <i>can</i> introduce scissors to help. It's best to get someone else to do this for you. The important thing with scissors is to keep moving up and/or down as you are moving to avoid creating too extreme a step in your hair.</p><h2 id="65e6">Pros</h2><ul><li>A successful trim looks a lot better than a uniform shave.</li><li>If it looks bad, who cares you are on lockdown.</li><li>Get the hipster lid you secretly always wanted — shaved at the sides, long on top.</li></ul><h2 id="bf63">Cons</h2><ul><li>Riskier in terms of end result.</li><li>Can rely on someone else to help cut the back of your head.</li><li>High maintenance as your hair grows out</li></ul><h1 id="d79e">Tips</h1><h2 id="8118">Less is more</h2><p id="1be6">The key is to not go too crazy. Your focus should be purely on managing and maintaining your hair through lockdown until the barbers re-opens.</p><p id="1819">Let’s be totally honest here, the blending process in option 2 is tough, so to begin with, it may be a good idea to have a larger blending area between the back/sides and the top of your hair.</p><p id="040f">Less is more, start off small. You can always cut more off tomorrow.</p><h2 id="73db">Avoid using kitchen scissors</h2><p id="7cf8">If you are going to use scissors the sharper they are the better. It is unlikely your kitchen or household scissors are appropriate for this, so buy a new set of styling scissors and get them delivered.</p><h2 id="bd14">Look after your hair trimmer</h2><p id="3b22">Make sure your clippers are clean, hair-free and oiled before use. It is essential you look after your hair trimmers in order to get a smooth consistent cut.</p><p id="7ba1">First using a brush, remove any hair from the blades. Next, dab some oil on and between the blades. Turn on the trimmer briefly to distribute the oil.</p><p id="1c86">Finally, clean your comb attachments. Wash them under the tap and leave to dry.</p><p id="d3b9"><b><i>Good luck and remember to nod in acknowledgement from a safe distance when you see the man crossing the street with a homemade short back and sides

Options

.</i></b></p><p id="e727"><i>Also by the author</i></p><div id="6d80" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-psychedelics-could-make-you-a-more-empathetic-leader-3bb8f607fae"> <div> <div> <h2>How Psychedelics Could Make You a More Empathetic Leader</h2> <div><h3>Showing empathy is increasingly important for leaders. Research suggests that psychedelics could help.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*AC8lOL3VfSbL144NNeLCjw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="fb95" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/what-its-like-to-be-a-white-teacher-in-a-black-school-2b2fa032546d"> <div> <div> <h2>What It’s Like to Be a White Teacher in a Black School</h2> <div><h3>Professional development fails to address issues of race in the classroom, be yourself and let your students fill the…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*j-bJM7MMONP1Y2Euhq5KsA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="74b7" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/microdosing-or-using-psychedelics-how-to-support-academic-research-6112caa9ae51"> <div> <div> <h2>Microdosing or Using Psychedelics? Here’s How to Support Academic Research</h2> <div><h3>Support vital research, whether microdosing or taking a psychedelic on your own, in a group, or as part of a ceremony.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*9C2ulWqcDzeHnoz2MRXnbw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="f77b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-i-decided-to-revisit-psychedelics-1e53af52b4de"> <div> <div> <h2>Why I Decided to Revisit Psychedelics</h2> <div><h3>Turning to Magic Mushrooms for guidance and clarity, contributing to university research at the same time.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*RVd-4VsjaVgRDyYiKpGMUA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="4358" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/8-spiritual-lessons-from-my-favourite-album-a84ddf64899"> <div> <div> <h2>Lessons From My Favourite Album</h2> <div><h3>#1 Embody your creativity.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*mckQlBmD9Ty_-wLNqHRDCA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

How to Cut Your Own Hair for Men

Barbers are closed for the foreseeable future. Can I really cut my own hair?

Photo by ANDI WHISKEY on Unsplash

One aspect of life on lockdown is the inability to get to the barbers. Unless you were fortunate to have had a haircut not long before our lives were consumed by COVID 19, it's likely your hair is out of control.

So what do I do about my hair? Do I just let it grow? Can I really cut my own hair? Can I trust my partner/father/sister with a pair of scissors and a 20-year-old hair trimmer?

Now there is a reason we go to the barbers. They do a remarkable, highly skilled and underappreciated job, so do not expect greatness. However, under the absence of any alternative, the reality is yes you can cut your own hair. There is no other choice.

The key is to keep it simple and get your hands on a proper hair trimming set. Do not use your beard trimmer!

There are two main options when cutting your own hair

  1. Buzzcut to one length
  2. Shave the back and sides and blend into the top.

There are pro’s and con’s of each approach — The first approach is certainly easier, but also less fun.

Here is some advice on cutting your own hair.

Option 1 — The one-length buzz cut

The easiest way to cut your own hair is to invest in some hair clippers, choose a number and shave your hair to a uniform length.

You can even do this yourself without recruiting someone you live with.

Pros

  • Quick and easy to do.
  • Hair is uniform in length.
  • Easy to maintain — simply cut once a week.

Cons

  • Inflexible styling which may not suit your head shape.
  • Quickly looks bad as it grows out.

Option 2 — Shave back and sides and blend into the top

For the more adventurous self-styler, you require hair trimmers with as wide a range of comb attachments as possible.

Step 1 — Prepare

Sweep/comb your hair up and choose how high on the back and sides to cut. Tie up with a hair clip or elastic band if possible.

See the photo at the top of this article for reference.

Step 2— Shave back and sides

Starting from the bottom, shave approx one inch at its shortest length all the way around the back and sides.

Feeling brave? Start with a number 2 (1/4 inch). Feeling more conservative, choose a number 3 (3/8 inch) or 4 (1/2 inch).

Next, move up a length and shave another inch all around. For example, if you have started at a number 2 move up to a number 3. You can shorten and blend later if appropriate.

You are aiming to shave at least 3/4 of the side of your head. Try and get the same length on each side and ensure you leave at least an inch for blending

If possible recruit someone from your household to cut the back of your hair. If not, try and use two mirrors, one in front and one behind you.

Ok so now you have very short hair at the back and sides and a tonne of hair on top. Now you have the choice of whether to blend into the top of your hair.

Generally, the shorter your hair is on top the easier it is to blend in. If you have very long hair on top, experiment with styling it. Wet your hair and comb it back. Tie it up if the length suits or, go for the just got out of bed ruffled look. You may be surprised how good it looks, if not move on to step 3.

Step 3— Blend to the top

This is the most difficult part of the process.

Gradually move up in guide comb lengths until the largest length, for the remaining hair on the back and sides.

As you move up your head use a flicking motion by lifting your clippers for each stoke. This ensures your hair is shortest at the bottom of each movement. Once you reach the largest guide comb size on your clippers, you can simply hold your clippers above your scalp to continue blending.

If you have tied up your hair, untie it to get a feel of what it looks like.

This is where you can introduce scissors to help. It's best to get someone else to do this for you. The important thing with scissors is to keep moving up and/or down as you are moving to avoid creating too extreme a step in your hair.

Pros

  • A successful trim looks a lot better than a uniform shave.
  • If it looks bad, who cares you are on lockdown.
  • Get the hipster lid you secretly always wanted — shaved at the sides, long on top.

Cons

  • Riskier in terms of end result.
  • Can rely on someone else to help cut the back of your head.
  • High maintenance as your hair grows out

Tips

Less is more

The key is to not go too crazy. Your focus should be purely on managing and maintaining your hair through lockdown until the barbers re-opens.

Let’s be totally honest here, the blending process in option 2 is tough, so to begin with, it may be a good idea to have a larger blending area between the back/sides and the top of your hair.

Less is more, start off small. You can always cut more off tomorrow.

Avoid using kitchen scissors

If you are going to use scissors the sharper they are the better. It is unlikely your kitchen or household scissors are appropriate for this, so buy a new set of styling scissors and get them delivered.

Look after your hair trimmer

Make sure your clippers are clean, hair-free and oiled before use. It is essential you look after your hair trimmers in order to get a smooth consistent cut.

First using a brush, remove any hair from the blades. Next, dab some oil on and between the blades. Turn on the trimmer briefly to distribute the oil.

Finally, clean your comb attachments. Wash them under the tap and leave to dry.

Good luck and remember to nod in acknowledgement from a safe distance when you see the man crossing the street with a homemade short back and sides.

Also by the author

Beauty
Style
Self Improvement
Covid-19
Lifestyle
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