Help cutting hair with clippers

Tina_D · 10 February 2006 at 8:29PM

Hi guys,
I have 3 boys who have their hair cut every 6 weeks. It costs me £22.50 in the barbers, so in a moneysaving frenzy I bought a pair of clippers! I have just managed to give them all a going over with them and I think its not too bad for a first effort. My only concern is that my eldest is 10 and I cant afford to get it wrong. So with this in mind are there any books or even a hairdresser that can give me some tips. they all have it shaved up the back and longer on top so it can be gelled. I'm a bit unsure how to blend it in.
My eldest also always seems to have smelly hair even when its just been washed, any ideas?
thanks
Tina

halloweenqueen_2 · 10 February 2006 at 8:40PM

The little of bottle of oil that comes with the clippers - make sure you use it - we didn't on the first pair and they packed up, just blob a little of before you use them and when you've finished brush the baldes out and oil them again.
Perhaps you want to do the eldest last when you've practiced on the other two, really there isn't much to it, just a bit hairy (:0) to begin with!

comping_cat · 10 February 2006 at 9:24PM

I bought hair clippers for my son just before xmas, but he is quite easy, has a number 4 all over!!!! Practice will be your best bet!! If your eldest son has smelly hair, might be worth checking how much shampoo he is using, if he is rinsing enough, and maybe he now needs a shampoo for his hair type, rather than a childs one???

Icemaiden · 10 February 2006 at 9:46PM

Your boys hair style sound very similar to my fussy 14yrs. I do a number 3 at the back, number 4 on top and the sides then finish off by tidying around the ears with scissors (yes I have drawn blood in the early days) Its a case of trial & error at the begining but when I got it correct I made a note of what blades I used for furture ref. My O/H has a number 1 all over :eek: so his is dead simply. Just think how much money you will be saving!! :j

elvis_bloggs · 10 February 2006 at 9:49PM

I got a video with my clippers but I just do a number 4 all over, can't be bothered with all that changing of the plastic thingies.

Icemaiden · 10 February 2006 at 9:59PM

Oh, just had I thought about the smelly hair, could it be the gel hes using??

Jay-Jay_4 · 10 February 2006 at 9:59PM

I've been doing hubby's hair for about 3-4 years now. Like you I hadn't ever done it before and I had to be sure that he wouldn't look like a plank when I'd finished

I start off by doing a no2 up the back and kind-of 'flicking' the clippers outwards when I get to the top of his head. I then use some Boots hairdressing scissors to blend in the top with the sides and then chop into the top so that he can mess it up with wax.

It's better to start with a no3 or no4 at first until you feel confident taking the back and sides shorter.

Mado · 10 February 2006 at 10:02PM

Do the back with clippers and the top with GOOD quality scisoors. Use your fingers as guide: 1 finger length is perfectly fine....and you can really miss.
Thr trick is really on having scisors that are sharp!

Mr_Proctalgia · 10 February 2006 at 10:27PM

I do my own hair by standing in front of the mirror with a pair of clippers, I started off with a No4 guard now it is a No2 jobbie all over - It takes 5 minutes and is a breeze to do. I think the youngsters like the idea of a short clip but can see the elders point of view. I find it helps to have the light behind you so you can see all the "swends" that have been missed and you can cut them off, also, if you are (or were -Ahem!!!) blessed with a "Calf Lick" it helps to undercut it so it lays down instead of doing a "Tin Tin".

Hope this helps.

Rebob · 10 February 2006 at 11:10PM

I start a couple of inches back from the front with the longest bit then move to a size smaller comb. If the clippers have a lever on the side you can move the blade back with the smaller comb on for the edge of the longest bit then move the blade back to the front egde and do the back and sides. IYKWIM????

My mum was a barber for 20 odd years until she fell off the step and broke her wrist. She then handed me some of her clippers and said I had to do dh and ds!!!! Never done it before that but have now done it for the last 5 years so very money saving.

Chipps · 10 February 2006 at 11:17PM

We are on our 2nd pair of clippers now (1 DH & 2 DSs) although I now refuse to do DHs hair, as now he is a bit older he looks a bit convict-like!!! When DS1 went to college & had a part time job he decided he wanted to pay for his own haircuts (fine by me, as long as he's paying!)
So now its just DS2 (15) who gets the "lawnmower" treatment. I use No 3 for the back & sides, & No 4 on the top (chop ears off... I mean trim hair round ears... with the scissors)
Once, when DS2 was quite small, I forgot to put the comb on & shaved right up the top of his head!!! He looked like a mohican in reverse! Had to do the rest with No 1 comb & make sure he wore a hat to go out, as it was in the winter!
Over the years I must have saved an absolute fortune with those clippers.

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Help cutting hair with clippers

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free