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Thursday, July 5, 2012

How To: Cut a Little Boy’s Hair

I have five boys and a husband that all need haircuts every.single.month.

If I send them somewhere else to get their hair cut, I’d easily be spending $100 a month.  I decided a long, long, long time ago--when it was just The Hubsters and me--that I would learn to do it myself.  Back then, we were poor, starving, college students and we couldn’t even afford to have someone else cut my husband’s hair.

So I learned how to do it myself, and we’ve been saving money ever since.

Back in the college days, I even cut other people’s husband’s hair to save them a few bucks.

Ashlee’s older brother was one of those guys!  Good times!

Anyway, if you want to save some money and do it yourself, this is how you do it.  Keep in mind that I am self taught.

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First, start off with a pair of good hair clippers.  Make sure they have a lot of different guards.  This is a good one, here, and it’s less than $20.00:

Okay.  Snag your first victim.  This is Crocky.  He is nine and in desperate need of a haircut.

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I always start at the bottom and work my way up.

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I’m going to start by cutting off that little tail with the clippers.  Don’t use a guard, but be very, very careful not to cut your victim.

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Next, trim around the ears.

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When you’ve trimmed around both ears and the sideburn area, go back to the bottom of the hairline.  Use the smallest guard (mine is #1) and trim up to where I’m pointing with the clippers.  Be sure to use this same guard to go around the ears, too. 

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See how the cut line goes around the sides of the head, too?

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No grab your next smallest guard.  It should be labeled #2.  Cut the back and sides of the hair up to this point:

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Now use the #4 guard to taper the sides and back.  Cut about an inch and a half up from the last stopping point.

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Now use the #6 guard to trim the remaining sides and top of the hair.  When you’re finished with that part, take the scissors and even up the front and any hairs you missed around the ears and neckline.

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That’s it!  You’re done!

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I like to cut my boys’ hair really short.  They hate combing their hair, and all five of them have crazy cowlicks.  Short works best for us.  So, starting from the bottom and working my way up, I used the guards 1,2,4, and 6.  Their hair is 3/4 of an inch long on top.  If you want to cut your guy’s hair longer than that, adjust your guards accordingly.  You could do 2,4,6, and 8 for a longer cut.  That would leave it 1 inch on top. 

If you want it any longer than that, you’re going to have to use your fingers and scissors on top.  That’s really easy, too.  Just be sure you make it even.  All you do is take a strip of hair between your pointer and middle finger and cut it the length you want it.  Move to a neighboring strip of hair and cut it the same length you did the last piece.  To make sure I do that, I always take a piece of the last strip to use as a guide for the next strip.  Make sense?

Well, there you go.  I hope you’ll be able to use this and save yourself a couple of bucks!

signature nat

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67 comments:

  1. Thanks! I have a 14month old and I def. want to cut his hair if he ever gets any! Lol thanks!

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  2. Thanks! Last time I tried to cut my little boy's hair it was not very successful. I'm going to give it another try with your instructions!

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  3. Do any of your boys have curly hair? My little guy is super curly and I don't want to cut off all the curls. I just don't want it wild.

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    1. My 4 yr old has super curly hair! I don't allow anyone to cut his hair but me! I'm always afraid they wil cut all his curls off! U have to cut it with shears and I leave about 3-4 inches of hair all around his head! Anywhere we go, he gets compliments on his hair!

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    2. I have 7 boys and I too taught myself to save $$ and cut their hair every single month. We save a ton of money! Yeah! Your tutorial was great! Thanks!

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    3. Hi I am a hairstylist and I know there can be times when cutting our kid's hair ourselves is the best choice. If you have to do it with shears all you have to remember that heads are round so if you take a section on top (mohawk) cut off the desired amount and then split in half take pie shape partings all around the head from top to bottom guiding yourself from the mohawk section and check it bottom to top you can get a better more accurate result. I hope my tip helps, I love curls and buzzing them off would be a shame.

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    4. I've never cut curls, so I don't have any tips for that. So sorry! But, oh my! Curls! How fun! :)

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  4. What about double crowns? My son has one and cutting his hair short gives him instant doulbe-duty Alfalfa sprouts. I like the look of his hair cut short, but cringe at the resulting spikes.

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    1. One of my boys has that, too. I just use the clippers in a circular motion--cutting in the direction opposite of the hair growth. If He still has a spike, I just snip it off with the clippers.

      That's what works for me, but I am not a professional.

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    2. I am a licensed cosmetologist. When cutting the double crown area, switch to the next longer guard and leave it longer. If needed use scissors to very minimally trim and blend to surrounding areas. Be very careful not to trim to much or the spikes will come back. (If spukes are still there, next hair cut use same longer gaurd but push the lever next to the clipper blades to raise it a little more.. if still there, next hair cut go to the next longer guard and so on.) I try to always do this with cow licks cuz they lay so much better!

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  5. Thanks a bunch! I'd been too nervouse to use clippers, but after reading this (and thanks for the pics too, BIG help!) I went and bought some and tried it! I think my little guy looks so handsome! And it's a perfect haircut for our Texas heat! :)
    Thanks again!!

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    1. Awesome! I'd love to see a picture! Yes, this haircut is perfect for hot weather. I just cut all of my boys' hair super short. Love it! :)

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  6. Yay! This has been a helpful tutorial! Loving the pictures and am going to use this style next time I cut my 3 year old (and my husbands) hair rather than giving them a complete buzz cut ;)

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  7. I cut all my boys (ages 28, 6, 4, 18 months) down to 1 or 2 depending on the season. Summer and Winter are a 2 (sunburn and too cold) and fall and spring are 1 (they grow by summer or winter:)) I do this every 6 weeks usually!

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  8. Great tutorial! I have 3 boys and a husband and have cut their hair for years. Saves me a ton of money. They also prefer short cuts that don't require combing and don't show "hat hair." This reminds me that we need to do hair cuts again this weekend. {followed from Pinterest}

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  9. I have my license and cut hair periodically... This tutorial is great!! You did a really good job of explaining how to blend!!! I really think if I didn't know how to cut a boys hair, this tutorial would really help! Great job!! The only thing I would change is I like to go over the ears and around the neck very last. Its not so much hair to cut after you've already went over everything with the clippers and it saves you from havin to go over it twice... Either way is fine though I'm sure!

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  10. Great tips, Nat! Thanks
    I found cutting the top is easy with clippers... I just use my fingers as a guard extender. Place your hand on their head with hair up between your fingers and use your preferred guard (#6 or higher). Work all over until it's even.

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  11. This worked great!! Just test drove it on my six year old. School pictures are on Thursday and he was getting a little shaggy. Thanks so much!!!!!

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  12. My husband is super hairy and, in order to keep a military grade cut, has to cut his hair EVERY week! Add in 3 more boys every weekend and I have the equivalent of SIXTEEN haircuts a month!! Ah! I learned a lot from cutting my husband's hair to military specs and this tutorial is really close.

    My oldest son's hair is longer (he wears it like Beaver Cleaver lol), so I use a different technique on the top of his hair fromEVERY a videomonth on youtube. I actually don't use scissors/shears at all and it works great. I can get all 4 of them done every Sunday before church.

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  13. Stupid "smart"phone... That is supposed to say 'from a video I found on YouTube'

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  14. Thats one of the best haircuts i have seen in a while!!
    http://www.alexccampbell.com

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  15. Well done! I have a website with lots of boys and girls haircutting and hairstyling how-to videos, photos and lessons. http://www.HowToCutChildrensHair.com I enjoy the cousin's blog.

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  16. This looks super easy! I wonder how it would look on boys who's hair sticks straight up? My boys both have really spiky hair. If it's not at least an inch long it won't lay down. I'll have to give this a try. I've been using shears, mostly, but that's a pain since they won't sit still for more than a few seconds (they hate the scissors) and shears make slow work. Hair cuts usually end up happening in 2 or 3 sessions. :P

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  17. I admit- when I saw the pin on pinterest, I was a skeptic. But this is a very good tutorial!! I have four boys. They prefer it short, too, and our oldest (15 year old twins) have the CRAZIEST COWLICS ON EARTH. :) They, nor my husband in all of our married years, have never been to a barber.
    This is how I cut their hair. It's so easy, and saves us a lot of money! Every couple of years we just buy new clippers. (Big fan of the Wahl clippers, too!)

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  18. I cut my fiancé's hair too (yes, we're poor and in college). Nice tutorial! I usually just wing it and things generally turn out okay. He likes the longest setting on the sides, so it makes transitioning a little more complicated. haha, however if we have sons one day, they'll be getting SHORT (easier) cuts! haha

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  19. Thanks! Just found via Pinterest. I have been cutting my boys' hair for years, but it's never as good looking as this! Will have to try this out next trim time.

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  20. I am now allowed to touch my boys hair again to cut it thanks to your tutorial :)

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  21. We take our son (15 mos.) to his sitter who graduated from cosmetology school, but I've always wanted to try it myself. I might get brave one of these days. I'm nervous though because he squirms a lot with the clippers since they make noise he's always turning to looking at them and try to touch them. Maybe when he gets a little older. Also, I think the stylist comment is funny because I recently took him to get a hair cut at a salon and they DESTROYED his hair, huge chunks out of his bangs, not cut around the ears or neck, and totally uneven. It looked like he'd done it himself.

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  22. This is a great tutorial if you want it super short. Anyone know of one for longer hair?
    My son's dad always wants our son's hair short and I want it long. Every time he takes him to get it cut professionally it looks awful! I learned to cut it just to save the arguments, but would like some additional pointers. His hair is way too long to use clippers except around the ears and to clean up the neck and side burns. Any suggestions?

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  23. Nat, I've been cutting the boys'hair for ten years now but I've very rarely loved the results. I tried your method tonight and really liked how it turned out. And I have the same clippers as you so I must be pretty cool!

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  24. I just did this on the longer setting (2,4,6,8) as I like my hubby's hair longer, and it turned out great! MUCH better than the ever-threatened buzz-cut ;) ("If you don't come cut my hair, I'm just going to shave it all off!") Gives the shape of a haircut (which I like) and the shortness of a buzz that DH likes. Next time I might try starting with a 4,6,8 and ending with shears up top. We'll see how long this takes to grow out ;) And I too like trimming around the bottom and ears last (as I am used to doing). It takes MUCH less time!

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  25. My boys (4, 6, 11, 12, 13) have very long hair (down to their waist almost) Of course the younger boys want to follow in the older boys footsteps. But when they are ready to cut it I will be saving money and cutting it myself! Thank you for the great tutorial!

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  26. I usually just use a 3 all over and then bare it for edges in back, around ears, and forehead. Makes things go much faster for those who have sensory issues and can't sit still long enough with the clippers for guard changes.

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  27. Stupid question --- when you cut with the clippers, are you going against the direction the hair grows (I think of this giving a buzz cut) or with the direction that the hair grows (leaves longer hairs)? My little guy (5 yrs old) is due for a haircut - he has benign macrocephaly so his already large head is only made larger the longer his hair gets! I've used a #1 guard all over his head but always go with the direction of the hair --- but that all over same-length look is a little too toddler-ish for him now. He looks like he needs a good "boy" cut - if that makes any sense - so I'd love to give this a try the way you've presented it. Thanks! :)

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    1. I go against the direction of hair growth. That's just my preference, but it's been working for us for the last thirteen years! ;) Let me know if you have any more questions! Also, let me know if this works for you! Good luck!
      ~Nat

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  28. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  29. To make sure that your cut is even, run your fingers through the hair and ensure there's no wavy part. Your cut should be well blended. Reminder: don't use scissors if you're not really used to it. Use it only for finishing touches. If you're an amateur barber, better use a clipper. -The Academy Of Hair Design

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  30. Your story sounds similar to mine - only I had four heads to cut! I learned through trail and error and didn't cut it as short as you do. But no one could ever tell they were homemade haircuts and I did at least as good a job as Supercuts for a LOT cheaper. I do a combo of scissors and clippers - works best on Hubby's crazy curly hair!

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  31. Been doing this for my hubby since we met in high school... his dad always gave him terrible haircuts and I decided I wanted to give it a try.. been doing it ever since. He refuses to go to a salon/barbershop, he only lets me do it. I'd say this is a great tutorial, it's how I normally do it as well.. only these days since he started working outside with shaggy contractors, he prefers the shaggy look a bit more.

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  32. Love the cut tips....any pro ideas to get 2yr old to quit screaming with the clippers? He did fine up until about 6 mos ago and now hates them

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    1. Put on the two guard and tell him it tickles then laugh convincingly while you hold them then offer to have him tickle your arm and help him run it up your forearm and laugh(the guard stops hair from coming off) then say can i tickle your arm and tell him wow I bet that tickles then say your gonna tickle his head now. Sometimes you have to stop and offer to let them tickle your arm again. I do this with all my younger clients and my 3 year old. now he tells me he needs a haircut when he says can you tickle my head.

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  33. I got 10 and 12 size clipper guards on Amazon. The 12 gives 1 1/2" on top, and is easier than scissors! Been using it for years and love it because the 8 was just a little shorter than they wanted.

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  34. Both my boys have curls but with different textures. I can cut my 4yr olds hair with clippers but my 3yr old has loose curls and has to be cut traditionally.
    Any advice?

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  35. Well I was going good.. until a rogue movement by my 3.5 year old... it was around the ear and it went TOO short :( so I was tapering along and was going to be happy with 1 little oops but hubby didn't... so HE started.. yeah.. not good.. he is now freshly shaved :( My lil one had QUITE the mop of hair to start... so I don't think that helped.... I liked the help though! thanks!

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  36. Great job, I felt like I was reading my life story at the beginning there...I have five boys too and I cut them and my husband's every month, or two...You are better than me though I only use two numbers and blend once....Lazy I know, but I hate cutting hair! I only do it because I am cheap!

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  37. Great ideas, Thanks for the sharing of such information. we will pass it on to our readers. This is a great reading. Thanking you.

    CURLS

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  38. Great page! I found it looking for pictures of various hair lengths related to clipper guard size. It would be awesome if you could add pictures for each length. I know to always start long because you can go shorter; but I'm afraid my #8/1" might be too short to start with!

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  39. Thanks for this.....I've been clipping my family's hair for a few years and I wasn't doing them any favors! I tried it your way this morning and they look much more presentable. I appreciate the tips! Pinned for next time :)

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  41. I'm 60 years old and began cutting my husband's hair when I was eighteen, before we got married. His sister had gotten him away from the Beatles haircut by cutting it the same length all over with scissors. It sounded simple to me, but turned out to be a daunting task when I realized how thick and coarse his hair is. It also sticks straight out from his head like a porcupine! I came up with the idea of using little rubber bands to keep it parted into small sections (picture the Beast's makeover in the Disney movie) and measuring each cut with a ruler! I only did this once, but he hasn't let me live it down in the past 42 years. I soon learned to blend the layers evenly and he usually looks pretty good. I've thrown up my hands a few times and sent him to professionals who can't really do much better with it than I can. Last week our 4 grandsons spent a few days with us and I decided to surprise their mom with back-to-school haircuts. The eight year old has his grandpa's thick porcupine hair so I thought my scissor technique would be the answer but his hair is so fine and straight that I was tempted to get out the rubber bands and ruler! (jk) I used clippers around the neck and ears, but still wasn't satisfied with the blunt, choppy results. I remembered pinning your instructions for my daughter but didn't have time to find them, then today I ran across the pin and took a look. It makes so much sense and I was impressed with how clear the instructions are and that there are great photos included! I'm sure this will do the trick and can't wait to try it next time the boys are here! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  42. Good tips. I’d like to add there is a new product that helps me cut my sons hair and it works great for the popular taper/fade style. It’s called the “Hair Fader”. It’s pretty easy to use. Just thought I’d throw that out there for others who have kids with taper/fade haircuts.

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  43. Well written and nicely structured article!!! Barber scissors are one of the commonly used scissors in a hair salon business. There are barber scissors that are of high quality. Some are razor edge, titanium coated barber scissors for extra sharpness, and there are also high quality Stainless steel scissors for long life. Usually they are mirror polished. Please check this site www.stores.ebay.co.uk/Hairdressing-Scissors . Thanks!!!

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  44. Again I encourage seeing professionals for your hair cutting needs. However especially when it comes to boys it may seem you are taking them in to get their hair cut every few short weeks

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  45. Barber Syndicate is an online store that provides you various types of Hair Clipper Machine.

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  46. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  47. we are looking for barber Scissors than we see your blog.
    I neat Hairdressing Scissors
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  48. I read your article completely, it is very informative and helpful, you must read this Candure Teeth Whitening Kit for getting more about it.

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  50. I appreciate your insight about Barber Scissors, it's extremely educational and more depicted points of interest

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