You are a hair's width away from doing your first men’s haircut! Just follow this DIY guide for beginners!
Before
After
Step 1: Get comfortable
Put on the cape and adjust the Velcro fastener around your neck. It should be tight enough to keep your hair out, but you should still be able to breathe. 😉
Step 2: Select the right trimmer guard
Choose the appropriately-sized guard for your needs. The smaller the number, the shorter the cut will be. The higher the number, the more length it will leave. If in doubt, it’s better to opt for a guard with a higher number. It’s much easier to repeat this step using a smaller guard than the opposite way. 😜
Step 3: Prep your hair
Make sure your hair is properly detangled and moisturized. It will be less crazy to manage. And it will be easier for you to see what you’re doing.
Step 4: Isolate the long section
Determine how far you need to use the trimmer. Isolate the section you don't want to touch using crocodile hair clips.
Step 5: Cut the short section with the trimmer.
Begin the cut at the red section of the illustration, which will be shaved. Trim from the bottom of your neck upwards, against the hair’s natural direction. Don’t hesitate to trim the same section more than once: this will ensure you don’t leave any stray long hairs. Follow the direction of the arrows as shown in the illustration. This will create a more graduated style.
Step 6: Connect the long and short sections
This step depends on the look you want. If you don't want to connect the shaved section to the unshaved section, you're probably already done! You’ll have a look with much longer hair on top without an “edgy” layer.
If you're looking for a more classic look, you'll need to blend the two sections together. Start at the back centre of your head, take a vertical section of hair including a small section of the shaved part and a section of long hair. Comb the hair towards you at 90 degrees from the head, making sure to maintain the tension between your fingers.
Cut the part that exceeds the shaved portion. The first bit should serve as your guide. When you cut the next section, always take a centimeter from the previous section to check the length to be cut.
Step 7: Cut the hair from the top of the head
Take the centre section from the top of your head, and determine how long you want this section to be. To help you determine the length, try to rely on the way you style your hair. For example, if you tousle it in the air, choose a length that will help the hair hold. If you prefer to maintain a certain length, like aligned with your bangs, for example, make sure to leave it long enough for the style you want. Maybe you won't have a lot of hair to cut.
Cut the first strand, taking care, once again, to hold it perpendicular to the head (90-degree angle). This first lock will serve as a guide for the others. Cut all the hair from the top, keeping a straight line, parallel to the ground. Avoid following the roundness of the head.
Step 8: Top it off
For the haircut to be perfect (or almost 😉), we suggest that you soften everything by very slightly cutting the excess of the ''corners'' of the cut, all around the head. The best way to do this is to cut short snips with the tips of the scissors to obtain a serrated effect. You should avoid drastically modifying the good work you’ve just completed.
If you’re comfortable, you can also use the trimmer (without a guide this time) to shave the crazy little hairs around the neck and/or ears. Proceed gently and with a delicate touch.
Step 9: Fine-tune your look
Check all around your head to see if it looks well balanced, or if you missed a section. Make adjustments as needed—always with light snips.
Do you have any questions?
Contact us!High five! You now know how to give your first haircut.
Here are the tools used for Alex's makeover from Prêts pour la route. For other options, feel free to contact us.