Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Cut Your Man’s Hair

Let’s talk about DIY haircuts, shall we?

save-money-learn-to-cut-his-hair

This is one of those posts I never thought I’d write (it’s definitely not very home related) but due to a surprising amount of requests, here it is. I guess anything that has to do with saving money and doing something yourself is fair game, right? I have no idea how I got into cutting people’s hair, but throughout high school and college I just played around, cutting off a guy’s mullet here and giving my BFF a super short pixie cut there (all at my “client’s” requests, of course). Why did they trust me? I have no idea. Maybe I just have a trustworthy face? I most certainly don’t have any formal training. I just sort of treat hair like I’d imagine I’d make a butter sculpture. You just remove the extra stuff so you’re left with the shape you want. Confidence inspiring, huh? But a bunch of people actually noticed my latest work of haircut art on John’s head in party pictures yesterday, so… score! Haha.

Party Portrait Clara Reaching

The funny thing is that we realized I’ve been cutting John’s hair for seven whole years! And I’ve probably dished out 50+ other haircuts to other friends and family members throughout the last ten years (why yes I have cut my brother in law’s hair in the backyard of John’s parents beach house). So take this post for what it is, one not-professional gal’s take on how she grooms her man. An above the neck manscaping lesson if you will.

Haircut Before N After

But since it’s extremely impossible to tell you how I cut John’s hair and a lot more descriptive to just show you, we actually made a video, thanks to the help of our handy little tripod. Look at that shaggy hair John had going on in this “setting up for the video” shot:

Haircut Video Camera Bad Hair

It’s amazing what a little at-home clippage can do. How YOU doin’ hubby?

Haircut After Side

But on with the video! Let’s get up close and personal with those light brown locks, shall we? Oh yes, and I have primer/paint all over my hands from Clara’s birthday dollhouse (more on that tomorrow). You can watch it below or here on YouTube.

For anyone who can’t watch the video with the sound on (mehaps you’re at work?) it’s actually still pretty easy to understand on mute (since you just have to see what my hands are doing to get the gist). And I’ve included a few written tips in bullet form below, just to help anyone with a sucker on standby who’s ok with you experimenting on their head. I say that in the most kind and loving way, since all of my friends and family who have let me go to town on their hair are pretty darn awesome. I actually haven’t had an oopsie since college (I went a little shorter than I meant to on a gal in dorms, but she totally had the bone structure to work it). Although now that I’ve made that claim I feel like I should knock on wood. Or John should, since he’d be the most likely person to have to walk around with a potential hair snafu if it ever were to happen. Anyway, on with the tips:

  • I cut hair when it’s dry or very lightly misted with water because my experience when cutting wet hair has been that it “shrinks up” and is always shorter than I mean for it to be – which can lead to profuse apologies. Also hair that’s wet might not “lay” the way it does when it’s dry (ex: a cowlick might make itself known when hair’s dry and result in an uneven effect).
  • I cut John’s hair at night after Clara’s off to bed so we can get ‘er done without distractions (no toddler running through the hair pile on the floor- which Burger thankfully avoids like the plague).
  • I don’t use a buzzer and just shave John’s neck for him after the haircut with a regular shaving razor. That always makes things look nice and polished, and this way we don’t have to store a big hair buzzer (or pay for one).
  • I just use hair-cutting scissors that I got for like $5 from CVS. They don’t even have a brand name on them to pass along. Sorry!

Haircut Scissors

  • I use my fingers to keep things even. For example, when I cut John’s hair I cut it one-finger-length from his scalp, so it all stays that length. I go a little longer on top – maybe two finger lengths (see the video for more on this).
  • I always try to cut hair vertically (ex: parallel to John’s spine) – except for trimming the line around his neck – since it can look dorky and block-ish if you cut things horizontally (parallel to the shoulders). It’s really hard to explain in words, but the video makes this much more clear.
  • I’m not a pro, so this isn’t real hairdresser scoop. Haha. I’m just a crazy girl with a penchant for pickles and cutting hair – so this is just what works for me (and John, my sweet hair-model hubby).

Oh and here’s an after pic from the back, since that might help you guys visualize it from that angle.

Haircut After Back2

Hope that helps any DIY-haircutting-hopefuls out there! Does anyone else host haircuts at their house? The craziest thing is that I just calculated that we have probably saved at least $700 in the past seven years just by me cutting John’s hair (not counting all the times that I cut my own hair or ask John to snip a straight line in the back when I need a little trim and can’t reach – which might be an additional $500 in savings over the years). That’s a lot of cheddar ceramic animals…

Comments

  1. Ashleigh says

    Yeah! I will definitely be watching the video as I try to get better at cutting the hubby’s hair. We were gifted some clippers, but I, like you, won’t want to replace them if/when the time comes. Never thought to let him cut my hair. I usually only get my hair cut once a year though, so I figure that’s not too bad. :-)

    Reply

  2. Shellie says

    Man, I was thinking John was looking even hunkier than usual in those party pics. Props to you for saving all that money and being so good at it!

    My hubby does his own hair and just has me come in to do the back of the neck line. For years I was so broke my hair was done by random friends in the ‘just cut a line straight across” style. It was rarely ever straight, lol.

    Reply

  3. Tia says

    You should totally splurge and by the trimmer kit! They are only $20, and it will make things SO MUCH easier for you! I have been doing my husband’s hair for about 5 years now. 2 on the bottom/neck, 4 on the sides, 7 on top (6 in the summer), and beard trimmer for the sideburns and neckline. So quick and easy.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oddly enough we like the choppy textured look without a buzzer (the guy who used to do J’s hair in NYC used buzzers and it always looked a little too perfect- haha). I guess we’re just weird!

      xo,
      s

  4. Karen says

    I totally do the same thing! It started with cutting my bangs back in middle school. When I met my hubby 9 years ago (at the ripe old age of 20), his mom was still cutting his hair (not so well i might add), so I took that over. I’ve cut my sister’s and friends’ hair too, but I’m most proud of cutting my own. I have a short pixie (currently) and I get a pro cut ever 6 to 9 months and I maintain it in between. My hairdresser can’t understand how I cut the back, but somehow, I got used to it.

    Reply

  5. Laura says

    I like the antlers on John in the photo where he’s setting up the tripod. But also, thanks for the hair-cutting tips! :)

    Reply

  7. Melanie says

    I love the total accident of John standing in front of the antlers setting up the Flip cam! Haha!

    Reply

  8. Kristen says

    I love how it looks like John has antlers coming out of his head in the pic with the tripod! Nice job on the cut! I cut my husband’s once and he refuses to let me do it again (and it was just a trim in the back..nothing technical!).

    Reply

  9. Dee Dee says

    I trim my own hair, but I dont think I’d ever have the guts to do anyone elses….ok maybe after several claims of no apologizies necessary if I mess things up from the person requesting the cut. but of course, I dont think I know anyone who would be crazy enough to come close to me when I have scissors :)

    Reply

  10. Sarah says

    I’ve been cutting my husband’s hair since 1998 and now I cut my kids’ hair too. I have 5 kids, but one is too young for a haircut still, so we have saved tons of money as well. As for my own hair, I haven’t paid full price for a haircut in years. I usually try to find who’s having a deal on haircuts at the time. :)

    Reply

  11. Lindsey says

    I am a hairstylist turned stay at home mommy and I thought I would say…. well-done! You did a great job and I am impressed that you have no hair training at all. :)
    I, of course, cut all of my family’s hair still and I can’t tell you how much money I have saved by doing so. It probably comes close to covering the cost of beauty school (although I didn’t pay for that…my parents did). Oh and I prefer a regular razor verses the clippers for the neck hair any way. It’s a much cleaner look.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Wahooo! Thanks Lindsay! It feels nice to get the well-done from a real pro!! Great tip about regular razors for neck hair too- never knew that! Haha. Happy accident I guess!

      xo
      s

  12. Candice says

    This post was perfectly timed, I must say. My husband and I have been contemplating me cutting his hair for weeks now. I usually just buzz it short, but he kinda wants a cut he can style a bit. You just gave me the confidence to give it a try. (We can always default to the buzz cut if I botch it.)

    Reply

  13. Jesyka {Visual Vocabulary} says

    I’ve been cutting my husband’s hair for the last 6 months or so! It surprisingly turns out better and better every time; we’ve both been watching a bunch of youtube videos to help us out, and it saves us $50 a month (we live in LA)! There are some videos on how to get Ryan Gosling’s hair cut; it’s pretty awesome! :)

    Reply

  14. gina says

    Sherry, EXCELLENT Tutorial! You little hairdresser you!! loved this! you never even pick up a comb!!

    It looks great! But then again, it is John… and I do believe that even bald he would be completely SeXaay John!

    Thank you for this tutorial!

    Love yall! and Burger too!!

    Reply

  15. Ashley W says

    I’ve been giving my husband haircuts for almost two years now since it got expensive having him get it cut for $10 every two weeks just to keep it within regs (he’s in the Navy). I never thought I’d be brave enough to cut someone’s hair but now it just seems second nature. Also seeing you DIY John’s hair doesn’t make me feel so goofy and cheap for cutting my husbands!

    Reply

    • Ann says

      Yup that’s why I started buzz cutting for my husband, even the base barber adds up and they can be a bit brutal, especially overseas!

  16. Stacy from the WV says

    I started cutting my hubby’s hair about 5 years ago. He has THICK hair the grows quick so he was getting it cut every 3 weeks…at 14 beans a pop that’s almost $250 a year. Not to mention the time driving to and from since we live in the boonies : ) But, we do use clippers, we replace them about every 2 years and feel like we are saving so much we can shell out $15 for a clipper set. We wait til the kiddies go to bed too, it makes it easier and there is just something about cutting his hair that seems to lead to something
    else ; )

    Reply

  17. Chelsea @ ridingescalators.blogspot.com says

    There are going to be 50 husbands running around with John’s haircut tomorrow. And if not 50 husbands? Well there will be at least one fiance. Or is it fiancee? We’ve been engaged over a year and I’m still not sure which one refers to me and which one refers to him… regardless – I’m off to tame my fiance/fiancee’s hair! Thanks for the tutorial!!!

    Reply

  18. Amy @ For the Love of Georgia says

    Um, I desperately need a friend like you. I haven’t had even a trim in, wait for it, THREE YEARS. Mostly because I loathe the whole salon experience/environment/thing. My husband cuts his own with a set of clippers (I get the task of cleaning up the sides, back, neck) and I’m always so jealous… My inability to just suck it up and make an appointment is starting to make him fear that I’m going to take matters into my own hands and end up with a matching buzz cut ;)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh man, I’d totally tell you to come on over! I was so glad to find a sweet little salon here in Richmond for those times I just need a pro to clean things up. It’s called Red Salon if you’re here in RVA, if that helps!

      xo,
      s

  19. Sarah Woods says

    My husband cuts his own hair too (he has buzzers though). I guestimate that it has saved us $960 since we have been married ($20 per hair cut by the time you tip and stuff X 12 a year X 4 years of marriage).

    Reply

  20. Kristy Swain says

    Haha, too funny! What an unexpected post. but, I can totally relate. We started doing at home haircuts – I cut my hubby’s hair in college and did so until just 2-3 yrs ago. So, that’s like at least 12 yrs of haircuts and if you said they cost $20 each and he got one at least once a month, that adds to a savings of $2880. Not bad. You did a fabulous job!!

    Reply

  22. Weiya @ enjoyer of grace says

    I’ve been cutting my husband’s hair since we’ve been married too! When I first started, I had no idea what I was doing and would take like an hour and a half lol. Now it’s down to half an hour which he is EXTREMELY grateful for hehe. I cut the top of his hair the same way you do, but I use a buzzer though for the sides and back. Do you guys not use a hair cape? It saves a lot of time with clean up :)

    Thanks for sharing this, Sherry! It was a lot of fun to watch! :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oddly enough we never even thought of a cape until a few people recommended it. We’ll have to try it – or at least clip a sheet around his neck!

      xo,
      s

  24. Laurie says

    I love that in the picture of John setting up the video it looks like he is wearing the antlers of the ceramic animal you have hanging on the wall. My husband is terrible about getting his hair cut and I think he looks so handsome when it is freshly shorn. Maybe if I learn to cut it he would agree to more than a quarterly haircut. I start telling him about two months in advance it is time to go get one and by the time he finally gets around to it things are pretty desperate. He looks homeless for about two months rather than the dignified, conservative engineer he really is.

    Reply

  25. Donita says

    Great job!!! His hair looks awesome. I too have been cutting my husbands hair for years. We met and started liking each other at age 13, and have been together since then. *42 years actually*. I have cut his hair since we were 13, it beat his moms buzz cut. :-) John is lucky though, that you haven’t cut him or given him a bad cut. I have done both to my poor hubby and also cut myself, more then once. He always says that a bad haircut is only two weeks from being a good haircut. He just wears a hat. LOL There have only been a very few times though, honestly. I have also cut many other family and friends hair through the years. Great DIY video!!! :-)

    Reply

  27. Julia says

    John’s haircut looks great, Sherry!
    I let my mother cut my hair when it’s really long and I have split ends that need cutting off. I don’t think she’s ever cut anyone else’s hair but so far I was always pleased with the result. She also cuts it dry because that’s what our hairdresser does too. I personally hate it when they cut it wet because I’m never able to recreate that look with my brush and blowdryer at home.
    I would never dare to cut my own hair though … you really need to make a video on that :)

    Reply

  28. Michelle Kersey says

    I cut my hubby’s hair when he was in the military b/c we had to do it about every 2 weeks to keep it in spec, and it was basically just a buzz cut… Once he got out and I actually wanted him to have some style to it, I gave the scissors over to a friend who does it for us (and does it professionally) It’s only about $10 every month or so now for him, so I’ll gladly hand over the reins and the hair everywhere to my dear friend. :) I’m too much of a perfectionist.

    I have cut my sons hair a few times… but… he likes our hair lady and actually sits still for her… again… gladly hand over the reins there :)

    You do a great job!

    Reply

  30. Katherine says

    Thanks so much for the video – super helpful! I’ve been cutting my husbands hair for the past 6 years.

    A quick question – what kind of gel/product (if any) does John use in his hair to style the top section?

    Reply

  31. Nichole says

    I love that in the before/shaggy picture John looks sort of slacker-esque with his carefree expression, then in the after/trimmed photo he looks very straight-laced and responsible haha! My husband’s hair looked pretty shaggy back in college but now je has to get his hair cut every month to look nice and polished in his business suits. He’s never let me touch his very fine, blond hair in 11 years, but I do trim my own bangs :)

    Reply

  32. verucaamish says

    EMO Jon!!!!!!! Has he ever thought of growing it out and going all 2009 Bieber? And wow on your mad tonsorial skillz.

    Reply

  34. Laura says

    Good job. I can’t cut my husbands hair. He has this weird curly wavy hair that I know would turn into a major fro if I got anywhere near it with scissors. That being said, I like his hair a little shaggier than he likes it :-) I cut my own hair all the time for a trim here or there and to keep my bangs tame. But for the major cuts with lots of layers that I like, I go get it done professionally maybe three or four times a year (probably closer to three).

    Reply

  35. Peggy Bastian says

    It’s pretty funny how John ended up with horns off the wall looking like they’re sticking out of his head in the picture where he’s setting up the tripod.

    Reply

  36. erika says

    I had to learn how to give my hubby a fade “high and tight” LOL before we could get married…a rite of passage!:) Then we had kids, I ran out of time, and he shaves his own head now. Poor guy!

    Reply

  37. DawnSC says

    I cut my hubby’s hair all the time too. He’s bald on top, and just keeps it fairly short for the rest, so the hair clippers make it easy. Well, other than the very first time (“You didn’t really want that sideburn, did you?”) But our 8 mos old has always had a lot of hair, and now needs more than me hacking off his mullet. I didn’t want to use the clippers – I’ve been meaning to pick up some scissors and find a tutorial. So, fantastic timing, this is so helpful, thanks $herdog! :)

    Reply

  38. Elisa says

    When my husband had a long buzz I used to do it – so much fun! For now I just stick to grooming the pooch – she doesn’t seem to mind if I mess up a little! :D

    Reply

  39. Loren says

    Great job! I’ve been cutting my own hair for YEARS, and while I know it isn’t for everyone I find it fairly easy, and do pretty much all the things you do. Slightly damp, use fingers for measuring length. I do try to angle my scissors to the contour of my head. I think it tends to make things a little more even looking.
    I never thought about tallying up the amount I’ve saved over the years. Every time I give myself a hair cut from now on I’ll have to ‘pay’ myself $30 ;)

    Reply

  40. Savannah says

    My husband is in the military so he has to keep his hair pretty short. We just got stationed in the Hamptons so getting a haircut around here even for a guy is like $40. I told him I would give it a go, but we only had dog clippers. Luckily it worked out just fine, and I was happy to save the money.

    Reply

  41. Monika says

    I am pretty sure that 7 years worth of cuts is waaaayyyy more than $700. Maybe twice that! And women’s cuts are also so expensive! My mom cuts my dad’s hair (for 30+ years) and, more amazingly, her own hair. So brave! ;)

    Reply

  42. Miranda says

    I’ve been cutting my husband’s hair for over 3 years, now. Although after the first cut, I’m surprised he let me continue. He wears it rather short, so we used a buzzer (the peanut) with a guard to do the back and sides and then I use the scissors on top. I was so proud of myself during the first cut, and then while trimming around his ears with the guard off, I made a bad move and cut a long streak right above his ear. We were meeting his parents for dinner thirty minutes later, so I did not have time to properly fix it before we left for the restaurant. I should probably also mention that it was the day before his graduation for his Master’s degree and he had his first interview two days later. We were forced to cut all of it to the length of the buzzer without the guard (waaaayy shorter than he wears it). Needless to say, many tears were shed after the first incident, but cuts since then have been uneventful. Oh, he got the job and is still happily employed, bad haircut and all.

    Reply

  43. Alison W. says

    I’ve been cutting my husbands hair for almost 4 years now. He insists on the buzz cut – just longer on top. Wish he would let me do this, but he likes it short! I begged him to get it done somewhere while I was prego, but nope! haha So he just settled on less haircuts during the time I was pregnant and post-pregnancy.

    Reply

  44. Karen @bellacarina.com says

    I have managed to convince my grandma and my fiance that I should be the one to cut their hair. My fiance, who was my boyfriend at the time, for some reason trusted me enough to cut his hair and I did it in a similar way on the top, but used clippers for the sides and back and it always seemed to turn out fine (and quite sexy if you ask me!). Now he shaves his head (I started to do it for him, but now he can do it himself) and I trim up his neck with a clippers. I bought my shears at Sally’s…inexpensive and high quality. I’m tempted to cut my own, but scared. How do you do your own?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I usually just brush it out after a shower and ask John to try to cut a straight line (no layers or anything) just trimming an inch off the bottom. Sometimes I get crazy and watch tutorials on youtube to try to get some long layers (only when my hair is extra long so if it’s terrible I can just cut it a bit shorter and more blunt).

      xo,
      s

  45. Melissa says

    I like John’s antlers in the before/tripod picture. ;)

    I cut my husband’s hair too, and my own bangs. For him I do a clipper on the side and finger-length trim on top. I blend the areas (is this a fade?) by scissor-cutting over a comb. It makes me feel like I know what I’m doing, even though I just learned by always having to watch him get his haircut, haha. I usually end up snipping my middle finger and once I sheared off his sideburn. It’s hard to finish a haircut when that was your FIRST cut. Lots of blending and I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorrys ensued, and luckily he was very sweet about it. I still cut his hair, but we have a guard check before each haircut now.

    Reply

  46. Jen says

    This is the post for me today…I’ve just been looking online to find someone who will come to our house to cut everyone’s hair…thinking it might save some money…this sounds even better. Between my husband and 3 boys…ages 1, 3, 5…we have a lot of hair to cut in this house. The older boys and my husband have straight thick hair, the baby’s is just straight and fine (for now), but lots of it…I’m going to cut someone’s hair this weekend.

    Reply

  47. Melissa D says

    Great job! I have always cut my 4 kids’ hair as well as my own. I only use scissors on my boys, because both of them are on the autism spectrum and the sound of clippers is just way too much for them. I cut my hubby’s hair for about two years, but I was always so worried I would end up accidentally messing it up royally and he’d have to go into work with a huge bald spot. I convinced him to go ahead and find a barber just to save me from stressing! LOL Maybe I will give it a go again soon. :)

    Reply

  48. Liz says

    I remember the first time my husband asked me to cut his hair. We hadn’t been dating very long and I was like, “You want me to WHAT?!” Now it’s old news–we have a trimmer and he’s a 2 on top faded to a 1 on the sides/bottom, and I use scissors to trim up around the ears and any strays on top. And, like one of the earlier commenters–I frequently make him go outside for a haircut (in his skivvies!), regardless of weather or time of day. :)

    Reply

  49. Lilly says

    My mom used to cut all our hair, her own included, so that I never paid for a hair cut until I was away at college. And that was my “worst” hair cut ever. It wasn’t bad it just wasn’t what I asked for – they went way shorter than I asked.

    I buzz my husband’s hair (like a lot of people have noticed, really short man hair seems to disguise bald spots) and I make him cut mine. He cuts it trimmed and even and I add a slight layers to the front to frame it out. He’s always really nervous about it but I have very forgiving hair – naturally wavy.

    I love that it saves us money and time (no driving to and waiting for any hair appointments.) I also can’t wait for my baby to get a little older and I can start cutting her hair.

    Reply

  50. Kitty says

    I cut my husbands’ hair every few months. He has really long (down past his shoulders) hair, that I cut for him up to neck length, then he grows it again and we repeat :-) It saves us a lot of money as hair cuts are pretty expensive here in the UK especially for a chap with long hair!

    Reply

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