[AdoptAmiga]

Hi forum friends-

Does anyone know of a good resource that would help me learn haircutting basics? DS's hair grows like a weed and he likes it short in the summer. DD's hair is one uneven mess that needs constant trimming And momma here would like to save some money by being a DIYer. Suggestions, please!

[Waiting4Celeste]

I do it and have just learned by trial and error... sadly, more ERROR in the first two years. Poor Jacob! Looking back through pictures of him actually embarasses me at times!!

My suggestion - find a local barber!!!!

Less mess to clean up and from what I have noticed - my kids sit more still when they are in the barber's chair than with me.

Where I get my hair cut, they only charge $3 - yes THREE DOLLARS for a trim. For a full hair cut, it is $15, but SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it! I HATE the mess and it just frustrates me.

Of course I will do it if the weather is nice outside and I can just sweep the hair off of the deck.

Sorry - probably not the suggestions you were looking for, but in the whole grand scheme of things, if you can find a good barber/stylist that doesn't charge too much - I'd do it and save yourself some sanity and future embarrassment for your children!!!

OK, OK, if you absolutely want to DIY, first get some GOOD clippers for DS. In the summer, I use a #2 guard on the top and a #1 guard on the sides. Don't cut it all one length unless you totally buzz it all off. It looks better blended (at least Jacob's does).

I might suggest getting his hair cut once while you watch and ask questions. My stylist is very helpful to me and that's how I have learned.

Good luck and let me know if you have any other specific questions. My clippers came with a DVD that was pretty laughable. The haircuts in the demos made it look like the video was made 10 years ago!!

[mamaskoby]

My baby needs a haircut every other week!!!! So instead of paying 10 to 15 dollars (without tip) I decided to invest in a pair of electic clippers. I think they cost like 25 dollars.
Its hard because he doesn't stay still, but if there are two of us, its fine to just clip away. If he moves alot I may have some,, um ...bald spots,,,, but otherwise I am loving the savings!!! lol!
Good luck!

[beverlyanderic]

one word- clippers!

i shaved my son's head (not really short- a #2 for those of you familiar with clippers). my wife knew i was going to do it, but was still a bit shocked. others love it!

i think he looks really cute- takes 5 minutes and pays for itself in 2-3 cuts.

obviously, this is only for you if you want a child with really short hair. great for the summer though!

[annaguat]

We do with some of the children. Besure to invest in a good pair of hair clippers and scissors. DH is actually pretty good at it. I do DS 6 frequently and used to do DS 18 when he lived at home. I shave them all over with the largest attachment, then shape with the next smaller attachment the sides and use a little hair trimmer to do the neck, ear and DS 18 the front hair line.

You can then let it grow out and keep on shaping trimming the ends, with scissors and the little trimmer, to make it look nice. DS 6 has a short summer and a longer winter haircut.


My girls all have long hair so that is easier. DD 17 have very crully hair and is harder to cut but after having hairdressers mesh up her hair several times we, her and I, are now trying just dry cutting with good results. For us there has been a lot of trial and error too. Anna

[mommytoEli]

I do it and have just learned by trial and error... sadly, more ERROR in the first two years

me too. lol. for now i just do eli's....my other son's hair is too crazy to be cut short with clippers. but eli's is perfect. usually i get his hair cut first at a salon....and then i will do the next 1 or 2 touch ups...and then we go back. i'm not good enough to do it all the time, but i can clean up a good cut.

[DPline]

After watching a few times at the barber, my DH does my younger son's hair with clippers a lot of the time. Similar to what MommytoEli said about maintaining a good cut. Basically he does a once over with a 2 or 3 depending on the season. Unluckly with my older son's colics we have to pay someone who knows what they are doing to sissor cut it. I would think you would do fine with your son's. I do DD's. Straight across the bangs and straight around her head in a bob. I usually have to do a little trimming for a couple days after cutting it to catch any stray hairs I missed.

[saranbr]

I do DS's myself but his is easy-- coarse and curly so I just hit it with the clippers, 1/2" on top and 3/8" on the sides. That is with the exception of last time: he cut all of it off the front with the scissors so I just buzzed the whole thing. It works well cause it doesn't matter if he moves and I can just vacuum up the mess.

DD's hair is another story. It is very fine and perfectly straight. It was getting long (lower back) so I decided to give it a little trim. Well, one thing led to another and it wasn't so long any more and I'm forever indebted to my stylist who stayed late on a Saturday afternoon so it wouldn't be painfully obvious who made that mess on Sunday at church!

[mommyto2guatboys]

I went out and bought a clippers last summer and that's how the boys get their haircuts. My best friend is a hair stylist but after many days of her feeling like the bad guy it was hard to get her to do it anymore!! My oldest Eli hates, I mean hates getting his hair cut and acts like we are killing him. So for awhile we were even buzzing it while he slept!! ha ha, he must have wondered what was different when he woke up the next morning. Now we can usually get him to let me cut it in the kitchen, as long as their is a promise of a bath afterwards!! Now Isaac on the other hand, loves for daddy to cut his hair, it is daddy and Izzy time! It's so cheap and easy, I don't even blend, don't really know how, but a #3 guard is a great length.

Magen
My family!

[jules17]

I did it myself last time by purchasing a children's haircut kit from Target (I bought it online). It has scissors, clippers, guards, a "cloak"...the works!! It was $15.99 which is what I had been paying for ONE haircut.

We'll see...I don't want my boys to look like Mommy did it, so I have some learning to do!

[AdoptAmiga]

Originally Posted by jules17

I did it myself last time by purchasing a children's haircut kit from Target (I bought it online). It has scissors, clippers, guards, a "cloak"...the works!! It was $15.99 which is what I had been paying for ONE haircut.

Yep, looks like I'll be purchasing clippers.!Thanks for your responses. If I could find someone to cut their hair for under $5, I'd just take them in. Once in a while when a new shop would open they would have kids' specials for $3-$5. I usually pay $8-$12.

But I think I'll have DH be on haircut duty. I, unfortunately, inherited hairstyling skills from my mother. Not pretty!

[LisaDR]

I bought the clippers too. I ended up with all the hair on my lap since I had to hold him and he needed his hair cut 4-6 weeks. When the weather is good we are outside inside is a bit worse because he doesn't sit still and hair is all over. I think some of it is his sensory issues. I personally am a short hair person so I use #1 guard. And since he has some issues with getting it cut using anything longer means it has to happen more often. If he eases up I will go to #2 for the winters.

[wvamom]

I have the book, "Haircutting for Dummies." My daughter bought it for me one Christmas (at my request!) It has really helped--I have cut our sons' hair a bunch and our daughters' hair at least once apiece--they both have long hair and only get it cut a couple of times a year, so it's not quite so pricey to pay to have theirs done professionally.

Biggest problem? Squirmy little boys! Oh, and once I accidentally nicked my son's ear--that was when he was 1 and he is now 4 1/2 and still gun-shy! I still feel bad about that.