Cutting DH’s hair at home

[GurlwiththeCurl]

I could really use some advice and would really appreciate help.

Here is some (important) background information. We are all ill and/or disabled in this household. I have a set of horrible chronic conditions, plus I had a stroke a couple of months ago, although I am now largely recovered from the stroke. DH has been wonderful during my decline over the last few years but is quite ill himself. He has allowed himself to deteriorate as far as washing/grooming is concerned and has grown his hair very long indeed. It really needs to be cut short.

He is too embarrassed to get a professional to do it, either in a salon or at home. So, I (rather stupidly) offered to do it as a sort of test cut. After that he will go to a professional to spruce it up properly.

I bought some professional scissors and clippers and had a look through some videos, but I really don’t have a clue where to start! Can anyone give me some guidance/ideas?

BTW, if I don’t answer straight away I am not being rude. I am very shaky and ill and will return to the thread as soon as I can. Many thanks in advance.

I don't have any constructive tips OP but felt the need to wish you a full and speedy recovery. Hope 2020 is a positive one for you all.

I'd book a mobile hairdresser tbh.

Out the longest attachment on the clippers and do the same length all over. You can then decide whether to go shorter. If it's a bit of a mess at the moment then, in the nicest possible way, it can't look any worse after

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine. I've been clipping DH's hair for about 10 years now

*put

Bless you! My dad has a clipper thing that you hold with a handle and it’s an all over hobby so you can set the grade and just run it over the hair it’s circular and very easy to use and very even! Might be worth a google.

I cut my DH and DC (boys) hair.

Clippers are by far the easiest way. You will get an OK result if you just put a long guard on the clippers (maybe 30mm) and do that all over. It will be even better if you fade it shorter at the back & sides (start with 20mm at back). You could neaten up around the edges with no guard, or with scissors. It will take about 10 minutes.

Cut it dry, and get him to shower afterwards. I do the cutting in the bathroom, then stand kids in bathtub while I hoover, then they shower.

If his hair is quite long, chop of the length first with scissors.

Ooh, thank you all so much. This is just the advice that I need! I will try to do it tomorrow, if ai feel well enough and he lets me.

I must admit (not telling him this) that I have a real weakness for long hair on a man! Lol! But that was for young men back in the day and not a nearly 70 year-old!

@LtGreggs just one question: if I try to use a shorter guard at the back after the initial longer cut, where should it start and stop?

Oh, I know I’m going to make him lop sided!

If it's long enough to get an elastic in, make a bunch under each ear and cut the bunch off.

Then use a clipper to do the nape of the neck and up about half way up the ear.

Use a comb vertical to the head to get sections of hair and trim them. Work your way from front to back on each side- that gives a layered effect.
I'll try and find a picture of what I mean.

Watch some YouTube videos.
Take your time.
It's ok to stop and have a rest then come back.

Like in this picture

@TFthatsover many thanks for your kind message.

@MaidenMotherCrone thanks, but I am trying to avoid that for him.

@WatchoutfortheROUS so this might be the start of a career? LOL!

@JJSS123 thanks for your advice

@Sprinklemetinsel oh, WoW! That is so helpful. You have given me some confidence!

I've done my men's for ages now- I had three sons and a husband who didn't drive. I spent a long time bored silly watching the barber do four heads. After a few duff cuts I started doing it myself!

To blend in the shorter at the back, I start with around 20mm going from nape of neck up toward crown, and then just stop following his skull near the top and carry on vertically instead, which kind of fades the two lengths together. Similarly up the sides 😁 Then I do same idea with about 8mm starting from nape again but this time just go a couple of inches up before lifting off.

I find getting the top bit right hardest. You'll still get an OK result if you skip all that and just do it same all over.

(Caveat - I have zero hairdresser training, but DH seems to pass muster!)

@Sprinklemetinsel I don’t think that my two grown up DSs would let me near their hair, although I do shave DS1 as he has ASD and cannot do it himself.

BTW, the picture didn’t work for me, could you give me a link or something?

Thank you @LtGreggs that’s exactly what I needed. Now I can give it a go tomorrow!

Eek!

Try this, it has pictures.
embellishmints.com/how-to-cut-mens-hair-basic-hair-cut/

I don't cut as short on the top sides, I pull my fingers along the section before cutting so the hair is longer. You grab the hair in the comb, catch it between the scissoring fingers of your other hand, slide along the hair then cut. It becomes really automatic to pull to the same length each time, so the hair cut is even.

I do my husband and sons hair at home...use clippers,if it's long,start with a 5 probably round the sides and back and then a 6/7 on top,then blend with scissors. If it's really long,chop a bit first to make clippering easier!

I cut DP's hair and always make the short bit stop a bit too low and have to go higher. You can always cut more off, but you can't put it back on, as they say!

So do it in stages and maybe get him to have a look in the mirror (if he wants to) to check what he thinks. Its not as easy as they make it look at the hairdressers, but once you've done it a few times it will get easier.

Going from long to short is the trickiest thing. Once you've got the basic shape sorted, trimming it all over will be easier.