Have you ever wished for a way to cut a man’s hair without any mishaps? Well, look no further! Today we will be discussing how to use clippers on men without making any mistakes.
It’s no secret that cutting hair can be a daunting task. In fact, many people avoid it altogether as they are scared of getting it wrong. With a bit of know-how and some careful tips, you can trim hair without any drama. Let’s get going and learn how to cut men’s hair with clippers.
Before You Get Started
- First, make sure that you are using the correct attachment for the desired length of hair. There are a variety of attachments available, so be sure to choose the one that is best suited for the job. If in doubt, start with a higher guard.
- It’s a good idea to start with a test patch to ensure that the clippers are cutting evenly. This will help to avoid any nasty surprises later on in the haircut.
- Always be sure to comb or brush the hair before clipping. This will help you to achieve a neater result.
- It’s always easier if the hair is washed and dried before a cut.
Decide On your Cut
Before cutting any hair, you need to decide which style you are going to do. There are cuts out there such as a buzz cut or a burr cut where you don’t need to change the clipper guard at all. You use the clippers to cut the hair with the same length all around.
These types of cuts are very easy to do and require very little expertise. You just want to ensure that you’ve covered all areas of the head. You will want to add some finishing touches, which you can check out on our sixth step in the next section.
Cutting a Fade with Clippers
Cutting in a fade and having different hair lengths is a little more complicated and here is your step-by-step guide.
1. Decide on your length
Before cutting, you need to know the desired outcome, including the length you want for both the sides of the head and the top. If in doubt, use a slightly longer guard as you can always move down a size if you feel it’s a little too long.
2. Start with the sides
After deciding on the length, you need to decide where to have your fade. Some men like to have their fade just above the ear and others like to have it just below the top of the head. For most men, the fade will be around their temple area.
Start from the bottom to the top and use the clippers flush against the side of the head. When you get to the area where you want the fade, you need to flick your wrist up and away from the hair.
You may need to pull the ear back to cut that area to the desired length. You can then go over the area a few times to ensure an even cut.
3. Move to the back
It’s time to move on from trimming those sides and cut the back. Begin at the base of the neck and push clippers up along the scalp while maintaining even pressure with the skin, so it looks like one continuous piece when finished. Use the same technique as the sides, matching the length of the fade.
4. Time to cut the top
When cutting the hair on top of your head, start at the forehead and run clippers to the back to create a seamless transition. Combing is also useful as it allows you to check that you have an even cut and no areas are being missed.
5. Perfect your fade
This is a stylistic choice as you can now choose how to finish your fade. Many like a distinct line between their two hair lengths and if this is what you want, you don’t need to do anything else.
For a more subtle fade, choose a clipper guard between the one you used on the sides. You then cut the longer hair on the side for around 2 cm. This will blend your fade and make it look like a smooth transition from one hair length to the other. You can even use multiple clipper guards if you’re feeling bold.
For example, you have used a #2 guard on the side and a #4 on the top. If so, you can then use a #3 guard to perfect the fade. You can use your own combination to get your desired result.
6. Sharpen it up
It’s time to take the guard off and use your clippers to trim your hair. To do this, you’ll want to very carefully go around the ears and the nape of the neck to create clear lines and cut any hair that you couldn’t get with the guard.
You can shape the hair at the bottom of the neck with the trimmers. The most common way is to create a straight line at the bottom of the neck with curved corners.
For shorter haircuts, you may also want to use trimmers on the forehead. It’s a good idea to do this with a comb to avoid the risk of cutting more hair than you need. You can lift any stray hairs up with the comb and then run the clippers over the comb.
Hair Cutting Tips
Here are some great tips for clipping hair for those who might be nervous about doing so.
Loosen up! – Don’t worry so much about precision, and focus more on staying relaxed. That way, you can have fun with it. Don’t try and be perfect as novices often have the tendency to try and overcorrect a mistake.
Brace yourself – If you’re afraid of being too heavy-handed, try wrapping one arm around his shoulders to get a better grip. This will enable you to get the job done without worrying about fumbling or dropping the clippers.
Use a brush and comb – As you cut the hair, it’s good to use a brush and/or comb to check your progress. This will easily allow you to identify areas that have been missed.
Should You Use a Barber?
A question you may be wondering is should you do it yourself or use a barber? Many men cut their own hair or ask a partner or family member to do it for them. With these tips, you’ll quickly be able to learn how to create a great cut.
That being said, a barber is a professional who is going to do a perfect job on your hair. You’ll have the peace of mind that no mistakes are going to be made. A barber will also be quick and these types of men’s haircuts are fairly cheap.
The choice is yours but hopefully, now you have all the information you need for a great clipper cut. Take your time and if you’re unsure at any point, just go over these steps again and you’ll be sure to do a great job.
