Re: Self haircut tips
I just saw your selfie after you cut your own hair[1]. Even though I live in the city and have a barber, cutting my own hair has been always in the back of my mind, something I am “pining for” (lack of a better phrase).
Do you have any tips for cutting your own hair? Would you consider writing a blog post on this? I would like to know what tools you use, mirror arrangements, stylization tips you use on yourself, etc. etc.
Footnotes: [1] https://protesilaos.com/selfies/2025-10-22-haircut-now-refinements/
Sure, I will respond here and this will become the text of the blog post (without disclosing your private information). I guess it makes sense to do this as a video, but it will be difficult to do an informative recording on my own where I show mirrors and stuff. Maybe in the future…
I have been doing my own hair for a long time now. I first experimented with it while I was a teenager. The hairstyles I do are fairly simple, in that they do not involve a lot of detail-oriented steps. I do not use scissors for my hair, though I do have them for the beard if/when it is long (have not done that in a while, but I might let it grow again this year).
The simplest hairstyle is the buzz cut. You take the electric clipper and run it through your hair to create a uniform look. The way I make sure that I catch everything is by placing the other hand in front, so it guides the clipper. Using both hands ensures that you actually do not need any mirrors. You rely on your sense of touch and continue until you can no longer feel any hair that is longer than the rest. Just make sure not to cut diagonally. Gently guide the blades on a straight line, otherwise you will injure yourself. Also pay attention to the angle of the blades: they should touch the skin from the size, rather than vertically.
Another easy one is the clean shave. Start with a buzz cut to keep the hair short and then use a razor to make a deeper cut. The razor I use is the same I have for shaving. It is one of those generic ones you find in stores with the 2 blades. There are other more renowned brands with 3-5 blades, but I pick the cheaper option here because it is good enough. To get the deepest cut, apply the razor counter to the direction the hair grows towards. Make sure you are consistent though, otherwise some spots will have a deeper cut than others. As with the clipper, make sure not to run the razor diagonally: always move it in a straight line
The other hairstyle I do which you linked to is a bit more involved, in that I trim only the sides. For this I use two mirrors, one that is framed on the wall and another that I hold in my hand. The exact curve for the sides will depend on my mood, but the idea is to complement the shape of the skull. The highest point I want to shave off is where the top of the skull ends. It will depend on the shape of your head, of course, but check if you can make a distinction between the upper part of the skull and the sides. Imagine that a ball rolls from the top: there must be a point where it meets the “cliff” and clearly falls off. Then draw the line there. Once you are at this point, you use the techniques that apply to the other two hairstyles I covered.
Clippers come with different guards for controlling the length of the hair. Note that these can be false friends, because you must also be mindful of the force you are applying. If you do rely on the guards, be careful to maintain a steady hand and to be consistent throughout. Otherwise the results will be uneven.
You may want to use such guards if you do a multi-level hairstyle where the sides get progressively deeper from top to bottom. I have done that before. The principles are the same. Using mirrors and keep your hands steady.
With two mirrors, one inertial and another that you move around, you can easily spot every side. Though you still have to get used to using the tools while mirroring the motions. And then, you will need to become sufficiently ambidextrous with them, as you cannot use the right hand to cut deep on your left side and vice versa while also maintaining a clear view through the mirror. This is the most difficult part of the process, so you may want to practice with the easier techniques before you get to this.
Something I also do while shaving/trimming my beard is to do the sides first before moving to the centre. The idea is that if I run out of battery or must leave quickly then I still have something that is tolerable, if not already great. And if I planning to do the rest, then I can work on it later.
Part of doing everything myself is to keep costs at a minimum. I do not have fancy products, like lotions and stuff. I also never put really hot water on my hair (actually I do cold showers year-round, but this is just a me thing) or have a hair drier, so there never is any related damage that has to be repaired. The hair stays healthy thanks to the overall lifestyle. If you do need products though, then that is fine: check online for suggestions, as I really am of no help here.