How to cut your own hair with a clipper: video, explanations, analysis of mistakes and rules for choosing a clipper


You are here: Home page » Hairdressing art

Do you shell out a large amount of money every time you go to a hairdresser or barber shop?

And you have already calculated that this amount for a year would long ago be enough for an excellent machine, but you doubt the correctness of your choice.

Then remember how much time you will spend on: making an appointment, waiting in line, time listening or chatting about nothing from the hairdresser, poor quality service and strictly at the agreed time.

Perhaps you have already calculated and thought about everything and decided to cut your hair yourself.

Then we suggest you read the instructions on how to cut your own hair with a clipper. In it we will look step by step from basic haircuts to more complex ones with video, as well as mistakes, rules for choosing a clipper and how to minimize them if you already have a clipper.

Tips will concern cutting your own hair at home and how to prepare for it.

Choosing a hair clipper for yourself

In the article about cutting boys' and men's haircuts with your own hands, haircuts with transitions are discussed, which will allow you to have basic knowledge, but you will have to develop the skills yourself.

We recommend that beginners read the article about haircuts, because... In addition to basic skills, the rules for holding the clipper, movements in different zones and other hairdressing tips necessary for cutting hair are shown separately.

Cutting side bangs is discussed in detail with a video and explanations here.

If you have long hair, then this article will help you cut the ends at home yourself.


When choosing a machine, it is extremely important that it is comfortable and has replaceable attachments or the switch is not where the switch is, because... When cutting your own hair, you will accidentally press the change of attachment and will remove extra centimeters.

Some clippers are so sensitive that you just need to pick it up and change the attachment, which entails removing hair up to 5 mm.

Pay attention to the flexibility of the runners, because if the head is not level, then it is extremely important to regulate the pressure, otherwise the hair will be cut to different lengths.

It is extremely important to start cutting with the largest attachment and gradually move to the smaller one; if you start with the smallest one, it will be difficult to even out any mistakes.

Opinion on choosing a machine from Arsen Decussard

Haircut with a clipper, basic rules

We all grow hair, and sooner or later we get our hair cut. Not everyone has the opportunity to spend money and spend a significant amount of time in a hairdresser, but there is an excellent way out of this situation - a haircut at home. A hair clipper is not very expensive and has a lot of advantages; it also helps save time and money. Hair cutting with a clipper at home is not a very complicated process, anyone can learn it. Some cut their own hair without resorting to outside help. It is not necessary to buy a professional hair clipper; ordinary household options also give good results. To help the master, the kit includes several attachments, scissors and a comb, as well as a small bottle of oil to lubricate the blade.

Basically, clipper haircuts are used for men's hairstyles; this is where an inexperienced hairdresser should start. For example, consider a men's haircut that can be done at home. The main thing in this event is to control yourself, do everything slowly and carefully. First you need to wash and dry your hair, because wet hair can conduct electricity, it quickly dulls the clipper blade, and dirty hair will significantly affect the quality of the hairstyle process. There are professional hair clippers that can cut wet hair, but they naturally cost more, and washing your hair if you are at home is not so difficult.

This is interesting: Beard cutting photo fashion trends 2021

Haircutting with a clipper starts from the back of the head; for this we take the largest nozzle, 12 mm (there are clippers with adjustable height up to 15 mm). The machine should move against hair growth, and hand movements should be slow, without sharp turns. If you run it through your hair several times, the cut will be smoother. Brush your hair periodically to see what happens. The machine must be held so that the nozzle fits tightly to the head. After you have finished with the occipital part, start cutting the temporal and parietal parts of the head. Next, trim your temples and make a bracket on the back of your head. That's basically it.

Haircutting with a clipper with transitions is carried out using additional attachments. Change the nozzle to 9 or 6 mm and cut the occipital and temporal parts of the head again. To even out the transition from long to short hair, you need to increase the angle between the nozzle and the surface of the head. Now we make the edging, this gives the haircut a complete look. The edging of the lower part of the hairstyle is done without a comb attachment, while the blades are directed downwards, towards the neck. All movements must be smooth and careful, otherwise, if the machine has sharp knives, you can damage the skin. We take special care when cutting behind the ear. Here the distance does not allow you to keep the machine completely pressed to the scalp. Raise one edge of the cutting part, positioning it diagonally relative to the surface of the head.

Using a clipper you can do more than just short haircuts. To obtain hair of different lengths, usually up to 4 centimeters, you do not need to use attachments. A strand of hair is lifted using a comb or fingers perpendicular to the surface of the head. The required length of the strand is fixed with a comb, and everything that is above the comb is cut off using a machine. In this way, children's hairstyles are formed, and the machine does not touch the skin, and there is no psychological discomfort. Haircut with long strands requires more developed skills; haircutting lessons can be taken at any hairdresser.

When clipper trimming is complete, wash all accessories and lubricate the cutting blades. The time spent on training and funds for purchase pays off very quickly, and the time savings when cutting hair at home are especially noticeable.

Haircut rules

Before starting all the manipulations, the step-by-step steps are as follows: prepare the tools, mentally divide the head into zones, prepare the hair, wash it if necessary, dry it, prepare the haircut area, mirrors, choose a haircut and watch the video.


In each zone, different options for setting up the machine are recommended. For example, we cut the temporal area from the face, while driving the clipper both horizontally and at an angle to remove visible straight lines.

Useful videos from the masters:

Hair should be dry; wet hair should only be cut with scissors.

Step-by-step men's haircut, important details from the master:

How to use a hair clipper at home


Having a hair clipper at home is not necessary, but it is very convenient: it is not that expensive, and has many practical advantages. Even if you periodically get your hair cut by a hairdresser, you can always remove quickly growing hair in the temple area and along the bottom edge of a men's haircut, and always look fresh and neat. After all, we use hair styling tools, and you can always learn how to work with a more advanced device.

What you need to know and prepare


To start cutting, you will need: a clipper with attachments, a comb, mirrors, a cape or sheet, a place where you will put the cut hair, for example, a bowl.

Inspect all the attachments you have in your kit.

In this photo you see a 12 mm nozzle and no nozzle, but in this configuration there were nozzles for 3, 6, 9 mm, the size is indicated on the back of the nozzle. This will allow you to make smooth transitions in your haircut.

Let's look at how to do them further.

Important! After cutting, find a brush in the set and clean the machine; if there is oil, lubricate it, so it will last longer.

Naked, down to zero

Let's look at a basic haircut, bald (bald), because... it is the simplest and does not require special skills. Prepare the area where the haircut will take place. Remove the carpet or rug, and a broom and dustpan can help quickly clean up the mowing area.

An unnecessary long-sleeved jacket or cape will help you greatly, because... hair will fall and prick.

Place the mirror so that you can see the back of your head, because... It won’t be comfortable to cut your hair without seeing what’s going on.

  1. When everything is ready, turn on the machine and remove most of the hair with a nozzle of 6 mm or more, when you have gone through more than once, only after that you remove without nozzles. Move the machine upwards from the temple of the head, with such lifting movements go through the entire head.
  2. It is important to move step by step and not skip stripes so that there are no antennas left, so each subsequent line overlaps the previous one.

  3. So pass the head from the temple to the back of the head on one side and repeat on the second. When the main part is ready, remove the upper part, moving from the forehead to the back of the head.
  4. To make sure there are no streaks left, look in the mirror from behind, or take a second mirror and look at the back and sides of your head while looking at the front.
  5. Additionally, go behind the ears, moving from the back of the head to the temples so that there is no hair left there. Be careful not to injure yourself; for a better haircut, the ears are slightly bent to see if there is any hair left there.
  6. Repeat this on the other side.
  7. It is important to have high-quality lighting if there are any hairs left to cut them off.

  8. Walk carefully along the back and sides of the neck again, inspect the top of the head so that there are no islands of hair.
  9. The haircut is ready. Using your hands, brush off any remaining hair on your scalp, as well as on your shoulders and body.
  10. Head shaving with a razor and foam, for those who want perfect smoothness. Apply foam to your head and shave your entire head very carefully with the razor.

We recommend sweeping out all the hair and collecting it, as well as washing your hair and taking a shower to prevent your hair from getting itchy.

The guy cuts his own hair in the video:

Haircut under 0:

A haircut to zero from a master with explanations in video format:

To avoid mistakes, as in the photo, try not to check each area once, and look in a small mirror, but to see what is happening behind and to the side.

Inspect the entire head after the haircut is finished.

The neck and occipital area are usually passed with the sole of the machine and turning it again with the reverse side, but you must be extremely careful not to get hurt.

The area behind the ears and neck are among the most “hard to reach” areas when cutting your hair yourself.

Rules and tricks for working with the machine

  • Make sure that the blades of the machine are always lubricated with special oil. Otherwise, the machine will pull out hair.
  • Comb your hair well before cutting. If they are too long, then before working with the machine it is better to cut off the main length with scissors.
  • When cutting, press the clipper firmly against your head. In places where you transition from one zone to another, move it slightly away from your head.
  • The angle of inclination of the machine relative to the head should be the same in each cutting area.
  • Run the clipper until all stray hairs disappear. The more movements, the better the result.
  • If you want to process your bangs with a machine, then make a kind of visor over the area of ​​​​the eyebrows and eyelids so as not to damage the eyebrows and eyelashes.
  • If the client has an uneven surface of the skull, then cut in those places with a longer attachment so that the hair covers the relief.
  • If you cut your entire head with one attachment, the hairstyle may take on the shape of a ball. This haircut is only suitable for very short lengths.
  • While cutting, constantly compare the left and right sides of the work. The hairstyle should look symmetrical.
  • Make sure to charge the machine's battery in advance so that it is enough to create a haircut.

As you can see, in order to master the skills of cutting with a clipper you do not need much talent. Creating hairstyles using this device is simple and interesting. You just need to know some tricks and tricks.

» How to cut your hair correctly

How to cut your own hair with a clipper with a men's transition

Separately, we would like to draw attention to men's haircuts with a smooth transition; for beginners, it is recommended to get their haircut for the first time in a hairdresser or barber shop.

This way you will not only see how this happens, but also roughly outline where these transitions will take place.

Men who cut their own hair recommend using several attachments for this, for example 3 for the part from the back of the head to the place where the transition will be, and then using attachment 9 or 12.

The longer the top part, the more noticeable the transition will be and the more difficult it is to make it smooth.

One of the men cutting his hair uses a template to ensure that the transition area is smooth and has a certain shape.

Boxing haircut video

Half-box haircut with explanations of the difference between boxing and half-boxing:

The box is cut to the upper zone with a nozzle 0 or 1. The half-box is cut with a 3 mm nozzle to the middle of the temporal zone.

Half-box haircut

Before cutting, wash your hair and dry it completely; only dry hair is suitable for cutting with a clipper.

A huge plus of the half-box haircut is that it allows you to vary both the upper length and the back of the head.

It will be difficult for beginners to make a neat transition from one length to another, so avoid creating transitions the first time.

For those who have already practiced on themselves and are not doing a half-box haircut for the first time, leave it at their discretion as the top length, for example, like Cristiano Ronaldo, it is elongated, the top part is longer than in the classic version.

As for the occipital part, it can be reduced to -0 mm, i.e. without attachments, or have a length of 3 or 6 mm at your own request.

What you need before you start cutting:

  • machine;
  • high-quality and bright light;
  • at least 2 mirrors, let the large one be behind, and keep the smaller one in front;
  • cape or sheet to prevent hair from prickling;
  • comb, with fine teeth, if the upper part of the hair should be elongated;
  • prepare the area and clear it of any carpets or floor coverings;
  • It is recommended to take a broom and dustpan with you too;
  • machine or razor if you plan to shave the back of your head.
  1. Determine how long the entire haircut will be, what the longest strand should be. For example, you chose a 15mm long top. Take a 15 mm nozzle (the length is in mm and the size of the nozzle is written on the back of it), put it on the machine and plug it into the outlet, if it is plugged in.
  2. Remove hair from the entire head, moving from the forehead to the back of the head, without leaving a single strip. Go through each line at least 2 times. Removed and then cleaned - this will minimize the number of “antennas” or uncut hair. We go through the entire head one by one.
  3. If the hair grows in different directions, then go in different directions.

  4. Remove the main part using the largest nozzle.
    We remind you that remove the length gradually, moving from the largest nozzle to the smallest. Pay attention to the lever on the side or if it is a new generation, the divisions may be right on the machine itself. If the knife is pulled out using a lever, another 0.5 mm will be added to the length.
  5. The next step is 9 mm or 6 mm, we go through the temporal zones to the width of the machine, paying special attention to the area behind the ears, to do this we slightly bend the edges of the ears to see if everything has been cut.
  6. The treatment area runs from the ear to the width of the machine along the head to the back of the head in a curved line.

    Particular difficulty can arise when you need to cut the side with your left hand, just do everything slowly and take your time. Your clipper should become your comb or your hand and exactly follow the actions of your hand. Practicing several haircuts will help you get used to and adapt to the mirror image.

  7. To make the transition between 15 mm and 9 mm or 6, we round up. We do this with the nozzle, moving it upward, moving the machine from the bottom or from the side and up, while making sure that the machine goes tangentially upward. Go through the transition area. The width of the transition is equal to the width of the machine for reference.
  8. Treat the lowest area with a 3 mm nozzle; its width is equal to the width of the machine. The occipital area should be cut according to your occipital area. Since this part can be of different shapes, for beginners we simply recommend going over it with a 3 mm nozzle.
  9. For a perfect transition to 0, remove the attachment and go through the bottom. We treat the temporal zone and the back of the head to the bottom bone with it, try not to go higher.
  10. Treat the neck area to make it look well-groomed. Inspect the haircut from all sides and make sure that there are no irregularities or remnants of uncut hair anywhere.
  11. The half-box haircut is ready! Congratulations!

Do-it-yourself half-box haircut with explanations in the video:

A haircut from a professional will be very different, because... the master works only with his right hand and sees the work in front of him, you cannot do this on your own, but it is the work of the master that will allow you to understand what bends should be and where.

Pay attention to the movements of the hairdresser in the area of ​​the temples, as well as in creating the transition - this will help you repeat it in your own haircut.

Half-box haircut from the master:

Step-by-step instructions for a man to cut his own hair with a clipper with a transition (video)

Prepare hair and tool. A table or chair will help you put everything at a level comfortable for your hands. Place the machine on it, having first plugged it into the network; we recommend taking an extension cord, because... you need a fairly wide circle of movement around your head.

Use a drape or sheet to cover your shoulders, or undress to shower later.

Hair should be dry; wet hair should only be cut with scissors. It’s up to you to wash your hair or not, but after a haircut we strongly recommend taking a shower and washing your hair, because... the remaining hair will be prickly.

  • Position mirrors so that you can see the back of your head and, if necessary, place a mirror on an arm on a chair.
  • Feel your head, inspect the haircut at the moment. At the back, where the bone protrudes, this will be the place of transition from the shortest length to the medium one.
  • The haircut is divided into several stages, the main ones being one pass with a nozzle of 14, 12 or 9 mm, depending on the desired length.
  • The second is from 9.6 or more, each one adjusts its own comfortable length. This part covers the areas above the ears and the back of the head to the bone.
  • The third from the very base of the neck to the bone 3 or 0, i.e. without nozzle. We recommend moving from the largest nozzle and the longest to the smallest gradually. It's important not to rush!
  • The last stage is the edging, it is quite difficult to do it yourself, so simply the side parts at the back are negated, because cut with a clipper without an attachment.

What hairstyles can you create with a hair clipper?

With the help of a machine it is easy to get such men's haircuts as:

By changing the attachments on the blades of the machine, you will get a hairstyle with different hair lengths. Usually the shortest hairs are left on the temples and neck, and the long ones on the crown and forehead. In addition, with the machine you can create drawings or inscriptions on the head, shaving them with special attachments.

The clipper is also useful for women who have a simple short haircut. If the hairstyle is difficult to do on your own, then the device will be useful for correcting growing hair in the temples or neck area.

Today, women's hairstyles with a shaved temple area are very popular. Making such a haircut is not difficult using a regular clipper.

Classic and simplest haircut with one attachment

Let's consider the option of cutting a haircut using one attachment without transitions; even a beginner who picks up a clipper for the first time will be able to do it.

Prepare everything you need for a haircut: mirrors, clipper, comb, take off clothes, extension cord.

  1. Choose a nozzle that is 3-6 mm or longer than the final length, the size on the back of the nozzle. This will allow you to correct nuances in case of surprises.
    We choose mirror 2, the smaller one will allow you to see how you cut the back of the head.
  2. Step-by-step algorithm: we cut from the lateral temporal zone, move to the occipital zone, then repeat the manipulations with the second temporal zone and cut the front and occipital zone.
    During the cutting process, it is important to pass each cut strip 2-3 times at different angles - this will allow you to remove all the hair, even those that grow at an angle.
  3. Don’t forget that if your hand is tired, you can give it a chance to rest by lowering it down and “trotting” slightly. The first haircut will seem endless, because... We have not yet learned to combine the appearance in the mirror and our actions in reality, but this will pass with experience.

When cutting the upper parietal zone, take your time; if you have coarse and thick hair, then with sudden movements you can even cause yourself pain.

When you move to the left side, be prepared to experience discomfort, because... cutting the left side with your left hand, if you are right-handed is quite unusual, you might want to try cutting with your right hand, but even in this case it just takes time to adapt.

It is important to look in the mirror and strictly follow the chosen trajectory of movement.

When you have cut the temples on both sides and the anterior parietal area, move on to the occipital area.

If you only have one mirror, you should navigate by touch, moving from the back of the head through the upper parietal zone.

If there are 2 mirrors, stand in a way that is comfortable for you, preferably with your back to the large mirror and look into the small mirror to observe the haircut from behind.

Examine the haircut carefully with a bright light; the remaining uncut hair behind the ears or on the back of the head may not be noticeable.

Pay special attention to the following areas: behind the ears and at the back of the head. For a better haircut, bend your ear and follow the growth from the temple to the back of the head and vice versa, and also repeat the movements when rising again.

So many movements are needed to cut all the hair!

How to cut hair with a clipper

Hair cutting with a machine is usually done by men, boys, or very extravagant girls who love extra short hair. Knowledge of how to cut hair with a machine . will be useful to you if you want to cut your man’s or son’s hair at home. This skill will also be useful for mothers whose little children absolutely cannot stand hairdressers and cannot sit quietly in a hairdresser’s chair even for a minute. It will be much easier to cut such a baby’s hair at home, because his own mother, and not an unfamiliar aunt, will “conjure” his hairstyle.

Which hair clipper to choose

Electronic stores sell a variety of hair clippers, and they are usually inexpensive. But if you decide to constantly cut your hair with a clipper yourself, then we recommend purchasing a professional tool . A professional clipper is heavier than a regular clipper (conventional clippers are usually very light), its blades are much better quality, and it won’t disappoint you after a couple of haircuts.

Beginning hairdressers can purchase a German professional Moser hair clipper. It is not as expensive as the rest of the tool, but it lasts a long time and has a high-quality build. Hair clippers usually come with attachments of different lengths for cutting haircuts.

How to do a haircut with a clipper

In fact, cutting hair is very simple and there is nothing complicated about it. There are only a few simple rules . Firstly, never cut wet hair with a clipper - this will quickly cause the blades to become dull, and the haircut will not be of high quality. Only dry hair should be cut.

Secondly, do not cut hair with a clipper if its length is more than 5 cm, as it will “pinch” it, which is very unpleasant, especially if you are cutting a haircut for a small child. The solution to this problem is easy. Just before cutting, cut off the excess length with scissors - this does not have to be done absolutely evenly, because all the flaws will then be successfully smoothed out with a clipper. Just remove the length to make cutting easier.

It is very important to hold the machine correctly in your hands - this will allow you to accurately set its movement and eliminate mistakes. The machine must be held firmly, the thumb should lie on the body from above, and the remaining four fingers should be grasped from below. All movements with the clipper when cutting are performed from the bottom up, always against the hair growth, with small jerks. To make it more convenient, you can hold your hair with a comb.


You need to start cutting your hair from the edge hairline on the neck, gradually moving up to the crown. Then the occipital part is shaved, and lastly the temporal zones. The length of the cut will depend on which attachment you choose.

The simplest option is to cut your hair with one attachment . All you need to do is go over the entire head with a machine with one attachment, evenly removing the entire length. Then, if desired, you can slightly shorten the temples using an attachment 1 size smaller. You can also trim the haircut. Edging is usually done with attachment No. 1 and is carried out only along the hairline at the back and temples.

After you have finished cutting, do not forget to clean the blades of the clipper from any accumulated hair. It is also advisable to disinfect all instruments. Here's how to cut hair with a clipper. It's very simple, and most importantly #8212; quickly and there is no need to go to the hairdresser.

Tips from Zapyataya.com

  • Cut only clean and dry hair. First of all, it is the most convenient: dry hair contributes to the smoothness and ease of movement of the machine. Cutting wet hair will not extend the life of your clipper. If you do cut your hair while your hair is wet, clean the device thoroughly and oil the blades. This does not apply to those models whose manufacturers claim the ability to cut wet hair.
  • Start cutting with the maximum length position of the nozzle, gradually moving to cutting short hair.
  • To cut your hair evenly, do not go too fast or change the speed - move it smoothly and easily.
  • During the cutting process, the device should be at a slight angle to the head.
  • After running the clipper over an area of ​​hair, do not stop, and it is not recommended to turn off the device while cutting.
Rating
( 1 rating, average 5 out of 5 )
Did you like the article? Share with friends:
For any suggestions regarding the site: [email protected]
Для любых предложений по сайту: [email protected]