Buzz Cut Best Practices

December 1, 2008 2:01 PM

Striving for a better haircut: I give myself buzz cuts with clippers on the #2 setting... but inevitably some hair doesn't get cut and it can take quite a while.

The clippers I use are of fairly high quality, but I have to assume that there is a better way to do this (maybe there is a specific brand of clipper for buzz cuts?). I want it to be completely even all the way around, and I want it to take around 15 minutes. Do you have any strategies that you are willing to share? Is a flowbee the way to go? Should I go to a barber, or is that just a huge waste?

posted by pwally to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (12 answers total)

Practice helped a lot for me. It's important to make sure the clippers are unclogged and oiled, too.
posted by box at 2:13 PM on December 1, 2008

The biggest thing is to move the clippers slowly, and approach every hair from every angle. You'll still have to remove the guide to get the dangly bits in the back, but I don't think it's ever taken me more than 15 minutes to do my own hair. If you got a barber to do it, you'd pay $5-20, and it would take twice as long, overall.

Plus, the shorter you go, the easier it is. I've been using #4 lately, and it takes a lot longer than it used to when I used #1 or just shaved it without the guide.
posted by uncleozzy at 2:18 PM on December 1, 2008

I use a #1 and find that I have to go over each area twice, sometimes a third time in a different direction. Going slowly helps.
posted by kdern at 2:18 PM on December 1, 2008

Don't go the barber. One trip to the barber's costs more than the fresh pair of clippers I get every 18 mos.

I do it after showering so nothing is matted or pressed flat and I have my wife do a quick examination/touch-up afterwards. I have done it well without her and the key was just hitting each area multiple times from different directions.

A possible difference is that I use the #1 setting, but I'm not sure how that would matter.
posted by codswallop at 2:19 PM on December 1, 2008

I took the comb off altogether on Sunday and discovered it was much easier.

(Then I tried out my HeadBlade for the first time, but that's another story).

The easy way with number 2 is to have a helper tidy up after you've done the best you can.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 2:22 PM on December 1, 2008

If it isn't a metal guard, you'll always miss some hair doing a few passes. I shaved my own head down to a #0 or #1 for a few years. My advice would be to always go against the grain of the hair at least once and to do it while your hair is recently washed but dry. It may be easier to do with no guard but if you like the #2 look it is possible to fill in the missed areas (carefully) using a comb and then the clipper with no guard. Also, on a #1 it becomes very easy (using the thumb switch on bare clipper head) to taper the hair around the nape of your neck and sideburns if you care about that.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 2:27 PM on December 1, 2008

I use clippers on my head and face without any guard (so what's that, a #0?). I've found the best method is when my hair is dry, and I do this just before hopping in the shower to take all the cut hair off my head.

I use both hands and try to go at my entire head from every angle. I spend about 2/3 of the time going over the back of my head, over and over and over again, just to make sure I don't miss anything. It's really easy to shave what I can see in the mirror; in the back, I make a few passes, then feel for stubble, then make a few more passes, repeat.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 2:36 PM on December 1, 2008

I just did my son's hair at a #2 last night. I agree with the other posters that you need to go at it from every angle, but in particular note the way the hair grows and go opposite. That direction will vary as to the location on the head. Have a helper neaten up the edges. I also oil the clippers every time I use them. Doing that seems to help. Going slowly also helps.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 2:38 PM on December 1, 2008

I use a #4 grade, and do it once a week. The logic being that if I do miss a hair, it only has a week to grow longer, which is going to make it less noticeable.

I find it helps to close my eyes, and go by feel. Always cut directly against the grain, and then go at 90 degrees to it too. To feel for long hairs, put your index and middle fingers flat against your head, and make a scissoring motion.

But seriously, close your eyes and focus on where you can feel the trimmers have been. Do every patch at least twice. If you do it regularly, you'll soon get the hang of it.
posted by Solomon at 3:17 PM on December 1, 2008

I give myself a more complex cut than yours (three different lengths) with clippers, and it's pretty easy. They key is to make sure you get every part of your head. I find that doing a few slow passes from different directions helps to get all the hairs to the right length.
posted by zippy at 3:42 PM on December 1, 2008

Also use a hand mirror in conjunction with a bigger wall mounted mirror so that you can see what you're doing round the back (like the barber used to do when they showed you what the back of your haircut looked like). This makes life much easier...
posted by Chairboy at 4:14 PM on December 1, 2008

The key for me is to use well oiled clippers on slightly DAMP hair ( just soak your head and towel dry beforehand ). I still have to go over every part from a couple different angles, but it much improves the situation.
posted by balberth at 10:15 AM on December 3, 2008