For this weeks Happy Homesteading post I wanted to talk about how to cut your little boys hair.
Haircuts can be expensive. As a mom of 2 boys and one happy husband, going to the salon every month really adds up to some serious cash. If you can learn how to cut boys hair at home and give the boys a nice cut; you will be save a ton of money for years to come.
My youngest son is 6 years old and I finally decided to take the time to learn how to cut my little boys hair. I was really afraid of messing up his hair, cutting him, or shaving him bald. So the way I learned to do it was by taking some lessons from my sister in law who is a professional hair dresser. Finally one day gave me some lesson and I have been cutting my boys hair ever since. I have only messed up once so far, so like with everything.. there is a learning curve. It’s nice since hair always grows back so you can try, try again.
HISTORY
As you know I like to bring in a couple of pictures from my family history in these Happy Homesteading posts..so I looked through all my albums to see if I could find any evidence of some bad hair cuts. I found a couple for your enjoyment. See… even if you try this out and fail a few times, it won’t be the first time.
This first cut I thought was funny was of this boy Herbert Olson (my great uncle). Looks like a definite bowl cut to me! Plus it’s a little bit shaggy too. 🙂
And of course…this picture of my Grandmother Marilyn in 1935 cracks me up! If that isn’t a haircut done at home I don’t know what is.
She is still absolutely adorable though…
HOW TO CUT YOUR LITTLE BOYS HAIR
I started with the clippers. I purchased a clippers set from Walmart for around $20. I used the clipper guard with the number 3 on it for my son. You can also buy a nice clipper set on Amazon for under $20 as well. You want to have a comb, some scissors, your clippers and the numbered guards.
Next, find one silly boy and make him drape a towel over his shoulders (they hate getting all itchy…).
Start by putting on that plastic Number 3 guard on the clipper and plugging it in. Hold the clippers in a 90 degrees angle and go straight up from the base of the neck. Cut it in an upwards motion. Do this all around his head.
THE EDGING
Take the guard off the top of your clippers, and do some cleaning up around the ears and the back of the neck. You can also use your scissors at this stage as well if you prefer. Be very careful not to nick his little ears, those clippers can be sharp.
Now you are DONE with the clippers. Get your scissors out for the rest! First step is to get his hair wet. My dollar store spray bottle broke (big surprise there…) so I just used a cup of water. My son LOVED that as you can tell (said sarcastically).
MAKING YOUR GUIDE CUT
To begin trimming the top of his hair, take a section in the front and make your “GUIDE”. Choose the length you want his hair to be for this guide.
Then holding your fingers as level across as possible cut the hair away.
Then if once you have your guide you will be cutting the rest of the hair that length.
View the top hair in 3 sections, the middle and the two sides. Starting at the front and working your way to the back do the middle section. Comb a section on his head up level with your fingers and snip away the longer hair to the length of the guide hair you cut. Use the guide cut all the middle section, then the sides.
Your last step will be blending the top of the hair with the shorter sides. To do this you need to cut at a 45 degrees angle like the angle this comb is at in this picture.
I used my fingers and just gently clipped the hair at that 45 degrees angle.
PS – Have I mentioned to you all how much I love this face? I do, I really do.
And then you are all DONE! Woo hoo! Another $15 saved. Here is the end result (just like at the salon!)
My son was thrilled to be done…and get all that hair off him. Time to head on over to shower off!
Because getting a haircut can be ITCHY!
Thanks for reading… I hope you try to cut your own son’s hair too to save some money. I haven’t yet tried to cut my daughters hair, I need another lesson from my sister in law for that one.
And if you are looking for a nice Clippers Kit – check out this one on Amazon for under $20.
For the cost of one haircut (around $15) you can buy some clippers, do it yourself and save lots of money.
Savings Breakdown:
Cost of 1 Haircut around $15 w/tip
My son gets a haircut at least once every 2 months ($15 x 6 = $90 per year)
$90 per year x 2 sons + one husband = $270
Buying Clippers – $20
Final: $250 per year saved by learning to cut your own boys hair!
Final thoughts. If you don’t feel comfortable trying this out yourself first, ask someone who does it to come over and teach you how. Or watch some youtube videos on it. But you can do it! Even if you mess up the first time keep trying. It is so worth it to save all that money.
Do you cut your own boys hair? Any tips or other helpful info you can add to this?
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About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Sally says
Thank you for sharing about happy homesteading cutting my sons hair to save money, these will be really helpful for me. I love reading this blog; it talks so much about planning a great idea about it. Keep sharing such informative articles in future, will be appreciated.
Zbigniew says
Thank you for this guide. In this difficult period, I also have to sharpen my child myself. I will be fine thanks to you!
Sarah says
I disagree on the edging. It’s the riskiest thing to do especially the back side of the neck. Never try that
Alicia says
I’ve been cutting three sons hair and my husband went to the barber because he’s pretty particular. I kept practicing on the younger ones and my husband FINALLY let me try his hair again and everyone at his work kept giving him compliments that it looked good! Success and lots of savings!!
Stacey says
Great post! I cut my sons hair but after watching tonnes of videos on you tube and reading about how to blend in, I can’t seem to do it I am just left with a big obviousl line between the short and long bits! Any help appreciated
Jenn says
You can cut the bottom part of their hair with a 1 guard, then the top with either a 3 or scissors and use a 2 guard to blend the edge. Works like a charm. I believe it is called the up down fade or the 1.2.3.
Vincent says
Wow, this is a really good post. The pics make it so much easier to follow your tips. I regularly shave my 4 year old’s hair and it can be a challenge but what I do recommend for the more younger kids is;
Buy a hair clipper which is as silent as possible. I used to use a professional hair clipper which unfortunately made tremendous noise because it had such a large motor, but this terrified him.
Use a cordless trimmer. The younger kids tend to move around alot and you don’t want the cord to keep tangling up around them as this may get pulled and cause an accident.
I also take a garbage bag and cut a hole at the bottom to put it through his head. This way the hair does not go under his shirt and cause irritation while I’m shaving his head.
Amber says
Can I just say, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! I’m a mom to 3 boys (7, 5 & 18 months) and also have my hubby/man child. Ha! I am doing this tomorrow night on our youngest because right now he has what my hubby calls “hockey hair”. He has the cutest little curls in the back, which they will be saved cause this will be his first haircut! But it’s the hair in front that’s driving us, including the baby, nuts. I’m gonna give it a try, I’m definitely going to do a little bit in case I do mess up ya know.
Michelle says
I bought a set of clippers from Walmart and started cutting my youngest two boys’ hair when they were toddlers. They wiggled but I would sit them in the kitchen with the TV and they were more still than they ever would be at the salon. The cuts weren’t too impressive but, I figured they were too young to know the difference and I knew the more often I did their hair the better I would get. Now, at 11 & 13, neither of them wants to get their hair cut at the salon. Last time my 11 year old went he was upset because it wasn’t how he wanted it and I had to fix it! I recently bought 2 new clipper guards on Amazon (1.25 & 1.5″) as they both prefer their hair longer these days.
Pinky says
Thank you for this tutorial. I have been cutting my sons hair since he was 3months old. He is not afraid of the noise but hates the itchiness of the hair. He refuses to let me put a towel or plastic to protect him, any advice?
slybunklizard says
How strapped for cash do you have to be where two hundred and fifty dollars is worth going through this much bullshit for? I piss that much off in a month just on cigarettes. $15 a haircut, Jeez you think she figured out a way to pay off her mortgage five years early. That is something worth bragging about.
MotherBear says
Negative comments and profanity are not necessary. But I find it interesting that you went to all the trouble to leave a comment on a page that doesn’t interest you… at all. If you were on the page that long, you must have already known how to pay off your mortgage early, I do. And I think lots of people do, too.
What we wanted to know was how to make our boy’s haircuts look good. Not whether or not you were a troll who’s only enjoyment was leaving comments on a blog that never threatened you. Go suck your cigarettes!
Anthony says
Good tips. I’d like to add there is a new product that helps me cut my sons hair and it works great for the popular taper/fade style. It’s called the “Hair Fader”. It’s pretty easy to use. Just thought I’d throw that out there for others who have kids with taper/fade haircuts.
Happy.MoneySaver says
Yes it is awesome! Thanks for mentioning that!
Erin says
I just had to write and say that my dad’s family is from Chappell, NE! Thanks for the hair cutting tips.
Joan says
Karmin makes the best in my opinion
Jeannie says
Just had to comment that your sons hair reminds me very much of my oldest sons (mine are now 23 and 21). I had the pleasure to cut their hair until well, a year ago when both decided they wanted to grow their hair and donate Locks for Love. It is not only a money saver but a great family bonding experience that is always good for a “do you remember when” conversation. And looking back at pictures of them as young children I always get to say “gee your barber did such a great job”! Don’t miss an opportunity to make a memory hair grows back, years don’t.
Stephanie says
We save a lot in our house. I have been cutting my husband’s hair for awhile now. I usually cut it all down to 3/4in then I do the sides at 3/8in. I trim song the crown of his head at 5/8in to blend it. I’m waiting until my son is a little older to do the same thing for him. For me, since I don’t treat my hair, I usually grow my hair out then donate it to locks of love which makes my hair cuts free.
Carrie says
I started cutting my first sons hair as soon as he needed his first cut, then I started cutting my husbands hair, now I have 4 sons and a daughter and cut all of their hair I also cut my own most of the time as well.
Jenn says
My husband hasn’t gone to the barber to get his hair done in nearly 15 years. Until last year, I had been doing his haircuts, but he always wanted it done at the most impractical time, so he just started doing it himself. He cuts his hair about every 2 weeks and uses the clippers with no guard on it. I’ve been doing my son’s hair since he was 18 months. Until then, we had his hair a little longer, but we realized how thick it is and decided he’d like it better short (we were right!). I usually do the sides and back at a #2 guard and the top with a #3 or #4 depending on if he is playing sports during that month or not. He gets a hair cut every 4 weeks. My daughter….well…..I do still take her to the shop for her hair cuts. They get done about every 3-4 months and the lady charges us $12. Her hair gets cut short and then stacked in the back and I don’t even want to bother trying it. I figure $14 4 times a year is not going to kill us. I don’t get anything done with my hair, so I’m willing to take my daughter to get her hair done.
Gracie says
I tried the home made detergent and love it! I also tried to cut my sons hair. I think I did ok for my first time. Luckily he is only 7 and won’t be able to tell the difference between a bad haircut and a good haircut. Thanks! I’m really loving your page!
Cheryl says
Well I did it! Today I gave both of my boys a haircut. Last time I took them to the barber I was not happy with the results. The hair was not cut evenly and I asked my boyfriend who cuts my hair to fix them. So earlier this week I looked at the boys and said, “This week you are getting haircuts”. I wanted to wait until they were out of school before I tried doing it myself. My youngest went first. I was a little nervous as I put the 1/2″ attachment on the clippers and turned them on. My boyfriend coached me on technique and supervised, giving me tips along the way. Well it was not hard. I wanted the younger one to have it shorter for the summer, so it was pretty much same length all over. Afterwards I took the attachment off and trimmed the sideburns and neckline. Scissors around the ears. It looked great. Then the older one, he wanted to keep it longer on top, so I clippered the sides, and then did scissor over comb cutting on top. My boyfriend did most of that. I did the sideburns and the neckline like my younger. OK, both were done. Brushed each off and then into the showers to rinse off the loose hair. After their hair dried I followed up to inspect my work. A few stray hairs needed attention, but I was extremely pleased with the result. My older son’s hair looked great, better than what he got at the barber shop. My younger one kept looking in the mirror and saying he looked handsome 🙂 I did it, no mess ups and I saved $30 for the two haircuts, plus time and travel. The results were great and I figure at roughly 10 haircuts each a year, I will save $300 a year plus time and fuel costs. Afterwards my mother saw the boys and complimented how nice their haircuts looked. She was surprised when I told her I (with a little help) did them. Needless to say I will not be taking them back to the barber anytime soon when I can get better results at home 🙂 .
Happy.MoneySaver says
Great job!!
Cheryl says
Thank You 🙂
The big thing for me was that the haircuts had to look good, otherwise I would never hear the end of it from my mom or ex-husband that I hacked the boys hair. I would be a terrible mom. But they turned out great! My mom was going on about how much money it will save me. She mentioned she gets about 60 cents a mile for business travel, so I should use that for estimating transportation costs. So add $18 to the $30 for each trip to the barber. My boyfriend cutting mine every other month saves me about $50 including tip. So all told, I am saving over $900 a year. Those are real savings, because while I may have dragged it out an extra week or so between trips, I still was taking the boys to the barber and paying for haircuts. Not like I saved $6 on a pair of pants that were on sale, that I bought only because they were on sale.
The hair clipper set I bought is probably one of the best investments I have ever made.
Kdello says
Thank you for this! I’ve been looking for a post that shows something that won’t make my kid look like Lloyd Christmas!