SIGforum
For those of us who cut our own hair
April 22, 2022, 01:34 PM
EdmondFor those of us who cut our own hair
What do you use?
I have heard that Andis makes nice clippers. Should I go corded or stay cordless?
I have a cordless unit, forgot the name brand, but the blades are getting dull. I paid $70 for it about 5 years ago and it's getting about time to replace it.
What conditioners do you use after cutting your hair to prevent things such as a dry scalp or ingrown hairs?
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April 22, 2022, 01:39 PM
RogueJSKquote:
Originally posted by Edmond:
What do you use?
A Schick Hydro 5 razor.

But it sounds like you're buzzing your head, not shaving it all the way down.
quote:
Originally posted by Edmond:
What conditioners do you use after cutting your hair to prevent things such as a dry scalp or ingrown hairs?
I rarely have more than some stubble and I razor it down all the way to the skin, so this might not apply directly if you're buzzing your hair while it's longer, or using a guard so that the resulting cut is longer. But here's what I do:
1) Start with using a quality face wash all over your head. It's important to get the skin clean. I use Neutrogena Men's Invigorating Face Wash. But if your hair is longer, you may need to use shampoo instead of face wash.
2) Shave/cut it in the shower, or immediately after a shower, preferably using a lubricant (especially if shaving). I used a wet/dry trimmer back when I just buzzed my head, and used it in the shower. For shaving with a razor now, I use Cremo shaving cream and shave in a hot shower.
3) Follow up with a quality moisturizer, NOT an aftershave. You want to heal and remoisturize your irritated skin, not dry it out further with alcohol-based aftershaves. I use Nivea Men's Post-Shave Balm after shaving my head. But if your hair is remaining longer, you'll want to use a conditioner, and I haven't a clue what's good these days since it's been over a decade since I had enough hair to need a conditioner.
April 22, 2022, 01:42 PM
GustoferFlowbee. Going on 25 years now.
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"Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil." Doug Patton.
April 22, 2022, 01:51 PM
KeystonerI've been cutting my own hair for the last 5 years. It's definitely not a professional stylist job but when I tell other people I do it myself, they're always impressed. I mostly use a #6 on the sides and back and scissors on top. #3 and #4 a bit at the bottom on the sides. I'm not the best at fading in, but no matter how bad I do it, a week later, you can't tell.
I use the Andis Master clippers. I'd say they're high quality, and as an amateur who only uses them about once every 4 weeks, they should last me forever. My only complaint is the on/off switch. I'm constantly accidentally turning it off and blowing the GFCI breaker. I don't think it's well placed. I don't have a stand-alone edger. I'm anal about straight edges and the regular Master is good enough for me.
I don't get dry scalp or ingrown hairs, so no conditioner for me.
Year V April 22, 2022, 02:05 PM
P250UA5Went from a cheap Remington (peak lockdown & all they had in stock) that would bog down constantly, to a corded Wahl.
The Wahl works well, but could be better, still get the occasional snag, and somehow broke the retainer clip on my #3 comb, so went #4 this time.
I need to invest in a buy once/cry once trimmer, since I don't ever see myself going back to having it done (Sport Clips & Tune Up were the last places I frequented. The 'free' beer at Tune Up wasn't a bad concept)
The Enemy's gate is down. April 22, 2022, 02:14 PM
VoshterkoffCorded wahl, entry “designer” level with a hanging ring. I’ve used it for probably a decade now.
April 22, 2022, 02:18 PM
Skull LeaderI have a corded Wahl with a vacuum attachment.
April 22, 2022, 02:22 PM
old dinoThe dog clippers with a 16mm comb ... at my age there is no reason trying to polish a turd.
April 22, 2022, 02:35 PM
konata88Wahl Professional 5 Star Series Cordless Magic Clip; I got tired of cords and extension cords. I enjoy the freedom of battery operated cordless. I use the #2 attachment.
I use Neutrogena Moisturizing Healthy Scalp Hydro Boost Shampoo for Dry Hair and Scalp, with Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid (blue stuff).
And this after showers / shaving: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water Gel Daily Face Moisturizer
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book April 22, 2022, 02:41 PM
Angus the KidClassic 76. Only way to go.
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" April 22, 2022, 03:02 PM
1s1kI use a Wahl cordless for me and an Andis cordless on the dog. The Andis seems to work better but was 5x the cost. It's kind of hard to compare a midlevel product from one manufacturers to a high end product from another.
They both do the job well.
April 22, 2022, 03:07 PM
dubdubuAnother Flowbee user.
April 22, 2022, 03:12 PM
snideraquote:
Originally posted by Keystoner:
I use the Andis Master clippers. I'd say they're high quality, and as an amateur who only uses them about once every 4 weeks, they should last me forever. My only complaint is the on/off switch. I'm constantly accidentally turning it off and blowing the GFCI breaker. I don't think it's well placed. I don't have a stand-alone edger. I'm anal about straight edges and the regular Master is good enough for me.
I had an andis speedmaster for 11+ years before the motor/blade drive wore out. #1 on sides, #2 on top, unless I forgot to take the #1 off. The switch causes me issues as well. Probably not designed for self-use.
I recently bought a chinesium cordless and while it might not last 1/2 as long, it was less than 1/2 the price & 1/3 of a cordless andis/wahl. Apparently the andis was limping along for more than a year because i'm shocked at how well the new one cuts. I figure since I'm only cutting about every 3 weeks rather than 10-14 days like I was in my 20s, I'm good for a while.
April 22, 2022, 03:33 PM
tatortoddAbout 3 days into the COVID scamdemic, I realized I was going to have to cut my own hair for a few months. I didn't yet need a haircut, but figured I'd buy clippers before everybody else realized it too.
I Googled reviews, watched review on YouTube, and read Amazon reviews. I ended up purchasing
these corded clippers by Remington because:
built in "vaccuum" so would make less of a mess
thousands of reviews and 4.4 rating on Amazon
nice selection of clipper gaurds
came with scissors and long comb
I had watched a bunch of how cut your own hair videos on YouTube so I tackled it. I used the 3/4" blade and did the top. Then, I used the 3/8" blade and did the sides and back. Now, it was time to pretty up the transition from the 3/8" hair and 3/4" hair. The kit had a right fade and left fade clipper guard and the short ends looked close to the 3/8" clipper guard. Nope, the short side cut a line almost clean to my scalp. I put on the 1/4" clipper guard and cut everything the same length. I switched to my much smaller beard trimmer to tackle the ears and neckline.
I looked it up and it turns out I wanted a taper not a fade. It grew out, and I mastered how to cut the taper from the 3/8" to 3/4". I also started trimming my beard with the same guard as used on the sides and back. In the winter, I switch to 1/2" and 1" clipper guards.
Over 2 years later, and I'm still cutting my own hair. Other than the aforementioned first haircut most people have no idea that I cut my own hair. I'm probably too picky, but now I alternate between barber and home cut every 3 weeks. The barber gets a straighter neckline.
Overall, the purchase has more than paid for itself. It has been reliable, the cut quality has been good, and the "vacuum" lives up to its promise of easier clean up. Being cordless would be nice, but the cord is easy to work around and the "vacuum" is a better feature than a battery.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. April 22, 2022, 03:33 PM
TMatsCorded Wahl
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despite them
April 22, 2022, 03:34 PM
mark123I use Wahl 5-star Balding Clippers (the burgundy colored ones). They get very close. You're all but shaved after using them. After cutting, I just use Aveeno lotion to keep it hydrated.
April 22, 2022, 03:41 PM
NavyGuyI've still have bit of hair, albeit gray that I'd like to keep and I'm sure looks better then the shaved head. Cutting my own for me is not in the cards until it becomes complete give up and I'm ready to just become an old couch potato. For now the barber every 30 days. Old time shop and I don't mind as there's good conversation and I don't have to explain how I want it cut. Just "the usual" does it.
Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves.
-D.H. Lawrence April 22, 2022, 03:45 PM
KevHI've been shaving my head with a standard Norelco electric razor for fifteen years. I shower afterwards which keeps everything nice and hydrated. Works for me.
Proverbs 28:1
April 22, 2022, 04:58 PM
dsietsI use a Conair clippers if I go 2 weeks or more w/o shaving. Conair is ok.
Then I shave w/ a DE on the head and face. I do get dry skin depending on the season and use aftershave balm. I like the balms w/ a little alcohol and they do not dry my skin like alcohol splashes.
April 22, 2022, 05:00 PM
Ryanp225Shave it with a razor every other day. Shower right after then a splash of rubbing alcohol finished with a little lotion.