Do you want to save yourself a TON of time and money? Skip that next salon trip and learn how to cut boys' hair at home. It takes less than 15 minutes, and we guarantee you it's WAY more manageable than you think!
Okay, a quick disclaimer before we go any further here. We are not professional hairstylists, but we do love a good DIY project from time to time. And one way we've saved a ton of money over the years is by giving our boys at-home haircuts.
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If you're like us and you love to save money on haircuts, then keep on reading! We'll teach you how to cut boys' hair in just five easy steps. From start to finish, you'll be done in less than the time it would take you to drive to the salon. Sweet!
SUPPLIES YOU'LL NEED TO CUT BOYS HAIR
Before we get started, make sure you have all the supplies you'll need. There are so many haircutting kits online these days, but we like to keep things pretty simple, so here's what we suggest:
- Comb – Make sure you have a simple comb handy. Trying to cut tangled hair is downright brutal.
- Towels – We like to wrap one towel around our son's neck (like a cape) and then place one on the floor to catch any excess hair.
- Shaving Kit – Costco sells shaving kits for around $40, but you can get them on Amazon, too. Make sure to order a kit that comes with guards. We use this Wahl Deluxe Haircut set. It pretty much pays for itself after a couple of cuts!
- Hair Oil – Our shaving kit came with oil, but if you buy one that doesn't, you can order shaving oil on Amazon for just a few bucks.
Got all your supplies ready to go? Let's start cutting! Here's a foolproof five-step process that we follow to cut boys' hair.
HOW TO CUT BOYS HAIR: A FIVE STEP PROCESS
Okay, we're breaking this down for you step by step, so don't worry! You've got this, mama. Let's have some fun. It's time to start clipping! Follow this five-step process, and you'll be done in no time.
STEP ONE: PREP YOUR WORK AREA
We usually cut our boys' hair in the bathroom because it makes cleanup so much easier! Bring in a chair, grab a few towels, and round up your comb and shaving kit.
If your boys are anything like ours, they probably don't love sitting still, so we suggest bringing in an iPad or phone for a little entertainment. Queue up a fun playlist or turn on a show they love.
STEP TWO: COMB THEIR HAIR, THEN APPLY THE GUARD AND HAIR OIL
Okay, now that your workspace is ready, it's time to get your tools ready, too! This part is so easy, and we're even going to break it down into three mini-steps for you:
- Comb Their Hair – Make sure to work through any tangles and get any product residue out. Just trust us on this one.
- Attach the Guard to Your Razor – We recommend starting with the largest guard first.
- Apply Oil to the Razor – Once you've attached the guard, apply a few drops of oil to the razor. It helps it glide more easily and prevents split ends!
Now you're ready to start cutting, so let's move ahead to step three!
STEP THREE: START FROM THE TOP
You've got the razor all set up, with the largest guard attached, so we suggest you start cutting from the top. We personally like to keep the hair up top a little thicker, which is why we use the biggest guard first.
Slow and easy does it, so don't rush! This is a quick process anyway, so don't be afraid to take your time. You can always cut off more if you need to, but it's kinda hard to add hair back. When you're done with the top, snap off that guard and brush the hairs off the razor. Now you're ready for the next step!
STEP FOUR: SWITCH GUARDS AND CUT THE SIDES, BOTTOM, AND BACK
Now that you've got the hang of this, you're probably starting to have some fun! When you're ready to move on to the sides, back, and bottom, snap on the next biggest guard and get to work.
Follow the same process you did for the top of the hair and eyeball it. Just use your best judgment. You can clean things up in the next step of the process if you need to! And once you get a few cuts under your belt, you'll be able to do this with your eyes closed.
STEP FIVE: TRIM THE NECK AND SIDEBURNS
This final step can feel the most daunting when you're new to cutting boys' hair at home, but don't panic! Take a deep breath and reach for the small trimmer. It's time to clean up the edges, so start with the back of the neck, work your way around to the sides, and then focus on the sideburns.
How you trim is up to you! You can go for a look with clean lines or keep things simple. We're not experts by any means, so if we can do it, we know you can, too.
Once you've finished trimming, comb through the hair and have your kiddo rinse off in the shower. When they're done, style as you normally would and pat yourself on the back for completing your first at-home haircut!
HOW TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOU CUT BOYS' HAIR AT HOME
Yay! Time for cleanup. If you took our advice and did your cutting in the bathroom, this part will be easy. While your kid showers, bring in a broom or vacuum and get all the hair off the floor.
You know those towels you used? Take them outside and shake them out, then toss them into the wash. That's pretty much it. Your work here is done. You just saved your family some serious cash, so go you!
There you have it! A foolproof method for cutting boys' hair at home. Give it a try, and let us know how it goes. Take a pic of your handiwork and tag us on Instagram!
And while we're on the topic of haircuts, how often do you get your hair cut? Drop a comment below and tell us if you have any tips for making that fresh-from-the-salon style last longer!
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Hair we go! Time to start clipping!
That’s the same Wahl kit we just bought!
unfortunately my kids is deathly afraid of the razor. 🙁
Mine was too! We’re talking snot running down their face and epic tears. That’s when we implemented bribery, treats, and the ipad. Now they are used to it, thank goodness!
A video on how you trim Priya’s hair would be great.
I checked out your blog and I must say you do a very nice job. We started doing the at home haircuts after my boys got two really bad haircuts in a row at the barber shop. He skinned the sides, looked like he cut steps, and he went higher on one side than the other. I was disgusted, my sister accused me of hacking them, I told her they were from the barber and my mother just said, it will grow back. So I asked my then boyfriend, now husband to help me as he had been cutting my hair for me since we started dating. We bought a good set of Wahl clippers at Sally’s. The cheaper units are noisy, vibrate a lot and get hot fast. Being I would be saving a lot of money, I figured it was worth the few extra dollars. I bought a child’s cape and the neck strips. He already had a good quality pair of hair shears, which he uses on mine. We watched a couple of YouTube videos and we set the children up on the patio outside for easier clean up. My younger went first, did a #6 on top, #4 on the sides and neck clean up. My guy showed me the techniques of the scooping to blend transitions. My older wanted his longer on top, so my guy took over to do the scissor over comb trimming on top and blended the shorter layers on the sides. Both haircuts came out great, better than the barber on the first attempt. My mom was impressed, and told me we did nice work as the boys looked quite handsome with their haircuts. I was nervous but thought I did ok, my older one however told me I was fired and the younger followed suit, saying my guy does a better job. So he does the boys haircuts each month and mine every 6-8 weeks. I figure at the costs of the haircuts, tip and transportation, I save about $60 a month on the boys. Mine at $70, 8-9 times a year, saves me over $1400 a year. I like saving the trip, not waiting for the haircuts or having the haircuts rushed through. And I don’t miss the hassle of making an appointment, the long wait and then having they stylist do what they want versus what I asked. So congratulations on the smart move of saving money while doing a great job on your children’s haircuts.
I actually cut my husband’s hair the exact same way you do using the clippers from Costco! He hates going to the barber and doesn’t mind the way it looks in the end. My 6 yr old daughter goes to the salon 2x a year because she has hair that is curly underneath and straight on top and it looks best with some layers cut into it which I have not been able to figure out how to do myself. But in between salon trips I trim her bangs myself which is pretty easy. I may even grow out her bangs and go down to 1 salon trip a year. Hmmmmmm
My son is 14 and on the autism spectrum. His old foster mom is the ONLY one who he lets cut his hair. We’ve tried going to a barbershop but that didn’t work for long. He walked out when the guy turned on the clippers. I tried doing it, but that didn’t work either. We keep trying.
We pay for hair cuts but now I’m going to try to do it at home. Thanks for the tip.
I have been cutting my boys’ hair since they were little. They are now 12, 15 and 18. Once they turn 12 the receive a monthly allowance for clothing, school supplies, entertainment and personal grooming. They HATE spending that money on a haircut, so I often still cut my teenagers’ hair. My lifesaver tool is the blending scissors/thinning shears!
Thanks for the guide on how to cut boy’s hair by myself. My husband doesn’t like going to salons, so he keeps asking me to give him a haircut. I’ll have to pick up some thinning shears. It seems like they will make it much easier to get subtle layers.
Yes good luck! It took me a little practice but I can whip through it quickly at this point. Thanks for reading! XO
We do salon for the kids but after your video I’m AT LEAST going to do my sons hair at home. I don’t think I’ll attempt my two girls. It makes me nervous.
I’m so glad you posted this! We do pay for haircuts because I’ve been too afraid to try doing it myself, but I may try now that I have a tutorial. We did manage to find a haircut place that only charges $12, but it still adds ip! I swear my kid always needs a haircut and I end up letting him have shaggy hair for longer than I should. Thanks again Jordan!
We use the FLOWBEE haircutting system for cutting our boys hair at home. We love it! It hooks up to the vacuum sweeper and sucks all th hair right up…no cleanup! The downside is that it’s a bit of a noisy affair…. but it’s fast! Look it up online. It’s a bit of an investment to purchase..close to $100 but for us it’s been worth every penny!
We tried this at our house (3 boys and the husband x $16 a piece at Supercuts every 3 weeks is just crazy!) BUT I butchered their hair lol! Left them with gaps and bleeding ears. I opted to find a friend that knows what she’s doing. She cuts hair, I bring dinner!
Haha that sounds like a good trade to me!! 🙂
With 6 boys here I learned how to cut their hair along time ago! I’ve been doing it for longer than I can remember! It’s a great money saver and definitely not that hard. Now as they get to be teenagers if they want to pay for their own haircuts that’s fine with me. But most of the time they don’t want to put out their money for it and I end up doing it. 🙂 🙂 They’re learning how to be frugal! 🙂 🙂
Forgot to mention my tip. The plastic body cover for the boys and an apron for me is well worth the $$ for me! I just shake it out and the hair falls right off, instead of getting stuck in my cloths and all over their bodies! Trust me it gets annoying! ? Also it’s easier for me to go outside through the warmer months with all that hair!!! I just sweep up the bulk of it and trash it, then sweep the rest into the grass. Plus the birds use it for their nests, I’ve seen them pick clumps of hair up and fly off with it. We do live way out in the country with a couple acres, so I know it’s not blowing into a neighbors yard!
I have always cut my son’s hair. He is 13 now and has a surfer style, so no clipper for me :-(. But, I got a book and with some trial and error learned how to do a full cut with comb and scissors! ? It has been fun over the years switching styles up a bit etc. still takes me 30 mins but well worth it!
I’m dreading the day when my kids ask for intricate cuts and styles! I’ll have to try that book!
We have a boy and a girl, so I curssen followed. Now I cut my children, my husband and sister in law with colors. And saves €17.50 per haircut. My daughter (4 years) will not go to the hairdresser, she says mama always does and as I want. Makes me proud as they say.
Tried it on my husband since he often just shaves his head anyways. Didn’t go so well, lol but will keep trying before I try on my son.
I try to cut my boys hair (I’ve got 3 of them) but they cry or whine! But they are perfect angels for the hairdressers ?♀️
I buzzed my boys hair until they changed their style then it went professional. But since covid-19, I have cut their hair once. Trying to do it again but hitting resistance.