frugal haircut
Your professional image can play an important role in your career opportunities. This doesn’t apply solely to modeling jobs either. Now, I don’t mean to say that you need to look amazing to be successful; rather, you simply need to practice good hygiene and look presentable. One of the main components of looking presentable is having a decent haircut.
To start off, I know there is a huge price differential between men’s and women’s haircuts, and this post is geared toward men’s haircuts. Now, in general a men’s haircut costs between $10 and $25 depending on where you go and what you have done.
My Haircut History
In junior high and part of high school I always went to this local hair place, and I think cuts were around $10. Then I started going to the SmartStyle salon inside Wal-Mart (where I worked). Haircuts were around $15. This was around the time when highlights for guys was really popular, and I admit that I got blond highlights a number of times, which brought the cost to around $35-40. Let me just say that looking back on it, guys getting highlights in their hair is pretty dumb. I kept my hair pretty short, so I’d have to get highlights with almost every haircut to keep the look. What a waste of money!
In college, I became inspired to start cutting my own hair. I had just watched the movie U571 (a World War 2 naval movie), where the main character had a super short hair style. I thought it was a look I could pull off, so I bought a set of clippers, and buzzed my hair. The clippers were around $20. The cut looked good. It was easy to do (though I did need someone else to do the back of my neck). I was all set with my new hairstyle, and I did my own hair for the next three of four years.
Somewhere along the line I started going back to a hair place and started having it cut by someone else. But just recently, I decided I was going to start cutting it myself again (though now my reasoning was financial rather than based on a movie). I found my old clippers, but realized all the guards I used were lost. So, I did have to buy a new set of clippers ($30). My first cut looked pretty good. I left it a little longer than I used to cut it in my college days (my wife isn’t too fond of the super short style I used to have).
Trying New Things Can Be Dangerous
When it was time for my next haircut, I thought I’d try something new. The clipper set contained these two guards that are specifically designed to use around your ears. There’s one for the left ear and one for the right ear. Now, I’d never actually used the ear guards before, but I thought I’d give them a try. After all, they’re designed specifically for that purpose. Well, I tried it, and the result wasn’t exactly pretty. Apparently the ear guards cut the hair a lot shorter than the rest of the hair on the side of my head, so it looked pretty bad. My wife got a laugh out of it. Within a couple of weeks it should grow back out, and I can get it all the same length again. Still, I’m a little self-conscious right now about the side of my head and how uneven my hair is. I will definitely be sticking with my traditional way of cutting my hair from now on.
The Bottom Line
Despite my recent hair mis-hap, do-it-yourself haircuts are definitely the way to go for guys that generally prefer shorter hairstyles. I paid an upfront $30 for a set of clippers that will last me several years. My haircuts look just as good as having it done at a salon/barber (I’ve received quite a few compliments on my hair actually, though not with this most recent cut). I don’t have to wait in line or schedule an appointment (though I have to do it when my wife is available to trim the back of my neck).
Do any other guys out there cut their own hair? Or are there any women out there that cut their husband’s/boyfriend’s hair? What has your experience been like?
8 comments
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Canadianbudgetbinder
December 20, 2012 at 10:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I can’t say that I have ever been inclined to cut my own hair. I’d be scared to mess it up to be honest. There is no way I’d let Mrs.CBB near me.. no way at all… I can only imagine the damage haha. We have a mate who cuts hair in her home for a fraction of the cost so we go to her every couple months or so. It’s cheaper for us and helps her out with her small business. Keeps me happy!!! Mr.CBB
Lance @ Money Life and More
December 20, 2012 at 10:43 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I don’t cut my own hair. Unfortunately I’m very picky with haircuts and hate getting them…
Mandy @ MoneyMasterMom
December 20, 2012 at 11:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I cut my hubby’s hair. Once I made a mistake and cut it too close. We hide it the best we could with a “marine” cut. There were a few comments, but nothing a few weeks couldn’t fix
farmgirl
December 21, 2012 at 7:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I have cut my husbands hair for over 30 years now, did my sons and cut my daughters as well. I am creative but never did anything in the hair cutting trade. I cut the boys with my sharp sewing scissors and then trim the neckline ect. with the clipper on hubby’s shaver. Works for us. If I didn’t do it my husband might have longer hair then mine! Not good in the corporate world!
Savvy Scot
December 21, 2012 at 9:37 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I always cut my own hair… those clippers have paid for themselves about 20 times over
John S @ Frugal Rules
December 21, 2012 at 11:50 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
My wife cuts my hair and has done so since we’ve been married. It saves a good bit of money and it’s relatively easy.
Emily @ evolvingPF
December 21, 2012 at 1:11 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve been cutting my husband’s hair for around a year now. I don’t always do the best job but I think his hair looks better overall than when he was getting it professionally cut because we cut it more frequently! He used to go 6 months or more between haircuts – he has thick wavy hair so it starts to fro out pretty fast! Speaking of the around-ear clippers, though, we apparently lost one of ours, so even though they worked well for us we can’t use them any longer and I have to improvise more. Overall I think this was a really good choice for us.
My Money Design
December 26, 2012 at 8:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You are very brave. I tried to give myself a buzz cut all by myself one time and I ended up looking like one of the space monkeys from Fight Club. My wife and I see an excellent stylist now and I’ll gladly pay to have her make me look good