Comments on: Musings on a Little Boy’s Haircut

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:04:33 +0000

While I think it’s generally a sound idea,and a good way to avoid the incredibly out-of-proportion prices that are charged for kids things in general, there is one thing that is an important consideration that no one is really addressing: hair texture. Cutting hair is much more than being able to cut a straight line. As someone with very thick hair, I need to get it “thinned” out at a salon. Not everyone has silky hair that flows nicely. Hair can be kinky, wirey, thick, ultra fine, or a combination of the above.

I think a compromise is best – a couple of pro cuts a year, and make it count (like taking off a lot of length and bulk before summer’s heat). Finally, please use a good leave in conditioner – nothing looks as tacky and cheap as gross, dry, split-end hair, even on kids.

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:34:50 +0000

I have heard barber schools are an affordable place to get a good haircut . . .

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:49:06 +0000

You need to think of it as trimming the hair not cutting. Just take a little bit off around the ears or wherever it begins sticking out every other week or so. This is much less intimidating than setting out to do a once every 6 week haircut.

It is easier to do quick trims and less intimidating. Every once in a while you can go to a pro to get back the layers and etc. Think of it as extending the length between haircuts.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:43:47 +0000

RE: “And God help your family and their coifs.”
Oh please with the snide comments–we’re trying to HELP each other here, not be snarky.
I know plenty of people who cut their family’s hair and eveyone looks fine, not ridiculed in school, enjoy solid professional reputations at work. Let’s stop with the meanness, there are other sites for that. The Perfect Comprimise is getting a good cut at Hair Cuttery and letting your spouse trim it a few times before you go back.

By: EllaJo08

EllaJo08 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:13:54 +0000

I didn’t have time to read all 128 comments before mine, but most of them seem to be in agreement: cutting at home is much cheaper. For my two sons and my husband, I use a Wahl clippers: $25 at Wal-Mart (four years ago) with a case and all the attachments. They have very clear directions in the box, and plenty of tools for an excellent boy’s cut. Also, pay close attention while the stylist is doing your son’s hair the next time. Ask him/her more about what s/he is doing, and then do it yourself next time. For a variation on the buzz cut: I use a 3/8 shield for the sides and back of the head, and a 5/8 shield for the top. I use the included shields for cutting around the ear. Use a bare blade for making a straight line in the back and to trim sideburns. But it is very important to clean your blade EVERY time and to oil every second or third (just a tiny little drop while the blades are running), to keep from yanking the hair right out of your son’s head. After you’re comfortable, you’ll be able to experiment with the scissors and guides that are included in the box with the clippers, and get more variety. Good luck, and enjoy the SAVINGS!!

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:55:46 +0000

My solution has always been to have long hair, I can’t remember the last time I paid for a haircut.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:47:12 +0000

Certainly there are lots of responses on this one, but I’m surprised scanning the responses that no one pointed out Amy Daczyn’s descriptions of how to cut a childs hair. It is in one of the three Tightwad Gazette books. What a great resource!

I’ve been practicing on my youngest so that as he gets older I’ll be better and he will be content to let me keep saving the $15.

Last week he decided he needed to give himself a cut and now he has a buzz, but that is a whole other story!

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:03:21 +0000

My youngest son still comes home from college and asks for a haircut while he’s here. He’s going to hate it when he graduates and moves away for work and has to go to a barber. My middle boy only asks me to cut hair when he’s desperate and I refuse because he’s such a fussbudget about his hair. I’ve cut the kids and my husband’s hair for years and years.

If you want to stay married, for heaven’s sake don’t even try cutting your wife’s hair, unless she is determined to have you do it.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:53:10 +0000

Funny, my husband and I just went through this whole process. We bought a $29 clipper, and we give our young boys crew cuts during the warm months. It is more convenient than having to find the time to lug them somewhere, they don’t care about the style, and it does save money — you break even after two cuts. Another bonus — it is easier to wash their hair, they are still young enough that they cry, but crew cuts allow you to do it with a washcloth.

By: Kilohoku

Kilohoku — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:49:48 +0000

My wife has cut my hair since a trip to a barber left me with a serious skin infection in 1989. She went to a shop and watched for a while. We have saved ~$16,000 since then. Every hair cut, I put the tariff into savings. The gross is now $24,000. It is also wonderful opportunity for conversation.

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:43:30 +0000

When my husband and I first got married, he asked me to start cutting his hair. I remember crying the first time I did it. :) But he encouraged me to keep trying.

Now I have been cutting his hair for over 10 years. I also cut my son’s hair. That is a savings of at least $20 a month.

I only get my hair cut every 3-4 months or more. So the savings from cutting their hair enables me to get my hair cut by a professional. :)

By: julia

julia — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:52:26 +0000

I really agree that cutting your own hair saves a lot of money..for example I moved to Tokyo to study last year when I turned 19 and cutting my own hair saved me a great deal of money..from my usual trip to the salon once every 2 months .. I surprised myself with the ability to cut my own hair..its really not that difficult after all if you tried..Plus its not like every trip to the salon equates definite success..

By: Nate

Nate — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:35:32 +0000

Trent,
I’m an ex cosmetologist but retrained for a higher paying job. I can tell you and everyone out there that cutting hair isn’t as easy as it looks. Would you stitch up your kids cuts just because it seemed easy to do? Would you paint your own car? Lay bricks on your house? Rewire your house? OF COURSE NOT! You leave those things to the professionals! Granted you can probably snip here and there on your kids heads and do an OK job. However, do you want your kids to have a great professional hair style? If the answer is “yes” then go to a professional. If this is such a big deal for you, why don’t you attend a local barber or cosmetology school? You’ll learn all aspects of haircutting and hairstyling along with manicuring and facials. You also get the privalege of buying salon products at cost rather than retail.
I attended a government supported Vocational-Techincial school part-time. The tuition was quite low and got a state grant that covered most of my tuition. Also they had a free bus service as well.

By: Tall Bill

Tall Bill — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:26:17 +0000

Cut their hair while you can. Time flys & at some point, they will say no to you & want a cut at a professional. At that point you’ll be money ahead & able to offset other costs kicking in as they get active in activities not included in school.

Good Luck!!

By: amy o in yokohama

amy o in yokohama — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:28:46 +0000

my daughter (for some unfathomable reason) would rather have wiggly bangs cut by me than go to a salon (even though I could get her hair cut for a dollar when I get mine cut). So I– who have absolutely NO haircutting talent or genes whatsoever (my sister got all those)– am forced to trim my daughter’s bangs and straight across the back. Which I stink at. When is she going to realize that Mommy cuts her bangs wiggly? Should I be thankful she doesn’t notice right now?

I second the notion of asking around–some people (like my sister) have great natural haircutting ability/genes/whatever and would probably be willing to cut your kids’ hair in trade for something (your homebrew, Trent? some fresh bread? some computer fixing/advice?) Ask around!

By: NJ Hipster

NJ Hipster — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:07:32 +0000

It’s impractical for everyone to get their hair cut at home.

I wear my hair very short for a female (the longest piece being on the right side of my face, and it reaches my chin.) The rest is very short.

There’s no way I could maintain this style on my own, without butchering it (literally) and making me look more masculine.

Yeah, I could grow my hair out and it would be “easier”, but long hair is a lot to take care of, and having long hair doesn’t make me feel like me.

I’m saying this because I wouldn’t be surprised that your daughter, once in her teens, decides to be more trendy and want to experiment with her appearance.

By: Ilah

Ilah — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:51:47 +0000

I’ve cut my husband’s hair for years-I learned just by watching the barber or beautician. I cut both my son’s hair when they were still at home. I started cutting my own hair probably 20 years ago. It was easier when it was long, but I still do it now that it is shorter. I got so tired of beauticians not listening to what I wanted. I even brought pictures in many, many times. My hair never looked even remotely like the pictures. I got tired of paying $15+ for a lousy haircut and they wanted a tip besides. However, if I could find a beautician who would actually cut my hair as I asked, I would gladly pay her as cutting my own is kind of a chore and I need to be somewhat of a contortionist to get the angles I want.

By: Marsha

Marsha — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:23:40 +0000

I’m with all the people that are urging you to make an appointment for the next time when you have your kid’s hair cut. That way you can get all three of your qualifications at once. Just ask the hair stylist how long it should be between cuts.

By: Erica Douglas

Erica Douglas — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:46:12 +0000

I’m checking out this site today for the fabulous laundry detergent recipe, but I had to comment about this post. One of my colleagues was a hairdresser before she started her current career. She cuts the hair of several people at work for ten bucks a pop. She’s fabulous, it takes only a few minutes before or after work, and it’s incredibly easy to schedule. I’ve had people compliment my haircut and when I explain how I got my haircut, they’re always envious. It’s an easy way for her to make a few extra dollars and the results are amazing.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:50:53 +0000

I’m 24, and the only people to ever cut my hair are my mother and myself. I’ve never had a bad haircut (at least, not one that I remember) and with my hair, I’m saving about $50 every two months now.

Plus, I still get a cookie if I sit still.