About 4 years ago, I decided that I would invest in a pair of clippers to cut my husband’s hair. I picked up a set of Wahl clippers from Walmart for about $20 and it lasted us 4 years before my husband informed me that it needed to be replaced.
If you say he needs a haircut about every 6 weeks (that is 9 times a year) and each haircut costs $15…. I saved $480 by cutting his hair at home (well I have been cutting Jacob’s for 3 years, so that is another $405…).
I just picked up the Wahl 24 piece set for $26. I am now cutting my husband, my son and my nephew’s hair! That is 3 haircuts every 6 weeks. Let’s see how long these last.
If you haven’t tried cutting hair at home, it is a very easy to do. I suggest you pick up a set of clippers and cut their hair early in the morning on a day you don’t have any plans. That way if you mess it up, they can run to the barber shop. Hehe.
Wanna learn how to save even more money? Be sure to read through all the Let’s Save Some Money posts.
Sherry says
I’ve been cutting my two sons’ hair for at least 2 years now. They are 3 and almost 5. The trips to the barber were a pain…it was between $10-15 per cut and my son typically would not behave (he was only about 2.5 years old). I saw a clipper set on sale at Big Lots for I think it was $10 and I bought it on a whim. Sooo glad I did because it’s so much easier and CHEAPER! If my boys are not in the mood for a cut, we can take a break since we’re just doing it at home. I’ve even taught myself how to do a fade & their hair always looks great. A couple of weeks ago, my neighbor asked me to cut her son’s hair because he had cut a huge chunk straight out the middle of his hair (like a reverse mohawk lol). She even paid me $5. :)
Nanell says
ve been cutting my husbands hair since 2001, and before that my brothers, nephews, ex-boyfriends etc since 1996. I have even cut my own hair when it was long and needed a trim. I bought the clipper set with all the attachments once and when it is time to get the blades shapened I found it was cheaper to just but a new set of clippers> SInce I have all the attachments I only have to buy the clipper and not the set again.
I also have been blessed with great hair myself so have only pair for a hair cut once in the past 4 yrs. I cut it once every year to year and a half then let it grown out so I can donate it to lock of love.
Just today I paid for a hair cut because I chopped my hair off in support of my friend Sara who is 26 with breast cancer she had her first chemo. yesterday so I chopped my hair off to show her my support. It was an inch to short to donate which woul dhave made my cut free so I had to pay, but a small price to pay to show my support to a friend with cancer.
Kari says
It was my HUSBAND’s idea that I perform his military-like haircut. I do OK and usually after a shower and another good once over, I can clean up any missed spots. However, one time he INSISTED that he needed a trim. I was taking Prometrium due to some early-pregnancy spotting and felt like I was leaning and therefore – leaning the other way to correct. I told him that I didn’t think I should be cutting his hair in that condition, but he insisted. I tried, but he ended up having to shave his head completely before he could leave the house. It was not good. But since then, I do it every 4-6 weeks. I’m getting better. :)
kelli says
I’ve been cutting my husband’s hair since we met more than 5 years ago. I used to cut my brother’s hair all of the time when we were growing up. I’ve also been cutting my own hair for about 7 years. woman’s hair cuts usually cost $30-$40+ with tip. if you figure I was getting it done for $30 every 2 months for the last 7 years, that’s $1260 saved!! plus what we’ve saved on my hubby’s hair cuts.
Michellyn says
I give my 3 yr old a sucker while I cut his hair & it keeps him still & occupied. I always cut my daughter’s hair & have done my mom’s with no training–and it looks fine. My husband actually cuts his own hair & has since before we were married & he leaves it longer on top. He has gotten it cut a couple times really cheaply, but I think his hair actually looks better when he does it.
I don’t see why you wouldn’t try & practice cutting hair at home–if you end up at at salon after, you would have spent that $$$ there to begin with, but if you can save that $$$ than why not try??? The more you practice the better you’ll get. The clippers come with guards–it is learning to use them to not do just a short cut, that can take practice. Cutting hair at home isn’t for everyone, but you don’t know until you try & practice–and hair does grow back. I can see why hairdressers wouldn’t want us to do it at home. They don’t want us to save that $$$. And honestly, I’ve gone somewhere cheap to have an expensive hair cut fixed.
Julie H says
This reminds me of the ONE time I cut my hubby’s hair (he was Army at the time) and he forbade me to ever touch it again! hehe. I thought it wasn’t so bad, but apparently I can’t do a straight line even with a ruler! Thanks for reminding me of the funny memory Kristin!
jill b. says
Kristin, you have way more skills than I do! I have tried cutting my husband’s and each of my 3 kid’s hair at different points and it’s been a disaster every time! Ha! I am jealous of all of you who are talented enough to do this!
Amy W says
Amen to this idea! :) My husband is in the Navy, and I cut his hair once every other week–saves a LOT of money!
Tara says
I have been cutting my husband’s hair for about 14 years. He is in the Navy so he needs a haircut every two weeks. The secret to keeping the clippers as long as possible is the oil. When the tube runs out that it came with, buy an additional one. When I started oiling them every time I used them, I stopped having to replace the clippers every year. Even so, $25 on Wahl clippers every year is a great price for haircuts. I have been doing my son’s hair since he was born as well. We have saved a fortune not having to pay barbers.
Natasha Luckett says
Wow a lot of us military wives here. My husband is on submarines and I’ve been cutting his hair for 5 years with a cheap set from Conair. We just looked into getting a new set from Wahl on Amazon. It’s one of the cheaper ones but it’s one that Amazon sells replacement blades for so you don’t have to keep buying new ones. Military cuts are pretty easy to do. I haven’t messed it up yet and I do it every 3 weeks when he’s in port. He also likes it because he can have a beer with his haircut.
Here is the link to the replacement blades
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CEMQBK/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A2R3C9EKLQ57PZ
Diane says
I have been cutting my husband’s hair since 2003. Like you we are on our second set of cutting devices.
I was surprised a few days ago when we passed a barber shop and I saw that mens cut was $16! My husbands hair is very short so we have to cut it every three weeks.
I can’t imagine the money we’ve saved from me doing his hair at home.
I also do my father’s hair so he’s saved a bundle too.
Clare C. says
I cut my husband’s hair for several years, right up until the day he decided he wanted to have a flat top. He informed me it would be so easy to do…. I ended up having to practically shave his head to fix the botched flat top! He now goes to a barber every month. :) Oh well, hubby is good at cutting hair and has done all 4 of our kids for years so that saves us money.
Alison McFadden says
I do not suggest doing this. Cutting hair is not easy to do. That is why you have to go to school to learn how to do it. I am a hairdresser and you have to learn how to blend the hair and cut it right with the clippers. It may seem easy to you but it is not for others. I have had so many people come into the salon because their hair is messed up from trying to do it themselves or having someone else do it. Please get it done by a professional even if you have to go to Great Clips or have a professional show you how to do it.
Karen says
I have cut my boys hair for going on 15 years! I used to cut my ex husbands hair too and on occasion will still do it! They like a 3 or 4 all over so it is pretty easy. When my boys were younger they had curls and I just kept the front bang area trimmed. As they got older they wanted buzzed. My now 14 yr old will not let me near him with scissors or clippers now! MOM haircuts are not so cool! My 9 yr old LOVES it cuz he wants it SHORT @ 2. Thanks for the tip that Sally sells replacement blades we are due for some!! I also keep my husband neck shaved!! He is balding so no clopper on his head!
Brenda says
I just started cutting my boys’ hair! Well technically I’ve only done 1 of them but intend to do the others next time around. I’m still learning but that was smart advice to do it early in the day ;-)
Oh and my hubby will not let me anywhere NEAR him with anything that could cut his hair. Doesn’t trust me that much :-P
Jen Q says
I’ll never forget when my husband decided he needed a “trim” the night before attending his host-brother’s wedding. He didn’t put the attachment on. Oh, how ridiculous he looked. I was mortified because he basically shaved his head. His head was white as can be and the rest of his skin a deep olive brown. Wish I could say this was the last time he took the clippers to his own hair, but unfortunately it was not. Too many goofy looks when he decides it is time for him to trim his hair on his own.
ParanormalMomTN says
I trim my bil, husband and my own hair with Wahl clippers. I have been doing it for about 3-4 years now. I trim the ends of my kids’ hair with scissors for years. But if there is anything shorter than a trim, I take them to the salon.
Nony (A Slob Comes Clean) says
I’ve been cutting my husband’s and two sons’ hair for 9 years, with the same set. We could use a new one, but it’s still clipping along!
Kristin S. says
I used to use the cheapo Wahl’s clippers, but then I invested in a much better Wahl’s set that was around $60 at the beauty supply. The clippers should have some weight to them and buzz easily through the hair straight out of the box. The cheapo set lasted me around 2 years and this other set is around 9 or 10 years old.
Ani W says
I tried to do that to save $$ years ago, while my hubby was in the Navy, and his Chief forbade me to ever cut it again… It was horrible. LOL!
Kellie says
I do this too! My husband requires haircuts every 2 weeks (go Air Force!), so we save about $240/year doing this. (Haircuts on base are only $7.25, we round to $10 with a tip) However, I can not deal with giving my son a haircut. He is 4 and gets a haircut about every 4 weeks or so. The $10 is WELL worth it to not have to deal with the trauma of him wiggling and me getting stressed out. The professionals are so much quicker and he ends up looking MUCH better. At least I can say I tried. :-)
Rebecca says
I cut my sweetie’s hair and have been for about a year and a half. Half the time he came home from the barber’s he was unhappy (and was paying $15-20 each time), so we invested $20 in a clipper set and it is great. Every once in a while I cut it too short (but he has a short hair cut) but I can do it pretty quickly now and I do a pretty good job. We always joke that one day I will do such a great job that he will give me a tip! His hair grows so quickly that I have to cut it about every three weeks so we are doing some pretty significant saving!
Linsey says
I as some one who is a barber please cut hair at home with caution! I fix A LOT of at home hair cuts. It looks like in you pics Kristin that you buzz both your husband and sons hair (& do a great job :) ) But if people want a longer style or something other that clippers all over I HIGHLY recommed paying for a cut . It is not as easy as it looks:) But for what its worth if your boys in your life keep their hair short or if your are willing to go shorter if it does not work out go for it:)
PS: some walhs clippers have replace blades at Sally Beauty and that saves you about half the price of buying new:)
Anna says
I totally agree!!! Not as easy as it looks- My husband is in the military so he has to have his hair cut often, and at $12 every 3-5 weeks I decided to try it for myself. Never again- He gets a fade, and his hair is deceptivaly thick… anyway, I send him to the Career beauty college now- $5 is much better of a price, and if the student is unsure there is always an instructor to help them!!
Kristen D. says
I have my *husband* cut *MY* hair! I have curly hair (which hides a multitude of sins…by which I mean slightly crooked cutting). I just wet it down or wash it, then tell him how many inches to take off and showed him how to do it! I haven’t been to have my hair done in 4 years! Since I don’t really style it in any special way, it really works out well :D.
layla says
I’ve been cutting my husband’s hair once every 3 weeks for 6 years now. I also cut our son’s and our 2 daughters hair as well. You get so much quicker at it with practice, for sure! It’s worth it. I just wish he could cut mine for me, too…I hate going to get mine done.
Kelly says
I do the same thing! I’ve been cutting my husband’s hair for over 8 yrs now, also on a monthly/every 6 wks basis. The savings are huge! Costco has a 19 pc Wahl set for $19.99 (plus 2% back if you’re an Executive member) and we just replaced our 8 yr old Conair clippers with it. I also cut my son’s hair with it too.
As an added value, you could also use the clippers for bikini line maintenance. It’ll take some practice or if you have a Kardashian-esque sisterly comfort level, ask your sister or maybe even spouse to help out. ;)
Barbara M says
I looked at these at Amazon.
They’re all for cutting men’s hair?