Instructions For Cutting Men'S Hair With A Clipper & Guards

Giving a good quick haircut on a guy can be easy to learn and perform with a decent set of hair clippers and guards. Clippers refer to the electric tool that features a cutting edge at the end for shearing off hair similar to an electric razor. These clippers usually come with a set of guards, which slip over the clipper and allow you to shave hair to certain lengths, depending on the number assigned to the guard. Learning the proper technique to using these tools is relatively easy.

Basics

Guards are assigned numbers to indicate what length of hair they keep the clippers from cutting off. On a standard set of guards, from No. 1 (1/8 inch) to No. 8 (1 inch), the length increases by 1/8-inch increments. No. 2 is 1/4 inch, No. 3 is 3/8 inch, No. 4 is 1/2 inch of hair behind. Because clippers essentially create a buzzed effect with the hair, they are used in conjunction with guards in one of two ways to give a clean and quick haircut.

First, shave all the hair to the same length both along the sides and the top of the head for a true buzz cut appearance. For this method, decide on the length and attach the appropriate guard to the clippers. Make sure the hair is completely dry, as it should always be when using electric clippers. Wet hair will clog the guard and the blades and, unlike when using scissors, will detract from the quality of the cut. Start at the bottom of the head and work in strokes going upward. Keep the guard and, by extension, the clipper blade flat against the head, using short smooth strokes that glide along the shape of the head. Don't force the clippers. Instead, let the cutting motion guide them through the hair. This will allow you to minimize jerky movements and you'll get a cleaner cut all one length with fewer strokes. You may need to go back over some parts of the hair along the more extreme curvature of the head. Remember to always work from bottom to top along all the sides, as if each stroke is ultimately going to end in the center of the top of the head.

Tapered Cut

Alternatively, there is a method to get a more blended crew-cut appearance using clippers with a guard as well. This requires some slower going and more control with the clippers than the buzzing method. Essentially, the goal is to leave a thicker amount of hair along the upper areas of the head than along the very bottom, creating an appearance of the lengths blending together as you go up the head. To do this, start with the appropriate guard affixed to the clippers and begin at the bottom of the head, again on dry hair. Start with the guard flat against the head. As you slowly move up in the head toward the top in one smooth stroke, begin to bring the guard away from the head some. This will increase the amount of hair left slowly, so that it gradually gets thicker toward the top. The key in this method is to match the increasing thickness with all the strokes all the way around the head.

Tags: inch inch, against head, along sides, amount hair, appropriate guard