How to Perform Your Own Haircut / Scissor / Machine - "Blended Comb Over"

Perhaps like most people, you may be feeling tired of taking those expensive and time swallowing trips to the barbershop. The following analysis will provide step by step procedures in light of performing your own haircut, if you so chose to have a "blended comb-over" or you may apply the concepts provided in order do just about any haircut. Unfortunately, I was only able to describe a single hairstyle although the "blended come-over" worked perfectly within this particular case.
It just so happens that my Professor, Professor Hess, acquires this haircut on a regular basis of about every two to three weeks. I organized the following analysis in a fashion that would allow anyone within my professors' position to successfully cut his or her own hair.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. The first step will be to gather all of the proper materials. For this particular haircut, you will need a chair, extension cord, large stand up mirror, handheld mirror, "peanut" (a small outliner hair machine produced by WAHL), spray bottle with water, barbers cape, neck strip (thin white strip of tissue paper which wraps around neck), disinfectant/lubricant spray bottle, barbercide (a blue disinfectant liquid used to sanitize combs and scissors), comb, scissors, Andis Masters (a hair trimming machine), Andis Masters guards [numbers three through eight -(clips which attach to your trimmer and allow you to adjust the length at which you trim)], rubbing alcohol, Chapman powder, hairstyling gel, and a power outlet. All of the above items mentioned (with the exception of a power outlet) can be found at your local "Sallys Beauty Supply", if you should chose to purchase the equipment offline.

2. Once all of the materials have been gathered, it would be wise to clear up some space and get started. The first step is to tie a neck strip around your neck at a comfortable fit. Next place your barbers' cape over your torso, tieing it over your neck strip. Then comb out your hair in which ever way you feel comfortable so that you may remove any knots and get a sense for the direction in which your hair naturally grows. A good thing to remember when cutting hair with a machine, is that one must always glide the guard (near the teeth of machine) within the opposing direction in which the hair grows, hence the term "against the grain".

3. Next, plug your Andis Machine trimmer into the activated extension cord. Then place the #3 Andis guard (1/4 of an inch) onto your masters, so that it "clicks" on with a tight fit. Next, use your disinfectant spray to disinfect machine and brush, before actually putting them into use. Then picture an imaginary line wrapping around your head in sync with the highest point of your eyebrows. If helpful, picture it being around the same height in which you would place a headband. Next, turn on the machine and run the guard along side of your head, against the grain and leading up to this imaginary line. Do not cut any hair above your imaginary line. Make sure to hold the machine in the hand you feel most comfortable with (right hand) and your hand held mirror in the other (left hand). You may be asking yourself: How do I view and cut the back of my head simultaneously? The answer is to have your back facing the large mirror and adjust the hand held mirror until you have a clear view of the back of your head. This should help you cut up to the imaginary line you would picture wrapping around your head.

4. Furthermore, brush off any hair you've cut off to ensure that you haven't missed any spots. After the machine has been turned off and mirror has been placed on the counter, stand up in front of large mirror and spray hair with water until it is completely dripping wet. This will serve as preparation for trimming the hair on top of the head. For this step, you will use your disinfected (using the barbercide mentioned earlier) scissors which will be again placed into your more comfortable hand (right hand). Because you will be giving yourself a scissor cut, it is important that you understand how to grip the hair (using your left hand) and how to actually cut the hair (using the right hand). For gripping the hair, try to mimic the hand gesture used in the classic game "Paper, Rock, Scissor". As you probably already guessed, you will be using the "scissor" position.

5. Specifically, you will have to grip and cut your hair in an organized fashion. This is done by picturing your hair being divided into four symmetric rows, stretching from your forehead to the back of your head. Begin by gripping (in "scissor position") a small section from front of the first row (on the left side of your head). Then lift up your fingers along the hair until desired length is acquired (in this case, about two inches). Then simply cut any hair above your fingers in a straight line (parallel to your two fingers). Likewise, you will continue this process along the same row (going backwards) using previously cut hair as reference to length (making sure that the overall length is the same). Then continue process throughout all four rows. Once you have successfully achieved desired length (about two inches) along the entire top portion of your head, comb out hair into the desired style of a comb over. Comb the hair in a horizontal fashion, from ear to ear dividing the hair between the third and fourth row you pictured earlier. Now its time to "fade" or "blend" the length of the side of your head (1/4 inch, #3) to the length of the top of your head (which is about 2 inches). The blending process will be done with the same machine used earlier (Andis Masters).

6. It is important to understand that when "fading", you must (with machine in hand) flick your wrist at the line (distinguishing line between short hair and long hair) to prevent any other unwanted lines from occurring. The point is to allow the short hair (on the sides) to gradually fade into the long hair (on the top).
   With the Machine in comfortable hand (right hand) and handheld mirror in left hand (with your back facing the large mirror as demonstrated earlier) flick your machine at the line you wish to do away with (making sure that the #3 guard or ¼ of an inch guard is placed on the machine). You will then notice that you machine has a small lever near the teeth of the machine. You will need to adjust this lever to gradually open after every repetition of flicking the machine within a certain part of the line. Once you have reached the point in which the lever does not further open, it would be a clear indication that you are ready to move on to the next guard. In this case, the next guard will be the #4 or the 3/8 of an inch. You will then close the lever and repeat the process of flicking at the line while gradually opening the lever. You will repeat this entire cycle until you reach the largest guard of 1 inch or a #8.

7. As a result, your hair should be blended smoothly from the short length of ¼ of an inch found on the sides of your head, up to the two inches of length along the top of your head. The actually blending should not have surpassed the "crown of you head" or the top portion of your head. Then, Brush off any loose hair to ensure that you have an accurate perception of what you have accomplished up to this point.

8. Afterward, using the "Peanut" machine, you will draw a distinct half circle, outlining the back of your haircut, and a cut off point at each side burn. In order to achieve the half circle, you will need to get back into the same position you used earlier to view the back of your head. Make sure to adjust the handheld mirror so that you have a clear view of the back of your head. When drawing the ½ circle, try to cut the least amount of hair as possible while maintaining sharp looking curves. This is done in anticipation of the hair growing back and allowing it to still look as natural as possible, even several days later.

9. Next, using the machine, you will draw a horizontal line at the sideburns measured by around the middle of the ear. You will also cut any hair under this distinct line (around the cheek area), again using the "Peanut".
   Furthermore, brush of any loose hair and evenly place gel on the top of your head while maintaining the same hairstyle you combed earlier. You may also want to spray rubbing alcohol along the entire haircut for the sake of health, ensuring that any possible cuts will not be infected. Then simply apply Chapman powder to your brush and finish brushing off neck and sideburns for that fresh barbershop smell.

10. Finally, remove the cape and neck strip from around your neck and pat yourself on the back because you will have successfully completed your first haircut.

[mikemiami2010]

on 5/21/2009 Interesting...