How to Give Yourself a Professional Buzz Cut Without Emptying Your Wallet

Posted on Oct 23, 2023

tl;dr: The why and how-to of my buzz cut.

Updated 27 November 2023.

Introduction

I gave myself a buzz cut last March for the first time. 😱

Yup, I jumped off my overthinking cliff and then scheduled time to view a how-to on GQ’s YouTube channel.

I thought about my steps on how I would buzz-cut my head and where on my head I would begin my buzz-cut: top or right side.

I cleared and cleaned my bathroom (I can’t do my work unless I’ve cleaned, cleared, and organized the area I’m working in beforehand; yes, I’m that person 😛).

I gathered my courage and equipment and then proceeded to clip the hairs on the right side of my head.

Quick backstory

When I was about a year and a half, I modeled my first buzz cut.

My mom gave me my buzz cut because she heard an old wives’ tale that a buzz cut would cause my hair to grow fuller in appearance.

That wives’ tale is a myth. 👍🏼

Yeah, at that tender age, it mattered to me that I was concerned about my hair thinning. 🙄

Why I gave myself a buzz cut

Why did I jump off to give myself a buzz cut on that fateful day in March?

I have five standout reasons:

Stop applying harmful chemicals like hair color on my head.
A dare for me to appreciate my beautiful graying hair more.
A personal makeover to look and feel different, edgy, and badass in this 21st century.
End the daily annoyance of cleaning up my fallen long hair strands.
Support my belief that having less is more.

Stop applying harmful chemicals like hair color on my head

My dad’s birthday was approaching, and he had planned a dinner party at a popular restaurant south of Los Angeles.

I didn’t want to show up with an inch of contrasting graying hair roots gleaming from my head, and I didn’t feel like coloring my hair.

I got tired of the before, during, and after processes involved in coloring my hair:

I would have to dress up,
cover my face with a K95 protective mask,
drive through a mile plus of traffic to Target,
find a far-away parking spot (yeah, I don’t want any more dents on my clean black car 😠),
wade through parked cars and people,
pull out a giant shopping cart,
push my cart through the shopping crowd some more,
hunt down my favorite just-right-priced hair color (if the color I want, a black tea 20 soft black, is sitting on the shelf, it’s my lucky day 🍀),
part my way through the shopping crowd again to the cash register,
fight off incoming hordes of shoppers on my way back to my sun-soaked car,
drive through a mile plus of traffic to home,
and use up an hour or two to color my hair. 😫

Then, enjoy my fresh hair color for a week or two before my natural hair color comes up again. 😑

STOP! 🛑

With no long hair to color, I use less of my time and dollars, and I’ve stopped applying harmful chemicals to my head.

A dare for me to appreciate my beautiful graying hair more

Nature works in your favor sometimes.

It was so odd that she knew I buzzed my hair, so she decided to make the day rainy during my dad’s birthday dinner party, and so I had a reason to cover my days-old buzzed head with a cap.

Nature knew I wasn’t in the mood to be an attention whore. 😂

And though I took the plunge, I was still getting over it and feeling uncomfortable modeling my not entirely graying buzzed head and questioning whether I did the right thing. 😱

My favorite black cap was my hero for the day.

But I’m over the uncomfortable part and know I did the right thing.

As for no longer covering my graying hair with hair color, it’s not like there’s a constant spotlight on me, and people have their sights permanently on my grays because most of those people are concerned that the spotlight is mainly on them.

I’ve arrived at a point in my life where it’s fuck the me spotlight, and, seriously, no one gives a shit about my graying hair but me.

I don’t want to waste the time I don’t have worrying about what others think of my graying hair because they’re not (even if they are, their thoughts of me are none of my business 😝).

And so my buzz cut dared me to appreciate my beautiful grays more.

A personal makeover to look and feel different, edgy, and badass in this 21st century

I wanted to give myself a new, sci-fi-looking hairstyle.

Twenty years ago, the year 2023 seemed so science fiction. 🤖

In 2023, looking back at the sci-fi films I’ve viewed, this current year is past the temporal settings of the dystopian future of 2019 Los Angeles in Blade Runner and the 2020 action in Terminator: Dark Fate and the 2022 ecocide in Soylent Green. 😲

Twenty years into now, variations of buzz cuts and sharp, short hairstyles are popular.

But apart from those films and sharp-looking hair trends, I wanted to look different, edgy, and badass.

End the daily annoyance of cleaning up my fallen long hair strands

I wanted to experience fewer bad hair days and not pick up more shed long hair strands on the floor, in the bathtub, and anywhere.

My shed hair was an annoyance: I would be typing something on this laptop, and a second later, I’d see a strand of my hair on my keyboard. 😡

After my shower, I’d see the long, tangled strands of my hair left behind on the shower’s drain, which I would have to collect and toss in the trash basket. 😠

Now, there’s no long hair to pick up, clean up, and throw away. Yay!

Support my belief that having less is more

Having less is more. 🤑

My buzz cut encourages less natural resource usage, is super low maintenance, and supports my frugality: I give myself shorter showers and grooming time and use fewer drops of shampoo, conditioner, and styling products.

☝🏼

self portrait

I snapped a photo showing my buzz cut and created this self-portrait on Procreate.

☝🏼

A woman who cuts her hair
is about to change her life.

— Coco Chanel

What exactly is a buzz cut

A buzz cut is when a barber/hairdresser trims your entire head, all the hairs on your head, down to the shortest length possible, like 3.2 millimeters (1/8 inch), with a low number clipper guard.

What’s a clipper guard

A clipper guard is an attachable comb that clicks onto the base of the hair clipper blades, which directs the hair clipper blades to cut hair to a specific shorter length.

High number guards (12mm (0.47 inch), 9mm (0.35 inch)) leave longer trimmed hair, while low number guards (6mm (0.24 inch), 3mm (0.12 inch)) leave shorter trimmed hair.

A buzz cut includes tapering down (hair length is shorter or shaved down, close to the ears and base of the head) the sides and the back, which a skilled barber/hairdresser can complete in 15 minutes.

A buzz cut has many variations:

tapered buzz cut
traditional buzz cut
low fade buzz cut
mid-fade buzz
high and tight

Now that you know what a buzz cut is, let’s continue with the why.

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Be brave, model the buzz cut

Why would you want to give yourself a buzz cut?

First, can you have a buzz cut?

The crucial questions are:

Are you comfortable with your head’s natural shape?
Do you have birthmarks, bumps, scars, or skin protrusions on your head that you don’t want people to see?
Can your hair clipper safely move smoothly and readily on your scalp without skin protrusions (3D moles, scars, birthmarks) getting in the way of its blades?

Consider and decide with care until the light ahead is green.

Let’s continue with the why.

Giving yourself a buzz cut can be a fulfilling experience.

A self-buzz cut done beautifully for the first time is a brave thing to do for yourself.

I did my buzz cut myself because I’m crazy like that and frugal.

I like putting myself through an adventuresome, heart-pounding activity without spending more dollars. 🤑

I knew I couldn’t turn back the moment my hair clipper’s guard attachment teeth touched the right side of my head, and the blades chopped deep into my hair. 😱

Before the chopped hair moment, I didn’t know how to give myself a buzz cut, so I replayed Pro Barber Teaches Amateurs How to Shave Their Heads | GQ many times to make sure I knew what I was doing.

10 Reasons to Model a do it yourself buzz cut

What are your reasons for exposing your scalp to this crazy beauty-related activity?

I came up with ten valid reasons:

It can be empowering when you’re not afraid of being the sole flower in a grass field.
It’s a low maintenance hairstyle.

a. Zero to less hair styling.
b. No constant looking glass use.
c. No brushing long locks every night (though it won’t hurt to do that with a very short hairstyle to stimulate your scalp).
Versatility: you could go from casual to formal and vice versa with two shakes of a lamb’s tail. 🐑🤣
Your scalp stays cool even though you’re sweating in warm weather.
But you get to wear a cool-looking beanie or cap in cold weather.
You save money and spend zero to less on shampoo, conditioner, and styling products.
You look polished in your stay-at-home attire.
You appreciate your facial features and imperfect beauty more.
You no longer suffer through bad hair days.
Your life is simplified.

☝🏼

Must-haves and equipment

Now that you’ve decided that you’re crazy and have given yourself valid reasons and after you’ve watched several how-to buzz-cut videos let’s gather the must-haves, which are the following:

Time and space.

Slice out and reserve 3 to 5 hours (that’s how long it took for my first time) because you will not be rushing this grooming activity.
Please take your time.
You’re not in a buzz-cut competition with anyone.

Give yourself space.
Make sure you have the entire room for yourself.
No one or thing must disturb you and your activity.
Hair clipper with guard attachments.

Own or borrow a reliable, quality corded, or battery-operated hair clipper with guard attachments.

Wahl manufactures the more popular corded and cordless hair clippers.

You must use the hair clipper’s guard attachments to get your desired look.

Choose three guard sizes:
1. The first attachment trims your entire head to a uniform length. For example, start with a 12-millimeter (0.47 inch) guard. Beginning with a high number guard allows you to shorten the hair length.
2. The second attachment trims the back and sides of your head to a shorter hair length than the uniform length. For example, use a 9-millimeter (0.35 inch) guard.
3. The third attachment refines and tapers the appearance of the hair edges close to your ears and neck’s nape. For example, use a 3-millimeter (0.12 inch) guard.
Small brush for the hair clipper.

Most hair clippers will have a small cleaning brush included with it. If there’s none, use a new regular-size or baby toothbrush.

The small brush is essential because it gives you and the hair clipper a break.

And short breaks during buzz-cutting are beneficial. 👍🏼🍨

Always turn off the hair clipper before using the small brush or toothbrush to remove the hair remnants from the guard attachment and the blades. ⚠

Leaving the hair clipper in ON mode might cause it to trim down the small brush or toothbrush and render your clipper unusable.

I have yet to experience trimming down a small brush or toothbrush and see the results, and I’m not remotely curious about this. 🙃

Unclip the guard attachment to brush away the hair caught between it and the blades.
Mirrors.

A huge mirror in your bathroom that covers an entire wall offers you the advantage of seeing all of you, but a regular bathroom mirror or standing mirror will do.

A hand mirror or a mobile phone or tablet can help you view the back of your head. 📱
A pair of small sharp barber or eyebrow scissors to trim hair that the hair clipper might’ve missed or can’t reach.
Wear an old t-shirt or a haircutting cape, or be unclothed.
Your patience.

As I said, take your time because you’re not in a buzz-cut competition with anyone.

Giving yourself a buzz cut is like creating a beautiful piece of art to wear that everyone will instantly see.
Broom and or Swiffer cloth.

After you’ve given yourself a buzz cut and are satisfied with your buzz cut’s look, sweep, wipe away, and properly discard your cut hair.

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How to

Now that you’ve got all your equipment, let’s move this along.

Get your hair ready

Your hair must be clean and dry, like you’ve taken a shower or bath and shampooed and conditioned your hair about a couple of hours ago.

You’re all set if you habitually take showers or baths in the evenings and haven’t applied hairstyling products.

The hair clipper’s blades can’t precisely catch and cut dirty, oily hair.

Comb or brush out your hair.

Cut off your long hair so that it’s easier for you to glide your hair clipper through.

Get the hair clipper ready

I use a cordless hair clipper, so I recharge my hair clipper the night before and two hours before I give myself a buzz cut.

You now know what type of buzz cut you want to model.

Ready and lay out the guard attachments you’ve decided to use.

Start with a higher number guard attachment to trim all your head’s hair to a uniform length.

Then, switch down to a low-number guard attachment that will trim the back and sides of your head to a shorter hair length than the uniform length.

Then, switch to a lesser-sized guard attachment that will taper and refine the hair edges close to your ears and neck’s nape.

Cutting the hair

While clipping your hair, ensure the cut hair remnants aren’t blocking the blades. Turn the clipper off and use its small brush to brush away loose hair from the guard’s teeth and blades.

Start with the right or left side

With the higher number guard attached, turn on your hair clipper and place it on the right side (or left side) of your head where the baby hairs are (it’s the sideburns for the males) below your temple and in front of your ears and sweep the hair clipper upwards and out away from the base of the top of your head.

Hold your ear flat with your other hand so the hair clipper can catch the hairs around the ear.

The clipper’s guard attachment’s flat bottom must be parallel and touching your skin/scalp.

Keep clipping until the entire right or left side is trimmed down and you’re satisfied with how it looks.

Then, do the same for the other side.

Do the back

After you’ve trimmed the sides, do the same for the back of your head and start with the baby hairs on the nape of your neck.

Sweep the hair clipper upwards and out away from the base of the top of your head.

Then the top

After you’ve clipped the hairs on the back of your head, place your hair clipper at the top of your forehead and sweep the hair clipper towards the back of your head.

After you’ve trimmed the top, your entire head should have a uniform hair length.

Refine the entire head

Refine your hair length by leading the clipper with your fingers or using a fine-tooth comb as you run the clippers through.

Shorten the sides and back

Switch down to the second guard attachment (the low-number guard attachment) and clip your sides and back like you did earlier.

Picture an imaginary wall or boundary line wrapped around your head’s sides and back where you want this second guard attachment to reach so that you can sweep the clipper out and away from your scalp.

Refine the edges

Switch down to the third guard attachment, the lesser-sized guard attachment (finally!).

In this last step, your goal is to make it look like the hair ends close to your ears and neck’s nape are blended with the shorter hair of your sides and back.

The edges should look smooth and tapered.

Visualize the imaginary wall or boundary line where you want the tapering to end. This boundary might be an invisible line an inch or two above the top of your ears and neck’s nape.

As you begin the smooth tapering, move your clipper up to the imaginary boundary line where the clipper sweeps out and away to blend the hair lengths.

Clean up the cut, the room, and your bod

After you’ve refined the edges, clean up the cut.

This step is where the small scissors come in.

Trim the uncut hair the clipper couldn’t reach or might’ve missed. For example, the hair is close to the front area of your ears and on top of the forehead.

Use the broom and or Swiffer cloth to clean away all hair from the counter, floor, and surrounding areas, including where you were trimming your hair. 🧹

Finally, clean off the cut hair remnants from your body. 🛀🏼🧼

Congratulations

You are a do-it-yourself buzz-cut pro who looks beautiful, gorgeous, polished, and stunning! 🥂🍰😁

☝🏼

Maintenance

Take care of your buzz-cut equipment, clean them, and get them ready for your next buzz-cut.

Recharge your cordless hair clipper sooner rather than later.

Your hair clipper usually comes with instructions on how to clean it and oil its blades after every use, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Set up your next buzz-cut appointment with yourself.

I’ve set my buzz cut schedule on my iPhone Reminder app every six weeks, but your schedule might differ.

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Post buzz cut tips

Now that you’ve given yourself a buzz cut, you’ve simplified the self-grooming side of your life without emptying your wallet.

Does your head feel lighter, clean, and cool? Mine does. 👍🏼😊

Style, shampoo, and condition your hair like usual, but now you’re spending less time and using less product. 😊

If you often enjoy spending time outdoors, protect your head’s skin: wear your favorite hat and or apply sunscreen on your scalp.

If you’re loving your buzz-cut, schedule your next self-trim soon.

☝🏼

Conclusion

If you still need to give yourself a buzz cut or you’re still trying to decide about giving yourself one, that’s okay.

Trimming off all your head’s hair with a vibrating toothy hair clipper can change your life.

I was standing for a long time on my overthinking cliff until the day when I said why not.

I haven’t regretted it since. 😃

If you’re sporting your did-it-yourself buzz cut now, congratulations again on doing a great job! 👍🏼👏🏼

And you look fantastic too! 😍

You’ve saved yourself money and are now a professional hair-clipper user. 👏🏼

Your next buzz cut will be easier and better.

We’ve learned a lot:

Start with clean, dry hair.
Use quality hair clippers plus guard attachments.
Begin with a high-number guard attachment and continue the trim with low-number guard attachments to trim your hair to its desired length.
Run your fingers or fine-tooth comb through to help the hair clipper even out the hair length.
Taper the hair edges close to your ears and neck’s nape with your chosen low-number guard attachment.

Doesn’t it feel great to do it yourself?

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Helpful Links

Difference Between a Buzz Cut and Haircut
Here’s What to Know Before Getting a Buzz Cut
Buzz cut
7 Buzz Cut Styles to Know Before You Shave Your Head
14 Best Buzz Cut Hairstyles for Men
What to Expect When You Buzz Off All Your Hair
Should I Shave My Head to Make My Hair Grow Back Healthier?

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