Cutting my own hair - Chapter 11

Cutting my own hair – Chapter 11

Taper guides

I have always laughed at the left and right side clipper guides that Andis sells with their home cutting kits. They seemed amateurish to me. I have used them to demo in consumer presentation, but have never considered them serious tools. Well, a change in perspective can create a change in attitude and opinion.
I have been using these angled, tapering guides to cut the corners and around the ear on my own haircut. They really work well. I knew that they would. I knew that they do. I can do the tight corner taper with a #1 guide on my own by tipping the guard… hey, that is the skill you develop as a pro… but these little suckers really make it easy. Since the front corner is the first thing you notice on a short tapered haircut it is important that this point looks good. And these guards have made this very easy. Try ‘em on your own head. Still would not use one on someone else. Pic is included just in case you are not familiar with these.

Thoughts from Porto Rico

Roman inspired sandals

For quite some time we have heard that Roman inspired sandals were to be hot. My recent trip to Porto Rico proved this to be the case. They were everywhere. They were especially more noticeable in a nation that really loves its heels. Women everywhere wear heels. Heels in the restaurants. Heels all over the hotels. Heels in the streets. Even heels at the beach. A trip to them mall and poking around in shoe stores and you can hardly find a pair of flats. Away from the tourist areas this was even more obvious. At the mall in the neighborhood with the locals on a Saturday afternoon… every woman at the mall is wearing heels… except the ones in the Roman sandals. Then today in NYC… on the street… lots of Roman sandals.. Even saw variations of them I the form of Roman inspired sandals with a high heel. Likely to be seen soon in Porto Rico.

Pony Clip hair cut

I did a pony clip clipper cut at the show today. Have not done one in a long time. Back in the day I did 'em all the time.
This one had a design, zebra stripes cut into the clippered bottom... stenciled in with black and white pencil too.
This is a pic I found on line for those of you who do not know what a pony clip is (or was).
http://www.hji.co.uk/hjimages/images/qhs2639/hji/medium/1984-ponytail-crop.jpg

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Secrets of Fading - Porcupine Fluff.
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Cutting my own hair - Chapter 10 - The Comb

Cutting my own hair – Chapter 10

The comb
So I never shut up about clipper combs. I have been the king of the clipper comb for years. I would never even dream of picking up a regular comb to cut your hair, much less mine. I started out just tapering the corners in the front of my head with a #1 snap on guide comb. Then I started moving up the head using a guard with heel pressure to build length. Next it was time to pick up the world famous Andis clipper comb. Of course, for me it would be a white one as I am still mostly dark hair. Grey in the corners and a few scattered here and there, but dark hair. The BIG Andis clipper comb seemed small. Too small. Working on my own head the angles and positions are awkward and new. The comb feels too small and dangerous. Time to step up to bigger. So what did I reach for? It was Flattopper time. Yes. I was to use the old standard flattopper comb. These things are the size of a ping pong paddle. I have had one for years. I used them in the beginning to cut flat tops. I have used them to train others. It is just a monster big comb. Nice big handle. A very safe tool for clipper cutting. Turns out, it is a great tool for use for cutting your own hair. The beige color is great for high contrast. I can see what I am cutting. The other small trick that has paid big dividends in my success and confidence to continue the project has been the #1 clipper guide comb. I have taught for a long time, the idea that beginners should attempt clipper-over-comb with a #1 guard on the clipper, thus moving the cutting action 1/8” away from the surface of the comb. Slows you down, Backs you off a bit. Very forgiving. With a #1 in place on the clipper and a flattopper in the other hand I am tearing it up. Well, not tearing, but clippering away. This combo has made the process safer for me and given me the confidence to go for it.

Below is the link for the flattopper. There is also a link for their “new improved version” the flatliner. I do not like the flatliner as well. Too dark to see hair. Does not feed as well. Handle shape is slippery. Go with the original falttopper.

http://www.amazon.com/Flattopper-Original-with-Level-Beige/dp/B0001B50PI