Is Cutting Your Own Hair Always a Better Choice Than Visiting a Barber?

[ehrenfest]

I think it is an abomination that a barbershop can stay in business. Every human being that owns a scissors and has at least one hand is capable of cutting his or her own hair perfectly fine. If you begin cutting your own hair when you are a child then my guess is that you will save approximately a thousand dollars (not counting inflation or anything) and approximately two hundred hours. That is a lot of money and a long time. If you have recently considered throwing your money and time away by going to a barber PLEASE THINK TWICE for your own sake and for the sake of society. Imagine how many useful buildings could be constructed in place of barbershops!

 

[Greg Freeman]

One of my best investments has been a set of decent quality electric trimmers. When I get tired of my hair being too long, I just break them out, pick a guard, and go to town. They're only $20, and they usually last me at least a year or two depending on the quality.

Can you believe that you need a license to get paid to cut someone else's hair in the US?

 

[Cyrus]

Give me a break. I've gone to the same barber my entire life. Any good baber shop gives you a proper haircut and shave with hot foam and a razor that could slice your neck off.

I enjoy going to my barber shop and getting my hair cut, talking to my barber, and relaxing in the process. Its a 'guys' place.

You should find yourself a real barber shop. Get a real haircut, and I am not talking about the five dollar "I'd like a number 3 on the sides" haircut. I walk in and say 'cut my hair'. He combs it to the back and cuts it to the proper length on the sides and shapes the back with a razor blade.

I always give my barber $20 bucks. So, I think your thousand dollar estimate is way, way, too low. (Thats only 50 haircuts)

 

[Math Is Hard]

Do I even dare ask what the OP thinks about nail salons?

*runs and hides*

 

[Greg Freeman]

I could see getting a shave and the whole nine yards at a barber if I felt like being pampered, but 99% of the time I just want to buzz it all and then go relax in the shower. That and I love lathering up the shaving cream myself. It's relaxing.

 

[oedipa maas]

For the last few weeks I've been meaning to buy a pair of scissors so I can try giving myself a trim...

My hair is almost down to my butt and I haven't had it cut for about 18 months. The last time it got snipped my housemate was wielding the scissors and she cut off 30 cm - enough to donate to a company that makes wigs for people with cancer.

 

[Mk]

I'm torn. I wish I could cut my own hair. And I hate going to the barber. I guess I could start with an electric trimmer.

I walk in and say 'cut my hair'. He combs it to the back and cuts it to the proper length on the sides and shapes the back with a razor blade.

I love that. I do like a good barber shop because I like how I don't have to decide anything. I don't know anything about hair, hair styles, or even how many inches I want off or left. I don't have a clue. Maybe that's why I haven't learned to cut my own hair.

 

[Moonbear]

You need a license to run a barber shop or hair salon because there is the very real chance you may come in contact with human bodily fluids (i.e., little nick with a razor) or parasites (i.e., lice), and you need to know enough about infection control to avoid spreading diseases from one client to another.

If you're just getting a buzz cut or trimming a little off the ends of long hair, sure, there's not much need to pay someone else to do that for you. But, quite a lot of people like to get their hair cut or styled nicer than that (not everyone looks good in a buzz cut or with long hair).

If you want to cut your own hair at home, go ahead and do so, but there's really no need to criticize other people for keeping someone employed doing it for them. If that's what someone wants to spend their money on or finds it something they enjoy, what business is it of anyone else what they do with their money or time? For that matter, you could choose not to cut your hair at all.

Since you've been starting a bunch of threads on cutting down the time and money it takes for things like eating and haircuts down to the bare minimum, there must be something else you would like to make time for doing and save up the money to do that spending time and money on these other activities distracts from. You may find that not everyone shares your enthusiasm for whatever that activity is and would consider THAT to be a waste of time and money. It all comes down to personal preference. It's fine to discuss these differences, let's just try to avoid being judgmental of other people's preferences.

 

[MaWM]

Man, I'd pay that money just for the hair washing. Talk about relaxing.

 

[Moonbear]

Imagine how many useful buildings could be constructed in place of barbershops!

Um...what would you replace them with? They ARE useful if they are being used, and the building is already constructed.

 

[ehrenfest]

You need a license to run a barber shop or hair salon because there is the very real chance you may come in contact with human bodily fluids (i.e., little nick with a razor) or parasites (i.e., lice), and you need to know enough about infection control to avoid spreading diseases from one client to another.

If you're just getting a buzz cut or trimming a little off the ends of long hair, sure, there's not much need to pay someone else to do that for you. But, quite a lot of people like to get their hair cut or styled nicer than that (not everyone looks good in a buzz cut or with long hair).

If you want to cut your own hair at home, go ahead and do so, but there's really no need to criticize other people for keeping someone employed doing it for them. If that's what someone wants to spend their money on or finds it something they enjoy, what business is it of anyone else what they do with their money or time? For that matter, you could choose not to cut your hair at all.

Since you've been starting a bunch of threads on cutting down the time and money it takes for things like eating and haircuts down to the bare minimum, there must be something else you would like to make time for doing and save up the money to do that spending time and money on these other activities distracts from. You may find that not everyone shares your enthusiasm for whatever that activity is and would consider THAT to be a waste of time and money. It all comes down to personal preference. It's fine to discuss these differences, let's just try to avoid being judgmental of other people's preferences.

Yes, that is a good point, you closed my religions thread for trying to assign truth value to religion but this is really the same thing. I should stop trying to assign truth value to any lifestyle choice. Although I firmly believe professional haircutting is a waste of societies resources, my only proof is that getting a professional hair cut would be meaningless to me.

It is really hard to debate lifestyle optimization and society optimization when people have so many different backgrounds and experiences and values. That is why I am going into mathematical physics not politics or social science. Why can't everyone think more like me!

 

[Alfi]

Why can't everyone think more like me!

A universal question that deserves it's own thread.

I pay some person $15 about every 6 months. I smile and say 'interview type business cut'.
Then about 20 minuets later I say thank you.
It's a service. A pay me, to do it or do it yourself choice.

I'm $30 a year lazy.

 

[mgb_phys]

I accidentally got a 1/4" buzz cut about 10years ago by mishearing the barber!
Liked it and bought a pair of clippers - great.

I save $40-50 month (it's expensive in the UK), don't have to remember to schedule time off work before a trip/meeting and don't have to read GQ to know what I want when they ask about style.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

My hair is way too gorgeous to let just anyone touch my hair, especially one not trained for decades

 

[wolram]

I only £2.50 for a good hair cut, and you won't find many barbers in the Uk willing to give you a shave.

 

[BobG]

My mom used to cut my youngest brother's hair when he was still too young to know better. Her better haircuts didn't require stitches.

After seeing her exploits, I'm worried I would wind up paralyzed for life if I tried cutting my own hair. I'd rather iron my own clothes while wearing them.

 

[_Mayday_]

I think it is an abomination that a barbershop can stay in business. Every human being that owns a scissors and has at least one hand is capable of cutting his or her own hair perfectly fine. If you begin cutting your own hair when you are a child then my guess is that you will save approximately a thousand dollars (not counting inflation or anything) and approximately two hundred hours. That is a lot of money and a long time. If you have recently considered throwing your money and time away by going to a barber PLEASE THINK TWICE for your own sake and for the sake of society. Imagine how many useful buildings could be constructed in place of barbershops!

I am willing to pay money, in the knowledge I will get a good cut, and that I am helping a local business.

 

[Kurdt]

I haven't been to a barbers in years. My mummy cuts my hair *blink*

 

[Astronuc]

I haven't been to a barbers in years. My mummy cuts my hair *blink*

Me either. My wife trims my hair when she feels like it.

Haven't shaved in nearly 27 years. I saved a few bucks.

 

[Cyrus]

http://www.channel4.com/media/userpages/accepted/71204_BadHaircut.jpg

Ha--hahaha.

 

[Astronuc]

Ha--hahaha.

My son did something similar - more than once.

 

[Chi Meson]

I started cutting my own hair in 1981. IT was part of the anti-establishiment punk mentality I was in at the time. I continued to cut it throughout my 20s and 30s, only occasionally getting a professional cut (before my wedding for example). I got pretty good, so I kept at it. People would then ask me to cut their hair...big mistake.

But in retrospect, it is not "sticking it to the man" or any form of rebellion to deny a barber or stylist of $20 a month.

 

[moe darklight]

I cut my own hair too. I just cut my fro two weeks ago actually; I hadn't cut it in almost a year. My face felt so naked all that first week. horrible.

Ha--hahaha.

hahahahaha classic

 

[Cyrus]

PS, a good barber will cut your hair while its try, never wet. They cut it using a comb and scissors, and shape the sides with a trimmer/razor blade.

Those people at hair cuttery make your hair wet, and then cut it by pulling and pinching your hair between their middle and index finger and then cutting what's sticking from between their fingers with scissors. The result is when your hair dries its not at an even length. One time I had to go to hair cuttery because I needed a haircut right away. My barber said, 'who the hell cut your hair'. Its all uneven when I went to my regular barber for my next haircut.

 

[Cyrus]

Yes, that is a good point, you closed my religions thread for trying to assign truth value to religion but this is really the same thing. I should stop trying to assign truth value to any lifestyle choice. Although I firmly believe professional haircutting is a waste of societies resources, my only proof is that getting a professional hair cut would be meaningless to me.

It is really hard to debate lifestyle optimization and society optimization when people have so many different backgrounds and experiences and values. That is why I am going into mathematical physics not politics or social science. Why can't everyone think more like me!

Because your thinking is wrong.

 

[Evo]

*sigh* I'm not even going to tell you how much it costs to cut the Evo Child's hair. They charge her extra because she has so much hair. Her last hairdresser said she had enough hair for 3 people. She has absolutely gorgeous hair.

I would never attempt to cut my own hair. How the hell would you get it even in the back? I'm sorry, but I can't look like I got my head caught in a fan.

 

[moe darklight]

How the hell would you get it even in the back?

you don't lol

 

[Kurdt]

Supposedly if you tie a pony tail centered on the crown of your head and cut the hair from that it should be pretty even. That could be an urban myth because the person i heard it from isn't a reliable source.

 

[Art]

I only £2.50 for a good hair cut, and you won't find many barbers in the Uk willing to give you a shave.

Yeah Sweeney Todd sort of ruined it for everyone I guess it was either get rid of the meat pies or the barber shop shave and folk opted to keep the meat pies

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Go to a barber you can trust.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein"

 

[Evo]

Supposedly if you tie a pony tail centered on the crown of your head and cut the hair from that it should be pretty even. That could be an urban myth because the person i heard it from isn't a reliable source.

That would end up with many layers to your hair, with the shortest hair at the top of your head and the longest at the back of your head. I guess if you want that, it would work.

P.S. - I don't want to work anymore, will someone support me? I'm really cheap to keep.

 

[mgb_phys]

Supposedly if you tie a pony tail centered on the crown of your head and cut the hair from that it should be pretty even.

Or a puddin' bowl works for the full Dwayne Dibley (UK readers will understand)

 

[russ_watters]

I installed a mirror on a swing-arm next to my sink for the purpose of cutting my hair myself, but it is still a bit hit or miss trying to cut the back. I'm slowly learning to use my hands backwards, but even still, I can only see one side at a time, so it is tough to make them even.

 

[Evo]

I'd love to see Russ with long enough hair to do a ponytail

 

[Moonbear]

My grandmother used to cut my grandfather's hair...but I'm not sure it counts for much when there isn't much left to cut anyway. He just had that little ring left around the bottom that was still hanging on for dear life after the rest had fled...or maybe it was just my grandma's haircuts.

If you like your hair short and something other than a buzz cut, I don't know how you could cut it yourself (even then, probably easier to have someone else do it for you). I don't think I could reach the back of my hair if I wanted it cut short. I do cut my own hair, but it's long and I just pull it around to the front (I've gotten good at getting it even that way, but I have a lot of room for error...nobody will notice if it's an inch shorter than intended because I got it wrong the first time and needed to even up one side). Then again, I've never had any luck with hairdressers. Their ideas of what they want my hair to be never matches my ideas of what I'm telling them I want it to be. My biggest mistakes cutting my own hair still haven't been as bad as the "professional" haircuts I've gotten. They do well with cutting thin, stick straight, short hair, but when you have thick, curly, long hair, and want to keep it that way, I think they get jealous and try to butcher it on purpose.

 

[ehrenfest]

I have curly brown hair that is between 1-3 inches thick depending on when the last cut.

I don't even use a mirror to cut it. I just go to the bathroom with a scissors and cut off chunks that are getting too long and throw them in the toilet. It takes like 5 minutes every 2 months.

In the winter I let it grown long for warmth. In the summer I usually cut it more often in order to keep from itching. The ONLY reason I cut it is because it can get cumbersome when it is long.

My dorm-mates tell me it looks funny but whatever. I think that in the future when everyone has realized that "hair styles" make no sense, people will watch old movies and make fun of people with nicely-trimmed hair.

 

[Math Is Hard]

My dorm-mates tell me it looks funny but whatever. I think that in the future when everyone has realized that "hair styles" make no sense, people will watch old movies and make fun of people with nicely-trimmed hair.

Hair styles DO make sense, though. A nice haircut frames and flatters the face. People like to look attractive, so why would people in the future give that up? Same with fashion, makeup, diet and exercise products. People will always fork out lots of dough for things that make them look and feel purty.

 

[Moonbear]

Hair styles DO make sense, though. A nice haircut frames and flatters the face. People like to look attractive, so why would people in the future give that up? Same with fashion, makeup, diet and exercise products. People will always fork out lots of dough for things that make them look and feel purty.

So they can reproduce and hence perpetuate the species. Being attractive is important!

 

[ehrenfest]

People like to look attractive,

Do you think it is a biological drive to look attractive? Well of course it will help you obtain mates if the opposite sex thinks you look attractive. But society has totally changed what it means to look attractive. I am relatively sure that a clean haircut is NOT one of the biological triggers for attractiveness. Therefore, the future could easily reverse this image of attractiveness and render hair styles obsolete.

 

[edward]

How the hell would you get it even in the back? I'm sorry, but I can't look like I got my head caught in a fan.

Ah Ha I think I now know the origin of the mullet.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Do you think it is a biological drive to look attractive? Well of course it will help you obtain mates if the opposite sex thinks you look attractive. But society has totally changed what it means to look attractive. I am relatively sure that a clean haircut is NOT one of the biological triggers for attractiveness. Therefore, the future could easily reverse this image of attractiveness and render hair styles obsolete.

Reverse? So, in the future, we'll all walk around with bad Nick Nolte hair?

http://www.throwmyshoe.org/images/nicknoltedui.jpg

Oy vey!

 

[edward]

Reverse? So, in the future, we'll all walk around with bad Nick Nolte hair?

http://www.throwmyshoe.org/images/nicknoltedui.jpg

Oy vey!

Thats how I look when I wake up in the morning.

 

[Moonbear]

Do you think it is a biological drive to look attractive? Well of course it will help you obtain mates if the opposite sex thinks you look attractive. But society has totally changed what it means to look attractive. I am relatively sure that a clean haircut is NOT one of the biological triggers for attractiveness. Therefore, the future could easily reverse this image of attractiveness and render hair styles obsolete.

A haircut is a lot easier method of attracting mates than those cumbersome plumages of birds like the bird of paradise or peacocks that serve no purpose other than to attract mates. Similar to other species, it makes sense that the guy who can afford a nice haircut, both in time and money, and still have time to do his job, find his dinner, seek out potential mates, and is still healthy is more fit than one who doesn't have the time and money to spare for a haircut (afterall, children take up a LOT of time and money, so if a guy doesn't have any to spare, he might not be very fit to father children).

 

[DaveC426913]

Every human being that owns a scissors and has at least one hand is capable of cutting his or her own hair perfectly fine.

You're single right?

 

[hypatia]

I hear you on the salon haircut Moonbear, they are just not for me either. The last time I went for a real haircut, it was just horrible. I just cut a inch off the bottom 2 or 3 times a year. Plus its easier for me to tie it up for work when its all one lenth.

 

[Moonbear]

I hear you on the salon haircut Moonbear, they are just not for me either. The last time I went for a real haircut, it was just horrible. I just cut a inch off the bottom 2 or 3 times a year. Plus its easier for me to tie it up for work when its all one lenth.

Yes, most of the time mine is just pulled back in a ponytail at work anyway. I'm glad it's not shorter or it would be constantly falling into my face with no way to keep it back. Not just an annoyance, but dangerous if I'm working with radioactive material, or just plain icky when I'm working with cadavers (I forgot to bring a scrunchy one day I was teaching anatomy, and I had to leave early to take a shower right after class...some of my students were funny, they'd compliment me on my hair because they'd never seen me wear it down, and then warn me it was falling forward and getting into the cadaver ). When I'm doing surgery, I braid it and wrap it into a bun to tuck under a surgeon's cap (you can tell the photo in my profile is staged since my hair is sticking out). So, yeah, I can appreciate the option to not go to a hairdresser (I do get a lot of compliments on my hair even though I don't have anyone do anything special with it...I've actually had random strangers walk up to me in stores and ask if they can touch it ), but that doesn't work for everyone. I do still spend time and effort on cutting my hair and proper grooming, and do it nicely when I'm heading somewhere other than the lab, I just don't trust hairdressers with my hair.

 

[BobG]

I have curly brown hair that is between 1-3 inches thick depending on when the last cut.

I don't even use a mirror to cut it. I just go to the bathroom with a scissors and cut off chunks that are getting too long and throw them in the toilet. It takes like 5 minutes every 2 months.

In the winter I let it grown long for warmth. In the summer I usually cut it more often in order to keep from itching. The ONLY reason I cut it is because it can get cumbersome when it is long.

My dorm-mates tell me it looks funny but whatever. I think that in the future when everyone has realized that "hair styles" make no sense, people will watch old movies and make fun of people with nicely-trimmed hair.

Number 1 clue you should go to a barber and stop cutting your own hair:
Your dorm mates introduce you to friends with the warning, "This is why you shouldn't run with scissors!"

 

[Moonbear]

Number 1 clue you should go to a barber and stop cutting your own hair:
Your dorm mates introduce you to friends with the warning, "This is why you shouldn't run with scissors!"

Why on Earth would someone prefer a hack job on their head that people have been honest enough to let him know looks ridiculous when it's easier to either buzz it off or just let it keep growing long and pull it into a neat ponytail. Either option is more socially acceptable and far easier than hacking away piece by piece. I'm not even sure why getting a haircut wastes much time if all you're doing with the time is studying. If people flip through magazines while in a hairdresser's chair, you can just as easily flip through a textbook.

This whole series of threads is bizarre and disturbing, and not wanting to get a haircut is actually the least of it. Thinking eating is a non-essential extra that should be minimized as much as possible is not particularly conducive to survival. When trying to cut out everything else in life except doing math and physics problems, even the things that keep one alive and healthy, and denying oneself all social interactions, well, that sounds like a rather obsessive sort of behavior. Perhaps a visit to a psychologist or psychiatrist is required.

 

[BobG]

Why on Earth would someone prefer a hack job on their head that people have been honest enough to let him know looks ridiculous when it's easier to either buzz it off or just let it keep growing long and pull it into a neat ponytail. Either option is more socially acceptable and far easier than hacking away piece by piece. I'm not even sure why getting a haircut wastes much time if all you're doing with the time is studying. If people flip through magazines while in a hairdresser's chair, you can just as easily flip through a textbook.

This whole series of threads is bizarre and disturbing, and not wanting to get a haircut is actually the least of it. Thinking eating is a non-essential extra that should be minimized as much as possible is not particularly conducive to survival. When trying to cut out everything else in life except doing math and physics problems, even the things that keep one alive and healthy, and denying oneself all social interactions, well, that sounds like a rather obsessive sort of behavior. Perhaps a visit to a psychologist or psychiatrist is required.

Surely you wouldn't call Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth obsessive. They were two of their era's most famous time and efficiency experts.

Of course, considering the book about about them and their family was called Cheaper by the Dozen, it's pretty obvious how they were spending all of the time they saved.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

My dorm-mates tell me it looks funny but whatever. I think that in the future when everyone has realized that "hair styles" make no sense, people will watch old movies and make fun of people with nicely-trimmed hair.

You mean the way they make fun of physicists with funny hair here and now, today, this minute? And they're not even watching movies?