Playing with scissors clippers

Oh brother. I used to use scissors to give Hambet his awful home haircuts, but I thought I’d move up to the big time and use clippers. A friend gave me some little tips she’d printed up (she is an old hand at cutting hair.)
I followed her directions carefully, and they seemed to make sense, but things started going wrong with the first pass of the clipper: the guards she uses are numbered from largest to smallest, and her instructions are based on that system. The guards on my clipper are numbered from smallest to largest. So her guard #2 is my guard #6. I didn’t realize my mistake until it was too late and I had cut the back way too short. Disconcerted, I paused for a fatal moment — Hambet squirmed — and bzzzzzzzz — there went a big strip of hair from the nape of his neck halfway up the side of his head!
I tried to assemble the thing into some kind of style, but now he looks like he’s either off to the skateboard ramp or just back from taking the tonsure. Plus the little long cap on the top is not cut evenly. Oh well, Hambet doesn’t care and it will always grow back. But next time, I won’t start with the smallest guard! I just hope the new look softens up a bit before we go off to see dh’s family next week.

6 comments

  1. I tried to assemble the thing into some kind of style, but now he looks like he’s either off to the skateboard ramp or just back from taking the tonsure.
    Sorry about the mishap, but it’s cute to picture Hambet in either scenario 🙂

  2. Pictures! I want pictures!
    Amalia just seems to get the Mamma slant when Melanie cuts her hair. Nothing too outrageous. What I don’t understand is why Melanie is reluctant to cut my hair. I can handle a slant. Enough goo and one would never notice anyway. Hmph. It would save me a trip to the barber and the seven bucks my quarterly haircut costs.

  3. I would love to see a post of those clipping instructions … I have mastered a conventional brush cut with the clippers but am always looking for tips to help me introduce variations for the boys’ haircuts.

  4. Well, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Even about what the grandparents say. Around here, Zteen took charge of his hair a long time ago and has kept it buzzed pretty short. He actually has very thick curly hair, but he thinks it’s “too puffy, Mom. Just WAY too puffy.”
    Whenever he gets it cut, my mom always says: “Ah, well, good to see we’re back to the prisoner of war look.” Zteen just shrugs.
    Hambet probably looks far better than that.

  5. Yipes. Lucky that young hair grows quickly. 🙂
    (Reminds of the ‘trim’ I gave me Eddie and lost my train of thought while changing guards. That spot where I essentially shaved him made me cringe. He has forgiven me…but retains a certain nervousness about haircuts.)

  6. LOL! The first time Boudreaux got his hair cut, it was in probably the oldest barber shop in north carolina, and he ended up looking like he had that Hitler youth haircut, the one where its skin short on the sides, and about 10 inches long on top? My wife was severely distraught, we never went there again.
    I wouldnt mind trying my hand at his hair, but I have been told in no mean terms that I am NOT to go near his hair with clippers, scissors, a pocket knife or any other implement that will cut hair.

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