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If you can’t get to a barber or hair salon right now, you’re not entirely out of options. A number of grooming brands have released some easy-to-use trimmers and scissor sets that let you get a decent haircut at home. The results may not be as polished as a professional cut, but the best at-home haircut kits come in handy in a pinch.
What Are the Best Ways to Cut Your Own Hair?
What kind of haircut do you want? The tools on our list let you do a number of different things to your hair, from a quick clean-up of your sides and edges, to a full chop.
Hair Clipper vs. Scissors:An electric trimmer (also known as a hair clipper) is best for those with shorter hair. Start by popping a hair guard over the blade, choosing one based on how short you want your hair to be. The smaller the number on the guard, the shorter and tighter the cut. Then, run the clippers slowly over the area where you want to cut. The best hair clippers do everything from trimming a beard to shaving an entire head of hair. They’re great for cropped cuts, fades and edge work as well (say, defining sideburns or rounding out the back of your head).
If you have longer hair or want a more dynamic cut, you’ll want to use a pair of scissors. The best scissors for haircuts offer versatility, letting you do everything from a quick bang trim, to layered looks and textured waves as well. Scissors are great for large jobs, like taking off length, and for cutting hair in delicate areas too (I.e. around your ears).
One Person vs. Two Person Job: Cutting your hair at home is all about convenience. Most trimmers are manually operated and are designed to be used by one person. The trimmers on our list all fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, giving you a precise grip and control over your haircut. If you’re going for a scissor cut, you might want an extra hand to help you out, especially around the sides and back.
Other Features to Look For: The best hair clippers serve a variety of uses. We’ve found units that can be used for haircuts but also for grooming your beard and body hair. These trimmers are safe enough to use on sensitive areas too, like shaving stubble under your neck, or clipping your ear and nose hairs. The best haircut scissors, meantime, can also be used to trim your eyebrows, and razor off light body hair.
All of our kits come with everything you need to get cutting right away, including blades, combs and other accessories. The best haircut kits also come with a handy storage case, helping you keep all the tools neatly organized, and letting you easily take them with you on the go.
Whether you’re stuck at home, don’t have a salon nearby, trying to save time, or just trying to save money, we’ve rounded up some of the best haircut tools and accessories you can use to give yourself an easy haircut at home.