Buzz
Cutting the back of your hair on your own can be quite tricky. You’ll need two mirrors—one fixed on the wall and another handheld—to clearly see the back section. When using clippers, start by setting a guideline and then move the clippers upward toward that line. For those with long hair opting for scissors, tilt your head forward to let the hair fall to the front and comb it smooth. Whether using clippers or scissors, take your time and trim small sections to ensure a neat and even cut.
Steps
Using Clippers
Stand with your back facing the wall mirror. To trim the back of your hair, position yourself facing away from the larger mirror. A bathroom mirror works well for this purpose.
- If you don’t have a wall mirror, you can use a mirror on a dressing table.
Ask someone to hold a mirror so you can see the back of your head. A handheld mirror or a small dressing mirror works best. Experiment to find the best angle that allows you to clearly view the back of your head. Ask a friend or family member to assist you and adjust the mirror until you have a clear view.
- A small wall-mounted dressing mirror with adjustable angles is a good alternative if you don’t have someone to help.
- Tilt your head slightly downward to create a straight line along your neck.
Position the clipper with the blade facing upward. The teeth of the blade should point toward the back of your neck. The blade should be parallel to the ground.
- Switch hands while using the clipper. For example, when trimming the right side of your neck, hold the clipper in your right hand, and switch hands as you move from one side to the other.
- You’ll also need to switch the hand holding the mirror when you switch the clipper hand. If possible, ask a friend or family member to hold the mirror for you.
Shave a horizontal line at the back of your neck. Locate your natural hairline and shave a line following it. This could be the hairline from your previous haircut.
- Always keep an eye on the mirror while shaving the back of your neck. Aim for a straight and even line.
- Stick as close to your natural hairline as possible for the best results.
Flip the clipper over. Now, rotate the clipper in the opposite direction from before. Ensure the teeth of the blade are facing upward.
- This allows you to shave upward toward the guideline you just created.
Shave upward from the lower neck to the guideline. Make short vertical strokes from the end of the hair on your neck to the guideline you created. Continue shaving upward toward the guideline until no hair remains below it.
- Ensure you only shave the hair below the guideline. Tie or clip up any hair you don’t want to cut.
- This removes any uncut hair on your neck and ensures a clean, polished look.
- Shave this section slowly and evenly to avoid cutting too high.
Round off the edges at the nape of your neck if you prefer a rounded look. Create a small curved guideline along the hairline at the back of your neck. Then, shave the small section of hair outside the guideline as you did in the previous step.
- While rounding the edges, you can also check for any stray hairs behind your ears.
Using Scissors
Purchase hair-cutting scissors. Hair-cutting scissors are available at most supermarkets and are specifically designed for trimming hair. These scissors help create clean cuts and prevent split ends.
- Avoid using paper scissors, craft scissors, or kitchen scissors for cutting hair.
Flip your hair forward and comb it. Tilt your head lower than your neck, allowing all your hair to fall forward. Comb it thoroughly to ensure there are no tangles.
- You can choose to work with dry or wet hair. If using wet hair, remember that it will shrink slightly and puff up as it dries.
- Additionally, flipping your hair forward makes it easier to see the current layers of your hair.
Trim the ends of the inner layer while your hair is flipped forward. The inner layer will become the outer layer when your hair is in its normal position. Carefully trim the ends to remove any damaged or split sections.
- Only cut small sections at a time, and frequently check the length in the mirror. You don’t need to flip your hair back to check; simply tilt your head slightly to the side.
Trim small sections of hair until you achieve the desired length. While you may want to finish quickly, cutting small sections helps avoid mistakes. Avoid cutting more than 2.5cm of hair at a time.
- If you accidentally cut a section shorter than intended, you may need to trim the rest of your hair to match that length. However, cutting in very small increments allows you to make adjustments as needed.
Flip your hair back and check the style in the mirror. Stand with your back to a wall-mounted mirror, such as a bathroom mirror, and hold a handheld mirror in front of you. Find an angle that lets you see the back of your head clearly.
- If the back of your hair looks uneven in the mirror, you can always flip it forward again and make adjustments.
Warnings
- If you make a noticeable mistake while cutting the back of your hair, avoid trying to fix it yourself, as it could make things worse. Visit a professional barber or stylist instead, and only attempt cutting your hair again once it has grown out.
What You’ll Need
- Wall-mounted mirror
- Handheld mirror
- Dressing mirror
- Hair clippers
- Hair-cutting scissors
- Comb
- Round brush
- Hair clips
