Save Money with Home Haircuts

Many years ago when I was a single mother with two small boys, I couldn't afford the extravagance of monthly family haircuts. Without someone to share the bill, those three monthly haircuts cost me nearly $40 even back then. At the time, $40 was about the price of a week's worth of groceries.

Twenty years later, home haircuts are still a family tradition at our place. My grown sons appreciate the financial savings, my husband actually prefers how I cut his hair as compared to the neighborhood barber, and even my elderly parents are happy that their hair can be cut in the comfort of their own home. For a family on a budget, home haircuts are a terrific way to save money.

Buying the right equipment

Trying to cut hair with a pocket comb and a sewing shears is a little like trying to give yourself a home manicure with a filing hasp and a bucket of enamel paint. For a home haircut to look good, you must have the right hair cutting tools.

Companies such as Oster and Wahl make home haircutting kits that include clippers with an assortment of guide combs, hair cutting scissors and styling combs. Oster makes a basic 12 piece kit for $19.99 which comes with a clipper and guide combs. For a large family, a deluxe hair cutting kit such as the Wahl pro 24 piece deluxe set might be a better choice. This deluxe kit also comes with the clipper and ten guide combs plus a cape, extra hair clips, ear taper combs, neck brushes, and an assortment of scissors. Some of the Wahl kits may include an instructional DVD or VHS which is a fabulous tool for the beginning home hair stylist. The 24 piece Wahl kit retails for $40 but is available on-line for $25. Home hair cutting kits can be found at most discount department stores including Target and K Mart.

The one drawback of purchasing a kit is that the styling and barber scissors are a bit on the cheap and flimsy side, and don't fit all that nicely in the hand. While the scissors in the kit is fine for a few snips here or there, it would be best to purchase a professional quality hair cutting scissors from a beauty supply store. I use a professional grade styling shears and thinning shears, both which retail for $22.

In addition to all these tools, a backless bar stool is also a necessity.

Where to learn the basics of cutting hair

Twenty years ago, my stylist spent 15 minutes showing me how to cut the boys' hair. Back then, the options for learning how to cut hair were limited to a few books at the library or a quick demonstration from a friend.

These days, there's all sorts of instructional DVDs available, books, and on line sites available to show you the basics of cutting hair. One site that contains a wealth of home hair cutting information along with a great list of instructions is www.hairfinder.com. This site can teach you how to do a basic layered cut along with dozens of other styles.

Giving home haircuts really isn't that hard. Most of us can easily learn how to give a quick trim in between regular cuts or even manage a basic layered cut. With time, patience, and a little practice, you too will be able to cut your family's hair effortlessly while saving hundreds of dollars a year.