“Old Dog, New Tricks”

~ Elizabeth

hairclippers

Advice constantly given to people my age includes learning new skills to keep our brains active. The pandemic provided me with an unasked for opportunity to do just that. I have now learned how to give a somewhat adequate man’s haircut and how to utilize Zoom. Today my adventure in barbering, tomorrow my immersion into Zoom.

We live two blocks from an excellent Cuban barber and his crew. Although only Spanish is spoken there, and although my husband has no interest in the elaborate designs possible in a haircut, he has loved the convenience and professional cut he has received there for many years. But the pandemic closed all barber shops here for several months and he gradually looked like a “geezer” according to a close unnamed relative. Thanks to the recommendation from Pete from Beetley, I purchased the Wahl kit pictured above. Although my husband prefers quite a short look, I hesitated to start that way. I figured it would be easier to repair a too long cut than to repair a too short one.

You Tube provided me with the instructions for a “Basic Men’s Haircut.” While I don’t think of Charlie as a basic man, I did recognize that I needed a simple approach. So with a sheet on the floor and the victim on a dining room chair I commenced. The first cut was so much better than the geezer look that I stood amazed. I have given him two more so far. Sadly I have now become much more critical of my skill level and note that I have not quite managed to have the hair even over both ears!

But my most challenging achievement thus far is the eyebrow trim. After watching a video several times, I did take the comb and the clippers and managed to tame the longest hairs without cutting his skin! I am letting my own hair grow out and out and out! Maybe I will be able to sport a French twist before this pandemic is through.

44 thoughts on ““Old Dog, New Tricks””

  1. I am very pleased to hear that my suggestion worked for you and your husband. I do my own, and spare my wife the chore. But I have a lot less hair to worry about, I suspect.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. That Wahl clipper looks very like the one I have for my dog. I have a Phillips beard trimmer for my husband which has worked well for parts of his haircut, but I’ve resorted to scissors for the rest. I recall someone once saying that a haircut should aim to have the hair the same length all over the head (for whom, I wonder…) so that’s what I’ve been aiming at. Although I obviously don’t get anywhere near that, it’s a guideline, and looks better than the poetic style he had before.
    My biggest challenge is always his moustache if I don’t want him to end up looking like Hitler.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU TALKED YOUR HUSBAND INTO IT. My husband is starting to look like a member of the grateful dead, but he wont dare let me near him. I, too, am growing my out and have been able to put it into a simple twist.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. I used to cut my husband’s hair years ago but don’t have the tools of the trade any longer. No matter as he’s comfortable visiting his barber, one customer in the shop at a time, and wearing a mask.

    I on the other hand have not visited a salon since February. Even though it’s possible now, I’m not comfortable with it as those appointments run much longer. I’ve always trimmed my own bangs but it was only recently that I took to cutting my own hair, just like when I was in high school! My hair is pretty long so I figured anything was fixable. Turns out, I actually like it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. I used to cut John’s hair. He went back to the barber a year or so later, liking the SPEED of a professional cut. I didn’t mind. The tips were not great. In fact, they were nonexistent.

    Like

    Reply

  9. I have been scissor cutting hubby’s hair for years, after he purchased a hair clipping set, similar to yours & used it himself.
    He only had stubble left on his head!
    I started out as a teen apprentice in hairdressing before entering academia to study for my profession, though those hair cutting skills have come in handy over the years.
    I have cut my own hair since my early twenties, although it’s getting more & more difficult with shoulder pain 😀
    Bless you,
    Jennifer

    Like

    Reply

    1. Wow. I love the jobs we all had before settling into the main ones. I wrote about all my odd jobs a couple of years back, including the summer I peeled dimes off cards to pay for recipes I sent out.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. I have offered to cut my spouses hair he has declined the offer. My short hair is no longer short. I have no desire to go to a salon. My “bangs” are now below my chin. I guess disheveled is the style of the year.

    Like

    Reply

  12. We want to see your handiwork, Elizabeth. I may have told you that I shaved my head when it got longer earlier in the pandemic. I was always curious about what I would look like bald, and I thought if it’s terrible, no one will see me for a while anyway. It was decent, and I wore it that way for about six weeks, but I caved and decided to let it grow back out. I loved not having to fuss with it. At least I know I can go back to that look if I choose.

    Like

    Reply

  13. See, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Of course you’re not an old dog and I’m not either. 🙂 I’m not brave enough to tackle the haircut thing. Today we go to Costco for the first time since March, senior hours. That’s my new dog trick for the day.

    Like

    Reply

  15. I also gave my husband a hair cut but we went with a scissor cut. This week, I will try my hand at thinning shears because it is too thick on the sides. My hair will grow until it simply stops or it is safe to visit a salon.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Angie Cancel reply