This article was taken from the April issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online
A buzz cut is easy -- just select the length you want, attach the plastic guard to the hair clippers and go to town. An actual haircut is more tricky, though it's possible to create a neat short-back-and-sides. Take your time and make lots of smaller clips rather than big ones.
What You Need 1) Clippers with guards
\2) Sharp scissors
\3) Two mirrors
\4) Razor
Divide your head into three sections: the crown sweeping down from the very top of your head to the fringe; the band at the back and sides, roughly at the level of the occipital protuberance (the lump at the back of your head); and the hairline, running round from your temples, over the arch above the ears and down across the nape of the neck.
Using the clippers and a No 3 or No 4 attachment, take the hair off the hairline and back and sides all around, up to the dividing line you've chosen, with gentle upwards strokes.
Wash your hair, then comb it through. Barbers use the comb and- scissors technique: lifting the hair off the head using the comb to judge a uniform length, then cutting the hair across the comb in straight lines. It's fiddly, so use your index and middle fingers.
For the crown, work backwards from the fringe, pinning horizontal sections of hair between the fingers and then cutting across. Do the same on the sides and back, working from bottom to top. You are looking for an even finger width length all over.
Comb the fringe down over your face and scissor it horizontally across your forehead. Keep it longer than the rest if you want a Tintin-like "bumper".
Dry your hair and use a smaller gauge attachment on the clippers to fade the hairline into the higher sections of hair towards the crown. Gently clipper in upward strokes.
Finally, square off the hairline at the nape of your neck using the clippers on a zero setting, or shave with a razor in light downwards strokes. If you mess up, remember the barber's eternal consolation: it will grow back.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
