Alright, so today I’m gonna share my little adventure, or misadventure, depending on how you look at it. I decided to try giving myself one of those mid fade haircuts with a number 5 on top. You see these cuts everywhere, looking sharp, and I thought, why not? Barbershops, man, they’re charging an arm and a leg these days. And half the time, I walk out looking like they weren’t even listening to what I said. So, I figured, let’s take matters into my own hands. What could go wrong, eh?
Setting Up Shop (My Bathroom)
First things first, I got my gear ready. My trusty old clippers – probably had ’em for a good few years. They ain’t fancy, but they buzz. Grabbed a few different guards, the number 5 for the top, obviously, and a couple of smaller ones for the fade. Threw an old towel around my shoulders. Looked at myself in the mirror and thought, “Okay, you can do this.” Watched a couple of tutorials online again, just to refresh. Those guys make it look so darn easy.
The Moment of Truth: Starting the Fade
So, I started with the shortest guard I was comfortable with, right at the bottom, to make that initial line. That first buzz, man, that’s when you know there’s no turning back. Heart was thumping a bit, I ain’t gonna lie. Then I moved up a guard size to start blending it upwards for that mid fade. This is where the real “fun” began. You gotta get that flicking motion with your wrist just right, or you end up with harsh lines everywhere. And let me tell you, my wrist wasn’t exactly cooperating like a pro’s.
One side, I thought, “Hey, this isn’t too bad!” Then I looked at the other side. It was, uh, a different story. More like a staircase than a fade. Blending is a real pain, seriously. I spent ages, just going back and forth, trying to soften those lines. It’s like trying to get two kids to share a toy – lots of negotiation and you still end up with a bit of a mess. My bathroom floor was starting to look like a barbershop, hair everywhere.
Moving to the Top: The Number 5
After battling the fade for what felt like an eternity, I moved on to the top. Slapped the number 5 guard on the clippers. This part, I figured, should be straightforward. Just run it all over, keep it even. And yeah, it was definitely less stressful than the fade. Just a steady buzz, making sure I didn’t miss any spots. By this point, my arms were getting tired from holding them up for so long. Who knew haircuts were such a workout?
The Big Reveal and Lessons Learned
Finally, I put the clippers down. Dusted myself off as best I could. Took a deep breath and had a good look. Well, it’s certainly a haircut. Is it perfect? Heck no. Is it a “mid fade with 5 on top”? Kind of. It’s got its own unique charm, let’s put it that way. My partner had a good look and just said, “Well, it’s definitely… homemade.” I’ll take it.
Here’s what I reckon I learned from this whole thing:
- Patience, patience, patience. You rush it, you mess it up. Simple as that.
- Good lighting is super important. My bathroom lighting is, well, not great for spotting all the little uneven bits.
- Those barbers? They earn their keep. It ain’t as easy as just running clippers over your head.
- And the most important thing: hair grows back. So, even if it’s a bit wonky, it’s not the end of the world.
Would I do it again? You know what, I think I would. It was frustrating, sure, but also kind of satisfying to do it myself. Plus, saved a bit of money. Maybe next time I’ll even try to get the back looking a bit more respectable. Practice makes perfect, or at least, less of a disaster. We’ll see how the next attempt goes!
