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Does anyone have experience cutting "african" hair?

I

imported_Tomato

Diamond Member
If so, do you have any tips?

My fiance is mixed and has "black" hair, very thick and extremely curly. It's getting a bit unruly, and I want to try and cut it. Does anyone have any advice on what to use, how to start, and basically what to do? I think I may have to invest in some clippers, our friend Matt offered his beard trimmer but I think the hair is too thick for that.

I have a feeling he may come out of it looking like a tennis ball, but it's worth a shot.

EDIT: Most recent pic - he is on the left, his friend Jonas on the right
 
even with razor, you still have to do initial cutting with electric clippers.

If you don't even have experience cutting straight hair, I suggest sending to a barber.
 
The guy at the salon who cuts my hair doesn't do anything except for wet it, comb it and then cut it. Then again, I only trim my hair and it is down to my shoulders so it might be a bit different if you are actually trying to give him a hair cut.
While I am not black, my hair is definitely not a white persons hair, it's very thick and very curly also. I've been told from my black friends that I've got black people hair so take it for what it's worth.
 
Uh, spend $11 at Hair Cuttery.

Otherwise, you can get pruning sheers from Home Depot for $15. A weed whacker may work as well.
 
Originally posted by: amoeba
even with razor, you still have to do initial cutting with electric clippers.

If you don't even have experience cutting straight hair, I suggest sending to a barber.
Click to expand...

I have a little experience cutting straight hair, and would like to start practicing cutting curly hair (I'd like to be an expert by the time we have kids, if any of them happen to have curly hair). If I really screw up it'll be the barber from now on, but I think I can handle a haircut if given proper instruction. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: bluehorizon
Uh, spend $11 at Hair Cuttery.

Otherwise, you can get pruning sheers from Home Depot for $15. A weed whacker may work as well.
Click to expand...

No way. Hair Cuttery will wreck that hair.

 
That's a tough one Tomato. My youngest son has hair just like that (he's mixed too). I wouldn't try to cut it myself if you paid me too so I take my boys to a shop. Your fiancee is a brave man. 😀
 
Originally posted by: anxi80
just let him grow it out, and then wrap it into corn rows. corn rows are dope.
Click to expand...

I'm actually kind of curious about seeing what he looks like with corn rows. Any idea how much longer it has to get before that's possible?
 
actually you shouldn't be too worried about tennis ball, I mean, isn't a fro like a tennis ball?

Seriously, all you need is to get it relatively uniform on all sides and the guides on a clipper will help you do that.

don't go for the cylinder look.
 
Originally posted by: Tomato
I'm actually kind of curious about seeing what he looks like with corn rows. Any idea how much longer it has to get before that's possible?
Click to expand...
co-worker who had them tells me he had it around 3 to 4 inches of hair fluff before he could do it.
 
Originally posted by: PanzerIV
That's a tough one Tomato. My youngest son has hair just like that (he's mixed too). I wouldn't try to cut it myself if you paid me too so I take my boys to a shop. Your fiancee is a brave man. 😀
Click to expand...

Heh, I appreciate him letting me "practice" on his hair. 🙂 I really want to try cutting it at least once, but unfortunately I have no idea where to begin. Do you watch the stylists cut your son's hair, and if so does he wet it when he starts? Does he use clippers? Do you have any "after haircut" pictures of your youngest son, by any chance? 🙂
 
Also, a clipper will only pay for itself after 5 cuts or so.

Don't get a flow-bee despite Dr. Pizza's claim that he invented it.
 
Originally posted by: Tomato
Originally posted by: amoeba
even with razor, you still have to do initial cutting with electric clippers.

If you don't even have experience cutting straight hair, I suggest sending to a barber.
Click to expand...

I have a little experience cutting straight hair, and would like to start practicing cutting curly hair (I'd like to be an expert by the time we have kids, if any of them happen to have curly hair). If I really screw up it'll be the barber from now on, but I think I can handle a haircut if given proper instruction. 🙂
Click to expand...

Honestly it will take a lot to screw up his hair. Just get some scissors from a salon supply store and have at it.
 
Originally posted by: amoeba
Also, a clipper will only pay for itself after 5 cuts or so.

Don't get a flow-bee despite Dr. Pizza's claim that he invented it.
Click to expand...

Heh, thanks for the tip. 🙂 I had a bad experience trying to cut someone's hair in college witha flow-bee, so I'll definitely be avoiding that at all costs.

If I'm actually able to cut his hair well, that will save some money and I think cutting hair is a fun/intimate thing to do. As mentioned, if any of our children inherit his hair, I'd like to be able to cuts theirs, too. So hopefully this will work out... I think I'll stop at Walmart this weekend to buy clippers. Is there anything else I need? (already have a pick and comb)
 
My g/f cuts my hair. I bought a set of clippers at Wal-Mart. They do the job. Most sets will come with attachments from 1/8" up to 1.5".

I have mine cut military style, though. Very short. 1/8" on the sides. 1/2" on top. If it's going to be any longer than an inch, go see a barber or stylist.
 
Yes, make sure your clipper has guides on it and you are all set.

Remember, the smaller the number the deeper the cut. So a 2 will cut away more hair than a 4.

When you have the guide, the rest of it is self explanatory as you just glide the clipper with the guide touching the scalp.

after you are done there, you can use scissors to make some spot fixes. after that, use a razor to clean up sideburn area, hairline at the neck.
 
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