Professional barbers share their best at-home grooming tips

It’s good to have the tools you need for a DIY grooming session.  

Start with your hair  

A great “I did it myself” haircut starts with top quality hair clippers, says Ryan Honeycombe, from The Barber Collective in Cape Town. “If you’re buying a corded clipper make sure the cord is long. If you’re going with a battery clipper make sure it is rechargeable and has a long run time.” 
 
If you’ve never cut your own hair before, it’s always a good idea to start with something simple. Once you know your way around a pair of clippers you can progress to more intricate styles, including fades.  

Moving onto your beard and neck

The next step to looking suave is to groom your beard and neck area. If you’ve been relying on disposable blades for years, now’s the time to go pro and invest in an electric shaver. They can save you a lot of money in the long term as you won’t constantly be replacing blades.  

Another plus? “An electrical shaver can help reduce the likelihood of nicks and cuts,” says Honeycombe.  

Choosing the perfect shaver  

Like a clean-shaven look and are torn between a rotary shaver and a foil one? Harry Kadish of Louisa & Friends Hair Salon in Cape Town says it comes down to personal preference. “The rotary blade won’t get as close as the foil blade, but it’s a great choice if you’re on the run”. 
 
If your beard is your main priority, then rather invest in a proper beard trimmer - don’t attempt to use hair clippers. “A beard trimmer shapes lines better as it has much finer teeth,” says Kadish. Honeycombe agrees, adding that, as a beard trimmer is much smaller than a clipper, “it can get into all the tight corners to help shape the perfect beard.” 

Don't forget about the finishing touches 

Last but not least, don’t forget about the little details - excess hair poking out of your ears and nostrils is generally not the best look. Rather than mess about with wax or scissors, get your hands on a precision trimmer. “A precision trimmer is definitely good for eyebrows, ear and nose hair as there’s less chance of its finer teeth giving you a nip,” says Kadish. 

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