I never go to the barber anymore. Actually, let me rephrase that. I never go to a professionally trained barber anymore. It’s just not worth the cost, and definitely not as entertaining as getting a haircut from a friend or a loved one, or even doing it yourself. I went to the barber regularly as a child, and at first found it difficult to get out of the habit. However, cutting your own hair will save you quite a bit of money in the long run, and you will most likely have fun doing it. In addition, you will probably be protecting the environment in a roundabout way, that is, unless you have a habit of walking and riding your bike everywhere.

If you have never had a homemade haircut, keep the following in mind to ensure the best results:

1. First realize that it’s only hair, and it will grow back soon enough.
2. Tell yourself that “you can always buzz it if it turns out really bad”. I’ve never actually gotten to this point.
3. Take it slow. It’s always better to take off too little than too much.
4. In case your new barber has a lapse in concentration, and takes a big chunk of hair out, find a magic marker that is somewhat close to your hair color, and fill in the gap. I’ve only had to resort to this once or twice, but it works wonderfully! (You’ll breathe a big sigh of relief)
5. If it looks “choppy” or messy, then that’s great news, you’re in style now!
6. Remember that it takes some practice, and your haircuts will gradually improve over time.

Or you can just postpone your haircut (I usually go for more than a few months), as suggested by A Frugal Guy, in some commentary about wise procrastination.