Cutting your own hair is an absolute ballache, unless you just go the whole hog and shave your head. For any fellas in need of a trim who doesn’t want to go to those extremes, however, a hairdresser has revealed a few tips on how to cut men’s hair.

Quarantine doesn’t mean you can’t stay fresh, and men across the country are handing over the clippers to their partners – and as we’ve seen, they have had varying degrees of success.

Tyla spoke to salon owner and L’Oreal colour expert Ruby Hook for three different ways to cut men’s hair – and, importantly, not ruin their lives.

First up, for just a trim:

If you need a little tidy up, and aren’t ready to subject yourself to anything too drastic, Ruby recommends you use hair scissors. Of course, unless you’re a hair dresser, they’re not likely to be an option, so she says that small scissors or a good set of clippers will have to do.

Ruby says: “You can do this as a dry or wet cut. Begin by using a comb to brush the hair down, and then slowly take off the ends and edges using your fingers and scissors.”

Next, Ruby says to use the clippers to neaten up the neck line, adding: “Try not to take off too much when you do it as it is a trim and not a full on hair cut.”

Next, the buzzcut:

If your new client wants you to take the whole lot off with a buzzcut, you’ll need a good pair of clippers.

Ruby says: “First, you need to decide what length you would like and select what guard you will need. On dry hair, take the clippers to the top of the head and move against the grain (front to back) in a straight, repetitive motion.”

And lastly, we get onto the tricky one, the fade:

We’ve all seen the disaster stories over the last few weeks, but should you try to do a fade?

Long story short, Ruby says no.

She advises: “No matter the hair type – straight or afro hair – to achieve the results of a barber would be hard and could leave you looking uneven.”

Ruby warns that all hair grows differently and has different textures and growth patterns.

She explains: “Depending on what type of hair you have, will determine how often you will need to have it cut [or] shaped up.

“For example, curly hair maintains a round shape as it grows and could last two-plus weeks, but thinner, straighter hair can start sticking out after just a week.”

So there we have it – give it a go at your own risk. Good luck, LADs.