How to Give Yourself a Buzz Cut at Home — Guard Numbers, Technique and the Back of Your Head

A buzz cut is the easiest haircut to give yourself: one guard, one direction, no styling. The hard parts are picking the guard, getting the back of your head even, and cleaning up the neckline without a second pair of hands. This guide covers all three, along with the clippers and cheap extras that make it easier.

Step 0 — Pick Your Guard Number

Clipper guards are numbered by length. On Wahl's standard guards, each number adds 1/8 of an inch (Wahl's 1–8 cutting guide set):

• #1 — 1/8": very short; your scalp shows clearly.
• #2 — 1/4": the classic short buzz.
• #3 — 3/8": short, but with a little softness.
• #4 — 1/2": a longer buzz that hides more of the scalp.
• #5 to #8 — 5/8" to 1": usually used on top in longer cuts.

If this is your first buzz cut, start with a #4 and go down a size if you want it shorter. A #1 is a big jump to make blind.

Choose a Clipper

Any decent home clipper can do a buzz cut. What matters is a sharp blade, guards that snap on firmly, and enough battery to finish the job.

The Wahl Lithium Ion Pro is the one we would buy. It is cordless, Wahl rates it for up to two hours per charge, and it comes with 12 snap-on guards from 1/16" to 1" plus an adjustable taper lever for blending.

Prefer a cord? The Wahl Elite Pro kit costs about the same at $70. It adds scissors, a styling comb and a cape, and its guards have stainless-steel clips. Note that Wahl makes it for U.S. wall outlets only. On a budget, the Wahl Color Pro Cordless costs about $40. It has color-coded guards, works while charging, and Wahl rates it for 60 minutes per charge.

Prep

Start with clean, dry hair. Cut in the bathroom with your shirt off, or wear the cape, and keep a towel on the floor. Have the hand mirror ready before you start, not halfway through.

Step 1 — The Top: Against the Grain

Snap the guard on firmly. Start at the front hairline and push the clipper back toward the crown, against the direction your hair grows, keeping the guard flat on your scalp.

Move slowly and overlap each pass. A clipper cuts best at a steady pace; rushing leaves patches.

Step 2 — The Sides

Work upward from just above each ear toward the top of your head. Fold the top of your ear down with your free hand to get the hair around it.

Step 3 — The Back of Your Head

Hair at the back usually grows downward, so start at the nape and push the clipper up toward the crown. Work by feel, in overlapping strips from one side to the other.

To see what you are doing, stand with your back to the bathroom mirror and hold a hand mirror in front of you. A large one makes this far easier: the ForPro XL hand mirror is 12" × 9", weighs about 9 oz, and costs about $6 (sold by TNG Worldwide).

If the back of your head is always the problem, a clipper built for self-cutting may suit you better. The Remington Shortcut Pro has an extra-wide curved blade and nine length combs from 1/16" to 5/8". It runs 40 minutes cordless, is waterproof, and costs about $51 (sold by Innovation IQ).

Step 4 — Feel for Missed Spots

Run your palm against the grain all over your head. Any patch that feels longer than the rest gets another pass from a few directions. Check the crown, where hair grows in a swirl, and behind the ears.

Step 5 — Neckline and Around the Ears

Decide how the cut should end at the neck. A tapered neckline, where the hair gets gradually shorter toward the bottom, grows out most gracefully. A squared-off, blocked neckline looks sharper but needs touching up more often.

For a taper, use a shorter guard on the bottom inch, or open and close the taper lever as you go to blend. Then clean the hair below the line with the clipper and no guard, or with a trimmer. Do the same around the ears.

Finish by brushing the cut hair off your neck and shoulders. The Diane neck duster has soft 5" nylon bristles and a stand-up base, for about $9 (sold by Fromm International).

How Often to Re-Buzz

Hair grows roughly half an inch a month. A #2 buzz (1/4") doubles in length in about two weeks, so most men re-buzz every one to three weeks depending on the guard.

Common Mistakes

• Going straight to a #1. Start longer; you can always go shorter.
• A guard that pops off mid-pass. Check it clicks in place before every section.
• Cutting with the grain on top. It leaves the hair longer and patchy.
• Skipping the mirror check at the back. Five extra seconds avoids a week of a visible patch.
• Dry, dirty blades. Brush them out after each cut and oil them as the manual says.

FAQ

What guard number is a buzz cut?

Most buzz cuts use a #1 to #4 guard. On Wahl's standard guards, a #1 is 1/8", a #2 is 1/4", a #3 is 3/8" and a #4 is 1/2".

How do I cut the back of my own head?

Push the clipper upward from the nape in overlapping strips, and check your work by holding a hand mirror while standing with your back to the bathroom mirror.

Is a cordless or corded clipper better for a buzz cut?

Either works. Cordless is easier to move around your own head; a corded clipper never runs out of battery mid-cut.

How long does a buzz cut last?

Hair grows about half an inch a month, so a short buzz looks noticeably longer after one to three weeks.

Comparing clippers? See our best hair clippers for men guide. Going all the way to skin? See our best head shaver guide.

Sources: Wahl's 1–8 cutting guide set