“They say you never really know a person until you give them a bad haircut…so it’s my job to ensure you NEVER really get to know each other! Consider this my gift to you.”

Kathy Burke, Co-Founder, Military Haircut Academy

Opening Remarks

Welcome to the Military Haircut Academy! A few things to go over before you start:

  • Remember to take a “before” photo : )
  • Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, grooming supplies are selling out. We have created 2 different tutorials below; On the left, with Jeremy, is a higher quality, more precise cut, requiring more tools. On the right with Kathy, is the pandemic haircut, it still meets regulation, but isn’t as precise & requires only the bare minimum of tools.
  • Please click any supplies link we have listed when purchasing your supplies as we earn a commission & it will keep us in business.
  • Would you like a more personalized learning experience? Consider booking a private virtual coach who will work with you one on one, in your preferred language, at your pace, teaching you how to cut the exact style your partner desires.

Step 1. Set Up Your Supplies

After Photo
For a precision, high quality/smoother hair cut, follow Jeremy’s videos on the left.
After Photo
If you have limited tools, follow Kathy videos on the right. This is a lesser quality/rougher hair cut, but meets regulation & may be the only option you may have based on tools available to you during the Covid pandemic.

Jeremy’s videos use the most tools & produces the best results. Jeremy’s list of supplies & links to buy:

  • Clippers (with a retractable lever on the side) Having a lever on your clippers is by far the best set-up you can have to achieve a seamless fade.
  • Your clippers case should have included clipper attachments, oil & a tiny brush. You will need the following attachment: #1/2 (1/16″ or 15mm) & the longer attachments if you plan to cut the top with clippers instead of scissors.
  • A beard trimmer is a must have tool to create this sharp looking military haircut, it’s also convenient to have for grooming other hairy areas…like the beard.
  • An Electric razor* is an essential tool that allows you to trim all the way down to the skin. This tool is what makes the haircut look fresh & new.

The major difference between Kathy & Jeremy’s videos are that Kathy does not have a lever on her clippers & she does not use a beard trimmer. Kathy’s list of supplies & links to buy:

  • Clippers (without lever) If you are buying this, I recommend instead purchasing the clippers on Jeremy’s list, that have the lever. It will give you the best fade. If you want to use the clippers you already have at home & they don’t have a lever – then Kathy made her videos for you!!
  • Your clippers case should have included clipper attachments, oil & a tiny brush. You will need the following attachments: 3mm (1/8″), 6mm (1/4″), 9mm (3/8″), 12mm (1/2″), & the longer attachments if you plan to cut the top with clippers instead of scissors.
  • Ladies, you might be planning to use the Electric razor you already have for your legs, but don’t do it. Leg hair is coarse & wears down the metal blades quickly. An Electric razor used on a woman’s legs should not be used on a man’s finer neck hairs.

The following supplies ARE required to follow both Jeremy & Kathy’s videos:

  • You definitely want to have sharp, brand new, or new-like scissors to get a clean cut. It might be tempting, but don’t pull the scissors out of your utility drawer that are used for cutting up miscellaneous things around the house. Yes, at your next virtual happy hour everyone will notice!
  • No at home haircut would be possible without a Comb. This comb is reasonably priced & comes with a protective case like all comb’s should.
  • If you only have pens or permanent markers, don’t pretend you didn’t notice before you draw all over his head. It’s worth the purchase to buy Washable Markers this will create a must needed visual to give him the length cut he asked for.
  • Not all rulers are created equal. This short 6″, see through Ruler will more easily fit into your supplies case & because it’s see through it won’t obscure your view, of his freshly cut locks while measuring.

For both Jeremy & Kathy’s video tutorials, the following are not required, but could make your experience more comfortable & fun:

  • Relax his nerves with this comfy barber Stool he can really sink into. It also has an adjustable lever, so for the 1st time ever, you can make him shorter than you.
  • Treat your man to the pampering experience by making a neck brush part of your routine to dust off all those freshly cut hairs before they start to get itchy.
  • You haven’t fully lived until you have been misted by a proper barber spray bottle. This bottle is unlike any spray bottle you have ever sprayed. It has such a fine mist, the water particles are so small, you can barely see it in the air. Truly remarkable. Spraying the top of the hair with water makes it easier to cut those unruly hairs right off.
  • Traditional Gown or Kathy’s favorite the innovative Easy Clean-up Gown that can also double as a Halloween costume “Haircut in Space.”
  • Now that you are becoming fully accessorized for your new hobby, you will want a place to keep all of your haircutting tools neatly organized in one place. There is the proper barber’s bag for $54.99 or you can re-purpose a tool bag. Here is a girly tool bag for her for $24.99 or a masculine tool bag for him for $19.99 (if you don’t tell, I won’t).
  • If your clippers need to be plugged in, and you’re a parent, then an Extension Cord* will give you the mobility you need to hide from your kids so you can have an interruption-free haircutting experience both indoors & out. This Extension Cord* has an ingenious design with 3 outlets at the end so you can have your clippers + any other favorite electronics plugged in at the same time!! (If you are following Jeremy’s video, you may need to have both your clippers & beard trimmer plugged in).
  • Jeremy’s favorite After Shave is a must have item. You will rub it in around the base of his hairline, where you shaved to the skin. It soothes and moisturizes, eliminating razor burn for a silky smooth finish. It’s application is a great addition to your haircutting routine & will leave him looking forward to the next trim.
  • And no couples haircutting experience would be complete without pajamas to make her look like the haircutting professional she wants to be & stylish sleep lounge shorts to maintain his comfort while he sits patiently as you finish cutting his hair.

*On 1/29 the product is in stock but running low. We are online daily updating the recommended products list by what’s in stock & available to ship to your home the soonest. If the item you want is out of stock revisit our website later to see what we recommend next. We are working hard for you to make sure you have tools that will set you up for hair cutting success!!

Step 2. Draw The Fade Line

For Both Video Tutorials: Communicate with your partner. Ask him these 2 questions:

  • “Where would you like your fade line to be?”
  • “Would you like the fade line to dip downward slightly with the contour of the back of your head or would you like it to be a straight line from the left side to the right side without a dip?”

Use your washable marker to draw the line they have described. When he sees the line you drew, this is his chance to make adjustments.

Step 3. Holding The Clippers

For Both Video Tutorials: Hold the clippers in your strong hand (i.e. if you are right handed, hold them in your right hand). With blades facing upward. Get a firm grip on it. Hold it with confidence.

Step 4. Cut Up To The Fade Line

Push the lever back (away from you).

For Both Video Tutorials: No clipper attachments are needed for this cut. Shave from below the hair line all the way up to the fade line that you drew with the marker. Shave in the opposite direction the the hair grows.

Tips For Success:

  • Place your non dominant hand on the top of his head to give you stability.
  • Move the clippers in an upward motion; use a smooth slow flick of your wrist to bring the clippers back towards you upon reaching the marked fade line.
  • Using the tiny brush that comes with the clippers, brush the hair off the clippers after this step & in between each time you later switch out the attachments.

Step 5. Shave To The Skin

Jeremy’s Instructions: Using the electric razor, shave from below his hairline all the way up, stopping 1 inch before the fade line (marker line). IMPORTANT: Stop 1 inch below the fade line.

Kathy’s Instructions: Using the electric razor, shave only the bottom 1/2″ of his hair line. Above the ear it’s closer to 1/4″.

Step 6. Begin Fading The Lines

Jeremy’s Instructions: Use the beard trimmer to begin to fade the 1 inch gap in hair between where the electric razor stopped & where the marker line is. You will be doing several fades in this 1 inch space. IMPORTANT: For this step only shave upward 1/4″ from where you stopped with the electric razor. In other words, stop shaving at 3/4″ below the fade line. The motion when using the beard trimmer is a smaller flicking motion. Now is a good time to also shave any neck hair that was missed previously.

Kathy’s Instructions: Using the clippers & the attachment 3mm or 1/8″, cut starting at the marked fade line cutting upward 1/4″.

Step 7. Fading Continued

Jeremy’s Instructions: Using the clippers (no attachment needed yet) pull the lever towards you. Cut a little more than 1/4″ higher from where you just left off. In other words, stop cutting a little less than 1/2″ below the marker line.

Kathy’s Instructions: Using the clippers pop on the 6mm or 1/4″ attachment. Starting 1/4″ above the marked fade line cut another 1/4″. In other words, when you are done you will have 1/2″ above the marked fade line cut.

Step 8. More Fading

Jeremy’s Instructions: We will be using the clipper attachments in order from shortest to longest. Jeremy is using the color green attachment also referred to as the #1/2, 1/16″ or 15mm. Continue to have the lever Pulled towards you. Starting off where you just left off, you will cut the hair a little more than 1/4″ higher, bringing us right up to the marker line. You are now fully faded to the maker line!

Kathy’s Instructions: Using the clippers pop on the 9mm or 3/8″ attachment. We will now cut another 1/4″ from where we left off. In other words, when you are done you will have 3/4″ above the marked fade line cut.

Step 9. Still Fading

Jeremy’s Instructions: Keep the green (also called #1/2, 1/6″ or 15mm) attachment on. Push the lever away from you. Cut from the marker line to 1/4″ of an inch above it.

Kathy’s Instructions: Pop on the 12mm or 1/2″ attachment & cut 1/4″ higher from where you left off. In other words, when you are done you will have about 1″ above the marked fade line cut.

Step 10. Done Fading?

Jeremy’s Instructions: When you attach the next longer attachment ensure to 1st pull the lever towards you fading ¼ inch then pushing the lever away from you fading ¼ inch higher until the hair is faded to the desired regulation.

Kathy’s video gives a forward facing visual of how to tell if you are done fading.

For Both Videos: Depending on where your fade line was placed (low, medium or high) & how tall your man’s head is you could either be done fading or not. If you need to continue fading then, continue with the pattern of increasing the guard length depending on how long the hair is.

Step 11. Option #1: Trim The Top With Clippers

For Both Videos: Ask him, “Do you prefer clippers or scissors on top?” If he replies, “clippers” then let’s proceed! IMPORTANT: Typically, the longest attachment is the #8 also referred to as 1″ or 25mm. This means that the longest his hair will be on top after using this attachment on the clippers is 1″. If he thinks that is too short then you will need to use scissors.

Directions: Position the clippers at the top of his forehead. Then, slowly glide them back toward the crown of his head. Stop shaving when you reach the back of his crown. Important Warning: Never shave from the back of his head to his forehead.

Step 11. Option #2: Trim The Top With Scissors/Fix The Fade

Jeremy’s Instructions: Using scissors & a comb there are 3 directions that you will comb his hair to see what needs to be trimmed: 1. Comb the hair forward & cut the bangs. 2-3. From each side of him come his hair straight up & cut the hairs to make them an even length with each other. When hair grows, it grows unevenly. You will see this & know what to cut.

Kathy’s Instructions: At the end of your cut, together with your partner, take a look in the mirror to see if any adjustments are needed. Jim told Kathy that the 1st fade line (the marked line) wasn’t faded enough. To fix this Kathy went back to “Step #6 Begin Fading the Lines”. She put the attachment 3mm, 1/8″ back onto the clippers & this time she pressed harder against Jim’s head, which put the blades closer to the hair root, which created a shorter cut & therefore a better blended fade line.

Step 12. Clipper Cleaning & Maintenance

Most clippers include a little tiny brush & a small bottle of oil. Every time you change your clipper attachment use your tiny brush to brush off the hairs. At the end of your hair cut, when you are completely done you can run a line of oil over the metal teeth & use your comb to distribute it (Do not apply oil to your electric razor, only your clippers & beard trimmer). Note: The type of electric razor that Jeremy uses in Step #5 collects all the little hairs it cuts, inside. You will need to pop off the top & dump it out, just like he does in his video. And that’s it!

Concluding Remarks

A few things to go over at the end:

  • Did your haircut not turn out how you had hoped? DON’T SHAVE YOUR HEAD!! Book a private virtual coach who will work with you one on one, in your preferred language, at your pace, teaching you how to fix your cut making it the best it can be.
  • Snap your after photo & Share Your Experience with us : )
  • We are smart & safe for cutting our hair at home!!!

Important Disclaimer For Those Aspiring to Learn How To Cut Hair: To become a licensed hair stylist costs thousands of dollars & takes a substantial amount of time. The Military Haircut Academy is NOT intended to license you. We will teach you only the skills needed to cut your partners hair exactly the way he/she likes it or to cut your own hair exactly the way you like it.