Done about 50 self cuts over the last five years, 25 of those being in the last 18 months. I haven’t been to a barber in 12 months. This post is about two things.

1). Does anyone see any areas that I should have spent more time on or could be improved? (I think there’s a little extra hair under the right occipital bone - could have cut against the grain with the trimmer to shorten that.)

2). I think there’s a certain amount of luck involved in the positive results you generate while learning a new skill. As your skills genuinely improve, the range of your results become smaller and moves closer to overlapping with positive results on a regular basis. Would you guys agree? 

My method is: I buzz the top with a 4 or 5 guard, create my zero line with a trimmer above the ear, then gradually fade a one and a half down to a zero gap closed. I use a three way mirror and external LED light on a flexi-arm. I like a short cut and style, so these pics show my preferred style. 

This cut was definitely one of my best. Start to finish in ~50 min, which is quick for me. Over the last couple cuts, I haven’t been able to replicate this method completely, with one recent cut being significantly worse than this. 

Would love to hear some feedback, but I know it’s pretty decent and I don’t see evidence of many guidelines. I knows my skill is improving but since I haven’t immediately replicated this, I have to chalk this one up to luck. 

Beginners/intermediates: sometimes you’re just going to get lucky.