So yesterday I grabbed my cheap clippers from the shelf thinking, “How hard can this fade undercut thing be?” Seen it everywhere, looks sharp, figured I’d give it a shot instead of paying the barber. Spoiler: it’s trickier than those YouTube guys make it look.
The Gear Grab:
First, rummaged through my bathroom drawer. Found:
- My trusty old clippers (a bit noisy)
- Number 2 guard (hoping it still worked)
- Number 4 guard (dusted it off)
- No-number guard (for the bare skin bit… risky)
- Scissors (kitchen ones, because why not?)
- A comb missing a few teeth
- Handheld mirror (super wobbly)
The Blind Leap:
Stood in front of the big mirror. Took the clippers with the number 4 guard. Starting at the back, near the neckline. Pushed that thing upwards, buzzing away. Felt okay. Instant regret hit when I switched to the number 2 guard higher up. The transition? More like a harsh cliff. Looked like two different heads of hair crashed into each other.
Tried to blend it, going over the same spot again and again. Hair was sticking everywhere. Neck felt cold suddenly. Used the no-number guard right at the bottom, super carefully. One slip and goodbye neck hair. RIP a small patch.
Switched to the scissors for the top. Held up sections, snipped randomly aiming for that longer, messy look I wanted. Chunks of hair hit the sink. Looked super uneven. Kept trimming, thinking, “Just a little more…”. You know how that goes.
The Wonky Fix:
Tried using the comb and the small mirror to see the back. Dropped the mirror twice. Ended up just feeling the back with my hands. Felt bumpy and rough. Went back with the number 2 guard, buzzing little bits trying to smooth it out. Pretty sure I made it even worse in one spot.
The Final Reveal:
Brushed all the loose hair off. Splashed some water on it. Stared hard in the mirror.
Honestly? The back looks alright from a distance. The sides fade kinda works, except that one dent near my ear. The top? It’s… messy. Intentionally messy? Maybe? Definitely feels WAY shorter than I planned. That cold neck breeze? Constant reminder.
My partner walked in. Paused. Said, “Wow… that’s… bold.” High praise.
My Takeaway?
Getting a clean fade undercut yourself with budget gear and a shaky hand? It’s more about surviving than mastering. It’s definitely faster than booking an appointment. Looks kinda cool and rough. Would I do it again? Probably. Might buy a better guard set first. Or just wear a hat tomorrow.
