Green Bay is ridiculous...need a haircut, you have to schedule.

[John Schmidt]

Orlando metro area is a lot bigger than Green Bay and I could get a walk-in anywhere any day of the week. I had my favorite person that I used most of the time but never had to schedule a week or more ahead of time. But this place...you'd think it was Rodeo Drive the way they operate. Told my daughter I don't look good in ribbons so maybe I should just let my hair grow long and get my ears pierced for some diamond studs. But then that would probably require me to get a pink Caddy convertible...among other things. I guess I should be thankful I still have a full head of hair, although I've noticed I'm getting a bit taller. Sounds better than saying your hair is getting thin in places...but then who likes fat hair? 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I’d be tickled pink with any hair. (But I don’t want the Cadillac)

[..]

Have to do the same here.

Doug the barber says he likes it.

[Patrick]

When this kung flu hit the barber shops closed for awhile. In Florida I would see my barber out wondering around and he would sneak me in. Once back In NYS I walked right into my normal barber and sat down. Thought I hit the jackpot as she had only one person and he was in the chair. She politely told me I had to sign the schedule sheet and call, wait outside until she called to allow me in.
I went home pulled out the dog's shears and have been giving myself a weekly shear saving myself a twenty every every couple weeks.

[Skinhead]

As the head of meat can attest, our haircuts only cost us razor blades.

[Serk]

I really need to work up how much money I've saved, since my last hair cut was in 1997...

[The emperor has no clothes]

As the head of meat can attest, our haircuts only cost us razor blades.

And no reservations 

[J.Mencalice]

Nearby we have a small technical college that includes a program for cosmetology and barbering.  The haircuts are supervised by the instructors and I've always received a decent gentleman's haircut for a half dozen times the I've gone there....especially on "Free Haircut Fridays".   Tip the kid well and they give you the full treatment, including a bit of witch hazel on the neck after shaving it clean.  They'll trim the caterpillars over the eyes that seem to have taken on a life of their own in these past few years.

So, maybe you can check and see if a similar tech school or community college program is nearby to your home that is a bit more relaxed in scheduling?

[Skinhead]

Yeah cosmetology schools are great and very affordable place to get a cut.  Fortunately, I helped a friend of my son Eric remodel and open his shop which has repeatedly been voted best in Metro Detroit.  In fact, I'm heading there tonight to get my beard trimmed.  He always gives me the family discount, even though I try to pay him, he refuses to accept it.  Eric was actually cutting hair there when he met the guy that gave him his break and started his stunt career.

[John Schmidt]

As the head of meat can attest, our haircuts only cost us razor blades.

Yeah Skin, I know all about you and Meathead. You guys only have to wash your face from the chin back to the base of your necks. 

[cookiedough]

been cutting my own hair since 1990 or so.  Have a remington (gone thru 3 of them in 30 years) with vacuum catcher for loose clippings only use clip on attachments being 3/4 inch and 2 that are tapered to go around the ears and in back use a hand held mirror to get the back fairly even, close enough for me. 

Takes me 10-15 minutes easy peezzy.   figure 12-15 buck savings every 2 months is close to 3 grand saved since 1990, enough to buy another Valk, well almost....

during pandemic when wife's cost cutters was closed down,  I had to cut her hair 2x's myself and did a pretty good job using 1 inch attachment was not layered as much as she wanted it, but free cutting by hand vs. a clip on attachment I would have surely messed it up big time.  I actually used 1 inch on top and 3/4 inch on sides for her to layer it somewhat halfway decent.

if you go to cost cutters or other national chain haircutting places,  all you have to do is signup on listing online thru your phone, pick a time, and 9 times out of 10 when you get there you are on their waiting list already so most of the time you get seated for haircut within few minutes.  Once you sign up online for your timeslot,  their website tells you what the waiting time is so say 30 minutes just show up at 25 minutes and you will be next to get a haircut.  Has worked out well for my wife every single time.

[Jess from VA]

If you're willing to buzz it down to an eighth inch, any Walmart clippers will do for self haircuts.  The back you do by feel, and can take a few looks in the double mirrors to get even.

Trying to cut your hair longer (and evenly) gets more difficult (than it's worth).

No barber in 15 years.  I cut it about once a quarter (year).

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wahl-Deluxe-Chrome-Pro-Complete-Men-s-Haircut-Trimmer-Kit-with-Storage-Case-Black/315475254

[Thunderbolt]

John we got back a couple of weeks ago from a 6 week trip to Colorado.  I kept looking for an old style Barber shop and thought I had found one in Cortez Co. but he had lights on but was not there.  When I got back I told my local barber the story and he said go to town and start looking within a few blocks of the courthouse.  Lawyers and judges always want to look good for court.

[cookiedough]

If you're willing to buzz it down to an eighth inch, any Walmart clippers will do for self haircuts.  The back you do by feel, and can take a few looks in the double mirrors to get even.

Trying to cut your hair longer (and evenly) gets more difficult (than it's worth).

No barber in 15 years.  I cut it about once a quarter (year).

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wahl-Deluxe-Chrome-Pro-Complete-Men-s-Haircut-Trimmer-Kit-with-Storage-Case-Black/315475254

agree, if had longer hair say much over 2 inches tall would be very difficult to do it with a shaving unit.  That has never been an issue for me HATE long hair once my back starts curling or much onto my ears time to shave it off.    I sweat way too much to have long girly hair as well as saving big bucks on shampoo only needing a quarter sized amount is all.

[0leman]

I have been keeping m hair short since '69 when I started working in the woods.  Got caught in a early wildfire with long hair and lost a bunch of it. It was  a lot shorter when I got home.

Wife used to use electric hair cutter to keep it short.  Then she  had a problem with a broken collarbone.  Found a beard trimmer works great at cutting hair down to 1/8" or less.   Now once a week, just zip it over the head and done. 

Do use the trimmer on the chin and mustache that have graced my face for a number of decades. 

Haven't paid for a professional hair cut since '69.

[John Schmidt]

No way will I cut mine down to a buzz cut, if you saw my photo taken in boot camp you'd agree. I did cut it short once following football season in HS, but both my mom and a current love interest asked me to let it grow out again. Dad used to tease me about my ears, telling me a pair of roller skates and a stiff wind would be all I needed to get where I'm going. At my age I'm not into a big styling cut, just want it trimmed without being scalped and look decent. I still have a fair amount of curl and wave in it and if not cut right it will look like I stuck my finger in a light socket. Guess I'll just wait until after the 4th weekend, maybe things will lighten up a bit.

Terry, your story about empty barbershops reminded me of the small town(500 population) we lived in following the war. Had only one barbershop that was always open except for Wed. afternoon. Was in downtown & he lived in back with his wife, but although the door was open on Wed. afternoons, he wasn't there...was down the street getting his "medicine" as he called it. Being a little kid of 9 or 10, I didn't totally understand the meaning of "medicine" as it applied to him. After getting his medicine, nobody was willing to have him cut their hair. Was kind of a town joke.