5.10.06
ST: SA 04 The New Clippers
The old clippers were dying-the motor was making some scratchy noises, but the real problem was that they simply didn't cut well. In heavy going the blades would jam and pull. So, I found a new pair. Actually, they are small animal clippers, but they are identical to people clippers except for being heavier duty and having replacement blades available. Peeled off the little label and no one will know. They take the plastic attachments and everything. These clippers are quieter than the old ones. They make a low hum and to that sound is added a hiss as they cut. If you set the blades to longer than the hair is, you just hear the quiet hum; the hiss tells you that you are cutting something. Unlike the old ones, they have adjustable cutting length, with the little lever on the side. The blades are marked 10-15-30, which I guess is the equivalent of the old #0 down to #000. I have loosened the screws and slid the bottom blade back so that they will cut as close as possible. In the shortest setting they cut very close, a little closer than the old #000 clippers .
Out of curiosity I clipped a patch, shaved off a few hairs, and measured them. The actual length of the stubble is about 1/32", maybe a tiny bit less. At the longest setting, they cut to about 3/32". It's noticably shorter than with my old 1/8" plastic attachment and a bit shorter than the "blending" attachment. With the attachments and the adjustments I now have lots of possibilities.
I had been using the blending attachment with the clippers at the closest setting on the back and sides. The top gots the 1/8" , blending to the 1/4" to about a 3/8"-1/2" brush in front. It was a pretty short brushcut, but I liked the look and ease of maintenence. The last time, the blending attachment fell off as I was using it, but fortunately I avoided any damage. I realized that the little clip was broken. Since the weather was warm I decided to go with the bare clippers in back, set to the longest setting, of course. There wasn't much difference, except for a slightly crisper feel.
Tonight I start the clippers up the back of my head, running them nearly to the crown as usual. A couple of passes and I check to see how the soft fuzz is giving way to the bristly feel. I get a shock as I find sandpaper instead of bristles. The lever was set for the shortest cut, rather than the longest! I'm just not used to these new-fangled clippers, yet. Well, the damage is done and no repair is possible. The rest of the back, and the sides too, I guess, have to go. I clip the back and sides all the way up. The bare clippers feel good as they vibrate their way through my hair. I find myself sliding them diagonally as I go up, in order to get the closest possible clip. Clipping with one hand, feeling with the other. The scalp on the back of my head feels strange now. There is no sensation of hair, but of roughness, of a sandpaper feel. I can move the skin about with my fingers. It feels like some sort of parchment with the rough bristles. If I press down and try to slide my hand, there is considerable resistance. When it does move,there is almost a sound -a hum or buzz- as my palm slides across the hair ends. The hairs are remarkably rigid when they are this short.
Now the top. With the sides so short, I figure the top will have to be shorter, too. I leave the attachment in the box and use the longest setting of the clippers. I start at the back and work my way forward a bit. I run them back along the sides of my head where it starts to curve onto the top. I like the feel of the short bristles. I clip a little farther forward.
I get out the 1/4" attachment and hold it for a moment. Then I decide: the attachment goes back in the box and the clippers run from front to back over my whole head. The top is noticably longer than the sides, but still is a stubble cut. When I run my hand over it, there is no softness, like there is with a 1/4" or even a 1/8" clip, but a bristly feeling. I still need to taper the top into the sides. I push the lever up a bit and attack the top at the back again. And all of the top. A crisper feel this time. It looks a little shorter, though there can't really be much difference. In the harsh light from overhead, my scalp shines through the hair, and the hair is now so short it looks like bristles. There's not much difference between the top and the sides, but there is still a step. I shove the lever almost to the top and clip the top of my head, at the back, to taper it down to the stubble. I have a little trouble blending it into the "longer" hair at the front, so the clippers work a bit farther forwards. Suddenly I pull them to the front and clip straight back over the top. About 5 or 6 passes and it's all stubble. I look at myself in the mirror. My head is shaved by anyone's standard but mine. I shove the lever right to the top and the last tiny hairs go the way of their fellows. The whole head now has the sandpaper feel. The bristles are gone as I look in the mirror. There is no hair long enough to catch the light. My scalp shines more, but is still covered with tiny hairs, really just dots-a hint of a light brown shadow. I run my fingers over it, enjoying the strange sensation. My head is shaved! Well, not really shaved, but clipped as close as clippers can clip it. To get closer, I would have to use a razor or my electric shaver. Which is sitting on the counter.
It comes to life and rubs across the back of my neck. The coarse sandpaper roughness vanishes quickly, replaced by smooth skin. It feels cool to the touch and almost completely smooth if I rub my fingers down, but the sandpaper is still there, extremely fine, and only when I rub fairly firmly, up against the way my hair grows. The shaver runs higher till the back of my head is bare. I shave the sides, around my ears, and higher, almost to the top. Then onto the top of my head, rubbing in expanding circles down, down to the front. The shadow vanishes and with it goes the transition between forehead and scalp. The look will take some getting used to.
Now I feel for any rough spots and finish off the last. My head is bare, shaved, bald, smooth and hairless at last. I feel every breath of air and the wonderful sensation of coolness. When I touch my head, I am repeatedly surprised at the feel. My mind knows I am shaved but my hands aren't used to it yet. I wonder if I may have regrets in the morning. It will take a week or two to grow back something like my usual buzz cut. Or perhaps I will stop and buy a razor to see what it will do for those last traces of roughness.
Out of curiosity I clipped a patch, shaved off a few hairs, and measured them. The actual length of the stubble is about 1/32", maybe a tiny bit less. At the longest setting, they cut to about 3/32". It's noticably shorter than with my old 1/8" plastic attachment and a bit shorter than the "blending" attachment. With the attachments and the adjustments I now have lots of possibilities.
I had been using the blending attachment with the clippers at the closest setting on the back and sides. The top gots the 1/8" , blending to the 1/4" to about a 3/8"-1/2" brush in front. It was a pretty short brushcut, but I liked the look and ease of maintenence. The last time, the blending attachment fell off as I was using it, but fortunately I avoided any damage. I realized that the little clip was broken. Since the weather was warm I decided to go with the bare clippers in back, set to the longest setting, of course. There wasn't much difference, except for a slightly crisper feel.
Tonight I start the clippers up the back of my head, running them nearly to the crown as usual. A couple of passes and I check to see how the soft fuzz is giving way to the bristly feel. I get a shock as I find sandpaper instead of bristles. The lever was set for the shortest cut, rather than the longest! I'm just not used to these new-fangled clippers, yet. Well, the damage is done and no repair is possible. The rest of the back, and the sides too, I guess, have to go. I clip the back and sides all the way up. The bare clippers feel good as they vibrate their way through my hair. I find myself sliding them diagonally as I go up, in order to get the closest possible clip. Clipping with one hand, feeling with the other. The scalp on the back of my head feels strange now. There is no sensation of hair, but of roughness, of a sandpaper feel. I can move the skin about with my fingers. It feels like some sort of parchment with the rough bristles. If I press down and try to slide my hand, there is considerable resistance. When it does move,there is almost a sound -a hum or buzz- as my palm slides across the hair ends. The hairs are remarkably rigid when they are this short.
Now the top. With the sides so short, I figure the top will have to be shorter, too. I leave the attachment in the box and use the longest setting of the clippers. I start at the back and work my way forward a bit. I run them back along the sides of my head where it starts to curve onto the top. I like the feel of the short bristles. I clip a little farther forward.
I get out the 1/4" attachment and hold it for a moment. Then I decide: the attachment goes back in the box and the clippers run from front to back over my whole head. The top is noticably longer than the sides, but still is a stubble cut. When I run my hand over it, there is no softness, like there is with a 1/4" or even a 1/8" clip, but a bristly feeling. I still need to taper the top into the sides. I push the lever up a bit and attack the top at the back again. And all of the top. A crisper feel this time. It looks a little shorter, though there can't really be much difference. In the harsh light from overhead, my scalp shines through the hair, and the hair is now so short it looks like bristles. There's not much difference between the top and the sides, but there is still a step. I shove the lever almost to the top and clip the top of my head, at the back, to taper it down to the stubble. I have a little trouble blending it into the "longer" hair at the front, so the clippers work a bit farther forwards. Suddenly I pull them to the front and clip straight back over the top. About 5 or 6 passes and it's all stubble. I look at myself in the mirror. My head is shaved by anyone's standard but mine. I shove the lever right to the top and the last tiny hairs go the way of their fellows. The whole head now has the sandpaper feel. The bristles are gone as I look in the mirror. There is no hair long enough to catch the light. My scalp shines more, but is still covered with tiny hairs, really just dots-a hint of a light brown shadow. I run my fingers over it, enjoying the strange sensation. My head is shaved! Well, not really shaved, but clipped as close as clippers can clip it. To get closer, I would have to use a razor or my electric shaver. Which is sitting on the counter.
It comes to life and rubs across the back of my neck. The coarse sandpaper roughness vanishes quickly, replaced by smooth skin. It feels cool to the touch and almost completely smooth if I rub my fingers down, but the sandpaper is still there, extremely fine, and only when I rub fairly firmly, up against the way my hair grows. The shaver runs higher till the back of my head is bare. I shave the sides, around my ears, and higher, almost to the top. Then onto the top of my head, rubbing in expanding circles down, down to the front. The shadow vanishes and with it goes the transition between forehead and scalp. The look will take some getting used to.
Now I feel for any rough spots and finish off the last. My head is bare, shaved, bald, smooth and hairless at last. I feel every breath of air and the wonderful sensation of coolness. When I touch my head, I am repeatedly surprised at the feel. My mind knows I am shaved but my hands aren't used to it yet. I wonder if I may have regrets in the morning. It will take a week or two to grow back something like my usual buzz cut. Or perhaps I will stop and buy a razor to see what it will do for those last traces of roughness.
Labels: SA
# posted @ 12:04 pm 
