Okay, so here’s the situation: I’m the skills trainer at a residential facility for clients who are dual diagnosis (SPMI/substance abuse). One client really, REALLY!! needs a haircut. He’s Hispanic/African-American and wants clippers to be used, but the hair situation is beyond out of control and we can’t just straight up use clippers without some kind of preparatory strategy (He said that a barber told him that as well.) There is no, NOOOOOOO budget for barbers (our food budget just got cut to a dollar a day!), and yes, you’d think that somebody would donate a haircut, but there’s nobody who I’ve been able to find at the present time.
So it’s me and the clippers. The question is, what’s the best way to cut his hair so that it looks halfway presentable? Doesn’t it have to be cut in… some way… with scissors or something… first? How? All advice appreciated…
My first thought would be to at least try to see if there’s a beauty school or something that might need a free head to practice on; lord knows that sounds like a challenge! Otherwise, all I’ve got is that yes, it’s like a beard in that you want to trim it down with scissors before using anything else. And good luck; it sounds like you’re doing great works, and I hope someone hears your plight and can help!
If he has African hair and it’s matted, honestly, why not just shave his head? A man shaved bald is acceptable and presentable, and if all you have is clippers, that’s the safest way to get down to skin when there are mats anyway. If the mats are tight, you really do have to use clippers to remove them safely.
If there are no mats, then I don’t really have much suggestion besides still maybe just shaving him down will look the best if all you’ve got is clippers and no hair cutting skill. A school might be your next best bet. If he’s cool with maybe winding up completely shaved if you’re stuck doing the job, maybe that will at least alleviate your anxiety, in that whatever you try at least you can still fix it by cutting it all the way down.
If you can’t get the stylists to work for free, maybe you can get people to donate? If I wasn’t in my current financial condition, I’d pay for it right now. Surely I’m not the only person who thinks this way.
BTw, when you ask, are you telling them the whole story? I’m not sure which is the best strategy, as being a poor guy off the street might seem like useless charity, but being a drug addict or mental patient might mean prejudice or even fear.
I would suggest calling the local cosmetology school and explaining the situation. You may find yourself with half a dozen volunteers coming to the floor for a day of cutting not just his, but other residents’ hair. Maybe even the staff, if they’re willing! Practice for the students, good will in the community, and appropriate haircuts for everyone.
Just be sure you educate them on the need to keep their scissors safe from any potentially violent or self-harming residents, of course.
If that’s too unsafe or disallowed by your facility, just cut off as much of it as you can with scissors and then use the clippers. You don’t have to worry about being perfect with the scissors, as long as you cut slightly longer than the clippers are set at. The clippers will even it out.