Dear Rich,
Sorry to bother you - I saw your Robocut endorsement and bought one (but haven't used it yet as I don't have a hoover here in student rooms). As you're a hair stylist I was wondering if you could just give me some advice on what lengths to set the thing at for various parts of the head. I'm a guy with hair which is about 10cm in the front because I've trimmed it myself to prevent it covering my eyes and 15-20cm elsewhere and I just want to cut it back a bit all round, but I really dislike my hair being too short, so maybe to 10-12cm??. What sort of lengths would you recommend? and is it easy to use the tapering thingy to make transitions between hair of different lengths. I have some of the extension thingies, so I'm fine on the equipment side of things (I think!, well, apart from the vacuum). Any help you can give is much appreciated. I know I should have probably addressed this to the guys who make it, but I trust your judgement more (lol, I'm not sure why... maybe 'cos we're both Brits). Apologies again for troubling you,
Best wishes, Baz

Hey Baz!
Ah, the old "trimming your own hair" idea! I remember those dark days well! *Shudder* Robocut will solve all that for you! I SWEAR by mine, and have not been to a barber since I got it 3 years ago! What's the point? Anyway, I know the thing looks way too weird and small to work when you first see it! But it does work great. The way the the attachments telescope to any desired length is its great innovation. The first thing to remember a great haircut is about overall consistency of cut, and not especially the length -- this is what Robocut does perfectly! (I too remember trying to cut my own hair with scissors and never quite getting it right, then cutting a little bit more off; and how lengths never matched up or blended! Horrific! With Robocut this sort of "dolls head" effect is not possible.) >From experience, the best way to use it is this: set the dial to a few millimetres shorter than the longest lengths on your head -- this way you will get a feel for it and can't go wrong! Cut all over (you know when its cutting because you will feel a slight pull and grind.) Then, attaching the angled adapter you can gradually shorten and shape the hair as to any style you usually choose! (Obviously, the tapering tool is not needed if your hair is the one overall length.) Keep repeating the above process until you are happy with length and shape! (With Robocut, I liken it to working a piece of clay, actually! With scissors, this overall "working clay" concept is NOT possible!) Okay, so I am sounding a bit like the manual, when what you want is personal experience! Well, don't worry, you will get used to it soon. And the one thing I want to STRESS again is that you CANNOT go wrong. the Robocut will not permit uneven cuts unless you change adapter lengths, and even then, it may be uneven but is still UNIFORM. So be as bold as you like. Try to use the machine in the same way and as firmly as you would a hairbrush -- no need to be timid. This way the hair remains even, consistent -- not to mention healthy -- and you get a much better overall view of how the styling is going. (Unlike a barber who cuts hair wet, you use Robocut on dry hair so there isn't that awful "waiting to see the results" limbo you get after walking out of the barbers!) So try it -- you'll be surprised. The other added benefit of Robocut is whatever type of blades it uses they do not leave you with that "just cut by the barber" look -- you know the one, where you look like a shorn convict for a week? I personally use mine about every third day or so, and it takes me around ten minutes maximum. I don't even think about it. (I have one of these complex "modern" styles whereby there ARE different lengths -- by choice -- at the back sides and top, gelled up and out in kind of slightly messed up, spikey strands. But see my hairstyle is proof of why Robocut is so great -- my hairstyle DOES require different lengths but these lengths must be consistent and work together with such a style otherwise my hair would look a complete mess! No hairdresser I have ever found could do that. And certainly not EVERY single time! Most of them don't even want to know and just cut it any way they like. Annoying, huh?) Good luck with it! It is a liberating experience, I can tell you, as some one with a lot of thick, wavy hair that needed taming -- NOT hacking off! I am sure you will be fine! Let me know if you need any more advice as I am happy to give it!
Kind regards,
Richard Manchester, UK