REVIEW – In addition to working from home, COVID has caused many of us to take matters into our own hands (literally) when it comes to getting our hair cut. I don’t enjoy getting my hair cut because I’m cheap and don’t like paying $20 + tip more for a haircut that takes less than 15 minutes to do. My hair grows incredibly slowly thanks to chemo 10 years ago, so I typically get my hair cut every two months and in between those “real” cuts, I have Jeanne trim it. My 2020 hair situation was ok until last fall when I badly needed a full haircut but didn’t want to go to a salon. So I asked Jeanne if she would give me a full haircut instead of just trimming around my ears and bangs. She reluctantly agreed but halfway through the cut, she whacked off too much in one area, scared, and refused to continue. I ended up getting an “emergency” appointment to fix the cut but told myself I’d find a solution and I have with the AirCut DIY Portable Haircutting System.
What is it?
AirCut is a DIY haircutting gadget that looks like a traditional hairdryer but instead of blowing your hair dry, it has a vacuum that pulls the hair into blades that cut it. That may sound terrifying, but it’s not… keep reading.
What’s in the box?
- AirCut
- Power adapter and cord
- 9 Stylers
- Lubricating oil
- Cleaning brush
- Owners manual
Design and features
The AirCut device is easy to mistake for a regular hairdryer. It is made of blue plastic with a rubber grip and a sliding power switch.
The switch is OFF in the center and can be slid up or down to choose from cutting mode or vacuum only mode.
The end where a hairdryer would typically blow out air has an oval with 8 pairs of blades or “scissors”. But instead of blowing out hair, the AirCut uses suction to pull the hair into the blades to cut it.
The portable haircutting system comes with 9 stylers. The stylers are clear plastic tubes that snap into the end of the AirCut to allow you to choose the length that you want your hair cut. The longest one is 4 inches and the shortest one is .5 inches.
Using the AirCut
Plug in the power cord, choose the styler tube that you want to use, and slide the Aircut’s switch to cut. Then move the Aircut’s styler tube around your scalp to cut your hair. Your hair is drawn up into the tube and the blades snip off the ends. I was a little anxious the first time I used it because I was worried that it would snag or pull my hair but it didn’t do either of those things. It’s completely painless and other than the noise of the AirCut, you won’t notice anything is happening.
As you can see, I like to keep my hair short, so to start out, I picked the styler tube that was about a half-inch shorter than the current length of my hair and I used that one on the top of my head. Then I used a shorter one around the back and upper sides of my head.
I finished up around my ears and back of my neck with the tapered styler tube.
Clean up is as easy as removing a plastic door on the bottom of the unit, dumping the hair clippings into the trash, pulling out the nylon filter, washing it, and reassembling.
Results
The resulting cut looked just like the way it looks after coming home from a regular salon cut except that I didn’t have to leave my house, didn’t have to wear a mask, and didn’t get hair all over my clothes.
I think the AirCut gives the perfect layered do-it-yourself haircut.
What I like
- Easy to use and kind of fun!
- I never have to go to a salon again
- No hair clippings all over the place
What I’d change
- I can’t think of anything
Final thoughts
I had originally wanted to buy a Flowbee, but at the time it was sold out everywhere (and still is) and it was incredibly expensive on eBay. So I did a little Googling and discovered the AirCut. I’m really glad that I did because I think the AirCut is a better solution. Flowbee requires that you connect it to your existing vacuum cleaner, but the AirCut is a complete no mess haircutting system and one that you can take with you when you travel. I’ve used the AirCt a few times now and I’m extremely happy with my purchase and after a couple more cuts with it, I’ll be saving money by not going back to the salon!
Update 1/29/23
I’m still using the AirCut every few weeks and have not been to a salon since the Fall of 2020. I absolutely love this thing for its ease of use, no mess, and the fact that I don’t have to spend over $20 for a hair cut. It’s more than paid for itself. I hope it lasts for a long long time.
Price: $129.99
Where to buy: Aircut.com and Amazon
Source: I purchased this product with my own funds.
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Am I the only one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LrJDt-fPQI
Hahahaha! That’s what the Flowbee reminds me of 😉
I knew what this was before clicking on it.
Looks like you found a winner for you. Your hair looks great. If you were spending only $20 that is inexpensive to what my wife pays, around $35 plus tip.
John, I’m sure the prices depend on where you live. 🙂
It’s because they’ve never had the right consultation and the right person cutting their hair. It’s a shame
It looks like a haircut you’d want to stay home with…. Flowbe 2nd Generation… I made good money back then fixing flowbe haircuts, I’ll do it again.
Lisa, Ha! Tell me how you really feel about my hair? 😉 Seriously though, my hairdo looks exactly the same as it has forever. I just don’t have to pay someone else to do it now. And I’m happy about that and my style. 🙂
Can people with long hair use this
Linda, I wouldn’t recommend it for hair over 5-6 inches or so long because the longest styler tube is 4 inches long.
Good for you Julie, taking the high road in response to such a rude comment! I think the AirPro looks interesting! It’s comical how many stylists comment with bitchy attitudes about products like this, yet expect people to come to them for service!! Your hair looks great! 😊
Hi Morgan, Thanks! I can understand how stylists might be concerned with products like this one because it attacks their livelihood. But at the same time, I think it’s a great solution for people with simple hairstyles that don’t want to spend money on haircuts that they can easily do at home. It would also be great for homebound or people in assisted living situations.
Its sad when others feel the need to put someone else down if its not for you ok but why be mean
As a stylist I hate to see ppl do these dumb things then call me crying 😢 when their hair looks awful and then they have to cut it all off or grow it out
As a human being with manners and understands politeness I hate to see people who are rude and awful just because they’re unhappy and miserable in their own lives. It doesn’t matter how good your hair looks when your personality makes you ugly.
I just used my AirCut again today. Still loving it!!!
Glad to see your innovative. Hope this works well for you. As a hairdresser and hair being the one and only way I make money to raise my daughter, we spent $800 on shears and 30,000 on our education for the $20 haircut. We enjoy hearing about your day, your family, and most of all pampering you. Goodluck! Hope this doesn’t put us out of work 😉
If you are a real hairdresser that can do all types of hair, you can make a bundle. Knew a guy who was so booked that he had to hire people just to make appointments for him. What I don’t understand is why can’t everybody’s hair be done everywhere?
Sadly it doesn’t work on kinky hair. Shouldn’t it work on all types of hair? Another product without thinking of POC.
Hi Cynthia, I am a POC and this has nothing to do with the intention of the inventor but rather simple mechanical limitations and physics.
If you have very thick hair, the suction needed to pull out and straighten it would be pretty painful to your scalp!
There are so many issues with race relations and tensions these days, but this certainly doesn’t qualify IMHO. 🙂
Oh sweetie, that little machine isn’t attacking anyone’s livelihood. If your hair isn’t important to you that’s a handy little gadget. If one does care, however, a professional does so much more than shave around shaggy wars and bangs.
Oh passive aggressive,
You’re crass, condescending, and rude comment only shows the type of human being you truly are. Maybe your hair looks grest, but your personality must make everyone around you miserable. Maybe spend less time on your hair and more time learning to not be the type of person that makes everyone cringe when you walk into the room. Have a great life, cupcake.
I have used a Flowbee for 20 years very successfully. So has George Clooney, by the way. Its quite simple and very professional. This unit seems like it is very similar to the Flowbee system but less cumbersome without long hoses and a vacuum cleaner involved. I have no doubt, from my experiences with Flowbee, that this system will work as well. I hated going to salons for haircuts that cost a lot, did not look like what I wanted it to look like and was just frustrted all the time. Salons and barbers arent for everyone. I have come away disappointed more often than not. Glad I can do my own hair which everyone thinks is a salon job anyway. It looks THAT professional and I like how it turns out every time. I cut my husbands hair as well and he appreciates not having to make appointments. I will try the AirCut system because its a smaller unit that travels. Thats a big bonus over the Flowbee system. Its more portale.
Shasha, I still love mine! I bought it with my own money last year and since starting to use it, I’ve used it for all my haircuts with 100% satisfaction.
It has been a long time since I went to a beauty shop for a haircut. I got tired of people cutting it like they wanted to, instead of how I liked it. Sometimes I’d come home from the salon and get my scissors out and fix it. Once in a while, I’d get a really great haircut, then when I’d go back to the same salon, that particular hairdresser would be gone.
The worst was after I’d been in a wreck and broken both my arms. I told the hairdresser I wanted something really simple because it hurt to hold my arms up, and could not really reach all of my head yet. The woman cut it, and then twirled bits of wet hair to create a nice wave when it dried. It looked wonderful when she did it, but, there was no way I could repeat that process! It hurt just thinking about it.
I don’t have any special equipment, just scissors and a big comb with a pipe cleaner wrapped around the comb at the length I want to make my cut.
I wash my hair, divide it into sections, and cut each section the length of a business card. Then I trim my bangs so they don’t get into my eyes, and neaten up the hairline. I have to do it in several sessions, because I still have trouble reaching my head. I need to rest now. In younger, pre-wreck years, I could easily do it all at once.
I collect the cut hair as I go, and toss it in a waste basket. I have some clean-up to do, but my hair looks like I want it to, and I don’t have a big haircutting bill. I win.
If my Social Security wasn’t already stretched as far as it can go, I’d be ordering an Air-cut. Sounds like it would be easier to use.