Man comes up with bonkers invention that allows men to cut their own hair using clippers and a vacuum cleaner
Barbers shops are set to re-open this weekend with many scrambling for an appointment to sort out their lockdown hair.
For those who can’t face long queues expected, an inventor has come up with a bonkers way of cutting your own hair using clippers and a vacuum cleaner.
Dr Phil Green, 54, had his brainwave as he was attempting to give his own locks a trim at home and realised he could make use of a household item.
Grabbing his vacuum cleaner, Dr Green began using it pull hair away from his head to cut it, but he discovered he could go one step further by attaching clippers using hot glue.
This would enable him to snip his hair with one hand.
Read more: The haircut everyone will be getting after lockdown
Dr Green from Rugby, Warwicks, has been using his invention to keep his hair tidy during the coronavirus lockdown, and said anyone could give it a go.
“It's been a common thing during lockdown - everybody needs to cut their hair,” he explains.
“I started off trying to do what other people were doing and emulate a hairdresser by using two hands.
“Then I thought: ‘Well, I've got clippers - maybe they will be easier?’.
“But I had to work out how I could efficiently get my hair away from my head. It was difficult to coordinate.”
That’s when he came up with the idea of attaching the clippers to the vacuum cleaner, cutting down one of the attachments on a vacuum cleaner, used for tight spaces, hot glueing clippers to the side and adding a tie wrap.
Read more: Meet the real-life Rapunzel who has hair longer than 5ft
Dr Green says his creation means you won’t need anyone else to help you cut your hair, and can use just one hand.
But despite his ingenious invention, Dr Green says said he will be going back to the barbers from July 4 to support local businesses.
However, he believes there’s a need for his creation and encouraged professionals to give it a go.
“A barber could use it if they were just cutting someone’s hair with clippers. They wouldn’t need to sweep up afterwards, either.
“I can’t patent it now because it’s public information. But that also means nobody else can patent it,” he adds.
Read more: Dad invents world's first coronavirus pram to help prevent babies contracting COVID-19
Dr Green was previously shortlisted for a European Inventor Award in 2019 alongside Richard Palmer after coming up with D3O.
A flexible material which stiffens on impact, it has been used in many areas including protective clothing and mobile phone cases.
He is also a senior lecturer in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Automotive Engineering at Coventry University.
“I've always had an inventive mind,” Dr Green explains.
“I used to spend ages taking things apart. Over the years I have turned that around - and now I assemble things.”
And coming up with an invention that enables you to cut your own hair isn’t the only thing Dr Green is working on. He currently has several patents in the pipeline including a glass which lights up in the dark so you can drink water during the night.
