It is better to get a mate to assist you.I did the same took me 4 months to get the courage up, shouldn't have worried it was easy. Same result as going to the barbers but without the journey, the hour or so of waiting my turn to get in the chair, and the cost. Should have done it years ago.
As a first timer myself; I got my mate to come and help with cutting my hair... just in case if I botched my haircut, I had someone to accuse and yell at.
She said it did not come out like another $30
@Suffolkhifinut << LMAO at your Solingen steel photo (the innards of the pidgeons look like salmon steak-cuts).