Hair Clipper Accessories

There are tons of accessories that complement and enhance your hair-cutting experience.

Some of them are essential, such as hair clipper oil, grease, and blade guards.

Other products like tonics, sprays, hairdryers and a straight razor are optional, but I find they add a lot of benefits to the whole har cutting, shaving, and grooming process.

Here are some of my recommended hair clipper accessories..

Clipper Guards

Depending on which model of hair clipper you have, clipper guards may or may not come with them.

Guards (or guide combs) are simply attachments that fit over the cutting blade so that the blade cuts the hair at a specific length.

If your clipper only has one permanent blade, then you will need a set of clipper guards.

Depending on the model, you may be able to buy individual size blades.

However, this is only necessary if you cut hair professionally. Clipper guards are perfectly fine to use otherwise.

Even the pros mainly use guards.

Again, depending on the make and model of your clipper, it may already come with a decent set of guards.

The Wahl Elite Pro for example already comes shipped with an excellent set of guards.

Other machines (even the top-end models) don’t often include premium guards.

A good-quality guard-set is a must, whether just for home-use or if you cut hair for a living.

You don’t want flimsy guards that fall off or easily break if dropped.

I can highly recommend the Oster universal, 10 Piece Clipper Guide Comb as shown here.

Although it’s an Oster product, the guide combs are designed to also fit Andis & Wahl models.

In fact, I believe they are adaptable to virtually any clipper on the market right now.

If you buy them and they don’t fit, you can simply send them back and get a different set, or a refund.

Another type of clipper guard that is very popular, is the colored coded ones.

Having different colors for the different sizes, make it nice and easy to select the desired length.

I really like the Wahl color-coded cutting guides, and if you have a Wahl clipper, they are really handy.

They aren’t ‘universal’, so make sure you check your Wahl clipper is compatible.

As I’ve mentioned, Wahl also does a premium guard range that is extremely hard wearing and uses a metal clip to ensure they fit securely in place.

Clipper Blades

Some of the high-end Oster, Andis, and Wahl hair clipper models come with blade guards and individual-size cutting blades.

If you have one of these clippers and you cut hair frequently, then you may want to consider purchasing individual blades.

You will also find that many of the blades will fit different models of clippers.

10 Second Blade Setter / Zero Gap Tool

Having the ability to zero-gap clipper blades is really important for achieving a tight fade.

This handy little tool from The Rich Barber will line up the top and bottom blades perfectly for a zero overlap edge.

The Rich Barber 10 Second Blade Setter/Zero Gap Tool 

Clipper Blades Carry Case/Storage

For the professionals and ‘clipper connoisseurs’ among you, a clipper blade carry-case or storage, is a cool and useful accessory to have.

It keeps all your blades in order for easy replacement and does a great job at protecting them from damage and debris.

They are ideal if you want to travel with them too.

Andis and Oster both have respective blade holders that are worth the small investment..

Clipper Oil / Grease

If you cut your hair often, you NEED to use good quality clipper oil.

Regularly oiling your clippers will without a doubt extend their lifespan.

A simple rule to follow is ‘little and often‘. Every time you use your hair clippers, lightly oil them.

If you get into that habit of applying 2 or 3 drops in between the blades, you’ll keep the moving parts of the blade nice and sharp and working effectively.

Most manufacturers don’t supply much oil, which ‘bugs me’ because it is the lifeblood of your clipper.

You’ll probably receive a small tube, with enough oil to last a few months, depending on how often you use the clippers.

I suggest you buy some extra clipper oil before you run out and preferably when you buy your new clipper.

The Andis Clipper Oil will work on any type of hair clipper and is highly recommended.

If you’re a ‘Wahl Man,’ their Premium Hair Clipper Oil is the best selling oil on Amazon and is the oil I always use.

Like the Andis clipper oil, you can use it on any set of clippers.

Clipper grease should be used very sparingly. Check the instructions or manual that ships with your clipper.

Hair Clipper Spray

For professional barbers, using clipper spray is not only good practice but a legal requirement in some states.

Spraying the blade in between cuts will disinfect it and prevent the spread of germs and bacteria that may have been transferred onto the blade.

Regularly using clipper spray will also lubricate the blades, preventing the build-up of rust, and will help keep your blade cool in between shaves.

If you run your own hair business or work in the industry, you should always spray your clippers in front of the client.

The client likes to see it, it looks professional and keeps the blade clean.

The Andis Cool Care has a Five-in-One formula which works as a:

• Coolant
• Disinfectant
• Lubricant
• Cleaner
• Rust Preventative.

Clipper Cleaning Brush

This little fella is so important in keeping your clipper clean and free from hair.

It’s almost impossible to remove all the hair without one.

You often get one along with your clipper. If you don’t, then buy one. In fact, get a couple while you’re there.

Failing that, if you have an old, soft-bristled toothbrush lying around the home, then that will do the job just as well.

Hand Mirror

A good-sized, easy-to-handle mirror is essential for cutting your own hair, or when you want to show the back of the head to the person’s hair you’ve just cut.

Even the sides will benefit from you having a closer look at what’s going on from slightly different angles.

This hand mirror is just what you need.

Straight Edge ‘Cut-Throat’ Razor

A straight or cut-throat razor is very effective at removing the tiny little hairs at the back of the neck and gives a sharper finish than a clipper can.

Do not use this yourself for the back of your neck. Always have someone else to do this for you.

The blade is extremely sharp and needs to cut the hair at the right angle.

I know a lot of people who have changed over to this type of blade for their daily shave.

They say it prevents razor burn and gives a closer shave than their Mac 4 Turbo Battery-operated one.

They vary in price from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars.

I found a reasonably priced model that has some great reviews – Black Widow Straight Razor.

Whatever straight razor you buy, it’s always a good idea to apply some shaving lotion first, to prevent the skin from reddening and burning.

Scissors

A good quality pair of scissors is an absolute must in the hair industry.

It is also an accessory every well-groomed man should have too.

Even if you just use hair clippers to cut your hair, scissors will always come in handy to tidy up any stray hairs.

Always invest in a top-quality pair of scissors like these Equinox Professional Shears.

Equinox Professional Shears Razor Edge

• Japanese Stainless Steel for high quality

• Tens of thousands of positive Amazon reviews can’t be wrong!

Salon Cape

It doesn’t matter if you work in a barbershop or cut hair at home, a cape to protect your clothes is a must.

They are cheap, can be easily cleaned/washed, and will keep hair off your clothes.

This Professional Waterproof Styling Cape is the top seller.

See also: Cool Barber Capes, Jackets and Aprons – For Home And Professional Use

Neck Strips

Neck strips are really useful barriers that prevent tiny hairs from falling between your neck and the cape.

They cost next to nothing and look professional. In some states, they are a legal requirement.

Amazon has dozens of them for sale.

Clothes Brush

While we’re focussing on keeping your clothes free from tiny hairs, a clothes brush is another useful accessory to have.

At the end of the haircut, a quick brush on the shoulders and upper back will help remove any stray hairs that have settled there – and there will be!

This 3-in-1 clothes brush will keep you and/or your clients’ hair-free and feeling just a little bit more taken care of!

Neck Duster

Removing those itchy annoying little hairs that fall around your ears face and neck isn’t that easy unless you have a neck duster to hand.

A neck duster will easily remove the irritation, plus you can use it as you cut, to ensure your vision doesn’t become blocked by falling and sticking hair.

A really nice one won’t set you back much and will be well worth the cost.

I like this Anself Neck Duster. It looks the part and is extremely soft.

Aftershave Lotion

If you’re going to do a job – do it well. Whether you’ve used a clipper or simply had a face shave, apply some scented moisturizer to the neck and/or face afterward.

This will help reduce any redness and prevent razor burn.

I use this quality post-shave moisturizer which is the same brand as the cologne and shower gel I use, which really gives me a great, ‘layered’ scent that lasts much longer.

It’s from the Lather & Wood Shaving Co.

I LOVE this product.

Once you try it, you’ll never want to go back to a drug store brand again. The smell and feeling you get with this product is something else.

Here’s their full range.

Almost everyone comments on how good I smell when I use this stuff.

Trust me, it’s a game-changer!

Manual Hair Clippers

This may seem a bit of a red hearing, but I wanted to include them as an ‘accessory’ because I think they’re awesome, and yet they scare the hell out of me at the same time!

The ‘manual’ or hand clippers were the first type of hair clippers to be invented in the 19th century and were once widely used, especially in the military and prisons.

They do the same job as a regular hair clipper but operate without the need for electricity.

You can still see this type of clipper being used today by traditional or ‘old school’ barbers who are skilled at using them and are still commonly used in India.

They can be purchased at specialist shops or online.

Manual hair clippers take a lot longer and more skill to achieve the same results as an electric model, but still, produce an effective and professional-looking result.. in the right hands!

My advice, however; “don’t try this at home, unless you know what you’re doing”

Final Thoughts

There sure are a lot of hair clipper accessories, some of them you may not even have thought of before now.

To be honest, there are plenty more, I’ve just highlighted the most obvious ones and the ones you may need.

Let me know if you have any other good accessories for hair clippers.

Peter