Men’s grooming is becoming more of a precise craft and hair cutting with electric clippers is one of the most efficient methods to give a clean and professional haircut. As a barber, stylist or other groomer, mastering how to use electric hair clippers for men’s haircuts is crucial to the work that you do, not only to achieve the best results, but also to be able to give haircuts in a timely manner. As reported by the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), over 68% of men’s haircuts in the U.S. are given using electric hair clippers as the main tool for cutting hair. Here are some of the latest and greatest advanced haircutting techniques, tips, and tricks that will increase your skill level with using hair clippers on men, as well as some information on the best ways to maintain your hair clippers to extend their life.
Before we dive into the techniques of repurposing items and making art with recycled materials it’s best to discuss the quality of the initial tool to ensure great results – that they are of a professional grade, made to last and precise.
To be a complete barber, you would typically require a number of pieces of equipment to complete a haircut, such as electric clippers that contain adjustable blades, with a variety of guard sizes to complete different hair lengths. The detail trimmers enable the barber to give a precise finish to the hair around the ears, neck line and sideburns. The barber scissors enable the barber to cut the hair with scissors and blend the cut with the previously cut section, or to cut the hair with scissors to create a totally different style, that cannot be achieved with the use of clippers. Sectioning clips, hair combs and a cape are used to section the hair and to keep it clean and out of the way while completing the haircut.
Selecting between corded and cordless models depends on workflow preferences. Cordless clippers offer flexibility but may have limited runtime—typically between 60 to 120 minutes depending on battery capacity. Corded versions provide consistent power output, which is ideal for high-volume barbershops where downtime must be minimized. Lithium-ion batteries dominate today’s market because they deliver longer life cycles and faster charging times compared to older nickel-based options.
The preparation for a haircut determines whether the cut itself will run smoothly or not.
Start with a clean and dry head of hair. Damp hair can clog the blades of your clippers, leading to an uneven cut. Also, combing through the hair reveals patterns of natural growth, like swirls and cowlicks, that you will need to section your hair around. Talking with your client prior to cut to establish the length and style they are looking for will save you from confusion as both you and the client will know what to expect from the cut.
Keeping your station organized is the key to being efficient. Using Barbicide type sanitizers on all of your tools to prevent cross contamination of infections. Proper lighting to reduce shadows in hair especially on the crown and neck line. Having you size guarded in order within arm’s reach to save seconds while doing a fade or a touch up.
The technique in which you use the clippers to cut hair can separate a great hair cut from an average hair cut. It shows the high level of skill of a true professional in giving hair cuts and in the overall finish of a cut and the texture and the shape of the hair that has been cut.
For the fade start using larger guards at the top of the head and work your way down to the smaller lengths (#4-#1). Use a “C-motion” with your wrist as you lift the clippers from the scalp for smooth transitions between lengths. To blend the hairline at temples and crowns where guard attachments would not be adequate to hit these small areas, use the clipper-over-comb method.
Add finishing touches to the face outline using detail trimmers or a zero-gap blade for outlining sideburns, hairline and ears. Check for symmetry from all angles. The slightest asymmetry will be visible after styling products have been applied. Work with light pressure as sensitive skin zones such as temples, hairline and neck can be irritated or even cause small burns when too much pressure is applied.
How your hair feels will dictate how you use electric clippers. Adapting your style to suit each of your clients for the best results with electric clippers.
For coarse or curly hair, using slower strokes in conjunction with tighter guard settings is optimal as curls have different lifting characteristics when under tension. For fine hair, using lighter strokes and avoiding exposure of scalp lines is optimal. For thick hair and growth patterns, using a taper blade to cut as close as possible without pulling is optimal, especially for detailed fades.
When cutting always cut with the hair, but switch when you hit a cowlick because the hair will change instantly. Sectioning off the problem hair before you start cutting and working it out before you do the detailing on the rest of the hair will make a huge difference between a good cut and a cut with great fades and a few patches that you have to go back and touch up.
The way you take care of your clipper affects its performance and lifespan. If you do not take care of your clippers, they lose their sharpness quickly and can get too hot.
After each use, thoroughly clean the blades of your trimmer with a soft brush or some air from a compressor to remove hair. It is also recommended to oil the blades of your trimmer before each use of your trimmer. By reducing the friction on the blades, the motor of your trimmer will last up to 25% longer. In addition, the oil will also prevent vibration noise and wear of the motor during long use.
Overheating of the gear usually is a sign for insufficient lubrication or clogged air vents of the motors. If after a cleaning still uneven cuts occur, the most probable cause are dull cutting blades. It is better to change them than to force an increased number of cuts which may cause skin irritation or uneven surface texture.
The quality of a blade is largely defined by the blade composition, which has a significant influence on the tool’s durability, its ability to retain sharpness and the level of comfort it affords the user. During long operating hours in a busy workshop, these factors are particularly important.
Steel has always been a very popular material because of its durability, however it does heat up quickly and this means that it is necessary to take frequent cooling breaks during long cleaning sessions. On the other hand, its Titanium-coated blades are resistant to corrosion, which is a major plus point when cleaning in humid conditions and the surfaces are constantly exposed to moisture during the day.
By ensuring that the blades are properly aligned you can reduce vibration noise by around 30% (BarberTech Survey 2023). And also by ensuring that the tension of the machine is perfectly balanced, this will stop the machine from ‘snagging’ when cutting fades and detailed line work around the edges of shapes, which can irritate the client and make their experience at the service worse.
SUOKE Electric is known among professional barbers as a reliable hair clipper manufacturer for salons. All SUOKE Electric hair clippers have a special focus on ergonomics and are powered by high quality motors to ensure optimal performance during prolonged use without overheating. The after sales service of SUOKE Electric provides many services including tutorials of maintenance, spare parts and custom made hair clippers according to the specific demand of each salon. It is SUOKE Electric’s philosophy to focus on technical reliability rather than to spend too much money on aggressive marketing. That is why many years experienced barbers use their hair clippers on a daily basis in all kinds of salons all over the world.
Men’s hair cutting using electric hair clippers is a combination of art and mechanical precise operation. Each motion must be under control in order to work around different hair textures. Choosing appropriate equipment and mastering fade transitions using different guard numbers is crucial to deliver consistent results to customers that can immediately see after a haircut. Maintenance of clippers is important in order to extend their lifetime and to ensure performance during every hair cutting session. As there is a high demand of hair cutting service for men, by learning to do hair cutting while using reliable hair cutting instruments such as those engineered by SUOKE Electric, hair dressers can work speedily and efficiently.
For the top section of the fade use a higher guard (e.g. #4) and then progressively work down to smaller guards (#3, #2, #1) using smooth wrist action to blend the layers.
High-use professionals work daily. So for their blades, it is recommended to either replace them or sharpen them every three to six months. This will be determined by the wear indicators. Such as when you start to feel resistance or hear a rough sound as you are using the clippers.
No, generally professional grade electric hair clippers are for dry hair only. Even though some clippers are labeled “waterproof” it’s not recommended for regular use as it will dull the blades faster.
Due to hair being cut with dull hair cutting edges and/or hair cutting blades that lack of lubrication.Please clean the hair clippers and apply some hair clipper oil in order to achieve a smooth hair cutting performance. If the pulling of hair performance keeps up in the near future, the hair clippers will have to be replaced soon.
Using an EPA-approved disinfectant that is designed for barber tools and making sure to allow for the full contact time listed on the label, allow to completely dry before using on another customer.
