Once you launch your career as a barber, you’ll need to stock up on equipment and make sure you have certain tools in your working kit. There are specific barber tools which you can’t do without; you’ll use them every single day for haircuts and beard grooming. Be sure to research the quality of the brands and tools you purchase; high quality barbering equipment will be more efficient in the long run.
Let’s look at the essential tools you’ll need as a professional barber.
Clippers
Clippers are one of the most essential barber tools, used for cutting large sections of hair or longer hair. Barber clippers can be cordless or corded, but most barbers use cordless for practicality and freedom of motion. Clipper blades can be adjusted to different lengths for a variety of haircuts. You can also use clipper guards to cut hair to specific lengths.
Some haircuts rely heavily on clippers, such as fades, tapers, and buzz cuts. Barbers use clippers to create clean lines and edges, using shorter blades for closer cuts and blending hair with maximum precision.
Trimmers
Trimmers are similar to clippers, but they are designed for more detailed work. These have smaller blades and are best for cutting shorter hair around the ears, neck, and hairline. They can be used to cut hair on the head, neck, or face, and are the right tool for creating sharp lines, finer cuts, and intricate details. A good pair of trimmers are necessary for an accurate line up, fades, and cleaning up the neckline. Sometimes a trimmer is referred to as an edger or outliner.
Shears aka Scissors
Barber shears are used to cut, style, and shape hair. There are three types of shears that are part of every barber’s toolkit. Standard barber shears aka straight shears are used for general cutting and trimming. Curved shears can be used for a natural, blended look. Thinning shears can be used to texturize hair and remove bulk.
Regular barber shears are most commonly used for cutting hair, most barbers use a shears over comb technique to cut hair.
Curved shears are used for creating blended effects, texturizing and shaping hair.
Thinning shears have blades with grooves or teeth, which can remove some hair without removing the overall length. Because there are multiple cutting teeth, some of the hair is cut, and some remains.
Barber Razors
The two types of barber razors that are popular are straight razors (folding razors) and safety razors. Straight razors aka “cut throat razors” are the foldable razors you see when you picture a traditional barber. Using this type of razor takes skill and training, but the result is a much closer shave than other types of razors. Safety razors use single-use blades that fit within a screw down razor head enclosure. These also provide a close shave and have a guard that protect the skin from cutting. Safety razors can be used for detailing and beard shaping.
Straight razors have a blade which can be honed using a sharpening stone. The blade edge is straightened and polished using a strop, which is the long leather strap you might have seen in old movies.
Many barbers use a lather brush and shave soap when giving a conventional shave. The circular motion of the lather brush raises the facial hair follicles, so the shave is smooth and close.
Combs and Brushes
Every barber has a wide assortment of combs and brushes for specific purposes in styling and cutting. Wide tooth combs are good for customers with curly hair, fine-tooth combs work well for clients with straight hair.
· All-purpose cutting comb. Used for multiple purposes.
· Clipper comb. Good for tapering and blending.
· Fine-tooth comb. Ideal for precision work, detailing, and creating sharp lines.
· Wide-tooth comb. Good for detangling curly hair without breaking hair strands.
· Teasing comb. Adds volume and texture to hair.
· Rat-tail comb. Great for parting and sectioning hair.
· Tapered cutting comb. Good for shaping mustaches and styling hair around the ears.
· Fade brush. Removes tiny particles of hair from the scalp.
· Vent brush. Helps speed up the hair drying process.
· Boar bristle brushes. Used for straightening and smoothing hair.
· Paddle brushes. Good for detangling with a sleek finish.
· Round brushes. Creates volume and curls.
Clipper/Trimmer Guards
Guards are attachments, usually made of hard plastic, that connect to clippers and trimmers to allow hair to be cut at an even predetermined length. Barbers often do multiple passes to cut the hair at different angles with the guarded clippers to blend the haircut smoothly.
Barber Cape
Barber capes keep hair from falling onto a client’s clothes and skin.
Fade Brushes
A fade brushes is used to remove small pieces of hair from the scalp during and after a haircut, so the barber can see details in the fade cut clearly. This helps identify imperfections so they can create a more accurate fade. Some barbers also use the fade brushes to remove pieces of hair from clippers and trimmers after each haircut.
Hair Dryer
A hair dryer is necessary for drying and styling hair. Not all men have short hair, and it is useful.
Neck Strips
A neck strip is a thin disposable strip of paper that goes around the client’s neck to prevent hair from falling on the back of the neck, and prevents the cape from touching their skin for improved hygenics.
Neck Duster Brushes
A neck duster brush removes small particles of hair from the neck and shoulders before the cape is removed.
Sterilizing Supplies and Disinfectant
Hygiene is critical in barbering and cosmetology. Sterilizing clippers, shears, combs, and other hair cutting tools is required by state regulations. Most barbers use a sterilizing agent like Barbicide to disinfect their tools in between uses.
Mirrors
Large barbershop mirrors allow the customers to see their haircut or beard trim in progress. Hand mirrors allow them to see the back of their head once they’ve finished your haircut.
Learn to Become a Barber in an Elite Training Program
You can learn to become a barber in our world-class barbering program at Paul Mitchell the School at Campus in Sacramento. In about 30 weeks, you will learn the skills to begin your barbering career and become a fully-licensed barber. The staff at Campus Sacramento has the real world skills and experience to help you succeed in your career. If f becoming a barber is something you’ve always wanted to do, and you want more details, contact our Admissions team today!