16 Necessary Tools for Beginner Barbers

If you’re a beginner barber looking for a way to leave your nine-to-five or trying to build your own business, barbering is a great way to control your hours and be your own boss.

To start cutting hair at home or even in your dorm room (like I did), you’re going to need the 16 barber tools on this list. These tools will help you produce sanitary, quality haircuts without breaking the bank.

I’ve used nine years of experience to compile a complete list of barber supplies that you’ll need.

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1. Andis Cool Care Spray

Andis Cool Care spray functions as a coolant, disinfectant, lubricant, cleaner, and rust preventative. This combination of benefits helps your clippers last for years.

How to use Andis Cool Care

Occasionally and spray the blade and teeth. The lubricating aerosol sprays away hair, dandruff and dust particles while cooling the metal.

For use as a disinfectant, Andis Cool Care needs time to work. Spray and leave on for 10 minutes. This gives the chemicals time to break down any bacteria on the surface.

Always make sure all your tools are well-maintained and clean. Here’s the general rule: Anything that comes in contact with one client, should not come in contact with another without cleaning or replacing. It’s important for beginner barbers to practice sanitary habits. Failure to maintain cleanliness can spread infections and germs.

2. Barbicide and 3. Container

Barbicide is a well-recognized, industry standard that I highly recommend using. As a hospital-grade disinfectant, barbicide is powerful enough to kill HIV-1, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, salmonella, herpes, coronavirus and much more.

It’s no coincidence that the first two items on this list are about sanitation. Your tools will come in contact with sores, fungus, dirt or bodily fluids. Make sure you understand how to limit the spread of germs.

How to use barbicide

Mix 1/4 cup of barbicide with 4 cups of cold water and completely immerse your plastic combs, guards and shears to make sure your gear is properly disinfected. Change your solution daily.

Make sure your equipment doesn’t sit in the solution for more than 10 minutes. Barbicide won’t harm your plastics with proper use. However, it’s neither recommended nor necessary to leave items soaking for long periods of time.

4. Andis Clipper Oil

Avoid damaging to your clippers

Before I regularly oiled my clippers, I noticed my Andis Masters weren’t running as fast and didn’t cut all the hairs. I thought the blades were dull, but soon learned the clipper just needed to be oiled regularly. Once I started doing that, my Masters worked perfectly. This is the kind of beginner barber mistake I’d like to help you avoid.

Clipper oil lubricates your machine to prevent corrosion, friction, wear and excessive heat. Oiling your clippers on a regular basis guarantees better performance and extends the life of your blades.

How to use clipper oil

Turn on the clipper and place one drop on each side, one drop in each corner and one in the middle. This will ensure you don’t oversaturate the clipper or waste oil. Turning on the clipper disperses the oil as the blades move back and forth. After several seconds, wipe off any excess oil.

5. Hand Towels

A stack of white hand towels for beginner barbers

Hand towels are really convenient. Use them to wipe off any excess clipper oil so you aren’t placing a greasy clipper on someone’s hair or face. Oils will cause the hair to stick, making them harder to brush away. I also use hand towels to wipe hair from my straight razor while shaving.

For sanitation, don’t use the same hand towel to wipe oil and clean the straight razor.

6. Cape

Capes are one of the more obvious necessities, so I’m sure you’ve already picked one up. You will provide a positive customer experience by preventing trimmed hairs from getting all over the client’s body and clothes.

How to use a cape

Place the cape over the client and secure the neckband. Make sure you use neck strips (listed below).

Check out the full video on my channel.

Think you can do better? Use #TBTcapechallenge and tag me on instagram @thebarberstable.

7. Neck Strips and 8. Dispenser

Neck strips go hand in hand with capes by preventing the neckband of the cape from coming in direct contact with anyone’s skin.

How to use neck strips

Place comfortably around your client’s neck and tie a knot. Then place the cape over the strip. This barrier prevents sweat, oil and dirt transfer from client to client. Use a fresh one for each client. Otherwise, what would be the point?

9. Wahl Cordless Magic Clips

As the cornerstone of your toolkit, an adjustable clipper trims hair and is often the main tool you’ll use to cut hair.

As a beginner barber, your first clipper should be:

Low-priced. Inexpensive tools help you get started without high expenses.
Lightweight. Lighter clippers are easier to use for longer periods of time without wrist pain.
Long lasting. All clippers heat up eventually. Avoid clippers that overheat too quickly. You’ll need the extra time as you learn to cut faster.

This combination of qualities is why I recommend the Wahl Cordless Magic Clips for beginners. It has a lightweight, sleek, ergonomic design, with 90+ minutes per charge. Did I mention it’s cordless?

How to use clippers

If you plan to cut hair often, spend time learning how to hold your clipper and position the client’s head.

I highly recommend checking out my video How To Hold Barber Clippers Properly, where I explain everything, including how to:

Position your client and your cutting arm
Hold the clipper against the client’s head
Reduce strain on your arms and hands
Adjust the clipper when moving around the head

Want to change the way you think about cutting hair?

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10. Andis Slimline Pro Li T-blade Trimmer

To complete your toolkit, you’ll want to invest in an edger or trimmer. You need both a pair of clippers and edgers because, while all edgers are clippers, not all clippers are edgers.

Barbers use edgers for precision work, including:

Defining a hairline
Creating designs
Shaping eyebrows and facial hair
Baldling
Free Handing
Blending out a bald line

The Slimline Pro Li trimmer is balanced, ergonomic, lightweight and cordless. It has a powerful rotary motor for increased speed, power and life. And, you’ll get up to 2 hours of run time.

11. Razor and 12. Razor Blade Holder

Unlike edgers, which leave stubble, a straight razor will completely eliminate stubble. Experienced barbers use razors to achieve an extra crisp line-up. Be careful when handling, I practiced on my thigh to learn the proper angles before trying on anyone’s head.

Remember: No two clients should be cut with the same razor. Make sure you safely dispose of each one.

How to use a razor

I prefer to show beginner barbers how to use razors. That’s why I made a video over on my YouTube channel: How to Shave with a Straight Razor.

13. Combs

Combs knock the hair away from the client’s head and can assist with various cutting techniques.

Use fine-tooth combs for shorter hairs.
Use wide-tooth combs for longer, denser hair.

Some combs have a larger width, ideal for the clipper-over-comb technique. As you build your skills, you’ll notice the benefit in having tools for more specific purposes.

I like the Wahl Professional Clipper Comb. It fits comfortably in your hand, works well with the clipper-over-comb technique, and allows for quick and easy tapering.

Unlike brushes, plastic combs can be placed in barbicide and properly disinfected. This gives them an edge over brushes.

Tip: If your client has darkly colored hair, use a brightly colored comb and vice versa. When doing techniques like clipper-over-comb and scissor-over-comb, you’ll be able to see the difference between the hair and the comb.

Looking to master the clipper-over-comb technique?

Learn how by watching this video where I explain the skill in less than five minutes.

14. Brush

This Irving Barber Company Knuckle Brush conveniently rests on my fingers until I’m ready to use it. After using this, picking up and putting down while cutting hair feels inconvenient.

How to use brushes

Use harder bristle brushes to dust away hair left on clippers. Sturdier bristles do a great job of getting between the teeth of the clippers and clearing away any hair.

Unlike combs, brushes can’t be dropped in barbicide and properly disinfected because the bristles are porous. Porous bristles have tiny holes that absorb dirt and oil. This creates a problem for cleanliness. Some barbers avoid using brushes for this reason.

15. Sea Breeze Astringent and 16. Cotton Balls

After every haircut, I use an astringent to tone and soothe the client’s skin. Personally, I like Sea Breeze because it doesn’t damage or severely dry out skin.

Astringents also:

Reduce oil
Kill surface bacteria
Tighten the skin

Plus, it’s great for sensitive skin.

How to use Sea Breeze

Place a small amount on a cotton ball and wipe the hairline.