# A question about about hair cutting **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 21, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-about-hair-cutting/196580 "2003-08-21T02:57:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-about-hair-cutting/196580/1 "2003-08-21T02:57:58Z")
Okay, I know they have these things called clippers that come in sizes 1 - 4. I have no idea what these numbers mean. This is one of those things that probably everyone knows except me…but since I’ve never used clippers, its just not something I have any experience with. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-about-hair-cutting/196580/2 "2003-08-21T03:44:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \* > **Okay, I know they have these things called clippers that come in sizes 1 - 4.** Actually, the blades come in more sizes than that. > [@](#): > > \*\*I have no idea what these numbers mean. This is one of those things that probably everyone knows except me…but since I’ve never used clippers, its just not something I have any experience with. \*\* I didn’t know either, untill I looked it up. I’m pretty handy with Google 🙂 For Oster clippers, the different blade sizes cut hair to the following lengths. ```auto Blade Size Hair Length 00000 1/125" 0.2mm 0000 1/100" 0.25mm 000 1/50" 0.5mm 0A 3/64" 1.2mm 1 3/32" 2.4mm 1A 1/8" 3.2mm 1 1/2 5/32" 4.0mm 2 1/4" 6.3mm 3 1/2 3/8" 9.5mm 3.75 1/2" 13mm ``` The blade numbers and lengths are probably different for different brands of clippers. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-about-hair-cutting/196580/3 "2003-08-21T04:36:25Z")
Does that chart indicate how much hair is REMOVED (blade 2 removes 6.3mm) or how much hair REMAINS (blade 2 will leave behind 6.3mm)? ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-about-hair-cutting/196580/4 "2003-08-21T05:11:31Z")
I’d guess left behind - how could it determine how much hair is removed? You might not have the clippers flush against the skull, or whatever it is you are clipping. Test on your dog or SO - you’ll probably find that the measurement is the minimum length of hair left on the head, or arm or back or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-about-hair-cutting/196580/5 "2003-08-21T05:14:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trigonal Planar \* > \*\*Does that chart indicate how much hair is REMOVED (blade 2 removes 6.3mm) or how much hair REMAINS (blade 2 will leave behind 6.3mm)? \*\* It’s how much hair will remain. I’d imagine that it’d be pretty difficult to make clippers that only cut off a specific amount of hair. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-about-hair-cutting/196580/6 "2003-08-21T05:34:01Z")
I’m a shaved head type of guy, and from the different barbers I’ve talked to, guard depth varies. One guy said “Are you sure you want a 1”? and showed it to me. His explaination is that some other companies will call a thicker guard a “1”. I use a Wahl with no guard, and no I’m not a “skinhead”. My 1 leaves pretty close to 1/8 of an inch of hair, and with no guard I get a bit less than 1/16th. So, to answer your question, guard numbers are relative and have no standardized length associated with every brand. Remember to start with a high number and work your way down as needed, you can always remove hair, but only time will grow it back.