Barber Supplies Buying Guide: Clippers, Blades and Consumables

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Clippers and trimmers get the attention, but a working shop also runs on the small stuff: disinfectant, towels, razor blades and tool care. This guide covers both. It starts with the brands and features worth knowing, then moves to the consumables you will keep restocking.

Clipper and Trimmer Brands Worth Knowing

• Wahl is a long-standing name in barbering, known for durable clippers and trimmers such as the corded Wahl 5 Star Senior.
• Andis makes clippers and trimmers that suit both detail work and bulk cutting, including the Andis T-Outliner trimmer that many barbers use for line-ups.
• Oster clippers have a long track record in barbershops. The Oster Classic 76 is the best-known model.
• BaBylissPRO is known for newer features and a modern look, for example the all-metal BaBylissPRO FX+ Cord/Cordless Clipper.
• StyleCraft and Gamma are popular for their styling and design, with clippers like the StyleCraft Rogue.
• TPOB is the newer challenger brand, with models such as the TPOB Play.

What to Look For in a Clipper or Trimmer

• Corded or cordless: cordless gives you freedom to move, and corded gives steady power for long sessions. Some models do both.
• Motor type: pivot, magnetic and rotary motors each feel different. Check the maker’s description and what working barbers say about power and noise.
• Blade adjustability: adjustable blades make a clipper more versatile. Wahl Pro lists the 5 Star Cordless Senior with a zero-gap adjustable blade, for example.
• Runtime and warranty: both are listed on the maker’s product page, and they vary a lot between models.
• Maintenance: look for tools that are easy to clean and come with oil, a brush or spare blades.

A starter kit: one tool for each job

Most shops build a station around three cutting tools, then add supplies. You do not need every brand above. You need one tool for each job.

• A clipper for bulk and fades. Corded clippers suit long days at one chair. Oster lists the Oster Classic 76 as a universal-motor clipper that comes with detachable #000 and #1 blades and weighs 1.52 lb. Detachable blades mean you swap the blade rather than adjust a lever.
• A trimmer for outlines. A T-blade trimmer handles line-ups, necklines and beard edges. Andis lists the Andis T-Outliner as a corded trimmer with a 7,200 SPM magnetic motor and a carbon-steel T-blade.
• A foil shaver for skin fades. If you take fades down to the skin, a foil shaver finishes the job. Andis rates the Andis ProFoil Lithium Titanium Foil Shaver (TS-1) at 80 minutes of cordless run time.

If you cut on the move, swap the corded clipper for a cord/cordless one. BaBylissPRO says its FX+ all-metal lithium clipper runs up to 3 hours cordless and charges by USB-C.

Check Oster Classic 76 Price

Check Andis ProFoil Lithium Titanium Foil Shaver Price

Consumables to Keep Stocked

These are the things you will run out of, so it pays to know what you use.

• Barbicide and similar disinfectants keep tools sanitized between clients. Our Barbicide guide covers the mix and timing.
• Towels get used constantly, for wiping down clients and cleaning up after a cut. Cotton and microfiber are both common.
• Razor blades matter if you offer straight razor shaves. Derby, Feather and Astra are popular names.
• Clipper care: oil, blade wash and sprays like Andis Cool Care and Clippercide keep blades running smoothly.

Sanitation supplies: what the rules actually ask for

Disinfectant is not optional in a licensed shop, and your state board decides exactly what you need. Virginia’s barbering regulations (18VAC41-20-270) are a clear example of what boards ask for:

• Each barber must have a covered wet disinfection unit at their station, with solutions used according to the manufacturer’s directions.
• Clippers, scissors, combs and other hard multi-use tools are cleaned of debris, washed, rinsed, dried and then fully immersed in wet disinfectant for at least 10 minutes before the next client.
• Electric clipper blades must be disinfected before and after each use. If the blade cannot be removed, a spray or foam is acceptable when it is an EPA-registered disinfectant that is bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal, and the handle is wiped down too.
• Single-use items, including disposable razors and styptic pencils, are thrown away after one client.

That maps neatly onto three products. A jar of mixed BARBICIDE Disinfectant Concentrate covers immersion for combs and guards. A spray such as CLIPPERCIDE 5-in-1 Clipper Disinfectant Spray covers blades that stay on the clipper; its EPA label lists bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal claims with a 10-minute wet contact time.

A cooling spray like Andis Cool Care Plus keeps blades comfortable through a long day. Rules differ by state, so read your own board’s sanitation section before you stock up.

Check BARBICIDE Disinfectant Concentrate Price

Station consumables checklist

Beyond disinfectant, these are the items a chair goes through every week:

Item	What it does
Neck strips	A clean barrier between cape and neck
Towels	Wiping, shampoo and hot-towel work
Cape	Keeps hair off clothes
Neck duster	Brushes cut hair off skin
Spray bottle	Dampens hair for scissor work
Razor blades	Fresh edge for every shave

Neck strips go fastest. Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack) are listed as 12 packs of 60 strips, so check the count when you compare prices. For towels, bleach-resistant cotton like the Arkwright Bleach Resistant Salon Towels (12 pack) is sold as bleach-resistant 100% cotton, which matters when towels are washed after every client.

A water-resistant cape such as the Barber Strong The Barber Cape and a soft Diane Neck Duster Brush finish the basics.

Add a fine-mist BeautifyBeauties Continuous Spray Bottle if you do scissor work. Refill it with clean water each day.

Razor blades: match the blade to the razor

Razor blades are not interchangeable. Feather says its Artist Club razors take Feather Professional blades as replacements, so if you shave with an Artist Club holder, buy Feather Artist Club Professional Razor Blades rather than generic single-edge blades.

Double-edge blades such as Astra Platinum Double Edge Safety Razor Blades fit safety razors, and some straight-edge shavette holders are built to take half of a double-edge blade, so check what yours takes. Derby and Feather also make double-edge blades. Whatever you use, a fresh blade for every client is the standard, and boards like Virginia’s treat disposable razors as single-use.

Check Feather Artist Club Professional Razor Blades Price

How to Buy Supplies Without Overbuying

• Keep a short list of what you actually use each week and reorder when you are low.
• For items you burn through, such as towels, razor blades and cleaning products, a bigger pack usually makes sense. Check the count so you can compare packs fairly.
• Read the reviews before buying a consumable you have not used before. Look for people who use it the way you do.
• Compare more than one listing. Pack size, count and brand vary, so the cheapest-looking option is not always the same product.

FAQ

What supplies does a barber need besides clippers? Disinfectant, towels, razor blades if you offer straight razor shaves, and clipper care products such as oil, blade wash and cooling sprays. These are the things a shop keeps restocking.

Which clipper brands do barbers use? Wahl, Andis, Oster, BaBylissPRO, StyleCraft and Gamma, and the newer TPOB are the names this guide covers. Pick the clipper and trimmer for the work you do most.

What should you look for in a barber clipper? Check corded or cordless, the motor type, blade adjustability, runtime and warranty, and how easy it is to clean. Runtime and warranty are listed on the maker’s product page and vary a lot between models.

Which razor blades do barbers use for straight razor shaves? Derby, Feather and Astra are popular names. If you offer straight razor shaves, keep a steady supply on hand.

How do you avoid overbuying barber supplies? Keep a short list of what you use each week and reorder when you are low. Bigger packs make sense for towels, blades and cleaning products, but compare the count, since the cheapest-looking listing is not always the same product.

Do barbers need a disinfectant jar at every station? In many states, yes. Virginia, for example, requires a covered wet disinfection unit at each barber’s station. Check your own state board’s sanitation rules.

Is clipper spray enough to disinfect clipper blades? It can be, if the rules and the label allow it. Virginia accepts a spray or foam for blades that cannot be removed, as long as it is an EPA-registered disinfectant that is bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal and is used per the label.

How long do tools need to soak in disinfectant? Follow the product label and your state rules. Virginia requires at least 10 minutes of full immersion, and Barbicide’s own guidance also gives a 10-minute contact time.

Which razor blades fit a Feather Artist Club razor? Feather says to use Feather Professional blades, such as Feather Artist Club Professional Razor Blades.

Where to Start

Pick the clipper and trimmer for the work you do most, then build out the supplies around them. For a step-by-step version, see our guide to building a barber toolkit. When you restock, start with the items you burn through fastest: Graham Sanek Neck Strips and a fresh bottle of BARBICIDE Disinfectant Concentrate.