Building a barber starter kit is where new barbers burn the most money on the wrong gear. We watched MartyBlendz walk through his full “best barber kit” setup, machine by machine, from the clipper he calls his all-rounder to the one-dollar fade comb he says will save your life. The good news: the expensive machines are worth it, the cheap consumables are non-negotiable, and almost everything in between has a smart budget swap. Here is the complete kit, at three price levels.
Key Takeaways
- The core kit is one clipper, one trimmer, one foil shaver, guards, a cape with neck strips, clips, a dryer, combs and a duster.
- An all-metal clipper with a charging stand is the single best “buy once” purchase; MartyBlendz runs an all-metal FX as his all-rounder and a second clipper just for bulk removal.
- His trimmer advice: a proven T-blade workhorse for lineups and beards, and a zero-gapped detail trimmer only after you have learned pressure control.
- Fade combs cost about a dollar and speed up cleanup more than almost any upgrade; do not skip them.
- You can build a complete starter kit around Wahl’s Magic Clip, Detailer Li and Vanish.
Watch the Full Kit Walkthrough
In the video above, MartyBlendz builds the ultimate barber kit piece by piece and explains why each earns its slot. The same logic works whether you are furnishing a first station or replacing a bag that has gotten out of hand.
The Clipper: One All-Rounder, One Bulk Shredder
His pick is an all-metal BaBylissPRO FX-style clipper with a charging stand, chosen for build quality and cutting feel: full metal housing, fully customizable parts, your choice of fade or wedge blade, and a station that looks intentional when the machines sit in their stand. He runs a second clipper strictly for shredding down bulk. Two machines for two jobs sounds indulgent until your all-rounder stops choking on the first heavy pass of the day.
A fair warning before you shop: BaByliss listings can come and go, so check availability. The easiest pick to find is the Wahl Professional 5 Star Magic Clip Cordless. It is stagger-tooth, it fades, it has the runtime, and it is the machine an entire generation of barbers learned on. Our best clippers for fades guide has the full field tested.
The Trimmer: A Workhorse Plus a Detail Blade
For trimmers he doubles up. The primary is a BaByliss FX T-blade workhorse he calls his all-time favorite, used for baselines, bulk setting and beards. The second is the more aggressive zero-gap FX detail trimmer, which he uses for lineups and design work, and which he pointedly does not recommend to beginners, because it comes zero-gapped out of the box and will nick someone before you have learned exactly how hard to press. His line: you learn pressure control after you nick a couple of people, so maybe let the sharp one wait until you have paid that tuition.
The in-stock translation: the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Detailer Li is the classic T-wide workhorse, and it is a genuinely close substitute for the role. When you are ready for the aggressive detail trimmer, read our zero-gap trimmer guide first.
The Shaver: Foil, Metal, Drop-Proof
His shaver logic is about bag life as much as shave quality: he wants a full-metal foil shaver because he tosses his machines into a bag and travels to cuts, and he does not want to worry about them. He also likes that the second-shaver option tends to outlast the primary on battery. The Wahl Professional 5 Star Vanish Cordless Foil Shaver fills this slot, with pop-out double foil bars that make the neck shave fast. If you want a deeper field, our best foil shavers for barbers piece compares everything from $65 to $180.
Everything Around the Machines
Guards. Most clippers ship with black guards that all look identical on a black station, and he swaps to translucent colored ones so he can grab the right size at a glance. The Wahl Professional color-coded guard set (1-8) does that job and fits full-size Wahl clippers.
Cape and neck strips. A cape is non-negotiable because clients do not want hair down their collar, and neck strips let one cape serve a whole day of clients safely. Buy two capes so laundry day never costs you a booking.
Hair clips. He uses jumbo rubberized croc clips because they hold more hair, grip better on wet hair, and survive being dropped.
Blow dryer. He runs a Dyson and says out loud that you do not need one, you just need a dryer; the premium one is a “best kit” flex, not a requirement. Buy the dryer after the machines, not before.
Fade comb and duster. This is the part new barbers skip and should not. A proper fade comb, about a dollar, angles excess hair off and fits the blade so you stop jabbing a regular comb into your edge-ups. The neck duster finishes the client without them leaving wearing the haircut.
Hygiene. Nothing in a starter kit matters if the kit spreads ringworm. A jar of Barbicide disinfectant concentrate and a daily spray routine are as much a part of the kit as the clipper. Our Barbicide guide covers mixing ratios and contact times.
Starter Kit Comparison: Three Budgets
| Slot | Budget Kit | Pro Kit | Splurge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clipper | Wahl Magic Clip Cordless | Wahl Magic Clip + guards | BaBylissPRO FX (all-metal, charging stand) when back in stock |
| Trimmer | Wahl Detailer Li | Wahl Detailer Li | BaByliss FX workhorse + zero-gap detailer |
| Shaver | Skip until month two | Wahl Vanish | Metal foil shaver + backup |
| Consumables | Barbicide, cape, neck strips, fade comb, duster | Same + colored guards | Same + croc clips + premium dryer |
FAQ
How much should a beginner barber spend on a starter kit?
A complete, professional setup is: clipper, trimmer, guards, cape and strips, combs, duster and Barbicide. The shaver can wait a month. The dyson-tier dryer can wait forever.
Do I need two clippers like the video?
Not at the start. One all-rounder is enough until you notice it bogging on heavy bulk removal, which is the moment a dedicated bulk machine earns its slot.
What is the one cheap thing most beginners skip?
The fade comb. It costs about a dollar, it fits the blade for fast cleanup, and it saves more time per cut than any accessory on the station.
Are the BaByliss FX machines worth it over Wahl?
If the all-metal build and charging stand matter to your station’s look and your bag-dropping habits, yes. If you are choosing between a Magic Clip you can buy today versus a BaByliss that is out of stock, buy the Wahl and start cutting.
