O/T - haircut length numbers

[David WE Roberts]

I am trying to find the length of a cut so I can compare measurements in mm with the 'number scale'.

Firstly, let me say that Google has not been my friend.

I have only found a couple of references.

One says that No.1 = 1/8th", No.2=2/8" etc.

other shows lengths for different makers of hair clippers which do not seem to follow a linear scale. They are close to the "number/8 inches" and generally consistent but not enough to extrapolate to higher numbers. I am trying to work out how long a No.8 cut should be. "AndisAndis clippers come with removable blades of different lengths. The length/numbering of certain Andis blades may vary, depending on the model. Shown below is one of their major blade lines.

UltraEdge blade series "Trimmer" -- 1/150 inch

00000 -- 1/125 inch 0000 -- 1/100 inch 0000A -- 1/75 inch 000 -- 1/50 inch 0A -- 3/64 inch 1 -- 3/32 inch 1A -- 1/8 inch 1.5 -- 5/32 inch 2 -- 1/4 inch 3.5 -- 3/8 inch 3.75 -- 1/2 inch 5/8 HT -- 5/8 inch 3/4 HT -- 3/4 inch

Oster Oster's "Classic" clipper comes with removable blades of different lengths. Oster clippers are often used in shops that specialize in military-style haircuts.

00000 -- 1/125 inch 0000 -- 1/100 inch 000 -- 1/50 inch 0A -- 3/64 inch 1 -- 3/32 inch 1A -- 1/8 inch 1.5 -- 5/32 inch 2 -- 1/4 inch 3.5 -- 3/8 inch 3.75 -- 1/2 inch

Wahl A number of Wahl clippers come with adjustable blades that move between 1 mm (about 1/25 inch) and 3 mm (about 1/8 inch) in length. Some models have detachable blades, which are listed below. (Wahl provides measurements in millimeters.)

Competition blade series

00000 -- 0.4 mm 0000 -- 0.6 mm 000 -- 0.8 mm 0A -- 1.8 mm 1 -- 2 mm 1A -- 2.8 mm 1.5 -- 3.8 mm 2 -- 6 mm 3.5 -- 8 mm 3.75 -- 10 mm "

Couldn't even find it on Wikipedia - I may be using the wrong search terms.

TIA

Dave R

[Jim K]

maybe no-one else gives a s*1t? ;>)

Jim K

[Dave Osborne]

Well, those numbers mean nowt to me.

In every barber I've been in, the numbers (grades) go 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

6, 7, 8.

The grades refer to the plastic comb (or guard) that goes on the clippers, not the cutting blades.

I usually go for a 4, which is short, but not severe. 3 looks severe; 2 feels like you've been scalped, but you haven't really, 1 is short back and sides and 0 is the closest thing you'll get to being shaved (AIUI, you need a special licence to shave bald because of the risk of causing excessive bleeding).

HTH

to BaByliss, Grades 1~6 equate to 3~19mm, which roughly means

1/8" per grade.

suggests the same idea extended to grade 8 (i.e. FX628U is grade 1 and FX635U is grade 8).

[Tim Streater]

My Wahl doesn't have removeable blades. It is adjustable but come to think of it I've never used that feature. What it has it removeable plastic guards which are numbered to give longer or shorter beard trim. These are numbered as follows:

No 1: 1/8" or 3mm No 2: 1/4" or 6mm No 3: 3/8" or 10mm No 4: 1/2" or 13mm No 5: 5/8" or 16mm No 6: 3/4" or 19mm No 7: 7/8" or 22mm No 8: 1" or 25mm

Mine was a present (obtained from Argos IIRC) but before I had it I typically go the beard trimmed at the barber and used the numbers above to get the length I wanted.

[John Rumm]

match the combs on my clippers. (Remington combs IIRC although used on a Wahl clipper these days)

[Mike Barnes]

David WE Roberts :

mm = number x 3 IME.

[Piers Finlayson]

Why is this OT?

[ARWadsworth]

I usually have my head shaved with a number zero. I also have had it shaved with a razor.

Not once have I had a cut.

[Tim Streater]

Depends on your skin. That would never work for me, one reason I have a beard.

[Jim K]

ditto far better 'slap' on a shaved head IMHO....

Jim K

[David WE Roberts]

O.K. - buying a hair trimmer does show an intention to Do It Yourself :-)

Then again, so does buying a washing machine or frying pan. So I thought that on balance it was off topic.

Thanks to all the useful replies.