Haircut Numbers

Ultimate Guide to Understanding Haircut Numbers (2023)

Did you know that haircut numbers and sizes play a crucial role when we talk about the perfect haircut lengths and hairstyles? Desired haircut lengths are not possible without the proper hair clipper sizes.

That’s why understanding the proper clipper sizes is essential, no matter if you are a
professional barber or simply like to get your cut your own hair by yourself. Keep in mind that haircut numbers symbolize the hair clipper guard sizes which are mounted on the hair clipper.

The clipper sizes mean the size of hair left after cutting.

Thus, the value of the number is proportional to the size of the hair. For example, the greater the haircut number will be, the longer the hair is left after use. Various brands provide their haircut numbers for hair clipper sizes, and each haircut clipper size varies by one-eighths of an inch.

Keep in mind that the number 3 haircut means three-eighths of an inch of hair on the scalp, while the number 4 haircut will offer you one-half-inch length.


What Are the Different Haircut Numbers, and Hair Clipper
Sizes You Need to Know?

Remember that nearly each clipper guard clips have a size etched on the side or front of it. It will obviously give the size in either a number between 0 to 8 or a size in millimeters or inches, depending on which part of the world the hair clippers are manufactured from.

Now, let’s learn more about the different haircut numbers and hair clipper sizes. If you are not precisely confident about which hair clipper sizes or haircut numbers to request from your barber, knowing famous people of the different hair lengths every guard size creates is essential.

Below, you will find what a hairstyle with every hair clipper size looks like.


Number 0 Haircut

The number 0 haircut offers no guard attached. That will provide you a completely bald type of
look. The number 0 will leave one-sixteenth of an inch or 1.5 millimeters on the head.

haircut numbers

Also, the number 0 haircut will expose your skin on the scalp by providing you a very short buzz-cut look. Would you like to imagine the size of this haircut?

You can remember the length of a beard of two or three days. Utilize it where you like the skin of your head hair to be visible like if you like to create fades or when getting a fade. Some of the famous persons with the number zero haircut is Dwayne Johnson, Dominic Purcell, and Vin Diesel.

Number 1 Haircut


The number 1 haircut leaves one-eighths of an inch or 3 millimeters of hair on the head, a bit longer than the zero haircut.

The number 1 haircut and these clipper guard sizes are utilized to make a short buzz haircut, especially if you have a leaner face. Your scalp will be visible with his number 1 haircut length, but a bit less than the number 0 haircut. The number 1 haircut is often used for a taper/fade haircut or buzz cuts lengths.

Former One Direction’s Zayn Malik and Michael Mando often have this hair length.


Number 2 Haircut

The number 2 haircut is one of the short hair lengths out there. You will get one-fourth of an inch of 6 millimeters of hair left in the head. The difference between number 1 and 0 is barely noticeable, but there’s a difference between the hair clipper size 1 and number 2 haircut.

Would you like your hair to not be very long or very short? The number 2 haircut is the perfect clipper size for you. This haircut number suits both men with thin hair and thick hair.

Also, this clipper length falls in the category of fade haircut, but the number 2 haircut doesn’t shoe the skin or scalp as much. Joe Jonas, Wentworth Miller, and Rick Malambri have the number 2 haircut in the past.


Number 3 Haircut

The number 3 haircut is the perfect hair clipper size if you don’t like a bald look but wish for a bit of hair that needs little maintenance. These haircut numbers suit everybody with any kind of face shape. The number 3 haircut and clipper guards would leave the hair of nearly three-eighths of an inch or 10 millimeters on the head.

These hair clippers are also great for both hair types—thick and thin hair.

man holding a barber hair clipper

If you want to maintain short, faded sides, then these hair clipper sizes are the best for you. The perfect example for this hair type is Drake.


Number 4 Haircut

The number 4 haircut length leaves your hair with one-half inch of hair, which make it one of the average haircut clipper guard sizes. With the number 4 haircut clipper sizes, you can start getting round cut or brush cut, similar to a buzz cut but with a fade haircut on the sides and a longer hair on top.

man getting his hair cut with a clipper by a tattoed man

This is ideal for thick and thin hair. You can see these hairstyles on people like Cameron Moaghan and Zac Efron.


Number 5 Haircut

A one-half-inch haircut, the number 4 haircut number is considered the medium length cut.

It is also one of the most common options for short hair. The number 5 haircut and these men’s haircut lengths are suitable for people with a rounder faces, leaving a decent amount of hair while still keeping a clean length of hair.

Because a parting of the number 5 haircut number is highly possible, it is extremely versatile and could be styled in longer and shorter hairstyles. You can find Austin Stowell and Nick Jonas nailing this medium-length cut.


Number 6 Haircut

The number 6 haircut and this hair clippers sizes leave the hair of at least three-fourths of an inch of hair of 19 millimeters. It’s like haircut number 5, as it’s used for the taper haircut that is mostly towards the top of the head. You can utilize the number 6 haircut clipper guards for the upper size of your head.

For the rest of the sides, you can utilize the lower number haircut numbers and clipper sizes to get a decent look. Tom Holland often uses this number 6 haircut and clipper size.


Number 7 Haircut

Would you like to accomplish natural-looking hair? How much hair would you like to achieve with a number 7 haircut? The number 7 haircut could be the best option if you want to achieve natural-looking hair.

This hair trimmer size leaves hair at least seven-eighth inch of hair or 22 millimeters on the
head. You can the same hair clipper numbers on the hair of Colton Hayes and David Beckham.


Number 8 Haircut

The number 8 haircut clipper size is perfect for you if you don’t like to cut too much of your hair and go different haircut lengths and styling. You can expect to have a full one inch of hair or 22 millimeters for the number 8 haircut. Mostly, the haircut 8 numbers and hair clipper size are used for trimming the longer hair at the top of the head.

Also, this hair length will offer you the liberty to try various hairstyles each day using a hair gel or styling balms. However, do keep in mind that you use slightly lower haircut numbers and hair clipper sizes on the sides to make it look cleaner and neater.

Also, clipper guard sizes 7 and 8 must be used in combination with other less clipper sizes for balancing out the long hair look. Ryan Gosling and Zac Efron often used this particular hair clipper length.


Final Thoughts on Different Haircut Numbers

Haircuts might not be a big issue, but irrespective of your age, it plays an important role in your overall look. Keep in mind that various haircut numbers and their respective clipper guard sizes play a crucial role in accomplishing the perfect hairstyle. Many hairstylists emphasize the need for expert-level knowledge of such haircut numbers, as they are vital for minor detailing.

Without such a number of hair clipper sizes, using various hair lengths in the same hairstyle was not simple as only professionals could do this job. Thanks to these number of hair clipper sizes, even you can do complicated hairstyles with proper practice and training.

Make sure you also use the proper clipper length terms or inform your barber about the right clipper guard size so they completely know your requirements and you both do not end up having to repent at the end of the haircut.

If you are not certain about the haircut requirements, you can always show them the haircut picture. On top of that, make sure you read the instructions given by the manufacturer on the
haircut clippers and understand the proper method of using such haircut number clippers.

We hope this article was able to eliminate all or most of your confusion about the different
barber clipper sizes.

So, which of these haircut numbers are your favorite? Is it the number 3 haircut? The number 5 haircut? The number 7 haircut? Or number 8 haircut?

Whatever the case may be, we hope you can answer all your barber’s questions and dare to
even cut your own hair.

We wish you the best of luck!

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