Trinidad Barber Supplies

Posted on 30 May 202330 May 2023 by @cutsbyantonio — Leave a comment

Corded vs. Cordless Hair Clippers: Debunking the Myths and Embracing Convenience and Power

Blog article on corded vs cordless clippers

When it comes to professional hair clipping, there has been an age-old debate surrounding the superiority of corded vs. cordless hair clippers. Many barbers and hairstylists have held onto the belief that corded clippers are the best option for achieving precision and power. However, in this article, we aim to dispel this assumption and shed light on the advantages of cordless hair clippers, highlighting their convenience and performance. Let’s dive in and explore the truth behind corded and cordless hair clippers for professional use.

Convenience:

Embracing Mobility and Freedom One of the key advantages of cordless hair clippers is their unmatched convenience. Unlike their corded counterparts, cordless clippers offer enhanced mobility, allowing barbers and hairstylists to move freely around their clients without the restriction of a power cord. This increased flexibility enables smoother and more efficient hair cutting sessions, reducing the risk of accidentally pulling or tugging on the hair. With cordless clippers, professionals can easily navigate around the head, ensuring precise and consistent results.

Power:

Debunking the Myth There has long been a misconception that corded hair clippers are more powerful than cordless ones. However, advancements in technology have bridged this gap significantly. Modern cordless clippers are equipped with robust motors and lithium-ion battery systems that deliver impressive cutting power. They can effortlessly handle various hair types and densities, providing the same level of performance as their corded counterparts. Professionals no longer need to compromise on power when opting for cordless clippers. The most populat corded clipper is the Wahl Senior which runs at 6,500 RPM. Now compare that with the Stylecraft Instinct clipper which clocks a whopping 11,000 RPM. Or the Stylecraft Mythic that runs at 10,000 RPM. What were you saying again about corded clippers having more power than the cordless?

Battery Life:

Extended Cutting Sessions Concerns about battery life are often raised when discussing cordless clippers. However, recent developments in battery technology have addressed this issue with the Stylecraft Saber having the most impressive battery life of all clippers. Even the jRL 2020C has a cool 4-hours of runtime on high-speed, even longer on low speed. High-quality cordless clippers now come with extended battery life, allowing professionals to complete multiple haircuts on a single charge. Additionally, some models feature quick-charging capabilities, providing enough power for a full haircut in a matter of minutes. With efficient battery management, cordless clippers have become a reliable tool for uninterrupted cutting sessions.

Versatility:

Adapting to Modern Needs As the hairstyling industry evolves, professionals need versatile tools to keep up with trends and demands. Cordless clippers have become increasingly versatile, offering adjustable cutting lengths, multiple blade attachments, and specialized features to cater to various cutting techniques and styles. With cordless clippers, barbers and hairstylists can easily switch between different lengths and create intricate designs without the hassle of cord management.

In conclusion, the notion that corded hair clippers are inherently superior to cordless ones for professional use is an outdated belief. The advantages of cordless clippers in terms of convenience, power, battery life, and versatility have proven their worth in the hands of skilled barbers and hairstylists. Embracing cordless clippers allows professionals to elevate their hair-cutting experience, providing excellent results while enjoying the freedom of movement and adaptability that these tools offer.

In the ever-evolving landscape of the hairstyling industry, it’s essential to debunk myths and embrace the advancements that technology brings. Cordless hair clippers have come a long way and are now a reliable and efficient tool for professional barbers and hairstylists who prioritize convenience and power. It’s time to let go of old assumptions and explore the possibilities that cordless clippers bring to the table.

Top clipper companies who are evolving with the technology are:
1. Stylecraft
2. Gamma+
3. jRL
4. Babyliss

Continue reading Corded vs. Cordless Hair Clippers: Debunking the Myths and Embracing Convenience and Power

Posted on 21 November 202221 November 2022 by @cutsbyantonio — Leave a comment

6 things to consider when buying barber clippers

Whether or not it’s shopping season, barber clippers are constantly being purchased. Men are used to touching up their haircuts or beards for themselves at home in between barbershop visits; if you’re a professional barber, then you will always be upgrading your tools as well. Barbers need workhorse machines – reliability, speed, power, good battery life, long-lasting blades, etc. If you’re a beginner barber, you may not necessarily be in a position to get the best of the best right now, but you still want something that can hold up in your business without dying on you after a few months. With so many different brands now available, and so many different models under each brand, choosing the right clippers for you can be a difficult task. This guide will help you identify 6 things to consider when buying barbers clippers.

1. Budget

Your budget is the very first thing to consider, as this will determine what options are even available to you in your decision-making. If your budget is not on the higher end of the spectrum, don’t even waste your time exploring options beyond your maximum spending limit; weigh your options within what you can afford at this time.

2. Professional-quality or home-quality clippers

What will the clipper be used for? Is it simply to maintain your own hair at home, in between barbershop visits? If that’s the case, then consider anything within a cheaper price bracket. Almost any clipper will cut hair, but the average Joe looking for something to do basic hair cutting does not need professional quality tools with a high torque motor, cool-blade technology, or the like.

If, however, you plan to use the clippers in a barbershop, then you should never, ever consider anything labeled for home use. One easy way to tell if the clipper is for home use is to look at the product packaging or advertising photos. If you see a photo of someone cutting their own hair, then more than likely, it is for home use. Now, of course, professional machines can be used at home, but not vice versa. A professional barber needs tools that can perform consistently for the entire day at the shop and not quit shortly after putting it under strain… which leads us to the next point.

3. Brand Reputation

In considering clipper options, it’s important to consider the reputation of the various brands – what are they known for. Keep in mind, however, that a brand’s old reputation may not be consistent with the brand’s current reputation. Wahl, for example, used to have a reputation of innovation and reliability. That was decades ago. Nowadays, the brand’s reputation is one of stagnation where the company keeps churning out the same old machines over and over in different colours, trying to pass them off as new machines.

Newer brands have stepped up to the challenge and filled the gap with what is needed to modernise the industry. Companies like jRL, BaBylissPRO, Gamma+ and Stylecraft have quickly dominated today’s barbering industry by creating tools suited to the high standard today’s barber needs and expects these companies to deliver on.

Other old companies that are still trying to stay relevant are Oster and Andis, with Andis doing a much better job and keeping up as a contender in the competition.

3. Battery life

As most of the world has moved away from corded clippers, battery life has become a concern for the barber. With a working day of approximately 8 hours, you need your clippers to hold up. A barber can easily be doing at least 3 to 4 hours of proper cutting and fading during that day period. While, of course, you can plug in and charge your clipper in between clients, it is not very convenient. This is why professional barbers should not consider clippers that come with short battery life, such as the Wahl senior, which only has 70 minutes of runtime before it cuts off.

In an ideal situation, you would not have to charge your clipper for the entire day and only have to charge it overnight when you’re not at the shop. To date, few clippers on the market have been able to achieve that, such as the jRL Fresh Fade 2020C and the Stylecraft Saber Clipper. The Stylecraft Saber Clipper in particular has the longest battery life of any clipper on the market with an astonishing 6 hours, and a 3-hour rapid charge. No other clipper on that market has been able to beat that yet.

4. Fading or debulking clippers

Most barbers have at least 2 clippers. One with high power for blasting through thick hair such as the BaBylissPRO LOPRO or the Stylecraft Rebel. However, because of the power in these machines, they tend to heat up after a short period, so you’re not able to fade for long periods with them. Therefore, in addition to getting a debulking clipper, you need to get one that fades well without heating up, as fading usually takes the most time (see suggestions below).

Getting a machine that has a fade blade as an option helps make fading easier. If a clipper does not come standard with a fade blade, you can always buy it separately and install it.

5. Power and heat-resistance

In the past, clippers have been known to get extremely hot to the point of burning yourself and your client. Barbers have developed some tricks over the years to help with this, such as spraying with a cooling spray or using rubber grips on the clippers. Nowadays, the big brands of clippers such as Stylecraft, Gamma+, jRL and BaBylissPRO have done well to reduce heat in both the clippers and blades.

One contributing factor for heat, and the reason we grouped this together, is because of the extremely powerful motors in the clippers nowadays. Power is one of the big factors that people consider when choosing a clipper. How powerful a clipper is, meaning the strength and speed of the motor, can determine how much heat is produced. The motor type is another contributing factor, with the brushless motor from Stylecraft producing very low heat.

6. Extra accessories

The main accessory that people look for when determining which clipper to buy is the amount and type of clipper guards it comes with. The best that we have seen so far would be the high-end clippers from Gamma+ and Stylecraft which come with double-magnetic guards from a 0 all the way to a number 6 – eight in total, including a 1.5. The jRL, however, has the most from a 0.5 to a number 8 – 10 in total, including a 1.5.

Having a charging stand is a very nice additional accessory, but it’s also fine if the clipper does not come with one as they are usually sold separately for most clipper brands if you prefer to have one. That being said, out of all the clipper brands, Gamma+ and Stylecraft have done the most when it comes to extra accessories. When we opened up the Stylecraft Saber clipper, we were most impressed to find a charging stand, extra clipper face, a swappable stretch bracket, replacement cam follower, screwdriver, the option to change the lever from clickable to floating, etc. They have also been known to give extra blades from time to time.

We hope we’ve been of some help to you in deciding which clipper to buy next. Keep in mind that by the time you read this, new clippers will be coming out soon, as these new companies are constantly trying to up the ante. We’ve also given a list of some suggestions that we have available right here for sale that you can purchase and have delivered to you if you are in Trinidad & Tobago.

Best low-budget machines: Stylecraft Protege, Stylecraft Rogue, Kemei 1986, Ceenwes Gold and Silver

Best Professional Quality clippers: jRL 2020C, Stylecraft Saber, Stylecraft Rogue, Stylecraft Rebel, BaBylissPRO GoldFX (or variation)

Best clipper/trimmer combo: jRL 2020C and 2020T, Stylecraft Saber clipper and trimmer, Babyliss Clipper and trimmer

Best home-quality: Ceenwes all-in-one groom kit

Best battery life: Stylecraft Saber, jRL 2020C

Best for fading: jRL 2020C with the fade blade, Stylecraft Saber, Stylecraft Rogue

Best for debulking: jRL 2020C, BabylissPRO LOPRO, Stylecraft Saber, Stylecraft Rogue, BaByliss GoldFX (or variation)

Best at heat resistance: jRL 2020C, Stylecraft Saber

Best Intermediate Options: Stylecraft Protege

Posted on 13 November 202213 November 2022 by @cutsbyantonio and Nykima Straker — Leave a comment

How to grow a beard for No-Shave November

Hooray! It’s finally No-Shave November – the time of year when many men jump on a trend, but most still want to know how to grow a beard.

As with everything we write about, we’ve done the research to help bring the correct information to you. In doing so, we were able to find a bit of history on the trend from National Today and we’ve included an excerpt here:

No-Shave November was created in 2009, two years after the passing of Matthew Hill who struggled with colorectal cancer during the month of November in 2007. He and his family had already adopted the practice of not shaving during the month of November and donating the expenses typically used on razors and shaving cream to charities that support research into illnesses such as prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer among others.

The idea of using facial hair to create awareness during November started in 2003 in Australia with a group of friends who coined the term, “Movember,” in reference to how they will be growing out their mustaches and collecting money for mens’ health charities during that month. The Movember Foundation and No-Shave November are two separate entities, but they are both supporting and call for the same thing – stop shaving (or grow a mustache) during the month of November to spread awareness and donate to these types of charities.

In the past decade and a half that the two charities have been around they’ve been able to raise millions of dollars in support of charities that research prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer prevention.

Knowing now that there is a bigger purpose in the #noshavenovember trend, we would like to point you in the direction of our local NGO against cancer, Trinidad & Tobago Cancer Society, and urge you to use your money saved in the barbershop to donate to the cause.

To add greater credibility to the information provided to you today, we consulted with an expert in the field of growing beards, Nykima from the brand Opulence by Nykima. To hear the full interview, check out Episode 3 on The Cut Spot podcast.

The tips provided in this article all contribute in various ways to do one thing – provide the ideal environment needed for hair growth.

So let’s dive into these tips on how to grow a beard this No-Shave November with a good beard routine and the right tools:

1: Wash the beard

The beard is like a sieve; it picks up dirt and pollutants from the environment. It also traps dead skin cells, sweat and sebum produced during the day. If left to build up, with all these contaminants, your beard will also start to smell… Ewww! That’s definitely not the ideal environment we are looking for.

So what do you do? Simple, you wash it. But not with any old soap or hair shampoo. Regular hair shampoo is designed to strip oil from the hair with chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulfate and cocamidopropyl betanite – who can even pronounce that, right? If you use this on your beard, it’s going to leave it dry, coarse and itchy.

A beard shampoo/wash, however, is usually designed to be gentle on the facial hair, including the beard, and uses natural oils such as cocoa butter, shea butter and jojoba oil, together with the oils already present in the skin and hair, to keep the beard soft and healthy. Some shaving creams also can be used as beard washes.

So, wash your beard at least one to three times a week to keep it clean using a wash/shampoo specifically designed for beards. If you have oily skin or have been in an area high in air pollutants, you may even want to wash your beard more than the recommended three times per week.

2: Condition the beard

Like the specially designed beard wash, a beard conditioner uses the same organic oils to replenish the moisture in the beard, but more specifically, into the skin. This helps keep beard dandruff at bay.

3: Apply beard oil:

The purpose of beard oil is to moisturize the beard and skin, as well as give a little bit of shine. Can you use this alone instead of the beard conditioner? Yes, you can. While you can skip the beard conditioner if your budget does not allow it, you should not skip the beard oil. The beard oil will help to lock in the moisture and help keep the beard soft and moisturized.

4: Apply beard balm (optional)

As your beard grows out, one thing you will notice is that it can quickly lose its neatness as the hair can be difficult to tame. This is where the beard balm comes in. In addition to having natural oils like beard oil, some also contain beeswax that helps tame split ends and make the beard more manageable by holding back the flyaway hairs. This is the secret ingredient to having that well-groomed beard. Think of it like edge control for your beard.

Step 5: Use the right tools

In addition to using the right products to provide that ideal environment, the correct tools must be used in tandem:

Wooden beard comb: Hair is negatively charged. Plastic and metal are positively charged. As we all know opposites attract. Therefore, when attempting to detangle the beard using plastic or metal combs, you get that snagging, pulling, hair breakage, etc., causing split ends and damage to the hair we are actively trying to grow. To avoid this, use a wooden beard comb that glides through the hair because of it also being negatively charged.
Beard brush: Beard brushes are made of soft bristles designed to not irritate the skin. Using a regular coarse hair brush can irritate the skin, leading to dandruff, ingrown hairs, etc. A beard brush also acts as a stimulation tool to promote blood flow to the area. As the blood flow to the area increases, it brings with it more nutrients and fresh oxygen to promote growth. As a bonus, the beard brush also tames flyaways and helps evenly distribute the products.
Beard Roller: A beard roller – also known as a derma roller – is used to safely produce minuscule breaks in the skin, which triggers the healing process and forces increased blood flow to the area you want that beard growth, bringing those extra nutrients and oxygen needed for the growth process. It is recommended to use this at least once a week to stimulate beard growth. The beard roller is usually made of 540 micro 0.25mm to 0.5mm titanium needles. The process of using this is simple: first, you wash the beard, then you condition and apply your beard oil, then comb it out. Next, you sanitize the beard roller using 70% alcohol, and roll vertically, horizontally, and diagonally both ways in the desired area. Do this 6 to 8 times in each direction for even growth.

After doing all that you can to provide the most ideal environment for beard growth, the rest will be up to genetics and lifestyle choices, such as a good diet and exercise. That’s the best you can do if you want to grow your beard naturally.

If you’ve found this article helpful and want to be first to know when new content is released, be sure to subscribe to Trinidad Barber Supplies and check out The Cut Spot podcast on all podcast platforms for even more helpful tips and tricks.

Posted on 5 October 20229 October 2022 by @cutsbyantonio — Leave a comment

6 tips to earn more money as a barber

We’re here again – October in Trinidad & Tobago – usually a somber period for us. The national budget is read and the people of the country are still trying to get a grip on the new adjustments, particularly the increase in prices for some goods or services. The cry is always the same, “Everything goes up, except salaries.” The barbering industry is no different. The cost of living has gone up, and that includes the cost of doing business as a barber. A most basic example is the hike in the cost of fuel, which means that the cost of getting to work has gone up. The cost of products have also gone up, especially during and coming out of the pandemic.

So right now everyone is thinking of ways to make more money, including barbers. So let’s get in to these six tips that barbers can do to increase their income.

1. START TAKING DIGITAL PAYMENTS

Barbers should consider their career as a business instead of a hustle. If a barber were to switch their mindset to thinking like a businessman, new opportunities to earn more money will come along. One such method (which I got from Keron Rose’s Digipreneur podcast) just like businesses do, is to offer multiple payment options. In Trinidad & Tobago, and some Caribbean countries, far too many barbers and barbershops still only have cash as the only payment option. In 2022, that is unacceptable. Many barbers are losing potential clients on that one simple factor.

In recent years, the number of people walking around with cash is reducing for various reasons. Some say it’s to safeguard themselves against potential robbers. Some just find it more convenient as it’s a hassle to go to the ATM to withdraw cash. Some just don’t like walking around with bulky wallets. So this growing group of cashless clients may turn away from barbershops that only accept cash if there isn’t an ATM nearby.

Barbers need to provide a variety of payment methods to cater to the cashless client’s preference of payment, with the most basic one being credit/debit card payments. So how do you do that? Easy… Get your barbering business registered as a sole trader, and open a business bank account with one of the local banks. From there, your bank’s representative will give you instructions on how to get the Point of Sale (POS) terminals. In Trinidad & Tobago, First Citizens Bank has made it easy with their M-First option, for example. Republic bank has now upped the ante with its new Endcash app which eliminates the need for a POS terminal altogether. WiPay has also made it possible to accept credit/debit card payments without a POS terminal as well. So check out your options and decide which is best for you. Just don’t make cash your only payment option.

If you’re not sure how to register your barbering business in Trinidad & Tobago, contact Nekeisha from NSJ Services. She’s really good and will get it all done quickly for you.

2. START SELLING PRODUCTS

So you’re at the shop and you cut and style your client’s hair. They’re in love with it and are singing high praises to you for such an awesome job you did. But they don’t want to only keep the style for the day. The client wants to wake up tomorrow and maintain the fabulous style you did for them. So they ask you for the product you used in their hair. What do you do? You send them to get it at the store you bought it from. Nooooooo! You’re missing out on an opportunity to earn some extra cash. If you know you are using a particular product to style your clients’ hair, buy at least six of that product. Sooner or later, your clients will ask you for the product you used, at which point, you can offer it for sale. If you buy six bottles of the product and you add a markup of 20% minimum, most clients will gladly pay the little extra you are charging instead of driving to where you bought it, find a park, get out of their vehicle, go into the store, find the product and line up to buy it. So now imagine if you sold five products per day. What if it was more than that? Are you seeing how quickly and easily that extra money will add up? None of this takes away from your time spent cutting hair.

3. LEARN NEW SKILLS TO OFFER

Most barbershops have fixed prices on their services – adult haircuts, kids haircuts, shape-ups – they’re all fixed. The variety of services is limited to what is listed on the wall in most cases. But what if you added new services to your offerings? What if you did a course on how to dye hair and started offering that? As it is now, if a client wants part or all of their hair dyed, a lot of barbers tell the clients to get it done by a hairdresser before they come to the barbershop. So why not learn to do it yourself and start offering it as part of your catalogue of services? A word of caution though, make sure to read and follow all safety protocols when using these chemicals and be sure to have a plan in place in case someone has a negative reaction to it.

4. LEARN TO CUT FASTER

This point here is simple maths. The longer you’re taking to cut hair, the less clients you can cut per day, the less money you take home. It’s that simple. So how can you increase your speed? One way is to get more efficient. Keeping your station organised will help increase your speed. Keeping your guards, scissors, duster, etc, in the same place all the time, will make it become automatic to find. A barber apron also helps with organising your tools while working. A lot of time is wasted trying to find the right guard during each cut; it adds up. A great tip is to get the Wahl Coloured Guide Combs, that way you know which colour represents which number guard, making it easier to find which saves you time.

Another way to cut faster is to get better tools. If you are using a mediocre clipper, it’s going to take longer to get a decent fade, or to cut through bulk. Same for your trimmers/liners. Far too much time is wasted trying to get a good lineup with mediocre trimmers. If you were to invest in something proper, you can cut down the time it takes by half, and get a sharper edge too. So invest in some good, top-quality machines. Here are a few suggestions for some of the best machines available locally that will allow you to work better and faster.

Top Clippers: jRL 2020C, Stylecraft Saber, Stylecraft Rebel, Babyliss LOPRO, Kiepe Fuel, Gamma+ X-Ergo
Top Trimmers/Liners: Stylecraft Saber, BaByliss GoldFX Boost+, jRL 2020T, Andis GTX-EXO, BaByliss SnapFX, BaByliss LOPRO, Kiepe Fuel
Top Clipper/Trimmer Combos: jRL Gold Combo, BaByliss LimitedFX, Stylecraft Rogue Combo, Stylecraft Protege Combo
Top Electric Shavers: Stylecraft Rebel, Andis reSURGE, Kemei TX-3 Gold

5. CHARGE EXTRA FOR DESIGNS AND ENHANCEMENTS

Most barbershops have a price list that dictates how much the barber charges for basic services. In recent times, barbers have leveled up the quality of their haircuts by using enhancements. But this doesn’t come cheap to the barber. The price range for a bottle of premixed enhancement is about $140 to $150 TTD. Prices for the airbrushes to apply the enhancements vary but a portable one can run you about $1000 TTD. So if you are a barber that wants to do enhancements, consider offering it as an additional service where the client can choose if they want it or not, for an additional cost.

Doing designs is another great way to add that variety to your catalogue of services and the price for the designs will vary depending on the complexity and time taken to do the design. Plus it allows you to bring out your inner artist and get creative.

6. RAISE YOUR SKILL AND DEMAND, RAISE YOUR PRICES

Last, but not least, on today’s list is to raise your skill by intentionally practicing and trying to get better at what you do. In addition to getting the best tools you can afford, make it your duty to get better at each aspect of your craft. Do better drop fades, better lineups, better tapers, etc. What you will find is that your clients will be walking advertisements for you and pretty soon you will be booked up more.

If you are consistently getting booked out, then you know it is time to raise the prices of your services. That’s right. That is the position you want to find yourself in. Because two things are going to happen when you raise your prices: 1 – you will lose some clients who don’t want to pay the new price asked. 2 – some will be okay paying the higher price because of your excellent service and superior skill. The clients who stay on will fill in the lost income for the clients who left, and then some.

To conclude, don’t be discouraged and lose focus every time the budget is read and the cost of living goes up. Instead, focus on the only thing you can control – yourself. Do what you must to stay consistently ahead of the pack and always make it your goal to do what is reasonably necessary to continuously grow your income as your barbering career progresses.

BONUS TIP

Be sure to listen to The Cut Spot podcast with @CutsByAntonio and @KrewKutz as they share more tips, tricks and insights into the barbering industry here in Trinidad & Tobago.

Posted on 13 September 202216 October 2022 by @cutsbyantonio — 2 Comments

What tools or equipment do I need as a new barber?

Barbering is one of those age-old professions that almost anyone can get into, no matter how young you may be. While there is legislation outlining who is and isn’t allowed to cut and style hair professionally in some countries, there is nothing preventing anyone from grabbing a clipper and cutting your son’s, nephew’s, auntie’s or even your dog’s hair for that matter. Here in Trinidad & Tobago, as far as we are aware, there is no legislation regarding the criteria or licensing for someone to become a professional barber. It’s no surprise, therefore, that there are many people who are interested in at least trying it out. It happens to be a great way to earn money as a side hustle, too, for the people who prefer to keep their nine-to-five. The minimum wage in Trinidad & Tobago is currently $17.50 TTD an hour. A haircut takes 45 minutes to an hour long on average and the price for a haircut locally is approximately $100 TTD. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how barbering can be more lucrative as a main profession than as a side hustle.

The question “What tools or equipment do I need as a new barber?” is probably, by far, the main question we get asked. Therefore, it is only fitting that Trinidad Barber Supplies’ first blog post addresses this very issue.

For someone looking to simply try it out, almost any cheap old clipper you buy will be sufficient. After all, they all cut hair, and they usually come with a selection of guide combs to allow you to cut hair of varying lengths. That being said, this discussion is for those who would like to venture into barbering as more than just a hobby.

Let’s dive into this list!

Clipper

This is the only ‘must-have’ in the entire list. While some might say you can do a complete haircut with a scissors and comb, that requires a measure of skill and a beginner is most likely to botch that haircut… Sorry! However, a beginner would most certainly be able cut the hair down at least to one level with a clipper. A clipper is your main cutting tool to trim bulk and make the hair manageable during the process. It is also used for fading the hair by using a combination of detachable guide combs and the blade adjustment lever.

As with any barbering tool, clippers come in a variety of brands, shapes, sizes and an even wider variety of internal specs such as motor-types, for example. To keep things simple, we are going to divide clippers into two broad categories: entry-grade and professional-grade. Entry-grade clippers would be on the low-end of the price spectrum costing between $400 to $900 TTD. Entry-grade clippers give basic cutting ability and don’t usually last as long as the professional grades. Professional-grade clippers will usually range from about $1400 to $2000 TTD, sometimes higher. Most provide, excellent cutting ability, excelling in a particular area such as fading ability or bulk removal ability, and usually last years.

As a beginner, you’re most likely to consider what is the most affordable or cost-effective clipper you can get, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, you may be hindering yourself in the long run, because by simply expanding the budget slightly, you can go from a cheap, trash clipper you’ll need to repair or replace within a short space of time (not so cost-effective after all) to an entry-grade clipper so good that even some professional barbers use and recommend. We’ll venture even further to say that, in 2022, we are not going to recommend any corded clippers due to several limitations from heating and noise issues, to lack of mobility, less power, etc.

Some entry-grade clippers available here to us right here in Trinidad & Tobago are the , Kemei 1984, Wahl Magic Clip and Ceenwes silver and gold, and the Stylecraft Rogue (that is actually a professional grade clipper, but without all the extra cases and charging stands so the price is low). For those with a larger budget, who want to take the leap into getting a professional-grade clipper, you’re going to want to consider something like the jRL 2020C, Stylecraft Saber, Babyliss LOPROFX or GoldFX, etc.

Trimmer

The trimmer, commonly called the liner, is what barbers mainly use for creating sharp edges in the hair or around the hairline. Depending on how you adjust the blade, it is also used to cut the hair down almost to skin level when performing skin fades, or even shaving the beard and mustache. Used in combination with an electric shaver or straight razor, you can really take the hair down to skin level for that clean ‘baby’s bottom’ finish. Many options are available here, so pick the one that best suits your budget.

Capes and Aprons

Capes are, without a doubt essential they keep the client clean and prevent hair from getting all over their clothes and skin – without this things can get quite messy and itchy. The apron keeps the barber’s clothes clean and almost all of the latest styles have some form of pockets that are specifically designed to fit your clippers, scissors, combs, etc., which helps you to increase both your speed and efficiency when working.

Neck strips

Neck strips are used to create a barrier between the client’s neck and the reusable cape.D Some barbers use tissue paper, but in 2022, we can have a little more finesse by using the neck strips, especially as the cost is so cheap. It works out to be approximately $0.40 TTper neck strip, so there’s really no need to be frugal.

Scissors

Scissors may or may not be considered essential. It depends on if the hairstyles you plan to do require them or not. However, it would not hurt to add a pair or two to your arsenal, just in case you do get a client that you need them for… because trust us, when you do need them, you’ll regret not spending the few extra dollars to get a good pair of scissors!

Handheld hair dryer

This is not essential if you don’t plan to wash hair, but we guarantee you will miss it in the event that you do. It can be quite a disgusting experience to cut dirty hair… or let’s imagine it rains and the client arrives with wet hair? You can’t cut wet hair with your clippers and you’ll regret having to spend that extra time waiting for hair to air dry. Hair dryers are also key in certain hairstyles; forget achieving the same result without one.

Brushes and combs

Various sizes and designs are available to coax, train and style the hair, but the absolute basics a barber should have are the 7-inch tapered comb and an afro-pick. Brushes also come in quite a wide variety, but to start with you should have a small barber brush or knuckle brush which you can use to brush the short hair while fading and/or cleaning your tools.

Clipper Spray

This is essential for clipper maintenance: keeping your tools clean to prevent cross-contamination of bacteria, germs and fungi from client to client. It can also be used to clean your combs, brushes etc. The clipper spray also has a little lubrication, which helps your clippers to run smoothly. However, it does not provide sufficient lubrication so it is always recommended to add clipper oil to your arsenal for use in between cuts or as needed.

Barber Backpacks

New barbers tend to do mostly house calls before taking the leap to join a barbershop. Therefore, for easy and safe transportation, we highly recommend getting a bag designed to hold and transport your barbering tools safely such as the G&B Pro Mobile Stations. To ensure even more safety for your tools during transport, you can get a padded sleeve for an extra layer of protection in case your bag gets knocked around.

There are also additional challenges and solutions with house calls, which will be highlighted in a future article, such as tripping over wires; this is another reason why we don’t recommend corded machines – except blow dryers – in 2022. For decades, barbers have struggled for reach with short cords, and even if you solve that with an extension cord, either you, the client or anyone in the vicinity can easily trip over the cord. No more of this in 2022, please.

There are other optional add-ons to this starter kit, of course, but over time, through experience and with the right advice from other professionals, you’ll be able to determine what essentials you require for your kit, e.g. hair products or aftershave. You don’t have to start big to get big in this game; trust us when we say that your heart for the craft and perseverance for acquiring the knowledge and experience will take you far. Congratulations on taking the first step in this new vocation and we look forward to serving you and your business and seeing what you can bring to the world of barbering!

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Van der Vlugt

2022-10-16

I have recommended Trinidad Barber Supplies to my clients for their grooms and groomsmen to get all their needs in preparation for wedding day and special events... haven't been disappointed! Great range of products for all hair types and hair/skin/styling needs. The Ballsy products smell amazing and make wonderful gifts as well. Payment and delivery was quick and easy and I like that there were different options to pay as well.