Remember when we all used those cheap plastic guards for clipper blades?

I was cleaning my station last week and found an old pack from my first kit in 2015. I used to think they were fine, just a bit flimsy. Then a barber from Austin showed me his set of Andis metal guards, and the weight and solid click made all the difference. No more slipping or uneven pressure, especially on tight fades. Anyone still using the plastic ones, or did you all switch too?

4 comments

4 Comments

alice_allen59h ago

Totally get what @elliot_roberts means about the plastic warping. Something I never see talked about is the sound. The plastic ones make this cheap scraping noise that some clients really notice. A metal guard is just quiet and smooth, makes the whole cut feel more pro to them. That little bit of extra confidence they have can make a tough cut way easier.

violag8012h ago

Yeah, those Andis ones are great, but Wahl's metal guards have a better grip for me.

fionafoster9h ago

Saw a barber on YouTube saying the Wahl grip is better for people with bigger hands. Makes sense why @violag80 likes them. That plastic noise would drive me nuts too.

elliot_roberts9h ago

My old plastic guard from 2016 actually cracked on the hinge mid-fade, client had a weird line for a week. The real issue is the plastic warps over time from all the cleaning sprays, so even if it feels tight at first, the fit gets sloppy. Metal doesn't change shape, so the length stays true. That consistency matters more to me than just the weight in my hand.