They also make your dog’s coat feel softer than skip tooth blades. Many groomers use skip tooth blades to give the dog a quick overall cut before they wash them and then finish grooming with a different blade.įine tooth blades provide you with a cleaner, smoother look.

They will leave the dog’s coat with a layered look because they don’t trim evenly depending on how much hair has to be fed through the blades. We didn’t dismiss any trimmer for not having these things, but we were definitely impressed with how thoroughly some trimmers complete the “haircutting kit.Skip tooth blades feed the dog’s hair into the clippers, and this feeding process is what enables them to cut through almost any type of fur. Grooming accessories: The main trimmer is priority number one, but guide combs, additional trimmer heads, shaver heads (which turn the beard trimmer into a smaller version of an electric shaver), and nose hair trimmers can make a middling device look more attractive.We looked for cords that were both long (at least 5 feet) and flexible for easy maneuvering and storage. A pliable, long wire (for a corded tool): Corded trimmers are much more powerful and reliable than cordless models, although they’re less convenient and less popular for beard trimming, specifically.We wanted a tool that could at least approximate a shave, cutting the hair as close as possible without nicking or agitating the skin. None can replace an electric shaver or a razor blade for closeness, but some people like the stubble that beard trimmers deliver, and many trimmers do an adequate job of eliminating the stubble at the bottom of a beard, around the neck. Ability to shave: Any beard trimmer can be used as a shaver by simply removing the guide comb.We liked some, but none ended up being picks. Still, we did try many trimmers with adjustable guides in our latest round of testing. This design is more convenient than having to change combs all the time, but many adjustable guides are flimsy, and most do not offer enough range for thick, long beards. Many trimmers, especially inexpensive models, have a single, adjustable-length guide comb. Rigid, fixed-length guide combs: Earlier versions of this guide favored trimmers with multiple, fixed-length guide combs, which determine how much beard is left after a pass of the trimmer.

A slim design offers more visibility in front of a mirror and allows you to better monitor where you’re cutting, but a too-slim design can be difficult to grip securely.

A slim, robust design: We like trimmers that are slender in shape but also durable enough to last years without breaking if dropped.

A powerful motor: We wanted a tool with enough oomph to cut through the coarsest hair, without pulling and without requiring multiple passes.

Clipper guard size chart for dogs