I don’t know about you, but I see those trimmer guards: the sizes they have and wwonder – what do those sizes actually mean? What size guard should I use to trim my beard? What size guard should I use to trim my eyebrows?
It’s just too confusing.
If you get the size wrong…
If you get the size wrong it could have a dramastic effect on your look. Using the wrong guard for your eyebrows could have you shave off too much hair – making your eyebrows so short they look like they have been shaved off.
Imagine walking into your work or out on a weekend with your eyebrows shaved off – or at least appear to be.
We certainly wouldn’t want that.
Let’s get the correct guard for the job
So, let’s us both take the time; examine what each size actually means and choose the correct trimmer for the hair you want to trim.
Be it a beard, stubble or eyebrows – let’s trim them with the confidence of using the right guard.
What do the sizes mean
So, each guard has a number, a numeric value associated with it. These numbers represent the size of the guard.
You may have already guessed that, but let’s take a moment and list each number to its size – these are in inches.
- Number 0 – one-sixteenth of an ince – 1.5mm
- Number 1 – one-eighth of an inch – 3mm
- Number 2 – one-quarter of an inch – 6mm
- Number 3 – three-eighths of an inch – 10mm
- Number 4 – one-half an inch – 13mm
- Number 5 – five-eighths of an inch – 16mm
- Number 6 – three-quarters of an inch – 19mm
- Number 7 – seven-eighths of an inch – 22mm
- Number 8 – one inch – 25mm
- Number 10 – 1 and one-quarter of an inch – 32mm
- Number 12 – 1 and half of an inch – 38mm
Looking at the list above it seems that it jumps from 8 to 10. I couldn’t find a listing for a size 9 – but logic insists that if there is one it woudl be 1 and one-eight of an inch and about 28–29mm.
The same goes for a number 11 – it would be in the middle of sizes for 10 and 12.
When looking into the sizes for these guards I also notes that; for sizes 0 (no guard) to 8 – each company listed those. Size 10 some companies had – and others listed 10 and 12.
So, when it comes to choosing the trimmer you decide on; you need to take into consideration the size of the trimmer guards you need (you can use the above list) – and order the trimmer that comes with all the guards you need.
Before we go on to examine what sizes are good for each of your facial hairs – I wanted to just list a trimmer I’ve just come across.
You fit the required guard (there are 2 to choose from). When you fit the correct guard you set the size for using a dial on the trimmer – and the sizes are in mm from 0.5mm to 20mm.
This particular trimmer is the Braun Beard Trimmer BT7040 and Hair Clipper
Working in millimeters may be easier and in most cases you may only need to leave 1 of the two guards on at all times and just sent the variable size for each facial hair you want to trim.
Trimming your beard – what trimmer guard sizes should you use
The best thing about using a trimmer for your beard is: you decide the size of the length of it.
It doesn’t matter if you use 0 size guard or 10 – if you shaved your beard completely off it wouldn’t look out of place. So, when it comes down to the size of the guard to use – look at the sizes listed below and judge just how long you want your beard to be.
Then choose the next size guard up and test it out. This way you don’t take too much off on the first trim – and if you would like to take those few more millimeters off then you can just change down a guard size.
You’re really in control of which guard size and beard length sutes what you want.
Trimming your eyebrows – what trimmer guard size should you use
Unlike when trimming a beard – cutting too much off your eyebrows can be worrying. Although some may like to do this as a fasion statement – or paint on some eyebrows – not having eyebrows can give you a very different look.
For most people, the look of no eyebrows is not one they would like. So, its very important to choose the right gurard size for eyebrows.
Again, you could simply look at the sizes listed above and choose how much hair length you would like left on your eyebrows.
So, what length should men’s eyebrows be trimmed? Mens eyebrows should be trimmed no sorter than half an inch – so you would use guard size 4 and above.
Personally, I would say start with something like an 8, 7 or 6 guard and see how they look – then go down to the length you would like. Anything below 1/4″ should be avoided for a good looking eyebrow – but your style will dictate what length you like.
Personally, and I’m writing this from personal experience and research – 1/4″ – guard size 4 is the shortest I would trim.
If you have a uni-brow eyebrow
If you have a uni-brow eyebrow then you may want to use trimmer guard 0 to trim between and style this into 2 beautiful eyebrows.
Again, this is really down to personal taste and style. Always groom and style to your own taste and not somebody elses. You are the expert when it comes to your hair and look.
Choose your length
In this article I’ve listed the guard sizes and lengths. Be individual and choose the length that suites you. Trim your facial hair (eyebrows included) to the length you want – not what someone else tells you is the correct length.
Enjoy you trimming.