Barber in a flat cap cutting a client's hair with a cordless clipper in a traditional barbershop

The Best Barber Starter Kits in 2026

By Elias Becker · Licensed barber, ten years behind the chair · Updated October 29, 2026 · 11 min read

NOVAH makes our top pick and says so in its entry. No other brand paid to appear.

OUR TOP PICKBest clipper + trimmer set

NOVAH Pro Clipper and Pro Trimmer, matte black cordless set

NOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer

★ 4.5 stars from 12,000+ Amazon reviews

Check price on Amazon
  • A cordless clipper and a detail trimmer in one set
  • 5+ hours per charge on standard speed, both tools
  • Brushless clipper motor: 6,000 RPM standard, 6,500 RPM turbo
  • 6 clipper guards, 1.5 to 13 mm

Our top pick for the clipper and trimmer at the heart of a first barber kit is the NOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer. We make it, so read its entry with that in mind.

A barber starter kit is not one box. It is a clipper, a trimmer, and the pieces around them: shears, a comb, a cape, a neck duster, oil and a brush. We could not confirm a pick on this list that ships all of that, so this page is plain about what each maker lists in the box. The Wahl Magic Clip, which runs cord or cordless, and the JRL Onyx trimmer are single tools a student can pair into a kit of their own, and the JRL Onyx clipper is the premium single clipper. The Andis inCRED kit is the lowest-priced start, with a full guard set, and the BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ prepack is the premium set.

Below: all six picks with who each one suits and who should skip it, one table comparing every spec, what a first kit needs beyond the clippers, and how we chose.

Our picks at a glance

  1. 1NOVAH Pro Clipper and Pro Trimmer, matte black cordless setBest clipper + trimmer setNOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer5+ hours on standard speedCheck price
  2. 2Wahl Magic Clip cordless clipper on a folded white towel on a barber chairBest cord/cordless clipper to build a kit aroundWahl Professional 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip100 minutes$144.99See details
  3. 3Andis inCRED cordless clipper standing on a wooden counter beside a towelBest budget clipper with a full guard setAndis inCRED Lithium-Ion Cordless Clipper KitUp to 2 hours$59.99See details
  4. 4JRL Onyx cordless clipper beside the JRL Onyx trimmer on a rubber matPremium pick: dual-speed cordless barber clipperJRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair ClipperUp to 5 hours$195.00See details
  5. 5JRL Onyx cordless clipper beside the JRL Onyx trimmer on a rubber matBest trimmer to addJRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair TrimmerUp to 3.5 hours$135.00See details
  6. 6BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ clipper and trimmer standing side by side on a stone barber counterPremium pick: all-metal clipper and trimmer setBaBylissPRO BlackFX+ All-Metal Clipper & Trimmer Prepack$349.99See details

Other brands' list prices as each maker listed them, checked between Oct 2, 2026 and Nov 2, 2026.

OUR TOP PICK

Best clipper + trimmer set: NOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer

The clipper and trimmer core of a first kit: brushless, cordless, and each tool lists 5+ hours on standard speed.

NOVAH Pro Clipper and Pro Trimmer, matte black cordless set
Runtime5+ hours on standard speed
Guards6 clipper guards
Power: CordlessMotor: Brushless, 6,000 RPM standard, 6,500 RPM turbo (clipper)Blade: Clipper with taper lever, plus a detail trimmer

Best for

  • A student or first-time home barber who needs both cutting tools in one purchase
  • Cordless work around the chair, with an LED display on the clipper for charge, speed and lock state
  • A trimmer that can be zero-gapped once your lineups are ready for it

Skip it if

  • You need shears or a foil shaver in the same box: the set includes a comb, a cape and oil, but not shears or a foil shaver
  • You want a corded machine that never needs charging
  • You already own a clipper you like and only need a trimmer

We make this set, so weigh that as you read. It is our top pick for a starter kit because it covers the two tools a first kit cannot do without, in one box, and both are cordless. The clipper does the bulk of the cut and the trimmer does the lines, which is the part a new barber practises most.

The clipper runs a brushless motor at 6,000 RPM, with a turbo setting at 6,500 RPM, inside an all-metal housing, and it weighs 0.75 lb (12 oz). It ships with 6 guards from 1.5 to 13 mm and has an LED display on the back for charge, speed and lock state. The trimmer ships with 4 guards of its own, can be zero-gapped and has a battery display. Both tools list 5+ hours on standard speed per charge; turbo uses more battery. The set carries a 1-year warranty, 2 years on the motor, and the Amazon listing shows 4.5 stars from 12,000+ reviews.

To be plain about the box: the contents we have confirmed are the clipper, the trimmer, 6 clipper guards, 4 trimmer guards, a comb, a barber cape and an oil bottle. Shears and a foil shaver are separate purchases. Check the Amazon listing for the full box contents before you buy.

Check price on Amazon
Runtime per charge, as each maker lists it

NOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer5+ hours (standard speed)

JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair ClipperUp to 5 hours

JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair TrimmerUp to 3.5 hours

Andis inCRED Lithium-Ion Cordless Clipper KitUp to 2 hours

Wahl Professional 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip100 minutes

Longest bar = longest published runtime. Makers' own figures, not our tests; corded models and runtimes we could not confirm are left out. NOVAH's is our own figure for standard speed.

#2

Best cord/cordless clipper to build a kit around: Wahl Professional 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip

Wahl lists a rotary motor, a Stagger-Tooth blade and cord/cordless use. The Strategist names it Best hair clipper overall.

Wahl Magic Clip cordless clipper on a folded white towel on a barber chair
Photo: NOVAH
Runtime100 minutes
List price$144.99
Guards8 guides
Power: Cord/cordlessMotor: RotaryBlade: Stagger-Tooth blade

Best for

  • A barber-shop clipper that runs on its cord when the battery is low
  • Fading and blending with Wahl's Stagger-Tooth blade
  • A clipper two of the big guides name as a pick

Skip it if

  • You want a trimmer in the same box: this is the clipper alone
  • You want a big guard set: Wahl lists 8 guides
  • Budget matters: Wahl lists it at $144.99

Wahl lists the 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip with a rotary motor and a Stagger-Tooth blade, 100 minutes of runtime from a 60 minute charge, 8 guides in the box and a weight of 10.2 oz. The Strategist names it Best hair clipper overall, and Men's Health names it Most versatile hair clippers.

For a student building a kit, it answers the corded-or-cordless question in the criteria below by doing both: it runs on its battery and on its cord, so a flat battery does not have to stop a cut in class. It is a barber-shop staple built for fading and blending, and the Stagger-Tooth blade is the part that makes it a fading tool. Pair it with a trimmer for the hairline and the neckline.

Wahl lists 8 guides, so check your school's kit list for the lengths it expects. It is the clipper alone, with no trimmer. Wahl lists it at $144.99 (checked 2026-10-19).

Choose it over NOVAH if you want a cord/cordless barber clipper and plan to buy the trimmer separately. Choose NOVAH if you want the clipper and the trimmer in one box.

Also named by The Strategist (New York Magazine): Best hair clipper overall; Men's Health: Most versatile hair clippers. Specs from wahlpro.com, checked Sep 25, 2026. List price re-checked Nov 2, 2026.

See the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip on Amazon

#3

Best budget clipper with a full guard set: Andis inCRED Lithium-Ion Cordless Clipper Kit

Andis lists an 18-piece cord/cordless kit with 10 guide combs from 1/16 in to 1 in, at $59.99.

Andis inCRED cordless clipper standing on a wooden counter beside a towel
Photo: NOVAH
RuntimeUp to 2 hours
List price$59.99
Guards10 guide combs, 1/16 in to 1 in, plus blending and left and right taper combs
Power: Cord/cordlessMotor: Rotary, 5,500 strokes per minuteBlade: Titanium-coated stainless-steel blades

Best for

  • The lowest list price here, with guards included
  • A full run of guide combs, plus blending and taper combs, per Andis
  • A cord as a fallback: Andis lists it as cord/cordless

Skip it if

  • You want a barber-line machine: this is a home kit
  • You want a trimmer in the same box
  • Your school names a specific clipper: buy that one

Andis lists the inCRED as an 18-piece cord/cordless home clipper kit with 10 guide combs from 1/16 in to 1 in, plus blending and left and right taper combs. Andis lists a rotary motor at 5,500 strokes per minute, titanium-coated stainless-steel blades, up to 2 hours of runtime, a weight of 8.3 oz and a 5 year warranty.

It is on a barber list for one reason: price with guards. The criteria below point out that some professional clippers ship with no guide combs, which costs a student an extra purchase before the first cut. This kit has a full run of combs in the box, at the lowest list price on this page, and it runs on its cord as well as its battery.

It is a home kit, not a barber-line tool, and none of the four big guides names it. Treat it as a practice clipper or a backup, and check it against your school's kit list. It has no trimmer. Andis lists it at $59.99 (checked 2026-10-19).

Choose it over NOVAH if the budget only covers a clipper and guards for now. Choose NOVAH if you want the clipper and the trimmer for lines in one box.

Specs from andis.com, checked Sep 28, 2026. List price re-checked Nov 2, 2026.

See the Andis inCRED Lithium-Ion Cordless Clipper Kit on Amazon

#4

Premium pick: dual-speed cordless barber clipper: JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Clipper

JRL lists two speeds, 6,000 and 7,500 RPM, up to 5 hours per charge and a 5-position taper lever.

JRL Onyx cordless clipper beside the JRL Onyx trimmer on a rubber mat
Photo: NOVAH
RuntimeUp to 5 hours
List price$195.00
Guards10 guard combs, #0.5 to #8
Power: Cordless, lithium-ion, dual voltageMotor: Dual speed, 6,000 and 7,500 RPMBlade: Stainless-steel fade blade, adjustable 0.5 to 3.5 mm, with a 5-position taper lever

Best for

  • A barber clipper that still ships with guards: JRL includes 10 combs, #0.5 to #8
  • Blending fades with a 5-position taper lever, per JRL
  • Long days at school: JRL lists up to 5 hours per charge

Skip it if

  • Budget matters: JRL lists it at $195.00
  • You want a trimmer in the same box: pair it with one
  • You want to run it on a cord: we could not confirm cord use on JRL's page

JRL lists the Onyx as a cordless lithium-ion clipper with two speeds, 6,000 and 7,500 RPM, and up to 5 hours of runtime. JRL lists a stainless-steel fade blade that adjusts from 0.5 to 3.5 mm with a 5-position taper lever, and includes 10 guard combs from #0.5 to #8. JRL lists a weight of 12.7 oz, an LED display, dual voltage and a 1 year warranty.

The criteria below warn that some professional clippers ship with no guide combs at all. This one is sold as a professional clipper and still has 10 in the box, so a student does not need a separate guard set before the first cut. The taper lever has set positions, which helps when you are learning to return to the same in-between length, and the listed runtime covers a long day of practice.

None of the four big guides names it, and we could not confirm its motor type on JRL's page. Pair it with the JRL Onyx trimmer, or any trimmer on your school's list. JRL lists it at $195.00 (checked 2026-10-02).

Choose it over NOVAH if you want a barber clipper with two speeds and set taper positions and will buy the trimmer separately. Choose NOVAH if you want both cutting tools in one box.

Specs and list price from jrlusa.com, checked Oct 2, 2026.

#5

Best trimmer to add: JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Trimmer

JRL lists a cordless T-blade trimmer whose EZ-GAP blade zero-gaps without tools.

JRL Onyx cordless clipper beside the JRL Onyx trimmer on a rubber mat
Photo: NOVAH
RuntimeUp to 3.5 hours
List price$135.00
Power: Cordless, charging dock includedMotor: 8,200 RPM, Smart-Clip adaptive motorBlade: EZ-GAP T-blade, 360-degree exposed, tool-free zero-gapping

Best for

  • Pairing with the clipper you chose, for the hairline, neckline and beard line
  • Zero-gapping without tools, per JRL
  • A charging dock and up to 3.5 hours of runtime, per JRL

Skip it if

  • You do not have a clipper yet: a set covers both tools
  • You want trimmer guards: JRL lists none in the box
  • You are new to zero-gapping: it cuts closest and leaves the least room for error

JRL lists the Onyx trimmer as a cordless trimmer with an EZ-GAP T-blade, 360-degree exposed, that zero-gaps without tools. JRL lists an 8,200 RPM Smart-Clip adaptive motor, up to 3.5 hours of runtime and a charging dock. We could not confirm its weight or warranty length on JRL's page, and JRL lists no guards in the box.

The criteria below describe the trimmer's job in a first kit: a narrower T-blade for the hairline, the neckline, around the ears and the beard line. This is a T-blade trimmer, and its blade zero-gaps without a screwdriver, a task a student otherwise learns by hand. A zero-gapped blade cuts closest and leaves the least room for error, so practise on the neckline before the forehead.

When we read JRL's page on 2026-10-05, it said orders ship two weeks from purchase, so order well before the first class. JRL lists it at $135.00 (checked 2026-10-05).

Choose it over NOVAH if you already have a clipper and only need the trimmer. Choose NOVAH if you want both cutting tools in one box.

Specs and list price from jrlusa.com, checked Oct 5, 2026.

See the JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Trimmer on Amazon

#6

Premium pick: all-metal clipper and trimmer set: BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ All-Metal Clipper & Trimmer Prepack

BaBylissPRO's BlackFX+ prepack: an all-metal clipper and trimmer in one box.

BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ clipper and trimmer standing side by side on a stone barber counter
Photo: NOVAH
List price$349.99

Best for

  • Both cutting tools from one barber brand, in one box
  • An all-metal pair, as the product name says
  • A student who wants premium tools from day one

Skip it if

  • Budget matters: BaBylissPRO lists it at $349.99, the highest list price here
  • You need to match a kit list on guards or runtime: we could not confirm them
  • You want a cape, comb or oil in the box: we could not confirm any

BaBylissPRO lists the BlackFX+ All-Metal Clipper & Trimmer Prepack, model FXCTMBPK, at $349.99 (checked 2026-10-23). The name gives two facts: both tools are all-metal, and the box holds a clipper and a trimmer. We read the name and price on BaBylissPRO's own site but could not read the product page itself, so we could not confirm the box contents beyond the two tools, or the guards, runtime, motor, power source or warranty. The table below says Not confirmed for each.

For a student, it covers the two cutting tools a first kit is built around, from one barber brand, in one purchase. The criteria below say to check the box list, not the photo, and that applies here: check BaBylissPRO's product page for guards, a charger and oil, and check your school's kit list before you buy.

It has the highest list price on this page, and none of the four big guides names it.

Choose it over NOVAH if you want an all-metal BaBylissPRO pair and your school's list allows it. Choose NOVAH if you want a set whose box contents are confirmed: the clipper, the trimmer, 6 clipper guards, 4 trimmer guards, a comb, a barber cape and an oil bottle.

Specs from babylisspro.com, checked Oct 23, 2026. List price re-checked Nov 2, 2026.

Every Pick Compared Side by Side

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

Clipper Power Motor Runtime Guards Blade List price
NOVAH Pro Clipper and Pro Trimmer, matte black cordless setNOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer Cordless Brushless, 6,000 RPM standard, 6,500 RPM turbo (clipper) 5+ hours on standard speed (clipper and trimmer) 6 clipper guards, 1.5 to 13 mm Clipper with taper lever, plus a detail trimmer Check today's price on Amazon
Wahl Magic Clip cordless clipper on a folded white towel on a barber chairWahl Professional 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip Cord/cordless Rotary 100 minutes 8 guides Stagger-Tooth blade $144.99
Andis inCRED cordless clipper standing on a wooden counter beside a towelAndis inCRED Lithium-Ion Cordless Clipper Kit Cord/cordless Rotary, 5,500 strokes per minute Up to 2 hours 10 guide combs, 1/16 in to 1 in, plus blending and left and right taper combs Titanium-coated stainless-steel blades $59.99
JRL Onyx cordless clipper beside the JRL Onyx trimmer on a rubber matJRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Clipper Cordless, lithium-ion, dual voltage Dual speed, 6,000 and 7,500 RPM Up to 5 hours 10 guard combs, #0.5 to #8 Stainless-steel fade blade, adjustable 0.5 to 3.5 mm, with a 5-position taper lever $195.00
JRL Onyx cordless clipper beside the JRL Onyx trimmer on a rubber matJRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Trimmer Cordless, charging dock included 8,200 RPM, Smart-Clip adaptive motor Up to 3.5 hours Not confirmed EZ-GAP T-blade, 360-degree exposed, tool-free zero-gapping $135.00
BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ clipper and trimmer standing side by side on a stone barber counterBaBylissPRO BlackFX+ All-Metal Clipper & Trimmer Prepack Not confirmed Not confirmed Not confirmed Not confirmed Not confirmed $349.99

Other brands: from each maker's own product page, checked on the dates shown in each entry. "Not confirmed" means we could not confirm it on the maker's page. NOVAH's figures are our own.

List price, as each maker lists it

Andis inCRED Lithium-Ion Cordless Clipper Kit$59.99

JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Trimmer$135.00

Wahl Professional 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip$144.99

JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Clipper$195.00

BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ All-Metal Clipper & Trimmer Prepack$349.99

Shortest bar = lowest list price. Makers' list prices on the dates shown in each entry; store prices vary.

Our top pick: NOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer, a clipper and a trimmer in one set.

Check price on Amazon

What the Big Guides Named

This table shows what four guides, Wirecutter, The Strategist, Forbes Vetted and Men's Health, named these machines.

Clipper Wirecutter The Strategist Forbes Vetted Men's Health
Wahl Magic Clip cordless clipper on a folded white towel on a barber chairWahl Professional 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip Not a pick Best hair clipper overall Not a pick Most versatile hair clippers
Andis inCRED cordless clipper standing on a wooden counter beside a towelAndis inCRED Lithium-Ion Cordless Clipper Kit Not a pick Not a pick Not a pick Not a pick
JRL Onyx cordless clipper beside the JRL Onyx trimmer on a rubber matJRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Clipper Not a pick Not a pick Not a pick Not a pick
JRL Onyx cordless clipper beside the JRL Onyx trimmer on a rubber matJRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Trimmer Not a pick Not a pick Not a pick Not a pick
BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ clipper and trimmer standing side by side on a stone barber counterBaBylissPRO BlackFX+ All-Metal Clipper & Trimmer Prepack Not a pick Not a pick Not a pick Not a pick

As published by each guide (page dates: Wirecutter 2025-03-28, The Strategist 2025-05-06, Forbes Vetted 2026-09-29, Men's Health 2026-03-30). Model years and editions can differ slightly between guides.

What to Look For in a Hair Clipper

What a First Barber Kit Needs

Two cutting tools and a handful of extras. The clipper takes down length and does the bulk of a fade. The trimmer has a narrower T-blade for the hairline, the neckline, around the ears and the beard line. Around them you need a set of guards, a cutting comb, shears for the top, a cape, neck strips or a duster, clipper oil and a cleaning brush. A foil shaver is a nice fourth tool for skin fades; we could not confirm one in any box on this list.

If your school publishes a kit list, it wins over any page online. Read it first, then use this list to choose the clipper and trimmer that fit it.

NOVAH clipper and trimmer standing side by side in a barber's cart tray
A NOVAH clipper and trimmer in a barber's cart tray: the two tools every kit on this list starts from.

Corded or Cordless in a Shop

Corded tools never run flat and never need a charging routine, and two of the picks here, the Wahl Magic Clip and the Andis inCRED, also run on a cord. The trade is the cord itself, which has to be managed around the chair and around the client. Cordless tools move freely around a head and travel well, and the published runtime is the figure to compare. Compare it in the same units: a figure given in minutes and one given in hours are telling you different things. Cord/cordless tools do both, with a cord as a fallback.

Barber clipping a client's nape with a guarded NOVAH clipper
A guarded clipper taking down the nape: the job the clipper half of a kit is for.

Guards and an Adjustable Blade

Guards set the cut length without any blade skill, so a full run of lengths that clip on firmly matters on a first kit. An adjustable blade or taper lever opens and closes the cut a little between guard lengths, which is how a fade gets blended rather than stepped. Some professional clippers ship with no guide combs at all, which suits a working barber and costs a student an extra purchase before the first cut. Check the box list, not the photo.

NOVAH clipper guard sizes: A is 1/16 inch or 1.5mm, 1 is 1/8 inch or 3mm, B is 3/16 inch or 4.5mm, 2 is 1/4 inch or 6mm, 3 is 3/8 inch or 10mm, 4 is 1/2 inch or 13mm
Guard sizes on NOVAH's clipper, 1.5 to 13 mm. Other makers label and size theirs differently.

Do You Need Both a Clipper and a Trimmer?

Yes, for barber work. A clipper blade is too wide to set a hairline or clean a neckline, and a trimmer motor and blade are not built to take down a full head of length. Two of the six picks on this list pair the two in one box. The others are single clippers and a single trimmer that you can combine yourself, which lets you choose each tool.

Barber lining up a client's forehead hairline with a T-blade trimmer
Lining up the forehead with a T-blade trimmer, the detail a clipper blade is too wide for.

How We Chose

We did not run our own lab test of these tools, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Here is what we did instead.

We started from what a first barber kit has to contain, a clipper and a trimmer, and listed sets that pair the two, plus single tools a student can pair alone, and kept the ones we have our own photos of. We dropped sets that were sold out or on pre-order on the makers' own sites on 2026-10-02; the two we dropped are named under also considered below.

The other brands' picks list from $59.99 to $349.99 at the makers' sites. Every competitor spec and list price comes from each maker's own website on the date shown in each entry. Where we could not confirm a figure on the maker's page, the table says so rather than filling it in.

NOVAH's set is on the list because we make it, and it is our top pick. Its entry follows the same template as the others, including who should skip it.

5 of the 5 machines on this page were bought by NOVAH and photographed by our barber; the product photos are ours. We have not run timed tests, so runtime, motor and weight figures are each maker's published numbers.

What changed: First published October 2026. Picks updated October 23, 2026. Other brands' specs and list prices come from each maker's own page, read on the dates shown.

Also Worth Knowing About

  • JRL FreshFade FF2020 Limited Gold Collection (clipper and trimmer). A matched JRL FreshFade clipper and trimmer pair in a limited gold finish, listed at $270.00. It was sold out on the maker's site when we checked on 2026-10-02, so it is not a pick.
  • StyleCraft Rebel Combo Set (clipper and trimmer). A matched StyleCraft Rebel clipper and trimmer pair with rotary motors, listed at $189.95. The maker's site offered it on pre-order only on 2026-10-02.

Which Barber Starter Kit Should You Buy?

Both tools, cordless, one box: the NOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer, our top pick.

Both tools, one box, premium: the BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ prepack, an all-metal pair.

Build your own pair: the Wahl Magic Clip or the JRL Onyx for the clipper, and the JRL Onyx trimmer for the lines.

The lowest spend with a full guard set: the Andis inCRED kit, then add a trimmer.

Client in a barber cape with the first guideline of a fade cut above the ear
The first guideline of a fade, cut in above the ear: the clipper's job before the trimmer touches the edges.

What Should You Expect to Buy Separately?

Shears and a foil shaver are separate purchases with every pick on this list, NOVAH's included. NOVAH's set includes the cape, comb and oil; for the other five, we could not confirm a cape in any box on the makers' pages, so budget for one separately if you choose them. Plan on these pieces around the two cutting tools:

  1. Shears. One pair of cutting shears for the top and for scissor-over-comb work.
  2. Combs. A cutting comb and a wide-tooth comb.
  3. A cape and neck strips. Or a neck duster, if your school allows it.
  4. Clipper oil and a cleaning brush. A dry blade runs hot and pulls hair.
  5. A spray bottle. For dampening hair before scissor work.
  6. A foil shaver. Optional, for finishing skin fades.

Check the guard situation too. JRL lists no guards with the Onyx trimmer, and we could not confirm guards in the BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ box, so a guard set may be part of their real price.

Is a Barber Starter Kit a Good Gift for a Student?

Yes, if you match the kit to the school. A student who has a kit list needs the tools on it, and a clipper and trimmer set covers the two cutting tools such a list is built around. If you do not know what the school asks for, a set with both tools is the safer gift, because the student can add a trimmer or clipper of their own later without wasting either half.

Check the box before you wrap it. For NOVAH's set, the contents we have confirmed are the clipper, the trimmer, their guards, a comb, a barber cape and an oil bottle. A pair of shears makes a good second gift. For a longer look at choosing clippers as a present, see the gift guide linked below.

Back of a client's neck after a tapered neckline cleanup
A clean tapered neckline, the finish a trimmer gives a cut.

How Do You Look After a First Kit?

Brush the hair out of both blades after every cut. Oil the clipper blade and the trimmer blade with a few drops along the teeth, run each for a few seconds, and wipe off the excess. Store both dry, with the blade guards on, and keep the oil and brush in the same bag as the tools so they travel together.

Before you suspect the motor, clean and oil the blade: a dry blade runs hot and pulls hair. On a cordless tool, charge it before class, not during.

How Do You Practise With a First Kit?

Practise in an order: guard control, then outlines, then guideline placement, then blending.

Guard control. Do a single guard over an entire head, one length everywhere, as evenly as you can. Pressing the clipper in does not cut shorter, it tilts the blade and gouges; keep the guard flat to the head.

Outlines and edges. Practise the hairline, around the ears and the neckline with the trimmer held perpendicular to the skin, in short strokes, working from the middle outward so both sides stay symmetrical.

Guideline placement. Lay your first line with the lever closed, then place each line about a finger width above the last. Stand back and look at the whole head often; lines drift gradually.

Blending. Only once the three above are reliable. Work from the top guideline downward with the corners of the clipper, and know when to stop: grinding at a stubborn line cuts a divot.

A mannequin head teaches hand position, guard control, outline motion and guideline placement. It does not teach head shape variation, cowlicks or how hair recoils as it dries; those only come from real heads.

NOVAH Pro Clipper and Pro Trimmer, matte black cordless set

NOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer

★ 4.5 stars from 12,000+ Amazon reviews

A cordless clipper for the bulk of the cut and a trimmer for lineups, edging and detail work, sold together as one set.

Check price on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you need in a barber starter kit?

A clipper, a trimmer, a set of guards, shears, a cutting comb, a cape, neck strips or a duster, clipper oil and a cleaning brush. A foil shaver is optional for finishing skin fades. If your school publishes a kit list, follow it first and use this page to choose the clipper and trimmer that fit it.

What clippers do barbers use?

On this list, the barber-line tools are the Wahl Professional 5 Star Magic Clip, the JRL Onyx Professional clipper and trimmer, and the BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ prepack. If your school names tools, start there and add to the kit as your work settles. For a longer list of shop clippers, see the professional barber guide linked below.

Is a clipper and trimmer set enough to start barber school?

It covers the two cutting tools, which are the biggest items on a kit list. You still need shears and a brush, and some schools ask for a foil shaver. NOVAH's set includes a comb, a cape and oil; for the other sets on this list we could not confirm a cape or comb in the box, so budget for those separately if you choose one.

How much does a barber starter kit cost?

The other brands' picks on this page list from $59.99 to $349.99 on their makers' sites (checked between 2026-10-02 and 2026-10-23), before shears, a cape and the other extras. NOVAH's set is priced on Amazon, where the price moves, so check today's price there; it includes a comb, a cape and oil, and shears are extra. A single clipper plus a separate trimmer lets you choose each tool.

Sources

  1. NOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer (Matte Black) product page, https://novahpro.com/products/novah-professional-barber-hair-clippers-trimmers
  2. Wahl Professional 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip product page, https://www.wahlpro.com/shop/cordcordless-magic-clip-08148 (specs read 2026-09-25, list price 2026-10-19)
  3. Andis inCRED Lithium-Ion Cordless Clipper Kit product page, https://andis.com/shop/detail/40000/inCRED-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Clipper-Kit (specs read 2026-09-28, list price 2026-10-19)
  4. JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Clipper product page, https://www.jrlusa.com/products/onyx-professional-cordless-hair-clipper-1 (read 2026-10-02)
  5. JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Trimmer product page, https://www.jrlusa.com/products/onyx-professional-cordless-hair-trimmer (read 2026-10-05)
  6. BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ All-Metal Clipper & Trimmer Prepack (FXCTMBPK), name and list price from babylisspro.com, read 2026-10-23
  7. JRL FreshFade FF2020 Limited Gold Collection product page, https://www.jrlusa.com/products/ff2020-limited-gold-collection (read 2026-10-02)
  8. StyleCraft Rebel Combo Set product page, https://stylecraftus.com/products/rebel-combo-set-professional-cordless-hair-clipper-hair-trimmer-set-with-super-torque-motor (read 2026-10-02)
  9. Wahl Professional 5 Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip product page, https://www.wahlpro.com/shop/cordcordless-magic-clip-08148 (checked 2026-09-25; list price re-checked 2026-11-02)
  10. Andis inCRED Lithium-Ion Cordless Clipper Kit product page, https://andis.com/shop/detail/40000/inCRED-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Clipper-Kit (checked 2026-09-28; list price re-checked 2026-11-02)
  11. JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Clipper product page, https://www.jrlusa.com/products/onyx-professional-cordless-hair-clipper-1 (checked 2026-10-02)
  12. JRL Onyx Professional Cordless Hair Trimmer product page, https://www.jrlusa.com/products/onyx-professional-cordless-hair-trimmer (checked 2026-10-05)
  13. BaBylissPRO BlackFX+ All-Metal Clipper & Trimmer Prepack product page, https://www.babylisspro.com/blackfx-all-metal-clipper-and-trimmer-set/FXCTMBPK.html (checked 2026-10-23; list price re-checked 2026-11-02)
  14. Wirecutter (The New York Times), best hair clippers guide, https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-hair-clippers-for-home-use/ (page updated 2025-03-28)
  15. The Strategist (New York Magazine), best hair clippers guide, https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-mens-hair-clipper.html (page updated 2025-05-06)
  16. Forbes Vetted, best hair clippers guide, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/the-best-hair-clippers/ (page updated 2026-09-29)
  17. Men's Health, best hair clippers guide, https://www.menshealth.com/grooming/g32053511/best-hair-clippers/ (page updated 2026-03-30)

Related Reading

Elias Becker

Licensed barber, 10 years behind the chair

Elias is a licensed barber with ten years behind the chair.

NOVAH Grooming publishes this guide. We make and sell the NOVAH Pro Clipper + Trimmer, and its link goes to our own Amazon listing, tagged so we can see which guides help people. We do not sell, and are not paid by, any other brand named here. Other brands' details are from their own websites on the dates shown and can change.

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