The Guard System Explained — A 2026 Pro Reference
Guards are the most under-explained part of barbering. Numbers don't map to mm consistently across brands, and the lever changes everything. Here's the system, demystified.
Number-to-length conversion
- #1 — 3 mm (1/8")
- #1.5 — 4 mm
- #2 — 6 mm (1/4")
- #3 — 10 mm (3/8")
- #4 — 13 mm (1/2")
- #5 — 16 mm (5/8")
- #6 — 19 mm (3/4")
- #7 — 22 mm (7/8")
- #8 — 25 mm (1")
Half-guards
A #1.5 sits between a #1 and #2 — a smaller jump than going up a full size. Half-guards are what make fades blend cleanly.
The lever
Closed = the labeled length. Open = roughly half the labeled length. Every fade should use both positions for every guard.
Brand compatibility
Wahl, JRL Onyx, Diamante and StyleCraft Saber II all use compatible guard systems. BaBylissPRO FXONE and FX870 use a proprietary clip system.
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