This expert Groomica guide explains everything professional groomers must know about clipper blades — sizes, coat compatibility, skip-tooth vs finishing, wide blades, surgical blades, A5 systems, safety, maintenance, and technique. A complete, practical and authoritative resource for every grooming salon.

The Ultimate Professional Guide to Dog Clipper Blades: A Complete Expert Manual for Modern Groomers

By Groomica Expert Team

Clipper blades are the foundation of efficient, safe and high-quality grooming. While scissors define your style, clipper blades determine structure, uniformity, skin safety and the speed at which you can groom. Understanding blade types, lengths, coat compatibility and blade behaviour is one of the most valuable technical skills a modern professional groomer can have.

This comprehensive Groomica guide is written to elevate groomers to expert-level understanding. Whether you run a high-volume salon, specialize in Asian Fusion, work with double coats, or groom difficult, matted or sensitive dogs — choosing the correct blade makes the difference between a smooth groom and a stressful one.

Why Clipper Blade Knowledge Matters

Clippers do more than remove hair — they set the structure of the entire groom. Without proper blade selection, groomers risk:

• Uneven coat length
• Clipper tracks and rough finish
• Skin irritation or clipper burns
• Excessive heat buildup
• Time-consuming corrections

Mastering blade selection gives groomers:

• Cleaner finishes on all coat types
• Faster grooming times
• Better blending before scissor work
• Improved safety on sensitive areas
• Confidence when working with mats, curls or double coats

Whether you use Andis, Heiniger, Wahl, Aesculap or another brand — A5 blades follow the same universal sizing logic. This article helps you use them with true professional precision.

How Dog Clipper Blades Work (A Technical Breakdown)

Every clipper blade has two essential components:

• Bottom blade (Comb): Feeds coat into the cutting blade.
• Top blade (Cutter): Oscillates rapidly side-to-side to cut hair.

The distance between teeth determines:

• Length left on the coat
• Amount of hair removed per stroke
• Precision vs bulk removal

Important rule: higher blade numbers = shorter cut.
Lower blade numbers = longer coat.

Clipper Blade Length Guide (Professional Reference Table)

Below is an expanded groomer-focused overview of the most commonly used A5 blade sizes, their lengths and practical use cases.

Blade Number	Length Left (mm / inches)	Primary Usage
#50	0.2 mm / 1/125"	Surgery prep, poodle show feet/face, precision patterns
#40	0.25 mm / 1/100"	Surgical, show poodle face/feet, best under snap-on combs
#30	0.5 mm / 1/50"	Poodle feet, pads, used under comb attachments
#15	1.2 mm / 3/64"	Poodle faces, pads, sanitary areas
#10	1.5–1.8 mm / 1/16"	Sanitary areas, ear interiors, cat grooming, matted dogs
#9	2 mm / 5/64"	Sporting breeds, smooth finish on Spaniels & Schnauzers
#7 / #7F	3–4 mm / 1/8"	Body work on Terriers, Poodles, matted dogs, rough cuts
#5 / #5F	6 mm / 1/4"	Lhasa, Shih-Tzu short trims, medium body work
#4 / #4F	9.5 mm / 3/8"	Terriers, thick double coats, plush short trims
#3 / #3F	13 mm / 1/2"	Puppy cuts, teddy trims, full plush looks

Skip-Tooth vs Finishing (F / FC) Blades — The Key Difference

Skip-Tooth Blades

Skip-tooth blades have alternating long and short teeth. This allows them to:

• Grab and feed thick or matted coat more effectively
• Blend rough areas before bath
• Remove bulk fast

Best for:

• Matted coats
• Coarse Terrier coats
• Pre-bath rough cuts

Not ideal for:

• Fine or silky coats (risk of lines)
• Nervous dogs (teeth can pinch)

Finishing (F / FC) Blades

Even teeth create a smooth, polished finish. Designed for final clips.

Best for:

• Silky coats
• Blended finishes
• Full shavedowns

Wide & T-Blades — When Speed Matters

These wider blades are essential for large breeds and full-body work.

• Cover more surface area per stroke
• Reduce grooming time significantly
• Ideal for Labradors, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers

Snap-On Comb Attachments (3 mm to 30 mm)

Comb attachments (metal or plastic) allow groomers to:

• Achieve longer lengths up to 3 cm
• Create teddy bear and puppy cuts
• Customize body/leg/face length

Important: Use #30 or #40 under combs for the smoothest glide and minimal snagging.

Choosing the Right Blade by Coat Type

Curly & Wool Coats (Poodles, Doodles, Bichons)

• #3F, #4F, #5F for plush body cuts
• #7F for shorter teddy trims
• #30 or #40 under combs for Asian Fusion

Double Coats (Huskies, Shepherds, Spitz)

• Avoid short blades — risk of coat damage
• Use combs for maintenance trims
• #7F only for severe mats

Silky Coats (Yorkies, Maltese, Shih Tzu)

• #4F, #5F for classic long-body trims
• Finishing blades recommended
• #10 only for sanitary & armpits

Terriers & Harsh Coats

• #7 Skip Tooth for pre-bath stripping
• #5F or #4F for neat finish

Safety First: Sensitive Areas and Blade Selection

• Sanitary areas: #10
• Face / eyes: #10 or #15
• Pads: #15 or #30
• Ears: #10

Rule: The shorter the blade, the higher the risk — always use gentle pressure and stretch the skin.

Blade Heat: Understanding & Preventing Clipper Burn

Blades heat through friction. High speed clipping increases heat rapidly.

To avoid burns:

• Check blade temperature every 10–20 seconds
• Use coolant sprays correctly (wipe off residue)
• Rotate 2–3 blades during a groom
• Oil every 5–10 minutes

Blade Care: Maintenance That Doubles Lifespan

High-quality blades can last for years — but only with proper care.

After Every Groom

• Brush off hair
• Clean with blade wash
• Dry fully
• Oil 3–4 pivot points

Weekly

• Deep clean with disinfectant
• Check screws and tension

Sharpening

Signs your blade needs sharpening:

• Pushing hair instead of cutting
• Leaving track marks
• More pressure needed to close

Always use a professional sharpener trained for pet blades — human-hair sharpeners can ruin the hollow grind.

How Many Blades Does a Professional Groomer Really Need?

Minimum Starter Set

• #10 – sanitary / pads / ears
• #7F – body clips
• #5F – medium trims
• #4F – plush trims
• Comb attachments – longer lengths

Full Professional Set

• #40 + #30 – under combs
• #15 – detail work
• #9 – sporting coats
• #7 Skip Tooth – matted dogs
• #3F – teddy cuts
• Wide T-blade – large breeds

Common Groomer Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

• Using short blades on double coats → use combs instead
• Using skip tooth on silky coats → leaves lines
• Clipping dirty coat → kills blades fast
• Ignoring heat → leads to burns
• Not oiling → increases friction by 40–60%

Conclusion: With the Right Blades, Groomers Work Faster, Safer and Better

Clipper blades are not simply tools — they are precision instruments that shape every groom. By understanding blade types, sizes, coat compatibility, and safety rules, groomers protect themselves, their equipment and the dogs they work with.

This guide was created by Groomica to elevate industry standards and help both new and experienced groomers choose intelligently, groom safely and deliver consistently beautiful results.

Need help choosing the perfect blades for your salon?
Visit www.groomica.eu — browse professional tools, education, and expert resources designed for modern groomers.

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