Guide · Attachments and parts
Clipper guard combs explained
Guard combs let a short blade leave longer hair. Which base blade they need, why detachable and 5-in-1 clippers take different sets, and how to read comb sizes.
Short answer
A guard comb clips over a short blade so the clipper leaves longer hair. It only works on the blades its maker specifies: Wahl's stainless combs must go on a #10, #15 or #30 blade or blade setting, and work best on a #30.[1] Wahl also sells different comb sets for its detachable-blade and 5-in-1 clippers, so buy combs by clipper model and read each comb's length in inches or millimeters.[1]
How a guard comb works
The comb's long teeth hold the coat away from the cutting edge, so the hair is cut at the comb's length instead of the blade's. The blade underneath is still a close one. On Andis' chart, a #30 leaves about 1/50 in (0.5 mm), a #15 about 3/64 in (1.2 mm) and a #10 about 1/16 in (1.5 mm).[2]
That has two consequences. The comb, not the blade, decides the finished length. And if a comb slips off mid-stroke, the bare blade underneath cuts at its own, much shorter length.
Which comb fits which clipper
| Comb set | Base blade | Made for |
|---|---|---|
| Wahl stainless guide combs, set 3390-100 | #10, #15 or #30; best on a #30 | Wahl detachable-blade clippers: SS-PRO, Stable Pro Plus, KM2, KM5, MaxCoat, Power Grip, KM10, KMC, X-Block and KMX Cordless[1] |
| Wahl stainless guide combs, set 3379 | #10, #15 or #30 setting; best on #30 | Wahl 5-in-1 clippers: SmartCut Groom, Figura, 5 Style Groom, Arco, Bravura, Chromado and Creativa[1] |
| Oster 10-piece metal guide combs | Sizes 10, 15 and 30 | A5-type detachable blades[3] |
| Wide attachment combs | Wide blades | Andis pairs its wide M-Force blades with wide attachment combs[2] |
Wahl lists 8 cut lengths for its stainless combs.[1] Andis describes its M-Force blades as a "36% wider format profile," which is why they need wide combs rather than standard ones.[2]
Reading comb sizes
Makers label combs in different ways: some print a number, some an inch fraction, some millimeters. Go by the length, not the label, and write it down in millimeters if you mix sets.
Oster gives blade equivalents for two of its combs:[3]
| Oster comb | Leaves a finish similar to |
|---|---|
| 3/8 in (9.5 mm) | A #4 blade |
| 1/2 in (13 mm) | A #3 blade |
These grooming-vacuum makers list their clipper guards in millimeters:
| Kit | Guard lengths the maker lists |
|---|---|
| Neakasa P1 Pro and P2 Pro | 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 mm[4] |
| Neakasa S1 Pro | 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 mm[4] |
| Uproot cordless kit | 6, 12, 18 and 24 mm[5] |
An inch is 25.4 mm, so a 12 mm guard leaves a little under 1/2 in and a 24 mm guard just under an inch. That matters for single-coated dogs: when they are clipped, AKC advises leaving at least one inch of hair to protect against sunburn, skin cancer and bug bites.[6]
Detachable and 5-in-1 combs are different sets
On a detachable clipper, the comb sits over a blade you have clipped on. On a 5-in-1 clipper, it sits over the adjustable blade, set to the position the comb maker names. Wahl sells a separate set for each, so don't assume a comb made for one fits the other.[1] A5-style vs 5-in-1 clipper blades explains the two systems.
If your guards came with a grooming-vacuum kit or a budget cordless clipper, assume they fit only that clipper unless its maker says otherwise, and check that spares are sold before you rely on them.
Using guard combs well
- Brush the coat out first. A guard comb is for a tangle-free coat, not for working through knots.
- Fit the right base. Put on the blade, or choose the blade setting, that the comb maker specifies.[1]
- Seat the comb fully, and check it again whenever you put the clipper down or knock it.
- Clear packed hair out of the comb as you work, so it keeps riding on the coat.
- Check the blade temperature against the inside of your wrist. A comb does not stop the blade beneath it from warming up, and AKC's grooming standards warn groomers about clipper burns.[7]
- Clean and oil the blade afterward, as in how to clean and oil clipper blades.
Buying guard combs
We don't list a guard-comb set yet, because we have not found a listing whose fit we could match to a clipper maker's own list. When you shop:
- Buy the set made for your clipper model and blade system: detachable, 5-in-1, or a kit's own head.
- Match standard or wide to your blade.[2]
- Check that every comb's length is stated in inches or millimeters.
- For grooming-vacuum kits, check which guards come in the box and whether spares are sold separately.
Next
Questions
Which blade goes under a clipper guard comb?
The one the comb maker specifies. Wahl's stainless combs need a #10, #15 or #30 blade or blade setting and work best on a #30; Oster's metal combs fit A5-type detachable blades in sizes 10, 15 and 30.[1][3]
Do guard combs fit any clipper?
No. Wahl sells one set (3390-100) for its detachable-blade clippers and another (3379) for its 5-in-1 clippers, and Andis pairs its wide blades with wide attachment combs.[1][2]
What blade length is a 3/8 inch guard comb like?
Oster says its 3/8 in (9.5 mm) comb leaves a finish similar to a #4 blade, and its 1/2 in (13 mm) comb a finish similar to a #3.[3]
Can a guard comb leave an inch of coat?
Only if the set includes a comb that long. AKC advises leaving at least one inch when single-coated dogs are clipped, and the longest guard in Neakasa's P1 Pro and P2 Pro kits and in Uproot's cordless kit is 24 mm, just under an inch.[6][4][5]
Can I use a guard comb to clip out mats?
Not severe ones. VCA's advice for dogs is to remove mats with clippers rather than scissors and to get professional help with severe tangles.[8]