There is disclosed a cutting mechanism 4 for a hair cutting apparatus 1, such as a shaving apparatus. The cutting mechanism includes an outer cutting member 6 comprising a plurality of hair-entry openings 14 and an inner cutting member 8 comprising a plurality of cutting elements 18 each having a first cutting edge 20. The inner cutting member 8 is moveable with respect to the outer cutting member6 so as to perform a cutting operation within a cutting region of the cutting mechanism. Adjacent hair-entry openings 14 are separated by a dividing element 16 comprising a cutting section 32 that lies within the cutting region and a non-cutting section 34 that is outside the cutting region. The non-cutting section comprises an inner wall 30 facing the inner cutting member 8 and a side wall 24 which is substantially perpendicular to the inner wall 30. A single chamfer 40 is provided between the inner wall 30 of the non-cutting region and the side wall 24 of the non-cutting region.