An electric hair clipper is disclosed which has a plurality of spaced cutting teeth. With this clipper, hair strands may be cut by passing the hair clipper over the hair in a series of swift, flowing strokes. The clipper may be passed over the hair at the outer periphery of the hair, or it may be passed over the hair within the periphery, to change the hair style. The hair clipper may also be used to thin or layer hair. In one such method of thinning or layering hair, the operator passes a comb through the hair in a swift stroke, creating a trough in the hair behind the comb. The hair clipper follows the comb in the trough, cutting hair strands which are displaced by the comb as the hair returns to its natural position. If desired, the clipper can be passed through the hair at an angle away from the scalp, so that the hair strands are cut different lengths. In another method of thinning or layering the hair, the hair clipper is passed through the hair at various depths beneath the outer periphery of the head without using a comb. Both methods may be used to thin or layer hair without producing distinct, differentiated layers, while creating a natural, fluffy hair texture.