A cutting mechanism for a hair cutting apparatus , comprising: an outer cutting member comprising a plurality of hair-entry openings ; an inner cutting member comprising a plurality of cutting elements each having a first cutting edge , wherein the inner cutting member is moveable with respect to the outer cutting member so as to perform a cutting operation within a cutting region of the cutting mechanism; wherein adjacent hair-entry openings are separated by a dividing element comprising: a cutting section that lies within the cutting region, the cutting section having an inner wall facing the inner cutting member and a side wall which meets the inner wall to form a second cutting edge that is arranged to cooperate with the first cutting edges, and a non-cutting section that is outside the cutting region, the non-cutting section comprising an inner wall facing the inner cutting member and a side wall which is substantially perpendicular to the inner wall of the non-cutting section, characterized in that , seen in a cross-section of the dividing element taken perpendicularly to the inner wall of the non-cutting section and extending parallel to a local movement direction (D) of the first cutting edges relative to the dividing element, a single planar chamfer is provided between the inner wall of the non-cutting section and the side wall of the non-cutting section. an outer cutting member comprising a plurality of hair-entry openings ; an inner cutting member comprising a plurality of cutting elements each having a first cutting edge , wherein the inner cutting member is moveable with respect to the outer cutting member so as to perform a cutting operation within a cutting region of the cutting mechanism; wherein adjacent hair-entry openings are separated by a dividing element comprising: a cutting section that lies within the cutting region, the cutting section having an inner wall facing the inner cutting member and a side wall which meets the inner wall to form a second cutting edge that is arranged to cooperate with the first cutting edges, and a non-cutting section that is outside the cutting region, the non-cutting section comprising an inner wall facing the inner cutting member and a side wall which is substantially perpendicular to the inner wall of the non-cutting section, characterized in that , seen in a cross-section of the dividing element taken perpendicularly to the inner wall of the non-cutting section and extending parallel to a local movement direction (D) of the first cutting edges relative to the dividing element, a single planar chamfer is provided between the inner wall of the non-cutting section and the side wall of the non-cutting section. a cutting section that lies within the cutting region, the cutting section having an inner wall facing the inner cutting member and a side wall which meets the inner wall to form a second cutting edge that is arranged to cooperate with the first cutting edges, and a non-cutting section that is outside the cutting region, the non-cutting section comprising an inner wall facing the inner cutting member and a side wall which is substantially perpendicular to the inner wall of the non-cutting section, characterized in that , seen in a cross-section of the dividing element taken perpendicularly to the inner wall of the non-cutting section and extending parallel to a local movement direction (D) of the first cutting edges relative to the dividing element, a single planar chamfer is provided between the inner wall of the non-cutting section and the side wall of the non-cutting section. <EOS>