The present application relates to a device for cutting hair (1). The device has a skin contacting face (3) that is arranged to be placed against a surface of the skin (6) of a user during use, and an optical system configured to direct a cutting laser beam (8) across a cutting zone (5) parallel to and spaced from said skin contacting face (3) to cut hairs extending into the cutting zone (5). The device also has a skin sensor (18) configured to detect one or more optical properties of the surface of the skin (6), and a control unit (20) configured to adjust one or more characteristics of the optical system in dependence on the one or more optical properties of the skin (6) detected by the skin sensor (18). The present application also relates to a system for cutting hair comprising a device for cutting hair and a base unit for receiving the device.