Best Hair Clipper Reviews 2018

While hair clippers don’t vary widely in terms of look, there’s a lot going on under the hood which affects their performance and, ultimately, their prices. One of the first things you’ll notice is that corded clippers tend to be more expensive than cordless ones. This is because corded hair clippers are more powerful and, in many cases, will last far longer than a cordless clipper. These are the ones often used by your barber, but that isn’t to say that cordless hair clippers are durable or weak – not at all; it’s just that of the two, corded clippers carry much more power.

Hair clippers are affordable, and it’s a good thing to know your budget before buying one. There’s a large price range when it comes to hair clippers. On the low end, you can get a good one for around $40 and, on the high end, you can look to spend between $200 and $300. We’d advise you stay away from cheap hair clippers because these won’t give you a great cut and, in many cases, will wear out before you know it and you’ll have to start looking for a new set of clippers.

Your clippers’ feature set is what’ll ensure you get the most out of it. Some people only use their clippers for their hair, others use them for both their hair and beards, while some use them only for body hair. To get the best experience out of your clippers, you need to look for features that would line up well with your needs.

Here’s what you need to consider before choosing a set of hair clippers:

• Motor - Your clippers’ motor is what will determine its performance. You want a motor that can perform without running hot quickly and, for a cordless clipper, you want one that will be able to get you through a session before needing to be recharged.
• Guides - These are also known as combs and are the attachments that you put on your clipper to get a desired cut. You can get up to eight different attachments with your clippers.
• Blades - Some clippers come with different blades, which give you versatility when cutting, while others have adjustable blades which do the same.
• Accessories - Combs and scissors may seem unnecessary – after all, you may have many around the house already, but it’s still a good bet to get a hair clipper with them as you never know when you may need them.
• Cleaning Tools - Often when you buy your clippers, you’ll get a bottle of oil and a brush with it. Always go for the ones with these included as they save you time and money down the road.
• Storage Unit - If you travel a lot, then a travelling pouch or case will come in extremely handy.

Let’s look at these features in more detail.

When you’re shopping for a new set of hair clippers, one of the first things you need to consider is whether you want a corded or cordless one. Corded hair clippers are the more powerful of the two – this is why you always see your barber using a corded one rather than a cordless. However, cordless hair clippers offer a lot more maneuverability and are lightweight, making them a better choice for travel.

The overall build of hair clippers tends to not vary greatly. As we’ve mentioned, most of the differences lie under the hood, such as the motor. However, the length of the blades themselves is one thing you’ll notice differences in. You can get a hair clipper with an adjustable blade. There are also those with different blades for different lengths. Most hair clippers also come with guards to prevent you from giving yourself a bad cut or cutting more than you had intended.

We mentioned that one of the most important parts of a hair clipper is the motor. It determines the performance of the clipper and ultimately affects how well you’re able to cut your hair.

There are three types of motors found in hair clippers:

Magnetic Motor - These motors are quite common and found in numerous clippers on the market. They work with a fixed blade that you can adjust with a lever on the side to cut hair to the desired closeness to the scalp. These motors are not as powerful as Pivot or Rotary motors, but they provide high speeds and work great for fine to medium hair. These motors require little to no maintenance and can last you for years to come.

Pivot Motor - These motors are similar to the magnetic motors, however, whereas magnetic motors provide high speeds with less power, pivot motors give a lot of power but low speed. These are especially great for thick, wet, or heavy hair. Pivot motors are durable and require little maintenance, making them great for busy individuals.

Rotary Motor - These motors are also known as universal motors and are the most powerful out of the three. Clippers with these motors tend to be a bit more expensive but offer a wide variety of cuts, making them great for barbers and hair care professionals. Rotary motors have a much higher torque and more power than the pivot and magnetic motors and, while the blade speed is a bit slower, it’s not by much. Also, unlike pivot and magnetic motors, which have an adjustable lever, rotary motors allow you to switch out the blades or cutting head. You can find rotary motors in AC and DC-powered clippers. Many of the DC-powered clippers with rotary motors are cordless and, while they tend to be less powerful than the AC units, the freedom of the cordless clipper makes up for it. These motors run relatively quietly and will last you for years. These motors are great for thick, wet or heavy hair and can also be found in pet clippers as well.
There is no perfect clipper on the market; however, there are many great ones and the best one for you is based on your hair type, household, and needs. Happy grooming!