Hairstyling at salons is a skillful yet a careful task. It needs the best professional tools among which the hair clippers and trimmers are prominently important. If you are passionate and a professional in hair styling, you have come to the right place. Here, you are about to read detailed reviews on the seven best professional hair clippers and trimmers for barbers. And also we guide you to have the best suitable model from the assorted models.
Though you are an experienced professional barber with ultimate skills, you will have to meet the varied client requirements by using perfect tools. So, without negligence, add an appropriate hair clipper model to your salon tool kit right now.
If you are searching for the best professional hair clippers, there are two factors that you should always keep in mind before making a purchase.
Blade – There are two popular options for blades of the hair clippers – stainless steel and titanium. The former one, which is more popularly used, is less expensive and also needs less maintenance. The latter titanium blades are better used for sensitive skin and are more durable. So, you can choose one based on your requirements.
Ergonomics – The ergonomic design of the hair trimmer should be so handy and user-friendly. Choose a clipper with a good grip and lengthy cord. Besides, it is better to avoid large or heavy devices.
Further, there are more other factors that you need to consider when buying a professional hair trimmer. Refer to the “Buying Guide” given here under the product reviews.
Now, turn to the list of the 7 best professional hair clippers & trimmers.
Top 7 Professional Hair Clippers and Trimmers
| Professional Trimmers & Clippers | Blade Material | Motor | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSTER Classic 76 Universal Motor Clipper | Stainless steel | Universal | 1 year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Andis Professional T-Outliner Hair Trimmer | Carbon steel | Magnetic | 1 year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Wahl Professional 5-Star Balding Clipper | Titanium | Magnetic | 2 years | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| OSTER Fast Feed Adjustable Clipper | Cryogenic steel | Pivot | 1 year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Andis Professional Master Hair Clipper | Carbon steel | Magnetic | 1 year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Wahl Professional Senior Clipper | Stainless steel | Magnetic | 1 year | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| BaBylissPRO Outlining Trimmer | Titanium | Magnetic | 2 years | CHECK ON AMAZON |
1. OSTER Classic 76 Universal Motor Clipper
The unique selling proposition (USP) of Oster Classic 76 Universal Motor Clipper is its durability. It is a professional clipper that can work for years. It is one of the smoothest hair clipping devices that can cut through the densest of growths.
This Oster model has been the favorite of barbers for long. There are two detachable blades of 00 and 01 size. The former will shave beard, leaving hair at 0.5mm, and the latter is for a stubbled look, that cuts at 2.4mm.
It is a single-speed hair clipper and is suitable to cut through all hair types. Hence, if you get this, you will not have to invest in multiple devices for different types of hair. You will also be comfortable holding its ribbed body for long hours.
Professionals prefer corded trimmers and clippers so that the device doesn’t run out of charge in the middle of a shave. This Oster clipper has a 9 ft long cord, which is long enough to reach to the seated customer in your salon or shop.
This model looks a tad old school. And many prefer it for this reason. What makes this product even better is the inclusion of a blade guard, clipper grease, lubricating oil, and cleaning brush.
This hair clipping device has a warranty of 1 year across the USA and Canada.
Motor: Universal motor
Blade Material: Stainless steel
Cord length: 9ft
Warranty: 1 Year
Wet and dry shave: Yes
Pros:
- The clipper is very durable.
- Detachable and adjustable blade
- Break-resistant housing
- Suitable for all hair types
- Can work endlessly for a long duration
Cons:
- Weight is above 1 pound
2. Andis Professional T-Outliner Hair Trimmer
Andis T-Blade Professional hair trimmer is ideal if you are looking for a device that can give the cleanest of shaves.
The blade of this hair trimmer is made of carbon steel that can be zero gapped easily. You will not need to go over and over, just one stroke suffices!
This is one of the best professional hair clippers as you can use it for all-round shaving, outlining, fading, or creating other styles.
You can use it to dry shave or dab on some shaving cream before you go about the job. The 8ft long heavy-duty cord offers decent movability.
This professional corded hair clipper comes with a one-year warranty.
Price-wise, it is lower than many other professional models you will find. Still, its performance is at par.
The blade of this clipper has fine teeth, which gives real close shaving. However, sometimes you will have to spend a few extra minutes cleaning the blades as hair can get stuck inside it.
Also, as the blades are made of carbon steel, it will need frequent oiling to prevent from rusting.
Motor: Magnetic
Blade Material: Carbon steel
Cord length: 8 ft
Warranty: 12 months
Wet and dry shave: yes
Pros:
- Powerful motor
- Can give a really close shave
- Works silently
- Can create several styles
- Ergonomically designed
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- Takes a while to clean
- Carbon steel blades require frequent oiling.
3. Wahl Professional 5-Star Balding Clipper
The Wahl Professional Balding clipper is an all-rounder. It has a powerful magnetic motor that works well in giving you the best wet and dry shaves. This is one of the best professional hair clippers that can give the cleanest bald fades to your clients.
This professional hair clipper has an electromagnetic motor that is designed to give twice the speed of the regular pivot motors.
Owing to it its terrific speed and precision, it is best for the hands of professionals and not novices. Your sensitive skin clients will love this clipper as it has a titanium blade that does not cause irritation.
Once you buy this clipper, you will probably not have to go in search of other accessories. The package comes with the clipper, two combs, 1.5mm and 4.5mm, blade oil, brush, and a guard.
This blade is 6.25 inches long and weighs about 1 pound. Its warranty period is 24 months.
Motor: Magnetic
Blade Material: Titanium
Cord length: 7 ft
Comb sizes: 1.5mm, 4.5mm
Warranty: 24 months
Wet and dry shave: yes
Pros:
- Speedy motor
- Cleaning is easy
- The titanium blade does not cause skin irritation.
- Gives super close shaves
- Comes with many accessories
Cons:
- Can be noisy
4. OSTER Fast Feed Adjustable Clipper
Oster has mastered the art of making professional-quality hair clippers that offers smooth shaving, easy cleaning, and comes at a reasonable price.
The Fast Feed clipper by Oster has an adjustable blade that adjusts between size 00 and 01. No need to buy separate combs either. With this clipper, you get comb sizes 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ to give your clients varied styles.
The package also includes a guard, oil, and cleaning brush for easy blade care.
This hair clipper has a pivot motor for decent speed and durability. Its cord has a length of 8 ft. It is good enough to move side to side of your client without hassle.
The cryogenically treated steel blade is harder than the average steel blades. It is also sharper that allows you to give cleaner and more precise shaves to your clients.
You can use this professional barber’s clipper to cut beards, mustaches, and sideburns all day long. It has a ribbed body takes its ergonomics quotient up by a notch.
Motor: Pivot
Blade Material: Cryogenic steel
Combs: 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″
Cord length: 8 ft
Warranty: 1 year
Wet and dry shave: Yes
Pros:
- Adjustable blade
- Includes three combs
- Packs cleaning kit
- Sharper and stronger cryogenic steel blade
- Quiet operation
Cons:
- Not great with shaving super fine hair
5. Andis Professional Master Hair Clipper
The Andis Master hair clipper packs durability and steady performance for the best all-around shaves. It has an adjustable blade that can be zero gapped.
It is one of the best professional hair clippers for barbers with an adjustable blade head. You can do a real close shave with 00 settings or keep a stubbled look with the 01 setting.
It has a lightweight body with unbreakable aluminum housing. You can hold it for a long time, giving your clients smooth shaves, hair clippings, and tapering without any discomfort.
The switch position is convenient for you. Its sideways position ensures you don’t accidentally turn it off while it is in function.
The magnetic motor is fast speed and works at 1400 rpm. It is a single-speed, corded clipper with carbon steel blades for extra durability.
However, you will have to oil it before every use so that it is in the best shape. Also, when not in use, this carbon steel blade will require frequent oiling to keep rust at bay.
The package includes a guard and blade oil. There is a 1-year warranty on this product.
Motor: Magnetic
Blade Material: Carbon steel
Cord length: 6ft
Warranty: 1 year
Wet and dry shave: Yes
Pros:
- Adjustable blade
- Lightweight body
- Unbreakable aluminum housing
- Extra durable carbon steel blade
- Convenient switch position
Cons:
- The carbon steel blade needs very frequent oiling.
- Its grip could have been better
6. Wahl Professional Senior Clipper for Heavy Duty Cutting
Wahl Professional Senior Clipper is a dynamic blend of performance, features, and durability. To make things even better, this product comes with three attachments, red guard, blade oil, and brush— all at a relatively affordable price!
It is an electromagnetic clipper with powerful V9000 motors for all-day use without abruptly stopping or heating up.
This is one of the best-rated professional hair clippers on Amazon. It has a break-resistant body with on-point ergonomics and aesthetics. Also, the 8ft chemical resistant cord makes it safer and easier to go about your business.
The variable thumb taper lever works well in adjusting the texture and taper. It is positioned on the side of the stock.
Using this clipper, you can give professional trimming and clipping without any hassle. It is also excellent at cutting, fading, tapering, and blending with top-notch precision.
Motor: Magnetic
Blade Material: Stainless steel
Combs: 1/16″, 1/8″ and 3/16″
Cord length: 8ft
Warranty: 1 year
Wet and dry shave: yes
Pros:
- Powerful V9000 motor
- Includes three adjustments
- Decent ergonomics
- Variable lever adjusts the degree of texture and taper
Cons:
- Can be a tad noisy
7. BaBylissPRO Outlining Trimmer
We would have reviewed this hair clipper in the first or second place, had it not been for its price. Okay, it is not exorbitant, but certainly a bit more than all the other products we have reviewed so far.
But to talk in its favor, it is loaded with superb features and a stunning golden body that would increase the curb appeal of your salon or shop.
For starters, you can use it both as corded or cordless. This trimmer is equipped with a Li-ion battery that gives 2 hours of run time.
There is an LED indicator that tells when your clipper is about to run out of charge.
Worry not if you are out of charge, its 10ft cord does give you enough movability around the chair.
The Ferrari designed magnetic engine has a pretty high torque. It works wonders in giving the exact style and precision you want. Zero gapping isn’t a problem with this professional clipper either. The pack comes included with zero gapping tools.
Being one of the best professional hair clippers, it includes four adjustment heads to clip and trim at different lengths. The warranty is 2 years.
Motor: Magnetic
Blade Material: Titanium
Combs: 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4
Cord length: 10 ft
Warranty: 2 years
Wet and dry shave: yes
Pros:
- Titanium blade does not irritate the skin
- Includes 4 adjustment heads
- Corded and cordless operation
- Engine designed by Ferrari
- Comes with zero gapping tools
Cons:
- Expensive
Things to Consider While Purchasing Professional Hair Clippers & Trimmers for Barbers
As said already, the blades and ergonomics of the professional hair clippers and trimmers are important. Yet, there are many other crucial points to keep in mind while purchasing the best one.
1. Blade Material and Quality
Your clipper or trimmer is nothing without the blade. Different types of materials like stainless steel, titanium, ceramic, and others are used for trimmer blades. Yet, most of the best professional clippers available in the market have stainless steel blades. Often, they are even coated with some protective anti-corrosive materials to enhance their longevity. Though the stainless steel blades are much cheaper when compared to others, the coated steel blades are a little bit expensive.
The ceramic blades of the trimmers, on the other hand, are sharp and by nature non-corrosive. Besides, they are more resistant to regular wear and tear, and so they remain sharp for a long time. Moreover, they do not get overheated even upon longer trimmer work and avoid the feeling of warmth. But, they are also costly. The other downside is that they are so brittle and break easily.
Carbon blades are the other types that are self-sharpening and need minimum maintenance. Certain steel blades are also exposed with carbon coating for better function.
The other blades – titanium ones are most helpful for people with sensitive skin because they are not that sharp and do not irritate you when trimming. But, they are gently harder than the other blades and you have to polish them frequently. And also, they need more maintenance without which they become dull. Moreover, they are also expensive. So, we suggest you choose the trimmers with stainless steel blades if you want them in an affordable range.
2. Powerful Motor
The motor decides the performance and durability of your clipper. If the motor is powerful and dominant, then it can cut even dense hair without any hassles. If you choose a less powerful motor, it breaks down and gets damaged easily. And then, the clipper makes a lot of noise. So, do not neglect to observe the motor details when purchasing a professional hair clipper.
The three most common types of clipper motors are – rotary, magnetic, and pivot.
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Rotary Motor
A majority of the professional trimmers or clippers available nowadays have a rotary motor. Its power is the same as that of the blade speed. That means the more powerful the motor, the more will be the clipper’s speed.
A rotary motor runs at multiple speeds, and it allows a smooth and swift operation and can even cut the densest and thickest hair. Yet, they are more expensive. But, you can invest in purchasing the trimmers with a rotary motor as you can undoubtedly receive the better value upon need. But, the only disadvantage with it is that it gets heated easily.
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Magnetic Motor
Magnetic motors move at high speed and have fewer moving parts. As they are compact, lightweight, and efficient, they are more powerful and trim your hair efficiently. But, upon usage, they are more prone to tears. They are most recommended to use for wet hair.
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Pivot Motor
Though they do not have high-speed motors, the pivot motors are twice more powerful than magnetic ones. And they are widely used for wet and dry, thick and coarse hair. As they last longer, they are also recommended for professional use.
So, check your most requirements with the customers, and then choose the suitable motor-based trimmer.
3. Durability & Reliability
When having a professional hair styling tool, you will be investing more. And it should last for a long time. So, check for the trimmer’s durability and reliability in terms of every aspect – blades, motors, speed, safety, and others.
4. Attachments and Accessories
The best professional trimmers and clippers should be feasibly user-friendly and avoid any hassles. Certain additional attachments to the trimmers make them better. So, choose the ones which have –
- Blade guards – for safety
- Blade oil – for smooth movement
- Cleaning brush – to remove the trimmed hair
- Guide Combs – to represent the remaining length of hair upon passing the clipper
- Taper level adjustments – to customize the haircut
5. Temperature Issues
Professional clippers and trimmers are used most often continuously and so they may get heated up. But, you may feel uncomfortable and hurt to use such warmer ones for long hours each day. So, prefer ones that do not have heating issues or those which are less prone to heating.
Though you purchase the best ones, we suggest you keep a cooling spray handy. It keeps the clipper’s temperature to a minimum and will not cause any burns to your customers.
6. Corded or Cordless
The comfort of all professional hairstylists may not be the same. While some prefer corded trimmers, some others like to use cordless ones. But, the corded ones need a specific power socket to work, and you have to consider the length of the power cord for such models. Also, ensure that you have sufficient space to move the corded trimmer in your salon or home.
If you want to use the trimmers anywhere, you can go for the cordless professional hair clippers.
7. Battery back-up
If you are looking for cordless professional hair clippers which run by powerful batteries, you have to look for battery backup. If the battery power goes down the moment you start styling, you have to wait for at least 20 minutes to recharge it and reuse it. So, better to purchase one which has longer battery life.
There are some models which come with a holder that serves as a charging port. Then, you need not worry about the trimmer charging. Nowadays, some professional trimmers are compatible with fast charging units that help you even in a hurry.
8. Maintenance
It is often difficult for one to regularly clean the trimmer when using it professionally. So, it is always better to select the trimmer with minimum maintenance. Still, make sure that you care and maintain them within the suggested schedules to enhance lasting shelf life.
9. Price
Price always becomes a constraint for many when choosing a professional hair trimmer. Though it is expensive, it has high-quality components and greater longevity. And your investment is worthwhile. But, if you limit yourself in the budget and get a cheaper one, it may not last long.
10. Better Ergonomic Design
The design of the trimmers will have to be different from the home-based and professional usage. But, the professional trimmers have to be more ergonomic as they are most frequently used all day. So, the structural design and weight affect the usage and need.
Therefore, we suggest you choose the barber clippers which are lightweight and comfortable to hold.
11. Brand
Popular brands have made their name in the industry because they manufacture quality goods. While purchasing a professional hair clipper, we would suggest you stick to branded products.
The best brands offering awesome and efficient professional hair clipping devices are:
- Oster
- Andis
- Wahl
As they have been prestigious companies for grooming products for a long time, they are very valuable. So, you will be on the safe side by purchasing the clippers from them.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is always recommended to use a professional hair clipper on dry hair for a smooth run. If you use it on wet hair, then you may not get the best results and perfect look. So, dry up your wet hair with a towel, and then use it.
Wahl’s 5-Star Senior Clip is the best one for your hair fades as it has powerful motors which have a heavy-duty function. It allows precise cuts and perfectly suits professional hair styling.
Upon charging fully, the clippers with Lithium-ion batteries work for up to 2 hours and those with Nickel – Metal Hydride or Nickel – Cadmium batteries work for up to 1 hour. Upon first use, you have to charge the clipper overnight.
Based on the hair type, you have to use the right hair trimmer for better function. Those with pivot motors are preferable for coarse and curly hair because they have higher torque and move well. Yet, they work better on wet hair.
If you want to remove bulk long hair, then there have to be higher cutting strokes per minute. And so, clippers with rotary motors which are designed for high-volume and heavy-duty hair cuts, work better.
SPM refers to ‘Strokes Per Minute’, the speed of the clipper’s blade. Based on this consideration, you can choose the trimmer.
Conclusion
Professionals need to own the best hair clippers and trimmers to give a worthwhile experience to their clients. Also, a good-quality hair clipper will last longer and won’t need recurring purchases.
All the products on this list are durable, dependable, and offer the best hair shaving experiences. They have varied safety, customized, and user-friendly features. So, you can choose any of them.
Our top pick would be the OSTER Classic 76 Universal Motor Clipper. It has an adjustable blade, powerful motor, and ergonomic design. This one is suitable for all hair types and is extremely durable.
Are our reviews and buying guide helpful to you? You can share your satisfaction, views, comments, and queries if any over here. Our research team will be always ready to reach you for any sort of information about professional hair clippers.