

Some clippers offer the best of both worlds with the option to use it plugged in or cordless. For that reason, a low battery warning light can be a real help - and a unit with a long battery life can help even more. Some models may slow down and therefore tug at hairs as they run out of juice. For home use, some prefer corded clippers just for the consistency of their power output. If not, keep in mind that international trips may require a plug adapter to fit foreign outlets. If it holds a charge well, so much the better. To plug or not to plug? If you plan on traveling, definitely consider a cordless clipper.Wider clippers are great for quickly buzzing through short haircuts, but they may not be able to handle touchy areas like the ears or do detailed beard work. Also, take a look at the width of the clipper. The longer the hair, the more you may want to consider something with a high-powered motor and/or more accessories. Will you be periodically shaving down a crew cut or mowing a mountain-man beard? If it’s simple upkeep on short hair you’re looking for, a basic model might be fine for the job - especially if you don’t need a lot of length-adjusting guards. The first thing you’ll need to do when buying a hair clipper is to find a tool that matches the job.Typically, you’ll get several guards with your clipper, and while there’s no universal numbering system, you’ll typically find a length in inches or millimeters printed on them. On others, you’ll need to snap on a guard attachment. You can adjust the length of your trim by way of a lever on some models that raise or lower the blade. Their relative fragility makes them a rarer find in commercial clippers, though you can replace steel blades with ceramic in many models if desired. Many barbers swear by their ceramic blades, which stay cool even in high-speed clippers and retain their cutting edge longer. Carbon steel is a step up from stainless steel blades in terms of sharpness, though it tends to need more care to prevent corrosion. Durable and rust-resistant, it can stand up to thousands of trims. Increasingly rarer are pivot motors, which hit a spot somewhere in the middle in terms of price and performance.Ĭlipper blades can be made out of a variety of materials, though stainless steel is the most common. This type is a bit slower but produces more torque, making it more suitable for thicker beards or longer, wet hair. There are also rotary motors, which use a rotating piston whose action is then converted into a side-to-side motion for the blades. It’s usually best for smooth hair, though blade type and sharpness can do a lot to cut through sturdier ‘dos. This method produces a lot of speed and also a lot of friction. As the name implies, it uses a magnet to oscillate the blades. In some clippers, that motor is a magnetic or universal type.
#Hair clipper guide series
Hair trimmers are exclusively focused on detail work for short beards or other body hair.Īll clippers have a serrated blade (or series of blades) that move back and forth behind a guard by way of an electric motor. Hair clippers are primarily meant for tackling longer hair though as you’ll see, the better clippers can be pretty versatile. The first distinction to make is that there’s a small but significant difference between hair clippers and hair trimmers. If you have a good hair clipper, you can tackle most of them and outlast them all.

You’re going to adopt some by choice and some, perhaps, by the necessities of age or work. Men’s hairstyles go in and out of favor every year.
