Buying a pair of hair clippers makes a lot of sense right now, and for a number of reasons. As wages have continued to fall against the cost of living, a monthly haircut has begun to feel like something of a luxury, and to exacerbate matters, the swarthy hipster look shows no sign of losing its social cache, which is holding up the price of a stylish short haircut. What’s more, our lives are busier and more mobile than ever before – and therefore we don’t always have the time to schedule in a visit to the barber’s. If you want to be able to refine your look at the touch of a button, then a pair of hair clippers could be a very wise investment indeed.
Scared of doing it yourself? Have no fear, as there’s a wealth of videos on YouTube by professionals showing you exactly how to groom your hair with electric hair clippers. And remember that unlike the long hair of times gone by, the modern style for short, cropped cuts means new hair growth will blend in any slip of the wrist in a matter of days. And if you’re really not confident enough to give it a go yourself, you can always get your other half or a trustworthy friend to give it a go instead*.
*Expert Reviews cannot be held responsible for the results.
How to choose the best hair clippers for you
How much do I need to spend?
The majority of clippers come in at under £50, which is not a lot for what is a precision instrument which is going to be cutting right next to your head. It’s a competitive market and that has certainly driven down prices. All of these clippers can give you a good or excellent cut, depending on your skill, but ask any barber what they paid for their clippers and it will likely be £100 or more. So as with anything else, you should expect to get what you pay for as a rule. We’ve included one professional-quality clipper as a comparison. You should also consider the points below when buying.
Which models cut hair quickest?
Quality models will use stronger motors and more refined cutting blades to cut hair faster than others, however much lower-end brands try to convince you otherwise – spending more isn’t always a guarantee of speed or quality.
Should I buy mains-powered or cordless clippers?
Some users claim mains-powered models give them extra power for thick or unruly hair and lessen the chance of snagging. But the latest cordless models seem to cut thick hair as well as corded, partly due to improved batteries that provide full power right up until they run dry. If you’re looking to cut your own hair, then cordless are undoubtedly easier to use single-handed – they’re also lighter to take on overnight trips. But they’re usually a bit more expensive compared to similar quality main-powered models. We’ve given the cordless models running times on a 1-hour charge to help you decide.
What are clipper ‘grades’?
This relates to how short the clipper cuts the hair, so make sure you check what’s on offer. Grade 1 equates to roughly 0.3mm and grade 8 is 25mm. Most now offer grades 1-8 using included a set of comb attachments, as well as left and right asymmetrical tapering combs to run around your ears. US models, such as the Oster included below, tend to work in inches, and different manufacturers – especially established marques such as Oster and Wahl – even have their own grades, so we’ve added millimetre measurements for them all.
Can I get hair clippers that look the part?
A number of manufacturers, such a Oster and Wahl, offer vintage-styled clippers that wouldn’t appear out of place in a barber’s shop from the 1950s. And some of them are high quality too, with cutting performance that’s right on a par with the most modern-looking designs, so they’re well worth considering if form is as important to you as function.
The best hair clippers to buy
1. Remington HC5035 Colour Cut Hair Clipper: The best hair clippers under £20
Price when reviewed:£12
This clipper punches well above its weight – and that’s saying something as it weighs quite a lot. It’s a simple design, with a mains-powered corded clipper that covers the shortest lengths from 0.5-2mm for trimming your hairline and then a set of nine combs to cover grades 0-8 along (3-25mm) with two tapered combs to do around your ears. Unsurprisingly for the price, the body is heavier and bigger than most, but this actually gives it a reassuringly weighty feel and makes it easy to handle. And it won’t cut your hair quite as fast as the other models mentioned here, but do you want to be swiping at your head with a ‘turbo’ model? Mains power means beards present few problems for this model. And as with any value product, if it was to break after a year or so, you’ve only lost £12. Unlike all the other models reviewed, it doesn’t come with a storage case, so you’ll need somewhere to keep it and all the attachments.
Key specs – Power: Mains only; Cutting range: 0.5mm-25mm; Weight: 800g; Accessories: Grade 0-8 (0.5-25mm) combs plus left and right ear tapers, hand comb, scissors, neck brush and cleaning brush
2. Wahl 79400-800 Colour Pro Coded Mains Hair Clipper Kit: Best for thick and uncontrollable hair
Price when reviewed:£33
The Wahl Colour Pro Coded sits at the lower end of the market, but provides you with all you need. As well as a set of combs covering grades 1-8 and tapered combs for sideburns, this clipper also comes with a barber’s cape and mirror, and a pair of hair grips. It’s especially good as getting through thick hair and beards and looks a little more stylish than the entry-level Remington. It also comes in a plastic storage case to protect it and keep all the attachments together. The colour-coded combs ‘USP’ is a little dated now as the cheapest models also feature it now, but nevertheless this is a well-designed product at a reasonable price.
Key specs – Power: Mains only; Cutting range: Grades 1-8 (3-25mm); Weight: 227g; Accessories: Grade 1-8 combs plus left and right ear tapers; hand comb, scissors, two hair clips, mirror, cape, blade oil, storage case
3. BaByliss for Men Super Hair Clipper: Best cordless hair clippers under £40
Price when reviewed:£37
The BaByliss offers great all-round performance and flexibility. It can be used plugged into the mains or cordless and with its lithium-ion battery, you’ll get 75 minutes’ use after a 3-hour charge, which will keep most men well groomed for around a month. It comes with combs for grades 1-8 as well as ear tapers, as well as oil and a cleaning brush. The package is a little minimal (you won’t get hand combs, a mirror or hair clips and there’s no hard case, just a soft pouch to keep it in) but for most people it has all you need. It works well on beards and is very light in the hand. It’s also a stylish model, with the blade adjuster giving it a slightly retro appearance.
Key specs – Power: Mains or cordless (75 mins after 3-hour charge. No battery life indicator); Cutting range: Grade 1-8 (3-25mm); Weight: 261g; Accessories: Grade 1-8 combs plus left and right ear tapers, cleaning brush, blade oil, soft carry bag
4. Wahl Lithium Power Hair Clipper: Best for long-lasting cordless operation
Price when reviewed:£50
This clipper’s USP is battery time. Two hours’ after a one-hour charge is seriously impressive and would give a beard and hair trim every week for a long, long time. So it would certainly suit those travelling light. The quality is high as well, and the simple design, with just a blade adjuster level and on/off switch, is attractive and minimizes the chance of something going wrong. You get a full grade 1-8 comb set plus left and right ear tapers, scissors, a comb, blade oil and a cleaning brush, along with a soft pouch for storage.
Key specs – Power: Mains or cordless (120 mins after 1-hour charge. Includes battery life indicator); Cutting range: Grade 1-8 (3-25mm); Weight: 288g; Accessories: Grade 1-8 combs plus left and right ear tapers, hand comb, scissors, cleaning brush, blade oil
5. Oster 606 Pro Power Adjustable Blade Pivot Motor Clipper: Best for retro style
Price when reviewed:£99 (+ £12 for set of grade 1-8 combs)
At more than twice the price of any of the other, this represents a serious investment, but if you want a professional-quality clipper, this is what you have to pay. This US brand has been supplying barbers for over 100 years so these products are tried and tested and therefore should last and last. The blade can be adjusted from grade 0 (0.5mm) to grade 1 (2.4mm) and then the four attachment combs take it up to grade 4 (12mm). You can buy a set of grade 1-8 combs for an additional £11.96. One feature the manufacturer claims is that they can cut wet or dry, although with short hair this hardly seems an issue. The clippers look incredibly cool, like an attachment for a 1960s Marshall stack, although there is no storage case, just a cardboard box. That said, if you consider yourself a bona-fide hipster, you might not care in the slightest.
Key specs – Power: Mains only; Cutting range: Grade 0-4 (0.5mm-12mm) or up to grade 8 (25mm) if you buy an additional set of combs; Weight: 800g; Accessories: Grade 2-4 combs (6-12mm), cleaning brush, blade oil, manual