Barbers and professional groomers require the best of the best there is to get and there’s certainly no way to compromise with the quality of a barber clipper.
Thus, buying the best professional clipper for barbers should determine how you proceed and it’s my opinion to own at least one of these 7 devices to generate premium looks on command!
Why did I pick these seven barber clippers? How do they perform better than tons of other available products on the market?
Go through my article to find all of these answers with insight about each of them from a barber’s point of view.
By the end, I’m sure you’ll find the best fit for your particular needs and render your purchase a fruitful experience in your shop!
Contents
Best Barber Clipper for Professionals: Which is Your Perfect Tool?
My top 7 picks for the best professional clippers in 2024 will certainly give you tons to think about. Let’s go through each of them to see if you need that particular device in your shop!
| Product | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Wahl Magic Clip | Best Overall Clipper |
| Oster Classic 76 | Best Modular Clipper |
| Wahl Balding Clipper | Best Zero-gap Clipper |
| Wahl Legend | Best Fading Clipper |
| Andis Master | Best Heavy-duty Clipper |
| FADEKING Clipper | Most Stylish Clipper |
| Andis T-Outliner | Best Outlining Clipper |
Note: The star ratings for each clipper is solely based on a professional’s demand out of a barber clipper and doesn’t represent their overall status.
Wahl Magic Clip
The Wahl Magic Clip fits the description of every barber’s dream grooming unit and it has sufficient evidence as well as technical prowess to back up that claim!
In my opinion, Magic Clip belongs to the top-tier of Wahl clippers due to numerous reasons. The first and foremost would be the blade system in this barber clipper.
Wahl Magic Clip is endowed with a (#2161) Stagger Tooth blade – a cutting unit that derives the name from the staggered pattern of the blade teeth.
Professionals will find great use out of this blade since it can create seamless textures between the cutting lengths of 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm.
These length settings can be altered mid-flight using the adjustable lever at the side. It’s not finicky and precisely maintains the cutting length which I believe is essential for a professional.
Also, the Stagger Tooth blade is built with the Crunch Blade Technology. Due to this, every cutting action using the blade can be heard and sensed by the barber.
It adds a new dimension to the hair cutting procedure. The barber will be able to know if and how much hair is being cut with every pass without having to see visible results.
Furthermore, motor power of this clipper is sufficient enough to back up the blade’s cutting actions. Wahl claims the unit to be a Precision-engineered rotary motor.
Therefore, Wahl Magic Clip is a great barber clipper since these two elements can remove any type or density of hair at will.
As additional factors, Magic Clip weighs only 10.2 ounces and such a weight class is indeed liberating for professionals at their salons.
With the weight, the 80 minute battery life enables complete portable operations and you can keep the 2.4m charging cable plugged in while using should your battery dies out in the middle.
Barbers mostly utilize their aftermarket sets of cutting guides. But if you don’t want to make additional investments, the 8 cutting guides that come inside the package should suffice!
Magic Clip’s housing is highly durable and the ergonomic crevices aid in retaining grip at almost every angle.
I’d say the Magic Clip from Wahl is the ideal professional clipper barbers can always keep at their disposal and it’ll add new values to the hair-cutting operations on a daily basis!
Score: ⭐ 4.8 / 5
What I Like
- Sharp Stagger-tooth blades can blend hair
- Cutting lengths cater to barber requirements
- Portable, ergonomic and durable due to housing design
What Could be Better
- None that I can think of
Oster Classic 76
Oster’s most modular barber clipper, the Classic 76, has made it to my list due to its unique characteristics and the ability to liberate professionals to add diversified cuts to their mix using one device alone!
Don’t get unnerved by the weight since this is the first concern I’ve heard barbers frequently mention.
19.7 ounces can be hefty for longer days of hair grooming, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll see that this weight class is actually playing toward your advantage.
It can enhance stability of your cutting animations and maintain steadiness no matter how you glide it over.
The size of the clipper demands you to wrap your fingers around the housing tightly. This housing of the Classic 76 is embedded with vertical textures for maximum grip.
You’ll receive the #000 and #1 blades inside the package, both have dedicated sets of tasks which mostly cater to professionals worldwide.
The great thing about this Classic 76 as a barber clipper is the huge library of additional blade attachments. You can find more about these in my dedicated article on the device.
These blades are hot-swappable, meaning you can alter one for the other without having to reach for a screwdriver.
Imagine the time it’s going to save you in your salon! Depending on the cut you’re going for or the type of hair you’re dealing with, you can alter one blade for another within seconds!
Added to the mix is the ginormous motor installed within these metal housing frames. It’s very loud and powerful since the power cord frequently keeps the motor running.
There’s no guide combs included in the package and I’d recommend you to make a set of aftermarket purchases to up the versatility a notch.
This simple yet multidimensional barber clipper isn’t very expensive! The downsides are mostly the loud noise, weight and the heating up of the housing.
The two vents on the housing rush out hot air to cool the clipper down. I’d still suggest giving it a couple minutes break after every 10 minutes of grooming.
Another aspect you should keep in mind is the maintenance of the Classic 76. Eech year, you might have to replace the carbon brushes to keep the motor running optimally.
So, you’re getting a robust electric clipper which not only excels at bulk hair removal, but also can craft out any neat style with even cuts at every go.
I’d say the Classic 76 is definitely a must-have professional clipper to own as it can push the boundaries of hair styling and cutting which most devices would simply come a little shy of.
Score: ⭐ 4.7 / 5
What I Like
- Steady & even cut with every blade
- Blades can be altered within seconds
- Highly powerful motor is relentless
What Could be Better
- Although durable, the device can heat up and be loud
Wahl Balding Clipper
Barbers are often demanded to go for zero cuts and what better device could you possibly own in your shop than a professional clipper that can zero gap?
The Wahl Balding Clipper is an exquisite tool for barbers to get that neat look out every time! Getting closest to the scalp with the device would never be an issue if you own this barber clipper.
I found the Surgical (#2105) blades to be highly effective for professionals. While other barber clippers can mimic zero cuts, they’re rarely as fine as the Balding Clipper outcome.
Yes, there’s no adjustable lever to alter between cutting lengths, but that’s the selling point of this device.
It’s always ready to get clipping without any hassle and can produce identical results with the least amount of effort.
These surgical blades are put in motion by the highly powerful V5000 motor. You’ll realize how powerful it is by the sound of it as the Balding Clipper can get quite loud!
Barber shops are generally a noisy place so the Balding Clipper’s sounds should not be an issue for you. The loudness is not out of proportion and it shouldn’t bother most of the customers.
This professional clipper for barbers weighs around the average scale – 16 ounces with the length of 6.25 inches – almost typical for a Wahl clipper.
The portability is a little bit restricted by the corded modality but the great thing is, you’re never running out of power. Just plug it in, turn it on and get grooming instantly!
It aids barbers with their maneuverability with the ergonomic curves at the precise spots. Even if it’s a long and hard day, the Balding Clipper will simply stick to your hand without ever slipping!
You’ll realize it’s made to survive in a barber shop by the robustness of the housing material and the overall feeling.
There are two guide combs as gifts from Wahl which you can use for additional safety and slightly longer cuts.
On one hand, you’re getting a barber clipper which isn’t highly versatile and portable. But on the other, this one is a specialized tool with one purpose to serve – neat and seamless zero cuts.
The price point is fair and I believe a barber would find an occasion to use this clipper every day in their salon and bring that professional look out for all of the customers!
Score: ⭐ 4.67 / 5
What I Like
- Surgical blades are very sharp and durable
- Powerful motor can neatly cut all types of hair
- Robust housing means a worthwhile investment
What Could be Better
- Could be cordless
Wahl Legend
Have you ever thought how neat it would be to own a professional clipper which is portable and can craft out some fabulous fade cuts with the least amount of effort?
Well, the Wahl Legend is certainly a masterful device with such abilities and it certainly won’t cost you an arm and a leg to add it to your barber shop’s arsenal!
This barber clipper is designed like the traditional grooming tools from Wahl with the Legend text vertically scrolling down the middle of the housing.
I’m absolutely in love with the #2228 Wedge Blade attached to Wahl Legend and this blade unit is 1.8” wide!
With such a wide blade, you’ll be able to draw fades or perform any other cuts with fewer passes and it saves you tons of time with each haircut!
The adjustment lever on the Wahl Legend allows you to alter between the lengths of 0.7 mm to 1.7 mm on the fly.
A solid 1 mm cutting length gap tells you how dynamic this professional clipper is for barbers across the world.
The motor unit is almost as powerful as Wahl Senior and somewhat equally strong enough like the Magic Clip due to the rotary motor unit built inside.
It’s a combination of sharp blades and powerful motor that enables haircuts through every type, density and expectation.
Housing of the Wahl Legend is robust and it can be made out by the metal adjustment lever, whereas other premium Wahl barber clippers have introduced plastic levers.
The face side of the housing doesn’t have any ergonomic curves or spots. A straightforward concept still manages to retain grip and is supported by the grip curves at the back.
Also, weighing only 10 ounces is liberating in many sorts of ways. Enhanced maneuverability and less chances of fatigue are special benefits of the Wahl Legend.
The battery life is ideal – one hour with a full charge and you have the option to keep the cable connected while performing your grooming tasks.
8 guide combs make it a complete set without requiring any additional attachments and the haircut types you’re going to craft would simply mesmerize you!
From seamless blends to long fades, everything can be done with this ideal barber clipper from Wahl and the Wedge blade is an important factor behind all these cuts.
Wahl Legend is a highly versatile, portable and solid barber clipper and you could do nothing wrong by purchasing the cordless variant today!
Score: ⭐ 4.74 / 5
What I Like
- Wedge blade ideal for different fade types
- Metal lever can alter cutting length on the fly
- Very lightweight and easy to handle
What Could be Better
- None that I can think of
Andis Master
The Andis Master 01815 is a corded variant of barber clippers and it’s a dream come true grooming tool for the professionals because of all the perks it brings on!
You may already know about a couple of downsides for this professional clipper – it’s heavy, it’s connected to a cord and the housing can heat up in longer days.
But the positives of this clipper significantly outweigh the negatives! Especially if you’re a barber and want your grooming device to live up to the professional standard, I don’t see how you can avoid owning an Andis Master.
Andis Master features a 000-1 carbon steel blade with 5 distinct length positions adjustable by the metal lever.
This lever is good in the sense that you can select a particular length based on the reading at the side and it’ll remain so until you change it again.
In terms of the housing design, it’s a solid silver finish with a smooth surface. Despite being made this way using metal, it retains impeccable grip!
Andis Master is also ranked toward the top in terms of durability. The device can withstand a long and rough day in the barber shop without faltering for a second!
The 20 ounces barber clipper comes with a magnetic motor that’s able to perform 14,000 cutting actions per minute.
Due to this technology, you’ll feel the housing heating up after every 10 or so minutes of grooming and should let it cool down for a couple of minutes.
It’s a one-hand barber clipper which you can turn on and off using that particular hand in the middle of grooming.
While it may appeal to many barbers, I found this design to be more interfering than liberating.
The cable is 2.4m long, so there’s no threat of limited maneuverability. This cable must be plugged into a 120V / 60 Hz outlet, otherwise it won’t work.
From bulk removal to long fades or even seamless cuts, Andis Master can do it all without any additional attachment.
If needed, there are additional blade purchase options from these following models: 01556, 01591 33645, 33660, 33665, 01410, 01415, 01900, 01420, 01380.
My verdict is that Andis Master is one of the finest from Andis as a professional clipper since the device eases out particular grooming tasks and the overall design caters to barbers in different sorts of ways!
Score: ⭐ 4.74 / 5
What I Like
- Robust housing and premium design
- Carbon-steel blades for professional cuts
- Wide variety of blade
What Could be Better
- Heats up
- Power switch placement
FADEKING Professional Hair Clipper
Boost the aesthetics of your barber shop with a professional clipper that looks very fancy and performs equally well across all of your customers!
The Fadeking Professional Clipper is a jack of all trades and the blazing golden housing certainly takes it further in line as a desirable barber clipper!
This device comes attached with a Fading Tooth Top (#440C) Blade which is perfect for different fade cuts!
The adjustment lever can change between settings and therefore set you up in a prime position for crafting seamless or smooth blends as well as fades.
One thing to note down is that the blades are not zero gapped out of the box. While it can be done manually, I’d advise against walking that path.
With the 6,500 RPM motor this device comes with, I can most certainly vouch that it’s powerful and sufficient enough to be used frequently by a barber.
It weighs a little higher than expected – around 14 ounces with a head-heavy housing, so that’s one balance concern you have to deal with in the beginning.
Otherwise, the captivating design in golden, the grip textures of the round handle and the long, diamond bevels at the top are the things customers often find highly attractive.
There’s an LED power level indicator at the bottom and it’s quite accurate in telling you how much of the one-hour battery life is left in percentage.
It’s a modern day barber clipper to be honest and the USB Type-C charging port certainly tells you how easy it is to charge up.
Six guide combs inside the solid storage case and a Fadeking bib completes the overall package for any barber – be that a beginner or a professional for many years.
If you ask me if it’s durable, I’d say it’ll last way longer than you’d expect considering the highly affordable price point it comes at!
Being a professional clipper powered by battery, you can simply hold it from any angle over your customer’s head and it won’t disappoint you.
With faster cutting actions, pleasant noise level and a satisfying price point, the Fadeking clipper can easily be a secondary tool inside a barber salon.
It’ll not only come in handy when you’re drawing fades, but also simply to announce your prowess as a tasteful barber in the town who owns fancy yet quality gadgets in his shop!
Score: ⭐ 4.67 / 5
What I Like
- Easy to use
- Fancy housing design
- Great price to performance ratio
What Could be Better
- Not zero gapped
Andis 04710 T-Outliner
The final tool in my list of best professional clippers for barbers is the Andis T-Outliner, model 04710 as it’s a very unique device to be owned by a barber.
Due to the features, it’s classified as a barber clipper but can also be used as a trimmer because of the blade type and the overall size.
Since it’s an outlining professional clipper, the device is equipped with a T-blade – shaped like the English letter ‘T’ and the thin blades can be agile in different scenarios.
The gap between blade teeth are non-existent and thus the cutting actions go as close to the skin as possible each time.
Whether it’s a complete zero cut you’re looking for or a bald look, the Andis T-Outliner can be your go-to option for such operations and even work as a zero gap trimmer.
The only limitation arises when you’re thinking about bulk removal. Since the blade is very thin vertically, this professional clipper is meant to be used on shorter hair.
There’s no lack of sharpness in these blades and the high-torque rotary motor certainly works better than expected!
Andis T-Outliner is a tiny device but it does make some noise due to this powerful motor unit! Also, the fact that it’s connected to a 2.4m cable keeps the device running endlessly at a barbershop.
This barber clipper can also be used on beards – whether for shortening it down to a precise, seamless length or to outline the overall structure.
As there’s no adjustment lever, you’ll have to rely on the additional guide combs to trim or clip at a longer length than zero.
Guide combs don’t come inside the package, so you’ll need to make separate purchases. However, T-Outliners rarely need any guide combs and your skill alone should suffice for most parts.
It’s quite lightweight – only 11.2 ounces of the plastic, textured housing which fits perfectly in the palms and doesn’t slip at all.
There’s a Deep-tooth T-Blade purchase option for the T-Outliner and you may want to go for that to further increase the versatility.
Andis T-Outliner is an affordable hair clipper with maximum maneuverability as well as durability and it comes in handy every now and again inside a barber shop!
Score: ⭐ 4.69 / 5
What I Like
- Compact yet durable housing design
- Enhanced portability due to size, weight and ergonomics
- Precise cuts with the original T-Blade
What Could be Better
- Quite loud
Why Trust My Verdict?
As you can tell, I’m not a barber and understanding a professional’s needs shouldn’t be as accurate, the way it would if it were to come from another experienced barber.
That’s exactly why I consulted with my barber friend who’s a second-generation professional and has been in this field since his childhood.
The devices I’ve mentioned have gone through his shop and the rough environment on a daily basis and I obtained information from him for each professional clipper.
Based on his insight, my test and understanding of grooming devices, I’m giving you my verdict on eight criteria, an overall score and the tasks each barber clipper is the best at performing!
Test Results: Best Barber Clippers for Professionals
As I mentioned, here are the eight assessment categories for the top barber clippers and you’ll get to see these tools stacking up against one another in these criteria.
Blade Sharpness
In terms of sharpness, Magic Clip, Classic 76 and Andis Master should be your top 3 choices as a barber.
Despite carrying different types of blades, all three are highly agile and can cut through all sorts of hair like a knife through butter.
Wahl Balding, Legend and Andis T-Outliner are the second tier in the sharpness category and are followed by the Fadeking clipper.
Motor Power
As you can already tell, the Oster Classic 76 is the most powerful of them all! It wouldn’t be a crime to compare its motor with a jet engine because of the raw performance, sound and overall feeling!
The second most powerful motor in my listing is in the Andis Master because of its corded design.
Then it’s a tie between the three Wahl clippers and the Andis T-Outliner with the least amount of power generated in the lot by Fadeking.
Adjustable Blade System
Adjustable blade system can be interpreted in three ways – an adjustment lever, alterable blade (also how fast it is to swap) and availability of guide combs.
Wahl Magic Clip and Legend top the list since they have two of the largest cutting gaps that can be exercised using the adjustment lever and it’s the fastest of the three options.
While Andis Master does contain a lever like Fadeking, both of them lack the dynamic cutting length gap and are ranked second to the two Wahl barber clippers.
Oster 76 is ranked third because of its faster blade-swapping mode and is followed by Andis T-Outliner and Wahl Balding Clipper respectively.
Ergonomic Design
Ergonomically Wahl Magic Clip is my favorite and it’s also backed up by my barber friend! Hear me out – this barber clipper utilizes the smartly curved housing and allows a thumb-rest spot.
Whereas the other devices second to it, Classic 76, Balding Clipper, Fadeking and Andis T-Outliner, had to rely solely on the housing textures to prevent slipping.
Magic Clip’s grip is natural and it never aches the skin or the palm itself. Legend’s housing lacks a little character and is less ergonomic than the ones I’ve mentioned.
Finally, Andis Master’s smooth finish can cause headaches for a few but my reason for point deduction is the power button placement.
Durability
No barber clipper is invulnerable especially if you drop them frequently. But apart from that, the Classic 76 and Andis Master are generally the most robust professional clippers.
I’d rank the three Wahl clippers right next as their durability is almost identical since the 5-Star devices are built upon the same principles of housing and blade materials.
Andis T-Outliner is also durable but ranked a little lower due to the all-plastic method of housing design.
Final one in this category is Fadeking – although durable but it still fails to meet the quality of the top brands by a miniscule margin.
Versatility
Hands down, Wahl Magic Clip is the most versatile barber clipper here since it can create fades, blends, textured looks and even remove hair in bulk if that’s deemed necessary!
Then it’s a tie between Oster 76 and Andis Master, although the former would require additional blade purchases.
Wahl Legend and Fadeking clipper are tied for versatility because of their similar gap in blade teeth and almost identical modes of operation.
Wahl Balding Clipper and Andis T-Outliner are specialized professional clippers that aim to do a precise task better than the others, thus they rank lower in versatility.
Maneuverability
Maneuverability doesn’t only imply the barber clipper is lightweight, but also that the tool is perfectly balanced and aids a professional groomer in all sorts of ways.
Wahl Magic Clip is the benchmark of perfect maneuverability. Apart from the weight and balance, it’s cordless and the long battery life contributes to this factor as well.
Then it’s a tie between Wahl Legend, Fadeking clipper and Andis T-Outliner, the latter outperforming the rest despite being a corded tool.
Wahl Balding is low on score due to the balance and is tied with Andis Master due to the heavy weight.
For the same reason, Oster Classic 76 is ranked at the bottom and its heft size is also an aspect that was taken into consideration here.
Ease of Maintenance
How easy it is to maintain a barber clipper is an important factor for consideration. Because if a device takes a long time to keep on running smoothly, it can cut down on efficiency in a barber shop.
On that note, Wahl Magic Clip, Legend and Andis T-Outliner are the three professional clippers that are the easiest to maintain.
Then comes Wahl Balding Clipper and Andis Master – both of which require more frequent motor greasing than the top 3.
The Fadeking clipper is a little tricky to maintain since the blade removal and readjustment requires some skill on your end.
Finally, the Oster Classic 76 is a tough task since you’ll have to deal with replacing carbon brushes, oiling the separate blades and greasing the motor as frequently as possible.
Buyer’s Guide for Best Professional Clippers
So, now that we’re here, which one do you think is the best professional clipper for barbers in this listing? In my opinion, it’s all preferential and mostly depends on what you need.
Therefore, I’ll make things easy for you and tell you which category each of these devices excel at to help you in making your perfect pick!
Wahl Magic Clip is the most complete barber clipper due to the Crunch blade, portability, durability and overall comfort.
Oster Classic 76 is for the ones who like to keep their options open and settle for a modular device with endless possibilities.
Wahl Balding Clipper is ideal for zero-gap cuts like bald fades or zero looks. On the same note, Andis T-Outliner is best for outlining and drawing similar outcomes like the Balding Clipper but is less efficient.
Wahl Legend is the best tool for fades in this list, although Fadeking is agile at this task as well but it’s mostly picked because of the stylish housing design.
Finally, Andis Master is the most heavy-duty barber clipper you can pick and it’ll go through the entire day without a hiccup and deliver unique and steady cuts relentlessly!
A Few Tips & Tricks for Best Barber Clippers
Here are a few tips and tricks you should keep up your sleeve as a barber and these should fix little issues befores facing them in your barber shop!
- Regular Cleaning: Your barber clippers must be regularly cleaned and sanitized to keep your customers safe and coming back for more.
- Oiling the Blades: It’s essential to oil the blades after each cleaning. Otherwise, the friction can compromise sharpness and cause tugging or pulling.
- Blade Alignment: Check for the blade alignment at the start of each day. Upon prolonged use, there could be misalignment and that can cause uneven cuts.
- Using Guards: Start with a guard at the beginning of a haircut and climb your way down to no guard by the end.
- Ensure Proper Grip: Make sure you’re holding the clipper in the right way and with proper grip. Slipping can invoke pain and ruin the haircut.
- Cut Against the Grain: Always cut against the grain if you’re going for a zero look for skin fades as it cuts the hair much closer to the skin.
- Edge and Outline: Once a haircut is completed, outline the edges to enhance the look even further.
- Cool the Clippers: Every now and again, allow the barber clipper to cool down. Since you’ll be dealing with heavy-duty devices, this procedure is necessary.
- Communicate with Customers: Properly communicate with your clients to understand exactly what they’re expecting.
- Dealing with Hair Pulling: If your client is experiencing hair pull, check the charge level, sharpness of blades or the alignment. Mostly it’s one of these three.
- Avoiding Skin Irritation: You should be gentle with your movement to avoid skin irritation. Remember, finding comfort with you is an important factor for recurrent customers.
If you manage to follow these tips, your customers should be happy at all times and your professional clippers will last longer than usual!
FAQ
In this section, I’ll answer a few unique FAQs on the best barber clipper for professionals and it will most certainly boost your knowledge about this area!
Q: What clippers do professional barbers use?
Ans: A lot of the clippers commonly used by professionals have already been mentioned in my list. Usually, barbers settle for top brands as it guarantees a level of performance. Brands like Andis, Oster or Wahl should be among your radar and consideration before picking out a barber clipper!
Q: Can you bring barber clippers on a plane?
Ans: Apparently you can bring a barber clipper on a plane if you’re carrying it inside carry-on luggage or checked baggage. It applies to most clippers and trimmers but the airline you’re traveling in can have unique rules regarding this matter. So it’s better to ask them or check their guidelines for clarity.
Q: How often do barbers change clipper blades?
Ans: It actually depends on which barber clipper you’re using, how frequently you’re using it and the type of operation you’re performing. A rule of thumb is to replace the blades every 3 to 6 months, but yours can easily vary. Another option is sharpening the blades as there are tools or services available for such tasks.
Concluding Remarks
Now that we’ve reached the end of our discussion on the best barber clipper for professionals, I’ll mention a couple of valid factors to consider as a barber.
Firstly, understanding your needs is of utmost importance. If a modular way of handling clippers or going fully automated is your preference, you should settle that argument first.
From that point onward, break down your requirement based on your priority and assess if it’s a must for you to own a portable device or if you can make do with a corded barber clipper.
This way, step by step, you can eliminate each professional clipper and reach the one tool you need the most – it could be a Wahl clipper, Andis, Oster or Fadeking!