Buzz cut has been trending in mainstream culture for the previous century and kept on resurfacing with new and unique renditions each time.
Crafting out a buzz cut may sound like an easy thing to do, but trust me, you need the right tools and some degree of expertise to get that perfect outcome.
Not just any clipper can achieve this feat because buzz cuts require some certain criteria out of a hair clipper to create that precise buzz cut number.
That’s why my picks of the 5 best hair clippers for buzz cuts is a crucial factor that tells you which tools to choose for certain buzz looks and how to make the most out of them!
Contents
Best Buzz Cut Hair Clippers: Top 5 Tools in 2024
In this section, you’ll find my top 5 devices for buzz cuts with their particular prowess and weaknesses when it comes to crafting out this refined look!
| Product | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Remington Shortcut Pro | Best for Self Buzz Cuts |
| Wahl Balding Clipper | Best for Shorter Buzz Cuts |
| Fadeking Hair Clipper | Best for Blending Buzz Cuts |
| Oster Classic 76 | Best for Buzz Cutting over Long Hair |
| Wahl Magic Clip | Best for Versatile Buzz Cuts |
Note: The star ratings for each clipper is solely for buzz cutting capability and doesn’t represent their overall status.
Remington Shortcut Pro
For those of you who are looking for an affordable, easy to use and self-trimming solution for applying and regularly maintaining buzz cuts for yourself, the Remington Shortcut Pro is your answer!
To apply a buzz cut on any type of hair, the primary requirement is a set of sharp blades that can trim your hair to an even, short length.
Although not zero gapped, the wide and arced blades of the Remington Shortcut Pro is highly efficient in hair removal seamlessly and it can clip hair at bulks.
On top of that, the 9 cutting guides are precisely sized according to the buzz cut lengths, so you can simply attach one and draw out your preferred buzz cut look!
While regular clippers may pose some issues clipping around your head, especially on the nape hair, Remington Pro’s size and shape mitigates this trouble for home groomers.
The ergonomic housing and handy size lets you hold the clipper firmly in the palm of your hands and clip your hair at any given angle as well as direction.
Its motor power isn’t similar to the robust hair clippers but it’s sufficient enough for bulk removal of hair at any volume or texture.
The efficiency is compensated by the wide blades. While it’s great to trim your hair with lesser passes, this also means you’ll be less precise compared to other buzz cut clippers.
Also, for fine tuning your look, you may want to utilize an edge up clipper afterward to outline your hair or remove neck hair to enhance the neatness of the look.
The main charming factor about the Remington Shortcut Pro is its easy maintenance since the clipper is waterproof and allows quick washes through the water vents.
Power button on the housing is tactile and is cleared out of your grip’s path, so no risk of accidentally setting it off.
You can carry this clipper anywhere you go and utilize it to upkeep your buzz cut on a weekly basis.
The battery life of 30 minutes may seem a little lacking, but since it’s meant to be used for home use, I’d give this duration a pass.
So, you’re getting an ergonomic and sharp hair clipper at an affordable price that can craft out any length of buzz cuts without having to visit a barber shop and pay a hefty price – I call it an absolute win!
What I Like
- Easy to maneuver
- Affordable
- Can craft any length of buzz cuts
What Could be Better
- Average battery life
Wahl Balding Clipper
Men with balding hair, it’s time for you to shine! Instead of going for a complete head shave every time, why not try out a buzz cut for your balding head?
It may sound cheesy, but trust me – a good buzz cut can add some styling benefits to your look which you would be missing out on if you carry on with your shiny hairdo.
Wahl Balding Clipper is precisely made for balding men’s hair grooming duties and certain buzz cut lengths fall comfortably under this clipper’s jurisdictions.
First of all, this clipper is zero gapped and its Surgical Blade (#2105) is meant to clip as close to your scalp as possible!
With the two comb guides (1/16″ and 3/16″), you’d be able to draw out the buzz cuts of Number 1 and Number 2 length.
The great thing about such a blade is that the cuts are always even and professional groomers can utilize it in their parlor as a go to clipper for buzz cuts.
Also, balding men at home can also purchase this clipper since it’s not only a great buzz cutting tool, but also one of the finest hair clippers for bald head grooming.
Another benefit of this hair clipper is that it’s robust, the housing is solid and meant to last for years, yet it comes as a budget option compared to other heavy-duty hair clippers.
Hair type, texture or density isn’t a problem for Wahl Balding Clipper since it can trim down anything using the V5000 rotary motor unit – a powerhouse if you ask me.
This clipper is relentlessly powered by a cord of 2.4 meters length and therefore no risk of it dying in the middle of haircuts.
Although this can cause a little trouble for home groomers, getting used to the device and working around the cable can certainly boost your maneuverability and skill over time.
There’s no adjustment lever on the clipper, so blending would have to be done manually. But it can outline your hair or clean out the neck for the buzz cut, so that’s an added bonus.
If you have a beard, Wahl Balding Clipper can also be utilized for its upkeep due to the zero gapped, thin blades.
For what it’s worth, Wahl Balding Clipper is an absolute beast for any grooming purposes, with a special concentration on balding head upkeep and drawing out different types of buzz cuts very easily!
What I Like
- Surgical blades can craft different buzz cuts
- Can also be used as a line up clipper
- Great price to performance ratio
What Could be Better
- No adjustment lever
FADEKING Professional Hair Clipper
Now let’s move on to the luxurious rendition of buzz cut clippers as Fadeking makes its way into the big boy’s league with their highly unique and fancy device in 2024!
Many people adore the Fadeking hair clipper because of its looks, but I should state that the performance also matches with the way its housing has been designed.
This device comes as a whole package inside a solid storage case where everything you need is stashed in an organized manner, even a barber bib for home grooming purposes!
Why do I recommend the Fadeking clipper as an ideal buzz cut clipper? It’s because of the sharp Fading Tooth Top (#440C) blade with the adjustment lever.
While the non zero-gapped carbon steel blade is agile and highly efficient, pairing it up with the adjustment lever grants you the opportunity of blending in the varying length between top and side hair.
That way, you’ll have the liberty of merging multiple cutting lengths up to and sides to experiment with various buzz cuts.
Also, using the 9 attachment comb cutting guides (1/16”, 1/8”, 3/16”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”), (1mm, 2mm, 3mm) you should cover every possible length of buzz cuts with ease!
The housing design is highly alluring because of the golden exterior, round handle that’s textured for superior grip and can be utilized at any angle.
Its motor power is quite good for different buzz cuts as it runs at 6,500 RPM but the weight balance could be better as opposed to other hair clippers like Wahl or Andis.
But if you look at the price, you’ll realize that Fadeking is actually the budget variant of something like BaBylissPRO hair clippers.
It can still be utilized in a professional space and the 60 minute battery life is certainly an indication of that.
Since it’s a modern day hair clipper, you’re blessed with a numeric LED indicator that reads battery level and can be charged through the USB Type-C port.
This clipper is versatile in the sense that you can use it for fading your hair, maintaining your beard or other grooming tasks.
The Fadeking clipper is durable, I’d still suggest against dropping it every now and then as there might be some cosmetic damage.
So, a buzz cut clipper to enhance your barber shop’s pride with its dazzling looks and something to gloat about for the home consumers – it’s a steal if you ask me!
What I Like
- Comes with 9 guide combs for buzz cuts
- Sharp and durable blade
- Adjustment lever for blends and fades
What Could be Better
- Weight balance could be better
Oster Classic 76
Oster Classic 76 is literally a powerhouse pick in my article for best hair clippers for buzz cuts because of the robust design, powerful motor and weapon-grade housing.
I wouldn’t call it a dedicated tool for buzz cuts since it’s one of the most versatile and modular hair clippers I’ve ever owned, and might even be the most premium one so far.
What I personally like about this clipper is its highly durable and thick blades. You’ll find two of these #000 and #1 blades inside the package – both of which cater to buzz cuts.
Sometimes you may struggle to chop through a large density of thick textured hair and this is where the Oster Classic 76 excels the most.
As it’s a corded clipper, its jet-like motor powers up the fat blades and it can literally achieve anything you want!
The true power of this clipper can be realized when the cooling fans turn up and literally bursts out hot hair through the vents up top.
The power knob is placed at the bottom of the device, so there’s no risk of unintentional engagement there.
It has the most durable, solid and ergonomic housing from the lot because of the metal reinforcements and vertical textures seamlessly going on.
I must warn you that this clipper doesn’t come with any guide combs, so you’ll have to seek refuge in aftermarket purchases.
Otherwise, you’ll have to stick with the Number 0 and Number 1 buzz cuts with the two unique blades that the clipper comes with, having additional blade libraries in the market.
It’s a little harsh on the scalp because of the highly energetic mode of cutting, so going with a guide comb should be your ideal way of operating.
Also, the weight can be hefty for self-cuts, so I’ll recommend it only for professional use since barbers all over the globe tend to keep something like the Classic 76 at disposal.
For all the things it offers, I’ll say the pricing is quite reasonable, although some investment is due to occur in the additional blade and guide comb purchases.
There’s no adjustment lever on the clipper, therefore blending the buzz cut relies completely on your skill with the tool.
The motor is quite loud and there are two carbon brushes installed inside to keep it running relentlessly.
These brushes require almost yearly replacement and it can be done very easily within 5-10 minutes, depending on your expertise.
Also, there’s the option to instantly swap out blades instead of unscrewing and screwing back, rendering it the dream clipper for buzz cuts and plenty more from a barber’s point of view!
What I Like
- Two sharp and solid blades for fastest buzz cuts
- Housing meant to last years
- Very powerful and professional grade tool
What Could be Better
- Can be loud and requires maintenance
Wahl Magic Clip
The last entry in my best hair clippers for buzz cut list is the Wahl Magic Clip – one of the finest hair clippers ever invented by the legendary brand Wahl.
It’s highly desirable among both home groomers and professional barbers because of its ease of use, high quality blade and overall portability as well as convenience.
I believe it to be the most recommended cordless hair clipper with versatile functionality and unmatched durability because of the build materials.
Let’s begin with the Stagger Tooth blade (#2161) and learn why this is desirable for buzz cuts across a wide array of consumer groups.
This particular blade is built upon Wahl’s Crunch Blade technology. What this does is, it gives you a tactile feedback of your cutting actions and you’ll sense it clipping the hair without even having to look!
These blades are sharp and agile, therefore ready out of the box not only to apply a buzz cut from no foundation, but also to utilize for regular maintenance.
Since the housing design consists of certain curves at the right spots, self grooming is no issue for this magnificent beauty.
No matter which angle you hold this clipper, you’ll be able to scratch out seamless cuts at the precise length settings.
There are three more factors we should consider at this point – the adjustable lever lets you trim between 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm without any attachments.
Meaning, you’ll get somewhere in between the Number 0 and Number 1 buzz cuts while adding varying lengths to your top and side hair, and smoothly blend the two portions.
The second factor is its motor unit – a precision-engineered rotary motor keeps the blades in motion and cuts down hair at the highest efficiency.
Final element in this argument is the battery life – approximately 80 minutes of relentless operation with a full charge and maximizing its maneuverability during that.
It’s a little expensive and the reason behind it is its classification as a professional-grade hair clipper. Home consumers these days are purchasing Wahl Magic Clip because of its longevity and high-quality outcomes.
Also, these 8 cutting guides (1/8”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4”, 7/8”, and 1”) will help you settle for each of the buzz cut sizes without having to rely on any other hair clipper!
So, you’re getting a clipper that’ll last long, cuts neatly and makes anything seem professional, can craft out any buzz cut and even go the extra distance to taper and fade around – what more could you ask?
What I Like
- Stagger Tooth blade is ideal for sharp buzz cuts
- Portable clipper enables self-clipping
- Meant to last for years without any issue
What Could be Better
- A little expensive
Why Trust My Verdict on Buzz Cut Clippers?
I know, you might say I’m no professional barber, how on earth would I place my verdict on the most compatible hair clippers for buzz cuts?
As it happens, I’m personally a buzz cut enthusiast and applied it on myself back in the day countless times.
During that journey, I tried out different hair clippers and at present, I do the same on my brother using my huge library of hair clipping tools purchased only for testing.
Combining all of this knowledge together, I know which qualities a hair clipper needs for the finest buzz cuts and aligning those with my experience of these devices paved the way for these top 5 units in my list!
Test Results: Best Hair Clippers for Buzz Cuts
In this section, you’ll learn elaborately on which criteria I’ve assessed these 5 hair clippers and a side by side comparison should give you further clarification on their capabilities as great buzz cut clippers!
Blade Quality
In terms of blade quality, I have two different winners for buzz cuts. Firstly, the Oster Classic 76 with its supremely durable and robust couple of blades that allows for multiple buzz cut lengths and variations.
Also, these blades can be utilized for bulk removal and working on every hair texture at any length. Wahl Magic Clip ties due to the Stagger Tooth blade – an ideal unit for smooth and seamless buzz cuts.
Second place goes to Wahl Balding clipper – an excellent tool for shorter buzz cuts but lacks the width of the former two device blades.
Finally, Remington Shortcut Pro and Fadeking clipper ties at the last spot. Despite having great blades, neither of these are zero gapped and the qualities are a little off from our top 3 in this category.
Power and Motor
Undoubtedly, the Oster Classic 76 is the top ranking device in terms of motor power. It literally sounds like a heavy-duty engine when you turn the device on and I’ve yet to come across a hair clipper that can beat its power!
Wahl Balding Clipper and Magic Clip share similarities in the motor department, although they make different sounds, Balding Clipper being the louder one.
Fadeking clipper comes third with its average motor power, somewhat feeling like a trimmer power unit inside a hair clipper – although it doesn’t struggle with any sort of buzz cuts.
Lastly, the Remington Pro has the least powerful motor from the lot and it’s understandable due to the compact and highly portable design limiting the capacity for a larger motor unit.
Attachments and Length Settings
The contest is very close between the top 3 buzz cut clippers in this category and I had to side with Remington Shortcut Pro and Fadeking clipper to be tied for first.
Both of these clippers offer you 9 unique cutting guides at each buzz cut length, rendering them the most perfect tools for the job – be that at home or at a barber shop.
These two are followed by Wahl Magic Clip with its 8 durable guide combs – one shy of the first two.
Balding Clipper from Wahl heads home third with its two guide combs and the final spot goes to Oster Classic 76 since it has no guides, rather the two blades to swap between.
Comfort and Ergonomics
From my assessment, Remington Shortcut Pro and Wahl Magic Clip are two of the most comfortable and ergonomic hair clippers in my top 5.
The former is handy, lightweight and contains ergonomic grip points to boost accuracy in buzz cut application and the latter houses certain curves for enhanced precision.
Second spot goes to the Wahl Balding Clipper as it’s a little heavier than Magic Clip and lacks the precise grip spots despite being easy to hold on to.
Third place is given to the Fadeking clipper – yes, the handle is highly ergonomic because of the textures but the weight balance tends to compromise that a little.
Finally, as expected, Oster Classic 76 arrives at the lost spot as the heaviest hair clipper here and quite tricky to hold on to for self cutting.
Battery Life and Corded vs. Cordless
This assessment is concerned with how long the battery life or power cord length is because that’s important for performing a buzz cut on yourself at home.
I’d call Wahl Magic Clip to be the winner here because of the gigantic battery life and there’s little to no need to recharge it in-between hair clipping. Professionals tend to charge it once a day, so you can get the idea.
It’s followed by Wahl Balding Clipper and Oster Classic 76 – both connected to a 2.4 meter long power cord which keeps them running relentlessly for hours and doesn’t get into the way of operation.
Although Classic 76 would be tough to move around, cord isn’t the only reason since weight and size also play a crucial part.
Then comes Fadeking with its one hour battery life and followed by Remington Balder Pro – a device lasting for 30 minutes – sufficient for two full sessions of applying buzz cuts.
Versatility
The final verdict is about versatility and it doesn’t mean what other things these hair clippers can do instead of buzz cuts.
Rather, this tests out how many buzz cut variants each of the clippers can sketch out using one hair clipper alone.
Wahl Magic Clip tops the list with its guide combs and the wide adjustment lever enabling tapering, fading, blending. Also, its blade allows for textured buzz cut variants as well!
Fadeking clipper and Oster Classic 76 are tied for second. Fadeking has also got the same potential as the Wahl Magic Clip but it fails to match the performance with its particular blade unit.
Classic 76 shouldn’t be up here out of the box, but the endless possibilities of blades and guide combs begs me to honor it at least at second. If the added purchases were considered, none of the clippers could’ve matched this device.
Remington Shortcut Pro and Wahl Balding Clipper complete the set – none of which having the capacity to effortlessly blend or fade due to the lack of an adjustment lever.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Buzz Cut Clipper?
If you’re still confused about picking out your right buzz cut clipper, then let me make it even easier for you.
For those of you who are looking to perform buzz cuts on yourself, Remington Shortcut Pro is actually the shortcut solution to this dilemma.
It has every cutting guide necessary for different buzz cuts, easy to use, clean and maintain – the best part is – it’s highly affordable!
Those who are looking for something more robust and want to keep your hair length down to minimum even after the buzz cut length wears off, your answer is the Wahl Balding Clipper.
Now let’s add some versatility to the mix. Fadeking clipper is capable of following the buzz cut lengths and adding some blends should you wish to try out some variants. Not to mention, it looks amazing due to the housing design!
For professionals who want a long-term investment and are often faced with clients carrying different types of hair textures and require bulk removal for buzz cuts, Oster Classic 76 is the one for you!
Lastly, Wahl Magic Clip lets you push the boundaries of buzz cuts and conjure up something unique with its capabilities and attachments. So if innovation floats your boat – you know the answer now!
Buzz Cut Clipper: Tips & Tricks
I’m now going to leave you with some handy tips and tricks about the best hair clippers for buzz cuts. This way, your purchase will be worthwhile and you’ll be up and running with your new device in no time!
- Starting with Clean, Dry Hair: Starting your buzz cut on clean and dry hair tends to generate more comfortable and seamless results.
- Choosing the Right Guard Size: If you plan ahead, you should be able to know which buzz cut you want and pick the precise guide size based on that.
- Using the Right Technique: Right techniques include cutting in short strokes, keeping even pressure at all times, pulling away the clipper if you want to blend in etc.
- Paying Attention to Angles: You should check the direction of hair growth and clip against that direction. Since buzz cuts tend to be very neat, following this method gives you the finest outcome.
- Taking Breaks and Checking Progress: For self-grooming, take breaks once in a while to check how much you’ve progressed or if the hair is seamless.
- Cleaning and Maintaining the Clipper: Regularly clean and maintain your buzz cut clipper. Cleaning can be done with a brush and maintenance includes greasing the motor, lubricating the blade etc.
- Experimenting with Different Buzz Cuts: There’s no right or wrong if you experiment with buzz cuts. Be innovative and pull out some magical looks as a trend-setter!
Keep these tricks on your mind and keep practicing. Over time, you’ll see you’re creating buzz cuts as neatly as a professional with your personal clipper at home!
FAQ
This time round, I’m addressing a couple of queries from Reddit as it’s becoming popular day by day for unbiased opinions.
Q: Any recommendations for at-home clippers that can do a buzz as short as photo 1 (a Number 0 Buzz Cut)?
Ans: This particular Reddit post, the OP shows a Number 0 buzz cut in the photo and is asking for which at-home hair clipper he could be using to achieve that. If you have the same question and on a budget, I’ll recommend the Remington Shortcut Pro without any guides as it can easily achieve that look!
Q: What are good clippers that can QUICKLY buzz my hair to this (a Number 1 Buzz Cut) length? I prefer the close buzz rather than a clean shave.
Ans: On this Reddit post, the OP prefers a quick buzz cut at Number 1 length where the head isn’t fully shaved, rather there’s some degree of noticeable hair growth. Such requirements are often demanded by balding men and that’s why I’d suggest the Wahl Balding Clipper as the perfect tool for the job!
Concluding Remarks
The journey has been quite long through the 5 best hair clippers for buzz cuts. Now that we’ve reached the end point, I’ll leave you with a few final words.
I personally believe that the Wahl Magic Clipper is the overall best device from the lot. It has a great housing, sharp blades, durability, adjustment lever and guide combs – everything you need out of your buzz cut clipper.
As good things cost a little extra, Magic Clip here is no exception. If you want a budget alternative, Fadeking clipper can do almost the same things as Magic Clip but costs much less.
Oster Classic 76 is for barbers in my opinion and Remington Shortcut Pro should be considered by home-consumers.
So there you have it! A comprehensive buzz cut clipper chronicle at your disposal and may your purchase be worthwhile for the longest time!