Wahl Balding Clipper is a one of a kind hair groomer that’s capable of serving a wide array of haircutting techniques, particularly the ones concerned with a balding head.
Due to the zero-gapped blade system installed into this tool, you can find versatile use for it – be that on a daily basis or during a monthly grooming session.
For the price you’re having to pay for this device, the return value is simply enormous! With the not-so-steep learning curve, you should be able to learn its best use in a short time!
So, here I bring you today this Wahl Balding Clipper review article to put forth how great it is in action and what are the downsides you should be aware of.
“Wahl Balding Clipper is a dream come true device for men with a balding head since its blade powered by a robust motor can cut through any texture of hair at ease! Certainly a product of professional-grade as supported by barbers worldwide!”
Contents
- 1 Unboxing Wahl Balding Clipper
- 1.1 Wahl Balding Clipper : Standout Features
- 1.2 Wahl Balding Clipper : Additional Features
- 1.3 My Experience with Wahl Balding Clipper
- 1.4 How I Tested the Wahl Balding Clipper?
- 1.5 Who is Wahl Balding Clipper For?
- 1.6 Wahl Balding Clipper vs Andis T-Outliner: Who Wins the Zero-Gap Battle?
- 1.7 FAQ
- 1.8 Final Thoughts
Unboxing Wahl Balding Clipper
The Wahl Balding Clipper has reached me in a generic Wahl 5-Star package like its other siblings.
This package design is a solid choice from the brand and the method is to slide out the box from the shell.
Then, you’d be able to undo the lid from the wide top side and find a double compartment. On one side in the holding rests the Balding Clipper.
On the other side, a tiny segment holds the two guide combs, two cleaning brushes, lubricant and a barber comb. The cord is hidden beneath the clipper holder.
What’s Inside the Box: One Wahl Balding Clipper, Two Guide Combs (1/16” and 3/16”), Two Cleaning Brushes, One Stylist Comb, One Blade Guard, User Manual.
Specifications: Wahl Balding Clipper
Here are the technical specifications of this Wahl Balding Clipper as it sets the baseline for expectations about how remarkable this hair grooming device is!
- Dimensions: 16.0 x 4.8 x 4.2 cm
- Weight: 14.7 oz
- Color: Burgundy & Golden
- Cord Length: 2.4 meter
- Adjustment Lever: No
- Guide Combs: 2
- Blade: 2105 Balding 6 x 0 Blade
- Motor Type: v5000 + Electromagnetic
- Clipper Blade Speed: 14,400 SPM
- Voltage: 120V/60Hz
Wahl Balding Clipper : Standout Features
I’m starting out with the most standout feature analysis in this section before heading on to the more practical ones in the latter part of this article.
Traditional Design
In terms of the design for Wahl Balding Clipper, it walked the path of a more traditional reiteration, although some might regard Wahl Legend to be their most classic-looking tool.
Generic Aesthetics
There’s not much going on with the aesthetics of Wahl Balding Clipper, except for the fact that it looks professional from the outlook.
The entirety of the housing uses burgundy as the primary tone, quite similar to the design you’d see in Wahl Magic Clip.
Down the middle of the handle, the Wahl 5-Star Balding Clipper text takes precedence in golden color.
At the back and around the fringes, black is also present since this has been the major contrastive color for the brand. The blades are of course draped in shiny silver due to the material.
Comfortable Grip
In my opinion, Wahl Balding Clipper has one of the finest ergonomics from the line with the extrusions at the perfect spots to solidify your grip on the handle.
However, it’s worth noting that the opposite sided extrusions favor a right hand grip, so that’s how you’re going to get the better maneuvering positions.
As per the build material, it’s shiny due to the coating yet there’s no hint of slipping at any given point of use.
Also, the placement of the power button mimics almost all the other Wahl clippers and it’s the better interpretation for a clipper device and it’s widely acknowledged by prominent users!
What I Like
- Traditional design with modern curves
- Colors fit for professional environment
- Ergonomically superior and slip-proof
What Could be Better
- None that I can think of
Highly Robust Build Quality
There’s really been no question about the durability of this Wahl Balding Clipper as it’s one of Wahl’s most premium tools ever to be disbursed for public use.
Although the bottom half of it is made with plastic, the material is robust, much like the top portion that’s coated with anti-scratch elements.
The blades last as long as any other Wahl 5-Star product and the motor unit never seemed like giving in despite relentless performance.
All in all, having such great build quality for a product that’s priced so cheaply compared to the other variants of the series, I’d definitely rush to buy it without looking further!
What I Like
- Can last for over 5 years
- Motor runs relentlessly
- Premium materials used in construction
What Could be Better
- Power button could’ve been a little robust
Wahl Balding Clipper : Additional Features
Now we shift our focus to the additional features of this Wahl Balding Clipper as the core traits are yet to be discussed for general convenience.
Average Weight
Revered hair clippers often weigh significantly more if you compare them against the lower end, fragile devices available in the market.
On that note, the 14.7 ounces of weight for the Balding Clipper falls definitely along the standard benchmark and it grants you the best of both worlds in terms of maneuvering – let me explain.
Lightweight electric clippers are easy to move around and are less fatiguing. But in doing so, you’re losing out on the precision that’s usually ensured by the weight class.
On the other hand, excessively heavy hair clippers like Andis tools tend to tire out your arm for prolonged use. Wahl Balding Clipper here falls in-between these two binaries to satisfy your needs in every possible way.
Super Sharp & Close Blades
Wahl Balding Clipper hosts a 2105 Balding 6 x 0 Blade unit, made out of stainless steel and meets the industry standards.
This blade unit is agile and no type or density of hair can hinder its progress, particularly if you’re dealing with shorter hair.
The device does struggle at bulk removal since that’s not the core purpose of Balding Clipper. Otherwise, it’s great for lining out your hair as the blade teeth are zero gapped.
You should know that this grooming unit doesn’t have any adjustment lever, therefore cuts like fades or blends aren’t its strongest suit.
Irresistible Motor
I’m absolutely amazed with the motor unit installed into the Balding Clipper. A V5000 electromagnetic motor rams through every challenge thrown in its way.
Wahl managed to get away with such a power-hungry motor by making it a corded clipper, whereas rest of the 5-Star clippers are cordless.
According to Wahl, this ecstatic motor can perform 14,400 spins per minute, which should place the power somewhere around 6,000 RPM – still out-performing clippers priced higher than this!
This degree of backup toward the blade allows for the refined edge lines or rapidly maintaining balding heads, marking this device as one of the most desirable bald-head grooming tools!
Corded Operations
As I said earlier, this device is meant to be used in a professional environment and it’s been proven time and time again through the blade and motor unit.
Additionally, the thick power cord with a length of 2.4 meters lets you move freely around your customer to trim their hair at any preferred angle!
This cord also removes the risk of battery dying out, which is often the case with devices like Wahl Color Pro.
Another instance that proves its worth is the cord being coated with chemical-resistant material, ideal for existing in a rough environment of a barber-shop.
Accessories
The accessories section isn’t a positive aspect about Balding Clipper, rather something you need to be aware of.
You’d be getting only two cutting guides at the lengths of 1/16” and 3/16”. These aren’t of the best quality if you compare these with Wahl Senior’s attachments.
These are mostly meant for home groomers with balding heads who prefer to trim at a slightly longer length or don’t prefer the skin to blade contact.
Otherwise, Balding Clipper isn’t meant to be used with guide combs since its true magic lies within the razor-sharp zero-gapped stainless steel blades!
What I Like
- Blade sharpness outclasses every hair type
- Motor power ranks among the top clippers
- Professional-friendly & long enough, thick cord
What Could be Better
- Limited accessories for home groomers
My Experience with Wahl Balding Clipper
All of the technical aspects have been dealt with so far with slight insight into the experiential bits. In this section, I’m going to elaborate on the practical aspects for Balding Clipper to learn what it truly stands for!
Clipping Closeness
This has been the most enigmatic part of using Balding Clipper as its closeness is quite unmatched by other clippers of such capabilities.
Due to the zero gapped blade unit, I’ve received refined results on the scalp that show very little hint of hair growth after a full session.
Don’t get me wrong, it can never get as close to a head shaver because of the technological difference, but it’s still good enough for zero cuts out of all the haircut numbers.
In my assessment, Balding Clipper would easily slide into my top five tools if I take closeness as the sole consideration for assessment!
Comfort on Scalp
Clippers such as Wahl Balding are meant to be used without any guide combs, directly over the scalp to generate the finest outcomes.
Therefore, I tested out how it actually feels on a scalp with little to no hair – and to my surprise, there’s literally no risk of accidental cuts or nicks!
However, it’s worth noting that you need to know how to properly handle a clipper to reach that painless experience even after a prolonged grooming session.
In that scenario, constant glides, scrubs, outlines with the blade tip and so on do not arouse any allergic reactions, be that regular skin or sensitive!
Cutting Efficiency
You can only imagine how swiftly this Balding Clipper can draw out the haircut of your desire since it’s backed up by agile blades and equally empowering motor!
While grooming my brother’s hair into a buzz cut, my jaw almost dropped on the floor as I saw it remove hair rapidly at a precise, even length all through the hair body.
This is great news for professionals because slow and dragging hair clippers won’t benefit their cause in a busy barber shop.
I can assure you that the Balding Clipper doesn’t lack in efficiency and it’s probably one of the fastest cutters you could find at this price range!
Versatility
It seems like Balding Clipper is meant only for a limited amount of haircuts and you wouldn’t be very wrong to say that.
Cuts like zero look, balding hair grooming or buzz cuts are the more preferred variants Balding Clipper is most likely to excel at.
Given that you have knowledge about all of the buzz cut lengths, you could try out the lengthier version with aftermarket guide combs at those lengths.
The tricky bit is blending the different length outcomes with a clipper that doesn’t have any adjustment lever – this can be worked around if you’re skilled enough with such a tool.
Maneuverability
With a cord permanently attached to it, you might think that Wahl Balding Clipper might be restrictive when it comes to maneuvering – particularly self-grooming.
But you’d be surprised how effortless it has been due to the cord being so long, weight class being average and the superior ergonomics provided by Wahl.
My brother maintains a bald look and when he tried grooming his hair with the Balding Clipper, he claimed the cord never gets into his way of actions.
It’s never going to be as effortless as a cordless clipper, that is true, but the lack of battery liberates the weight and it does indeed compensate for the 2.4 meter cord attachment.
Cleaning & Maintenance
The blades in the Balding Clipper are screwed tight, so for a thorough clean, you’re going to have to remove those to get access to the blade.
If you don’t know how to align a blade and put it back together the way it was, then leave this mode of cleaning.
Instead, use the cleaning brush from the package and brush off hair particles from the nooks and crannies of the blade.
After that, apply lubricating agent into the blade teeth, turn on the device for 10 seconds and turn it back off. Mop up the excess hair with a cloth rag.
For personal use, you must follow this procedure after every grooming session. Professionals can get away with lubricating once per day, but the brush cleaning needs to be followed by every haircut!
How I Tested the Wahl Balding Clipper?
In terms of testing, I checked the relentless performance of the motor by keeping it turned on for half an hour straight (it does warm up but nothing to complain).
Also, the durability has been tested by frequent cuts over a couple of months and the blades seem to have survived those.
The rolling and unrolling of the cable doesn’t leave any marks or dents, so that’s a positive sign in terms of durability.
Lastly, the handle is robust enough to sustain short drops, but falling directly onto the blades can very easily break away a few of the teeth, so beware!
What I Like
- Cuts very close & fast, therefore perfect for bald looks
- Comfortable on scalp, no tugs, pulls or burning sensations
- Easy to move around due to weight & ergonomics
What Could be Better
- Not highly versatile
Who is Wahl Balding Clipper For?
The answer to this question is pretty straightforward, yet there’s merit to a couple of other consumer bases for Wahl Balding Clipper.
Primarily, as you can already tell, Wahl Balding Clipper is meant to cater toward professional groomers due to its top-notch performance and durable design.
Secondarily, home groomers can find it fitting if they want to regularly maintain balding looks or shorter hairdos, considering the set price point.
Lastly, black men should find the Balding Clipper to come to their aid as it can effortlessly trim off thick-textured and coarse hair within a limited time!
Wahl Balding Clipper vs Andis T-Outliner: Who Wins the Zero-Gap Battle?
| Feature/Quality | Wahl Balding Clipper | Andis T-Outliner |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 14.5 oz | 11.2 oz |
| Blades | (2105) Balding 6 x 0 Blade | (000) Carbon-Steel T-Blade |
| Motor | V5000 Electromagnetic | Magnetic |
| SPM | 14,400 | 7,200 |
| Adjustment Lever | None | None |
| Cutting Guides | 2 | 0 |
| Cutting Types | Zero cuts, buzz cuts, balding looks | Dry trimming, balding cuts, outlining, beard trimming |
| Cord Length | 2.4 meters | 2.4 meters |
| Price | See On Amazon | See On Amazon |
Due to the similarity in capabilities, Wahl Balding Clipper is often compared with Andis T-Outliner. These two devices are built differently, yet their paths cross at the destination.
Therefore it’s necessary to find out which one is the better clipper in the form of the Wahl Balding Clipper vs Andis T-Outliner debate!
Blade Gap & Cutting Closeness
Wahl Balding Clipper features a 2105 Balding Blade made out of stainless steel. On the other hand, Andis T-Outliner hosts a carbon-steel T-blade.
Out of the two, I found the T-Outliner to be the one with closer teeth, therefore its results are in general more refined.
However, due to Andis carrying a T-Blade, the performance is quite limited when it comes to dealing with longer hair.
Wahl Balding Clipper on the other hand is meant for a wider hair type and coarseness, and the functionality out-stretch T-Outliner in many ways. So I’d call it a tie as the choice in this regard is a preferential one.
Raw Motor Power, Heating & Sound
In terms of raw motor power, Balding Clipper’s V5000 electromagnetic motor easily outperforms the magnetic motor in the Andis device.
The former has the capability of 14,400 spins per minute or SPM, whereas the latter delivers half the power – 7,200 SPM.
With that gap, Balding Clipper is further ahead by making less noise and generating lower heat as opposed to the Andis T-Outliner, therefore the clear victor in this criteria.
Ergonomics & Maneuverability
Between Wahl Balding Clipper and Andis T-Outliner, Wahl’s device is heavier than the Andis one and it’s due to the bigger, bulkier handle design as well as higher quality of build materials.
The T-Outliner is easier to hold on to due to the size and all of the ergonomic marks embedded on the plastic handle.
This clipper could be used for prolonged duration without being fatigued, if not for the heating of the housing.
Objectively, T-Outliner can be used for precision in cuts but Balding Clipper is more progressive toward generic cutting techniques concerning the entirety of the hair body.
Again, it’s a tie because both these tools have their merits and demerits in terms of maneuverability, so you should pick based on your requirements.
Versatility of Haircuts
Lastly, Wahl Balding Clipper feels to me the more versatile in terms of covering different haircut types compared to Andis T-Outliner.
Yes, the latter can perform zero cuts, draw outlines neatly and in better form than Balding Clipper and even be used for grooming your beard!
But on the other hand, Balding Clipper is capable of performing and maintaining zero cuts, buzz cuts and even stretching out to fades or tapers if you have the skills.
Due to the lack of teeth depth, T-Outliner falls shy in this department, therefore Wahl Balding Clipper takes the winner’s stage.
Verdict: If you’re into detailing hair or beard, regularly trim a bald look and don’t feel the need to perform prolonged grooming sessions, Andis T-Outliner should be your choice.
Otherwise, for a stronger performance, versatile haircuts and more robust housing design overall, T-Outliner simply fails to defeat Wahl Balding Clipper.
It’s worth noting that both of these clippers are good enough to exist in a barber shop and be used frequently.
FAQ
We’re almost at the closing stages of this Wahl Balding Clipper review article. But before we end the discussion, let me answer a few FAQs on this exquisite hair grooming tool.
Q: What’s the minimum cutting length & width for Wahl Balding Clipper?
Ans: Despite being a zero-gapped hair clipper, Wahl Balding Clipper’s minimum cutting length is 0.4 mm. That’s due to the robustness of the blades and it’s really tough to get closer than this with a proper, full-sized hair clipper. The width of the blade is 40 mm, and that’s your cutting width in general.
Q: Is the Wahl Balding Clipper good for sensitive skin?
Ans: It actually depends on the person you’re grooming over and how you’re using the Balding Clipper. In general, careless grooming can easily arouse irritation on skin no matter which device you’re using. It’s safe to put on a guide comb for such special needs. Or if you must go in with a direct blade, at least prepare the scalp with some lotion for moisturization.
Q: Can the Wahl Balding Clipper be used on wet hair?
Ans: While the Balding Clipper CAN be used on wet hair, it’s not recommended. Wet or damp hair can clog easily, pull on the blades and even dulls out the blading system faster. Also, this clipper is not waterproof and connected to a power cord relentlessly, so it’s also a safety issue to use it on wet hair.
Final Thoughts
Now we can finally conclude this Wahl Balding Clipper review article with a couple of anecdotes for the potential consumers.
No, Balding Clipper isn’t the cheapest of hair clippers, but you have to assess what you’re getting as opposed to the amount you’re paying for.
Getting such a quality of sharp blades, a motor that outshines a vast majority of corded clippers, lasting nature of the entire housing and the neat results you could have almost effortlessly.
Based on all of these, this device indeed gives you great value for money, and getting a professional-grade electric clipper without emptying your wallets is indeed a blessing for groomers!
| Score | |
| Clipping Quality | 4.7 |
| Cutting Closeness | 4.7 |
| Blade Sharpness | 4.8 |
| Maneuverability | 4.7 |
| Versatility | 4.6 |
| Ergonomics | 4.7 |
| Overall | 4.7 |
| Verdict
Wahl Balding Clipper is the budget-efficient yet lasting grooming device meant for professional as well as personal use with the zero-gapped blade, v5000 motor, robust cable and solid housing design. |
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