Types of Professional Hair Clippers
When it comes to the world of hair clippers, all of the details can get a bit confusing. You have blade sizes, guard types, hair types and so much more to consider. But, besides being affordable and useful, cutting your own hair can be addicting! There are some really great brands of hair clippers that take into consideration everything that pros (and soon to be pros) will need to have within one hair cutting tool. A major part of what determines a hair clipper’s job is the type of motor used to run it. So let’s take a look at the top types of professional hair clipper motors and what unique job each one performs.
- Magnetic Clipper –This motor is ideal for infrequent use. While the power is sufficient and the speed is decent, this motor does tend to overheat if used too often in one setting. So, if you are looking for a cutter that mainly cleans up edges, then the magnetic would be the perfect way to go.
- Pivot Clipper –While a little bit on the slow side, the pivot motor has plenty of power and is perfect for cutting through damp hair all day long. Because it is slower, this motor does not tend to overheat easily, so you can use it multiple times in a row without concern.
- Rotary Clipper –The favorite motor for most people, the rotary motor is the perfect blend of power and speed. It works well with both thick and thin hair and typically doesn’t have a problem with overheating or bogging down after prolonged use.
Besides the motor, professional hair clippers are also categorized by whether they arecordless or not. The decision as to which is best will essentially come down to personal preference of course. But, there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding whether you want a traditional, corded model or one that is cord free, such as price, portability, and dependability.
The first question you should ask is, how much are you willing to spend on a good clipper? Typically, when looking at corded hair clippers, you can get one that is high powered and great quality for a much more affordable price. On the other hand, can get a cordless clipper that has the same amount of power and quality, but it will tend to cost more. So one of the biggest factors that comes into play is your budget for this barber tool.
Secondly, do you plan on traveling around with your hair clipper? If you are someone that likes to cut hair outside or take your device with you for quick clean ups on the road, you may want to look into a cordless clipper. These are super convenient thanks to their charging stands and lack of dependence on power outlets. While cordless clippers are more expensive than their corded counterparts, the price may be well worth it if you love the idea of easy movement and portability.
Last but certainly not least, how often do you plan on using your clipper? If you plan on doing multiple haircuts a day, you will need to take battery life into consideration. While cordless clippers are convenient and portable, if used often throughout the day there is always the risk of a battery dying midway through haircut. This isn’t to say that a cordless clipper isn’t dependable but the corded clippers definitely take the spotlight in a bustling atmosphere. Although they aren’t portable and the cord can get in the way at times, you won’t need to worry about a corded clipper quitting on you before the job is done.
Professional Hair Clippers Sizes, Guard, and Blade Types
It can be a bit overwhelming the first time you ever take a look at all the guards included with your razor. Each one has a number on it paired with a varying size. How will you ever figure out which one to choose? Although this may seem daunting, we are here to help you figure it out!
There is a wide range of clipper blades and guard sizes that are unique to each individual brand and the typical range of clipper guards goes from numbers 1-10. You may be thinking, why does there need to be such a large selection of sizes? Wouldn’t just a “one size cuts all” guard solve a lot of issues? Well, the significance of multiple guards is actually really important! The rule of thumb is usually, the larger the size number, the longer the hair will be at the end. So, let’s take a look at a condensed version of what each range of numbers is best for.
#’s 0-4:Aiding by the ‘larger number, longer hair’ rule, the smaller numbers will get you a shorter haircut. These guards are great for cleaning up a buzz cut or getting a close shave.
#’s 5-10:These longer blades are great to start out with and work your way down to the desired length (especially if you are a beginner). If you are looking for extra length, these are the guards you will want to use.
Even though blade sizes do come into play, the guard size will be the most common number system you should be associated with. If you do get a clipper that has detachable blades, such as the Andis or Oster clippers, keep in mind that different blades will be sharper, faster to cool down, and more durable than others based on the material used. Here are a few blade types that you may run into:
- Stainless Steel (most common)
- Coated (expensive)
- Ceramic (doesn’t overheat)
- Self-Sharpening
The most important thing to keep in mind when wading through the different sizes is, always go for a larger size blade and guard first, then work your way down. By doing this, you can easily fix any mistakes that are made and continue once you are happy with the result. It is much easier to take hair off than to put it back on, so take your time and don’t worry!
Barber Clippers Maintenance and Cleaning
After the haircut is all finished and the hair has been swept up, it’s time to take care of your clipper blades. This is extremely important because proper cleaning can save you the headache of jams and rusted blades later on down the road. Here are the steps to keeping your professional hair clipper running in tip-top shape.
- Remove the blades: Take out the top two screws that hold down the head plate. You will want to have a Philips screwdriver handy! Once everything is loose, grasp the blade carefully with your fingers and remove from the clippers.
- Remove the hair: Separate the blades and with a thick brush, sweep away any of the hairs still clinging to the blades and the inside of the clipper.
- Soak the blades: Place the blades and the head of the clipper into some warm water for a few minutes to allow the any smaller hairs that may still remain to loosen.
- Clean the blades: Take some cleaning solution, such as Oster Blade Wash, and rub it carefully onto the blades. You can use something like a cotton ball or a toothbrush to apply the solution. If you do not have cleaning solution handy, you can use a DIY mixture of half water and half white vinegar as well.
- Oil the blades: The last step is to oil up your blades. To do this, reassemble the head and the blades onto the clipper. Point the clipper down and facing away from you; turn the power on and while the clipper is running, drop some hair clipper oil on the blades. Be sure not to use too much oil and don’t allow any of the oil to run down inside of the clipper itself.
Choosing a Barber Clipper Based on Hair Type
Different hair clippers will tackle hair types depending on their motor type and blade quality. In this section, we will be matching up hair types with some of the best clippers for that specific hair! There are quite a few factors to consider so let’s dive in.
Best Hair Clipper for Curly Hair (Thick, Course)
If you have curly hair, then you know how much harder products have to work to tame your lovely locks. Those wild and free beauties need a strong barber tool to help calm things down, so when you are looking at a hair clipper for curly coarse hair you will want to find one that has a strong motor. Since the motor will need to work to get through the hair, the pivot motor may be the perfect one for the job. This motor, while a bit on the slow side, has a lot of power and doesn’t over heat easily.
Best Hair Clipper for Curly Hair (Fine, Thin)
While still a handful to tame, the finer version of curly hair is a bit easier to cut through. Because of this, clippers that have either a pivot or a rotary motor would be perfect for cutting this kind of hair. This is because both of these motors have a decent amount of power; the rotary is just a bit faster so may tend to overheat with prolonged use.
Best Hair Clipper for Straight/Wavy Hair (Thick, Course)
Even though there may not be any curl to conquer here, thick straight or wavy hair will still need a powerful tool to get the job done. This is because heavy hair bogs down a motor and can potentially get stuck in the blades, causing the clipper to overheat. In this case, the pivot motor or rotary motor would be best at cutting straight or wavy hair with a bit of heft.
Best Hair Clipper for Straight/Wavy Hair (Fine, Thin)
With this hair, everything is easy and breezy! Because the clipper won’t have to wade through anything heavy, a great motor to use for fine straight or wavy hair would be the magnetic motor. This is more on the speedy side of the spectrum, and since the hair is light, there shouldn’t be an issue of overheating. If you want to be on the safe side, however, go for a rotary motor.
Things to Consider Before Buying Professional Barber Clippers
Before purchasing anything online it is really important to do your research. Make sure that you don’t fall into the trap of reviews. Sometimes, when a product really isn’t that great of quality, the company that sells said product will either hire or bribe individuals to leave positive reviews about their product. As a general rule, any product will most likely have a negative review, whether that is a one star or even a four star. If you run into a product that has nothing but five starts, be wary, no matter how good it sounds. It’s always best to find another product that has real reviews than to get scammed into buying something of lesser quality.
Consider your hair type and what kind of motor will be best for your individual needs. If you are cutting hair for others, try to go with a hair clipper that is well rounded and will work under a lot of pressure, like theOster Classic 76. If you buy tools that you can rely on, you will be able to create wonderful haircuts from home at your own convenience!
Best Professional Hair Clippers – Conclusion
There are three brands of professional hair clippers that are the top choice when it comes to purchasing your own: Wahl, Oster, and Andis. No matter which brand you select, you will be getting a quality hair clipper that can assist you in creating the best haircut possible at any skill level. While some rise above the rest, whether with motor type or blade material, there are plenty of great qualities unique to each model. The most important thing to remember is that you want to choose what is best for you, whether that is to fit the criterion of skill level or budget amount. Don’t be afraid to get out and try something new today, just be sure to use the right tools for the job and you will be fine!