Rating of the TOP 10 best hair clippers in 2021

Hair clippers have long ceased to be a working tool of purely hairdressers and have firmly occupied the niche of small household appliances. At home, they are used both for cutting hair for family members and friends, and for independent use. At the moment, manufacturers offer a wide range of models that differ greatly in cost, design, and technical characteristics. Those who are thinking about buying this device often reach a dead end. Should I choose more expensive models? And why are they better? What additional features are worth paying attention to? The TOP 10 best hair clippers according to the opinions of our customers and reviews on popular resources will help you understand all these issues.

There are various factors to consider when choosing the best clipper. Technical characteristics that we will take into account when evaluating each model:

Maximum and minimum haircut length
, as well as the number of intermediate options.
Nutrition.
Can be powered by mains power, battery power, or both.
Appearance.
You need to pay attention to weight, comfort of shape, surface material, and also how loud the device is.
Blades.
Stainless steel is most often used, but sometimes titanium or ceramic options are available. There is also a self-sharpening function for cutting surfaces, which also significantly extends the life of the original sharpness of the knives.
Power and speed of movement of knives.
The larger these parameters, the better the device will work with thick and dense hair.
Additional options.
In addition to their main purpose, the clippers can also cut mustaches and beards, hair in the ears or nose, and have the function of self-sharpening and self-cleaning knives.

Point system:

By quality:

1 point for a haircut less than 0.5 mm and more than 20 mm, as well as for more than 10 intermediate options;
1 point for each mains or battery power option;
1 point for non-stainless steel blade;
1 point for each of the parameters: light weight, comfortable, non-slip coating, ergonomic design, quiet operation volume;
1 point for additional features.

By cost:

3 points for a cost up to RUB 2,000;
2 points for a cost up to RUB 4,000;
1 point for a price over RUB 4,000.

By popularity:

3 points for more than 2000 queries in Yandex per month;
2 points for 500-2000 queries in Yandex per month;
1 point for less than 500 queries in Yandex per month.

The total number of points will be presented in the summary table. In the case of the same number of points (5 cars scored 6 points each), the positions were sorted by popularity.

Moser, Edition Hair Clipper, Black

Professional hair cutting tool.

(43)

RUR 3,487

RUR 3,487 Buy

Wahl, Super Taper Chrome Clipper

Professional tool for cutting hair and beard.

(8)

RUB 6,935

RUB 6,935 Buy

How to choose

To tell you which trimmer is better to take, you need to know why it is purchased - to create curly haircuts, a beautiful beard, or remove unwanted hair on the body.

In addition to the purpose, consider other parameters.

Model classes

Professional models are reliable, with a powerful motor, and a large number of attachments. The hairdresser's capabilities are not limited - he can create hairstyles of any shape with any hair length. Withstands long-term continuous use.
Semi-professional - multifunctional, but inferior to professional ones in terms of build quality, power, and motor performance, which is why they are cheaper.
Amateur - intended for home use. The motor is low-power with a limited resource, the kit includes a minimum of attachments. If the hair is thick, hard, or if there are several people in the family who often use them, the models may fail faster.

engine's type

The devices most often contain vibration or rotary motors.

Vibrating.
With the same characteristics, a model with such a motor will cost less than a model with a rotary one. Because such a motor is less powerful (8–20 W), noisier and vibrates in the hand, creating additional load. It is not recommended to use a machine with such a motor for a long time - you need to turn it off every 20-30 minutes to prevent overheating.
Read also: Best rowing machines for 2021
Rotary.
They are quieter, have more power (18–50 W), and do not heat up even after prolonged use with coarse, thick hair. Designed for heavy loads, they can be used to cut both dry and wet hair.

Interesting:
craftsmen prefer to buy 2 models - both with a rotary and a vibration motor.
This expands their capabilities and reduces the load on the hand (a rotary machine is heavier than a vibrating machine, so when there is a large flow of people, the hairdresser can replace it with a vibrating machine). Another point is the shear force, which is provided by the device at high speeds. For rotary engines it is both high, and for vibration engines it depends on the type of mechanism. Thus, vibration motors can have an induction drive (magnetic) or a pivot drive (anchor drive). With magnetic ones, most of the electricity consumed is converted into heat, and a smaller part is spent on operating the knife. That is, they have a low efficiency, since they make many movements per minute - about 6000. Therefore, with their help you can usually only work with dry, clean, thin hair. At the same time, they provide a smooth cut, which is why they are indispensable in fading machines.

With pivot blades, more force is applied to the cut, due to which they heat up less and vibrate less. The average operating frequency is 3000 vibrations per minute. That is, the knives move less often, but more force is applied, which is why it is possible to cope even with complex hair - thick, hard, wet, quickly obtaining a clean cut without antennas. On the other hand, if you apply more force than necessary, you can “take off” too much at once.

There is also a difference in price - models equipped with a pivot motor are more expensive than those sold with a magnetic one, but cheaper than rotary ones.

Power type

Battery motor. Such machines operate without access to the network, but the operating time is limited - about 75-120 minutes (some manufacturers offer devices that work up to 4 hours), recharging time - from 2 hours. With the same parameters, battery-powered machines are heavier than mains-powered ones due to the weight of the battery itself (and the more capacious it is, the heavier it is). As the charge decreases, the speed of rotation of the knives may also decrease, which affects the quality of the haircut. But some manufacturers are developing technologies that eliminate this drawback. A stand will be convenient to recharge the device without waiting for it to be completely discharged, but it cannot be used with all types of batteries.
Network. They do not require recharging as they work from the mains. When choosing them, you need to take into account the length of the cord (in professional models it is 2–3 m) and its type. It is better to take a model with a rotating cord so that it does not break during operation.
Battery-networked. They can operate on battery power or mains power, but are more expensive. On the other hand, you can take them on a business trip, work with them when the electricity is off, or if “circling” around a client with a wire is inconvenient.

Special trimmers for removing hair in the nose, ears, and beards are usually battery-powered or battery-powered. The latter are not designed for long-term operation, therefore they are inferior in power to the battery, but after working out they are easily replaced (no need to wait for them to be recharged).

Battery type

Ni-MH battery (nickel metal hydride) is more affordable and lighter compared to Li-Ion. But it is not recommended to let it completely discharge, otherwise the “memory effect” will work and the battery capacity will be reduced. By the way, some brands, for example, Moser, have provided a full fast charging function, which is carried out in 2 hours.
Li-Ion (lithium-ion) - charges faster, lasts longer, due to the fact that the current flows to the board and motor more evenly than in the case of a nickel-metal hydride battery. With irregular use they hardly discharge. Despite the absence of a memory effect, it is not recommended to work with them in a “ragged” rhythm (trimmed a little, put them on charge, picked them up again and put them back on again), as this may affect the life of the battery.

Blades, knife block

The result directly depends on the quality and sharpness of the blade.

Stainless steel blades are the most affordable and require frequent maintenance - after 2-3 haircuts, they should be lubricated with oil according to the instructions. Otherwise, friction will increase, and the knives may overheat, warp, tear, and not cut hair. There are two disadvantages to stainless steel blades. Firstly, when the machine is used for a long time, they can heat up, causing discomfort to children and people with sensitive skin. Secondly, they are inferior in durability to blades made from other materials. To mitigate these shortcomings, manufacturers can coat them with diamond or titanium coating.
Ceramic. They cost more, but they cut better than stainless steel blades, as they are sharper. They do not heat up during use. The only drawback is its fragility: if the trimmer is dropped, the ceramic blade will break.
Titanium. They are durable (titanium is 30% stronger than stainless steel), suitable for cutting wet hair, as they are resistant to corrosion, but are more expensive than analogs made from other materials.

The type of blade ends and the type of knives also matter. Thus, trimmers with rounded blades are produced, which eliminate the risk of skin damage during operation. You can find models with self-sharpening knives - their blades rub against each other while cutting, thereby maintaining their sharpness.

Additional options

Vacuum cleaning system. It is quite rare, but thanks to the developed technology, it simplifies the cutting process - thanks to the air flow created, the cut hair does not fly away, but is collected.
Moisture protection, or a removable knife block so that it can be washed under running water.
Illuminated so as not to miss the “antennas”.
Battery charge indicator to recharge the device in time.
Possibility of charging via USB if there is no access to the network.
Fast charging function for battery models. Some trimmers can be charged for a short time from the stand so that you can finish cutting.

Another useful function is voltage switching in network trimmers. If a person is in Russia or the CIS countries, the device can be connected to a 220 V network, and if in North America - to a 110 V network.

Choosing a hair clipper for yourself

In the article about cutting boys' and men's haircuts with your own hands, haircuts with transitions are discussed, which will allow you to have basic knowledge, but you will have to develop the skills yourself.
We recommend that beginners read the article about haircuts, because... In addition to basic skills, the rules for holding the clipper, movements in different zones and other hairdressing tips necessary for cutting hair are shown separately.
Cutting side bangs is discussed in detail with a video and explanations here.
If you have long hair, then this article will help you cut the ends at home yourself.

When choosing a machine, it is extremely important that it is comfortable and has replaceable attachments or the switch is not where the switch is, because... When cutting your own hair, you will accidentally press the change of attachment and will remove extra centimeters.

Some clippers are so sensitive that you just need to pick it up and change the attachment, which entails removing hair up to 5 mm.

Pay attention to the flexibility of the runners, because if the head is not level, then it is extremely important to regulate the pressure, otherwise the hair will be cut to different lengths.

It is extremely important to start cutting with the largest attachment and gradually move to the smaller one; if you start with the smallest one, it will be difficult to even out any mistakes.

Opinion on choosing a machine from Arsen Decussard

Where does the noise come from in hair clippers?

Remember the episode from “Old Man Hottabych”, when the old genie turned off the plane’s engines so that their noise would not disturb his master’s sleep? It's the same with a hair clipper. No source of noise means no useful work. The noise in a hairdressing machine is produced by the same motor that makes its knives move.

It is logical that the more powerful the motor, the more noise it makes during operation. You can't get rid of it completely. What else can you think of to reduce the noise level from a working hairdressing machine?

How to make the right choice

In order to choose a really high-quality machine from the many offers that will serve you faithfully for a long time, you need to be patient and be sure to take into account several important points when purchasing. First of all, visually evaluate the device, carefully examining it from all sides. It must be remembered that the body of the machine and its parts must be intact, without visible damage, chips, scratches, etc.

Try holding the machine in your hand - it should be comfortable and quite easy for you. At the same time, it should not slip out of your hand, otherwise you may get injured. If you have chosen a model that heats up during operation, it makes sense to take a closer look at a machine with a rubberized body. Keep in mind: the higher the blade speed of the device, the more efficient it will be in operation. Give preference to a machine that can operate on both mains power and battery power. This will be an additional bonus when choosing a model. It wouldn’t hurt to turn on the machine and see how it works and how much noise it makes. An important factor is the warranty provided by the manufacturer for the model you choose. The larger it is, the more confident the manufacturer is in its quality. Otherwise, he would hardly have dared to accept such guarantees.

Miracle products: silent children's hair clipper, floating

Today we will test a silent hair clipper for children and a relaxing procedure called “floating”

SILENT CLIPPER

4-year-old Maxim is very afraid of getting his hair cut, says his mother Maria. He was born with a rich head of hair, and he had to start trimming it already in infancy - when everything unfamiliar frightens him.

And Maxim is not the only one. Five-year-old Vanya tolerates a haircut only if his mother allows him to watch cartoons, and the procedure lasts no more than 20 minutes.

The manufacturer of this silent cordless clipper promises to get rid of problems with children's haircuts. As the description says, it works so quietly that even a sleeping child can fix his hair. The device is also suitable for dogs! The cut hairs are sucked into the container and not scattered around. Price - 1500 rubles. Maria, the mother of that same Maxim, is a hairdresser by training. The machine somewhat surprised her with the unusualness of its attachments and accessories.

The first flaw found was that there was no oil in the box to lubricate the knives. Without it, the machine may not work well.

The manufacturer, by the way, explains that lubricant is not specifically included in the kit in order to make transportation by air safer. Well, let's hope the test doesn't take so long that you need oil. Maria will appreciate the noiselessness of the machine and try to cut Maxim’s hair in his sleep. We sent our other tester Vanya, together with his mother Anastasia, to a children's hairdresser, whose specialists will evaluate the device with a professional eye. In the salon, instead of car seats, next to the mirror there is a TV with cartoons. Vanya liked it here, but hairdressers Silvia and Tatyana had divided opinions about the new product.

The hair on the top of the head was cut smoothly and quickly by the machine. At the same time, most of the prickly, cut ends did not fly onto Vanya’s neck, but were pulled into the container. But when it came to the edging, everything went wrong. The knives were short, and the edge of the container made it difficult to make clear lines along the edges.

The professionals' summary is clear - the device is not suitable for working in a salon. The container fills up too quickly, it will have to be constantly emptied, which delays the work. And the clients here are very restless. However, the machine actually works quieter than its professional counterparts. Maybe this will be decisive at home?

As soon as her son fell asleep, Maria tried to cut his hair. But it was not possible to complete the matter; Maxim fidgeted dissatisfied. Maria’s opinion: if you don’t cut your hair in your sleep and don’t strive for model hairstyles, then the device is quite suitable for home use. Many users on the Internet, by the way, share this assessment. Well, one last thing. What about dogs? Ryusha, a Maltese dog, almost bit her owner when she tried to trim the fur on her back with this thing. Coarse hair got stuck in the teeth of the knife.

To groom animals, says Irina Aleshina, head of the grooming academy, they use special, more powerful clippers with metal knives and attachments. The silent device has ceramic cutting parts and plastic attachments. They won’t take thick animal fur. So, here are our conclusions. The machine is suitable for simple home haircuts. It cuts children's hair easily, but if the knives are not lubricated, the blades will quickly become dirty and begin to tug - you should take care of this yourself. Testers liked the quietness and the container for collecting hair. They really make the haircut more comfortable for the child. Although, in general, is it really so right to follow the lead of children’s fears and somehow specifically facilitate such a natural procedure as a haircut? Psychologists doubt this.

According to experts, so that the child is not afraid of hairdressers, you can first play with him, let him hold a clipper or scissors. A conscious trip to get a haircut will help cultivate patience, the ability to make compromises, and communication skills. These are important qualities. A silent machine is not a useless thing, but it is not a MIRACLE.

FLOATING

Muscovite Dilyara Saberova works as a leading legal consultant in a large company. The schedule is tough. And at home, I’m also preparing for a musical concert with my eldest daughter, checking lessons and doing gymnastics with the younger ones, plus I have to feed the whole family and not forget about the demanding cat Cosmos. Not a moment of peace! How can you relax and unwind here? An effective solution for people like Dilyara is offered by advertising a procedure known as “floating” - from English “to stay afloat”. Its essence is that you need to lie in very salty water, which keeps you in a state of weightlessness, as if in the Dead Sea - and the relaxation is so complete that you can cope with both stress and lack of sleep, and some sites claim that you can don't sleep at all! Plus, the use of special magnesium salt allows you to smooth out wrinkles and improve skin condition.

For maximum effect, sessions are held without light and in silence - this is how American neurophysiologist John Lilly conceived them in the mid-50s. He actually did not intend to relax anyone, but only studied sensory deprivation - a phenomenon when the brain does not receive signals from the senses. But then the idea was picked up by businessmen around the world, and now in Moscow an hour-long session costs from 1,500 rubles. Let's see how effective it is! Just to begin with, let’s make sure that everything is in order with the purity of the water - after all, it is not drained after each visitor, but filtered and restarted.

But this is in theory. What about in practice? Our permanent expert, ecologist Ivan Kalinin, took a water sample after one of the sessions, before filtration. The analysis revealed 72 colony-forming units of Bacillus subtilis.

As the organizers of the float studios explain, during breaks between clients, the water passes through a micron filter, is irradiated with ultraviolet light and is exposed to hydrogen peroxide. In general, there really seems to be nothing to be afraid of. Before starting the recommended course of 6 procedures, Dilyara, who agreed to try out a fashionable new product, will go to a dermatologist to assess the initial condition of the skin. We'll see if things change in a couple of weeks. The advertisement offers a dry alternative to floating. To lie on a bed with a water mattress for 30 minutes, you will have to pay about 2,000 rubles. Singer Alla Reed, a big fan of the Dead Sea, which has become inaccessible due to the pandemic, will test this variation.

You can also do a massage or body wrap here at the same time. Although even without this, according to Alla, the procedure is pleasant, but too hot. But Dilyara was one hundred percent comfortable during the classic floating. She says that she received new unusual sensations.

By the way, as our measurements have shown, studio owners are not always able to maintain the required air temperature - it should be, like the water, 35 degrees. But in such heat, some visitors feel stuffy, they have to make it cooler, and the effect is lost. However, most clients leave happy. Because you can't see or hear anything, you can become lost in your thoughts. And such an environment, as the owner of a network of studios says, inspires creative people to create masterpieces.

Among the disadvantages that Dilyara noted: you need to take proper care to ensure that water does not flow into your ears - otherwise it will be like what happened to her after the first visit.

But she really did get an anti-stress effect - she was able to temporarily forget about household chores and difficulties at work. But such swimming had no effect on getting enough sleep at night in fewer hours. Dilyara managed to fall asleep during the session only on the sixth visit. And, of course, promises that one hour of such a procedure can replace 8 hours of regular sleep make the president of the Russian Society of Somnologists smile.

Dilyara also noticed that her back stopped aching in the evenings. Scientific research, by the way, confirms that floating allows you to relax your muscles well. That's why athletes love him. American basketball player Stephen Curry even bought a capsule for himself! By the way, maybe you can try to arrange this in a regular bath - just by buying magnesium salt? Dilyara’s husband asked this question.

But it is unlikely to be possible to ensure darkness and silence in a house with three children. In general, you won't be able to save money. We still have one question - does floating give a rejuvenation effect? We brought Dilyara for a re-examination to a dermatologist.

In the area that was not in contact with the magnesium salt solution (this is the décolleté area), the skin became rougher. Why this happened is not entirely clear. But the main thing is that science generally does not know any methods of dramatic rejuvenation. This is a complex process that is influenced by both lifestyle and nutrition. And the saline solution during floating does not even cover the entire body. Another important drawback is that this procedure is not suitable for everyone. Some write that instead of calm and relaxation they felt motion sickness. Those who have a fear of closed spaces or mental illness should not sign up for a session. But if you have no contraindications, you can try, although you should not believe loud advertising promises that the procedure will replace sleep or smooth out the skin. The thing is interesting, but not a miracle!

Next week we will continue to check everything and find out the truth about products with loud promises - honestly, because we ourselves are interested.

Thank you for your help in filming the story:

Chain of children's hairdressing salons "Imaginary" for help in preparing the story
Grooming Academy "Milord" and personally Irina Aleshina for participation in filming and assistance in tests
Mother of many children, blogger Maria Danazhi for her participation and help in the tests
Family psychologist Natalya El for expert assistance

Float network - for high-quality and safe floating, which we tested as part of filming the story
Clinic "Supernovaclinic" for excellent dry floating and many other services for relaxing the body
The aesthetic medicine clinic “Premium Aesthetics Academy” and personally dermatologist Ekaterina Ilyalova for her help in carrying out the floating procedure to improve the condition of the skin
for the best cosmetological, dermatological and plastic surgery equipment with which we measured the condition of the skin

The full episode of “The Miracle of Technology with Sergei Malozyomov” dated May 16 is available here

All full episodes of the “Miracle of Technology” program are here