Contents
*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
The main criteria for choosing such an instrument:
The class to which the device belongs and its price – professional cars, semi-professional, amateur.
Type of hair clipper – rotary or vibrating.
Purpose – universal tools, devices for cutting hair in the nose or ears, for cutting hair on the body, in the bikini area, multifunctional sets.
Power type – mains, battery or mixed type.
Power – from 9 to 45 watts.
Features of the blades – self-sharpening, material of manufacture, width, speed of movement.
Additional characteristics – the length of the wire, the time of charging and operation without recharging, the presence of a vacuum aspirator, backlight, etc.
Let’s consider all these criteria in more detail to make it easier for you to choose a hair clipper.
Tool class
Amateur hair clippers are the most affordable option for users in terms of price. Such devices can cost only a few hundred rubles. They do not require great application skills, therefore they can (subject to safety rules) be used even by teenagers. This is where the advantages of amateur units end. Among the shortcomings, one can single out: few functions, such devices can only be used for cutting bald or for forming a small length of a few centimeters; insufficient quality and short service life.
Semi-professional and professional units are quite expensive. The characteristic features of such devices are multifunctionality; the presence of a variety of nozzles and accessories; increased power; high quality and long service life. There is only one drawback (apart from high cost) – the use of such machines may require specific skills. Such devices are often used in beauty salons, the masters first learn to work on them. In addition, professional tools often have a lot of weight, and handling them requires endurance, skill, and experience.
Type of hair clipper
There are two types of such devices – rotary and vibration. The first belong to the segment of professional and semi-professional hairdressing tools. The second – to amateur-class units. Rotary machines have the following features:
Increased power. Devices “perfectly” cope with hair of any length, thickness and density.
Functionality. Machines can be used not only to correct the length of hair shafts, but also to perform various professional techniques, for example, to create patterns and ornaments on the head.
The engine is forced to cool during operation, so it is possible to use the device continuously for a long time.
No vibration and noise during operation – this is increased comfort for both the master and the client.
Removable blades that can be washed and sterilized – this greatly facilitates the care of the tool.
Durability and reliability, safety.
Vibrating hair clippers are usually the exact opposite of rotary ones. They are significantly inferior in power, which is why they are suitable for shortening medium-hard or thin hair. The duration of continuous operation is only 20 or 30 minutes, after which the machine either overheats or discharges. The blades are not removable and it is difficult to clean the instrument, and it is completely impossible to sterilize it with high quality. Well, do not forget about vibration, noise, which for some children, especially young children, are not very pleasant. But vibrating machines are practically weightless and do not cause a feeling of hand fatigue during operation.
Purpose of the tool
Depending on the purpose, the following types of clippers can be distinguished:
Universal standard models. They are used for cutting hair on the head and for the care of facial hair in men.
Small models for correcting hair in the eyebrows and sideburns, for cutting hair in the nose or ears. These are purely male tools, but if they are equipped with attachments for correcting the length of the eyebrows, they can also be used by women.
Body groomers or clippers for hair on the body, including on the legs and arms, back and chest, in the armpits and in the intimate area. Very common are trimmers that can be used in the shower.
Specialized units for the formation of hairstyles in the intimate area. Used in cosmetic clinics and beauty salons to provide services to both women and men.
And another group of tools – hair care kits. Such kits usually include several separate machines, a lot of nozzles and accessories. Due to this, they are much more expensive than single options.
Unit power type
The most reliable models of machines that operate on the network. Of course, only if there is constant access to electricity. They can be used continuously, no matter how long the haircut procedure lasts. They also have a characteristic drawback – the presence of a cord, which can limit the movement of the master and in general can be of short length. At the same time, you can buy a model with a cord rotating at the base, it does not twist, and to a lesser extent interferes with the movements of the hairdresser.
Purely cordless or battery-powered clippers are a great option for haircuts when there is no access to the mains or when traveling, on business trips, on vacation. Such tools work without the need for recharging for 20-60 minutes. And the time required for a full charge is from several hours to 8-10 hours. At the same time, it is important to understand that with a low charge level, the machine works very slowly and it is impossible to perform a high-quality haircut with it. But you need to discharge the tool completely, since you need to charge it when it is completely discharged, otherwise the capacity of the Ni-MH battery will gradually decrease, as a result of which it will have to be replaced over time. In addition, the disadvantage of battery models is that they are heavy. Battery-powered devices don’t weigh much, but they burn out quickly and need to be changed regularly.
Battery-powered devices are the best option for both amateur and professional use. They combine the advantages and capabilities of cordless and corded tools. But there is a drawback – you have to pay for comfort, so these machines are more expensive than their counterparts.
Device power
The speed at which the device will work depends on how great the power of the clipper is. If you intend to use the tool not for professional purposes, but at home, you can buy a machine of any power, it is enough that this figure is at the level of 10-20 watts.
In general, the power depends on the type of device. For rotary ones, it ranges from 20 to 45 W., for vibrating ones, it is about 2 times less.
Features of hair clipper blades
The blades of hair clippers can be characterized based on the following parameters:
The material of manufacture.
Cutting edge width.
Travel speed.
Self-sharpening function or these are blades that you can sharpen yourself.
Let’s start with the material of manufacture of cutting blades:
Steel is reliable and durable, but the blades can get very hot during long work.
Ceramic is hypoallergenic and does not heat up, but it can crack at the slightest impact, it is a material that is sensitive to falls.
Titanium is strong, reliable and durable, cuts even very thick and hard hair rods, but it is an expensive material that significantly increases the cost of the tool.
Titanium with ceramics is a great combination, but the machine will cost a lot.
Diamond-coated stainless steel is the best option in terms of quality, reliability and cost. Does not heat up, does not cause irritation, qualitatively cuts hair of any stiffness.
Stainless steel with titanium coating – the properties of titanium, but the cost is less.
Consider such a parameter as the speed of the blades, depending on the power of the device. If they work relatively slowly, then the haircut is easier for inexperienced craftsmen, but the process is delayed in time. If they rotate very quickly, the haircut takes less time, but you can not yawn, otherwise you will cut off the excess. Bottom line – it is recommended for beginners in hairdressing to opt for models with a power of 9-12 W. For advanced users, devices with a power of 13-15 W are suitable, for professionals – 20 W. and more. In some models, it is possible to adjust the power of work, and, accordingly, the speed of movement of the blades.
The width of the cutting edge for most universal standard units is 35-45 mm, which is enough for convenient processing of the head area. If you need a device for trimming eyebrows, nose hair or intimate areas, the blades must be significantly smaller, so it is recommended to consult the seller before buying.
Regarding the sharpening of the blades, such a function must be present, otherwise the device will not last long. There are self-sharpening blades that require no maintenance. There are blades that can be sharpened, at some point this will need to be done, since blunt cutting elements do not cut, but jam the hair, causing discomfort and even pain.
Additional features of the hair clipper
If you are going to choose a suitable hair clipper, pay attention to the secondary characteristics of such devices:
The number and size of settings for adjusting the length by which the hair is shortened. It is clear that the more such nozzles are in the kit, the more opportunities there are for shaping haircuts, choosing the optimal hair length for each client. Typically, these nozzles allow you to adjust the length within a difference of 3 millimeters – 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, etc. In this case, it will not be superfluous to pay attention to what is the minimum and maximum – the nozzles should allow you to cut hair up to 1 mm. – 4 cm. Also, the function of limiter nozzles can be performed by a special rotary control built into the tool. In this case, the setting of the required length is more sensitive, the minimum step is smaller than usual, it can be not 3, but 1 mm.
The length of the cord, if we are talking about a network device. The longer the wire, the more comfortable it is to use the tool. But some manufacturers save on this, and users have to constantly look for an extension cord.
The vacuum suction function is very useful in terms of cleaning surfaces from long and short hairs cut from the client’s head.
The backlight is an equally useful feature that allows you to perform a high-quality haircut even in poor ambient light conditions.
The ability to charge from the USB port of a PC or laptop – can be useful outside the home and in the field.
No need to lubricate the blades, which makes it easier to care for the hairdressing tool.
Ergonomic body of the hair clipper, rubberized non-slip frame – if the device fits comfortably in the hand, it gets less tired.
Also, additional characteristics include the presence of such chips: nozzles for a beard and mustache on universal units; charging indicator; waterproof case of the device; the presence of a set of replaceable blades; the presence of a charging stand, nozzles and other accessories; loop for hanging the machine; the possibility of wet cleaning and cutting wet hair. On very advanced devices, there is even a liquid crystal display that displays the charge level, the time it can take before recharging is necessary, the type of nozzle used and the current set length of the strands.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.