5 Best Clippers for Fades of 2020

There has been a lot of innovation in the last few years when it comes to men’s hairstyles. There are a lot of options to choose from. Classic short hair cuts are still common, but so are longer do’s, undercuts, hair designs, braids, and so much more.

But one of the sharpest haircut types you can choose from are the buzzed fades. These can be done with super short hair, or with taller hair on top. The length and extent of your fade is incredibly customizable.

Plus, fades are one of the rare breeds of haircut that look just as sleek and fine in the office as they do at the club.

But they aren’t easy to care for. Fades are a high-maintenance haircut, and unless you want to spend an hour every couple weeks with your hairdresser, you’ll want to invest in a good set of clippers for quick touch-ups.

Not just any clipper will do. Some clippers are especially well suited to creating a sharp, even, well-blended fade. Not only will we compare some of your best options in this article, but we’ll also talk about the other accessories you should have in your kit.

Some Things to Consider

Like any tool, good clippers have several different factors you need to take into account before you can pick the right set for your needs.

Size and Weight

The size and weight of your clippers can have a significant impact on the look you can create. Not so much because a super small or super large set of clippers won’t be able to get the job done, but because it’s comfort in your hand and maneuverability makes a difference in what you can do.

Ideally, you should try and hold a clipper before you buy it. We know that that isn’t always possible, so here are some guidelines.

Lightweight is Good

Since you’ll likely be reaching around behind your head, and relying on mirrors or a friend to tell you what it looks like, a lightweight clipper is a good idea. Your arm isn’t designed to have to lift and do delicate work behind your head.

The heavier the clippers, the less functional time you’ll have to create and perfect your fade.

Too Light is Bad

This is going to be ambiguous, but there is a point where the clippers are too light to trust. There isn’t one number to bet on here since clippers come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. But, if it seems too light to be believed, you’re probably right.

Lightweight machines can often mean something has been compromised in quality.

Most of the time battery operated clippers are a little heavier than corded clippers because of the weight of the batteries themselves. Small clippers should feel denser in your hand than large clippers, and no clippers should weight more than a few pounds.

Corded or Battery Powered

This is one of the first questions you should ask yourself when it comes to any electric grooming tool. What type of power will work best for me?

Battery-powered clippers are getting more and more common as battery life improves and size and weight go down. But they might not be the best option for men wanting to maintain a fade. Because fades require several passes on different settings, followed by blending and cleanup, they take a decent amount of time.

You should aim for at least 30 minutes of battery power if that’s your preference. You may also want to consider touching up your fade slightly more often so there is less hair and less cleanup required.

Corded clippers, on the other hand, have the advantage of being able to run much longer. But, you’re limited by the need for an outlet and the length of the cord.

While corded appliances and grooming tools seem to be on their way out, this is one area where the downsides of a cord may be worth the longer operational time. Especially if you’re new to creating and maintaining a fade haircut, corded clippers give you a little longer to create your look.

Not rushing means fewer bad hair days and fewer embarrassing trips to the hairdresser with a messed-up do.

The Motor

One of the things you’ll often see listed on clippers is how many cutting motions the clipper makes per minute or per second. This is a reflection of the power of the motor on those clippers.

Here, faster is usually better. The more power your clipper brings to the table, the fewer passes you’ll have to make to get a clean cut. Not only does that save you time, but it also helps prevent a lot of unevenness that can ruin a good fade.

Good motors also reduce the chances of having a missed hair or three that only crop up a few days later when they refuse to lay flat.

If you don’t want people to be able to tell when your hairdresser cut your hair vs when you did, buy clippers with a good motor.

The Blades

Blades are another hugely important aspect of a good set of clippers. Don’t buy clippers with cheap blades, they won’t do the job well and quickly turn into money sinks since you have to replace them a lot more often.

Almost all clippers will claim to have good blades, and most will say that replacement is easy to do. Rather than relying on company claims, look for reviews. People who love their hair, and are good at maintaining it, pay special attention to the blades on their tools, and they’ll point it out right away if something’s wrong with the quality.

Clipper Maintenance

Clippers are like most tools in that the best clipper in the world will fail if you don’t maintain it properly. Fortunately, there isn’t that much to clipper maintenance. Taking these steps and making it a regular part of your routine will help keep the clippers working and in top condition a lot longer.

All clippers will eventually break down, but maintenance will save money in the long term.

Clean the Blades

Clean your blades. Clean your Blades. Clean Your Blades! We can’t say this often enough.

All kinds of bacteria and other gunk can grow on your clipper blades if you don’t care for them properly. Beyond becoming less effective over time, that dirt, leftover strands of hair, and bacteria can cause skin irritation and breakouts.

Trust us. You do not want to get a breakout to bacteria-caused flaky patch in your fade cut.

Beyond the hygiene considerations, failure to clean your blades means that they will dull, and possibly even rust, much faster.

Many clippers can just be run under warm running water to be cleaned. Others come with a specialty brush. If you don’t have a specialty brush or want a more thorough clean than you can get with running water, a toothbrush (not the one you use on your teeth!) will do a good job cleaning your clipper blades.

Clipper Spray

Clipper spray is another cleaning and maintenance alternative. Mostly intended for professionals who need to worry about disinfecting and cooling the blades between clients, clipper spray can also be a useful addition at home.

Especially if your clippers tend to heat up while you’re using them, clipper spray is a quick way to bring the temperature down so you can finish off your cut.

It’s also a disinfectant, which can be important for people who know that they have sensitive skin, or who have previously had a dandruff for scalp condition.

Alignment

Most clipper blades are easy to align, but it’s something you should check every single time you get them out. That’s because an uneven alignment on your clipper blades causes serious problems for your haircut and can also stress the motor and shorten the life of your clippers.

Alignment is easy to check by eye. Hold the clippers so that the blades are parallel, and so that you can gaze directly down the length of the blade.

The blades should be perfectly straight and parallel. If they aren’t, you should loosen the blades slightly so that you can adjust. Don’t take them completely out, since you’ll still have to adjust the same way after. Adjust the blades until they appear straight, tighten them down, and then check your work.

This should be fairly easy. But, until you’re used to your clippers, go ahead and give yourself a couple attempts to get this right. Don’t stop until the blades are straight.

Oil the Blades

Depending on the clippers, this should be done somewhere between every time you use them, and every 3rd or 4th time. Oiling the blades is simple.

Almost all clippers should be angled down to reduce the chances of oil getting into the motor housing and surrounding other electric and moving parts. Some may recommend removing the blades entirely to oil or clean them.

You should always use blade oil, though the proprietary blend that goes with your clippers doesn’t necessarily have to be the blend that you use. Just don’t reach for the olive oil unless you want to gum up and slow down your blades.

Usually, 1-3 drops per blade is sufficient. We also recommend lightly wiping off your blades after oiling them to remove the excess oil.

Even though too much oil is a problem, regular oiling is important. If you don’t oil the blades regularly, they’ll experience more friction, dull faster, and are also more likely to rust or corrode.

5 Best Clippers for Fades Comparison Table

If you already know all about clippers and are just looking for an updated source for the best sets, this table is for you. If you’re looking to learn more about clippers, and why these clippers made our list, read on.

5 Best Clippers for Fades: Detailed Reviews

Last but certainly not least, here are the best clippers for fade haircuts. We’ll go over some pros and cons of each, in addition to talking about how they work and where each clipper set stands out most.