From television and movie stars to sportsmen and even politicians, everyone seems to be rocking a variation of the fade haircut these days. However, the thing with the fade is that it doesn’t last too long. Within a week or two, as hair grows, the fade effect becomes less and less visible until it disappears entirely.
It is an incredibly nuanced haircut that needs constant maintenance just to stay visible. So, you either visit your stylist every fortnight and spend a fortune in the process or find a way to do it yourself.
Sadly, many people will tell you that you can’t give yourself a fade. They’re, of course, wrong. It is all about the equipment. With the right type of hair clippers and some common sense, everyone can give themselves a fade. So, what type of hair clipper do you need to give yourself a fade haircut?
On this page, we’ll not only answer that question but also analyze the best options available to you. In case, you feel the need to skip certain sections, here’s a quick-click navigation panel.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| Wahl Clipper Elite Pro High Performance Haircut Kit #79602 |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Product Weight: 2.0 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 21 |
| An unbelievably affordable 21-piece hair clipper set meant specifically for home users looking for the full functionality including fade haircuts and blades are adjustable. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| Wahl Professional 5-Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip #8148 |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Product Weight: 0.62 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 13 |
| The best of the best hair clippers that has the capacity to create all types of fade, blend, and taper haircuts, without affecting your bank balance much. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| Andis Master 15-Watt Adjustable Blade Hair Clipper (01557) |
| 4.25/5.0 |
| Product Weight: 1.25 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 3 |
| A professional-grade hair clipper with an adjustable taper lever that will meet all your fade needs if you’re willing to buy an attachment combs set separately. |
| Check Amazon |
- Which Features Make Hair Clippers Best for Fading and Blending?
- How to Give Yourself A Fade Haircut
- 10 Best Clippers for Fades Comparison Table
- Top 2 Premium Clippers for Fades: Detailed Reviews
- Top 4 Value Clippers for Fades: Detailed Reviews
- Top 4 Budget Clippers for Fades: Detailed Reviews
Which Features Make Hair Clippers Best for Fading and Blending?
Giving someone a fade, taper, or blend haircut requires a lot of skill. You not only have to keep multiple hair lengths in mind but also ensure that they merge appropriately and the difference isn’t stark enough to stand out.
The task is even tougher if you’re giving yourself a fade haircut. Along with the challenges described above, you’ll also have to learn to be a contortionist if you want to give yourself a fade.
The secret, as we mentioned above, is having the right kind of hair clipper. So, what features should you look for in a hair clipper if you want fades, tapering, or blending? There are three:
Attachment Combs or Guides
A fade haircut has hair of multiple lengths. Therefore, you either need your hair clipper to come with as many attachment combs as possible or you need to be prepared to buy a set separately.
It will always be easier if you buy a hair clipper kit because it will contain multiple attachment combs or guides. However, in the majority of cases, the included attachment combs are of poor quality and will break or bend very early in their lives.
On the other hand, attachment guide sets sold separately tend to be sturdier, more durable, and long-lasting. Therefore, if you’re into fades and blends for the long haul, we suggest buying a high-quality attachment set separately.
However, you can only do this if the manufacturer of the hair clipper sells compatible attachment comb sets separately. In most cases, these separate sets are affordable, but sometimes, they aren’t. Therefore, this becomes another consideration worth keeping in mind.
Adjustment Taper Lever
When you cut your hair in multiple sizes, you can’t leave the difference between two different sizes too visible. You’ll need to blend the two sizes. This means the hair length has to transition from one size to the next, gradually. This is best achieved with an adjustable taper lever.
If your hair clipper has an adjustable taper lever and you have only two attachment combs, the lever can increase your options by anything between four to eight points depending on how expansive it is. Adjustment taper levers will give you access to hair lengths in between the sizes of your attachment guides.
An adjustment taper lever is highly recommended if you want a fade haircut, but it isn’t mandatory. You can work around the problem of no lever if you have the knowledge and the skill, but it will still be time-consuming.
Size and Weight
Using a hair clipper on yourself is difficult simply because you have to find ways of reaching areas that you’ve never tried for before. What’s worse is that to cut the hair right, you need to approach these areas from the right angles too. These challenges become even more extreme if you’re giving yourself a fade haircut.
If your hair clipper is heavy and bulky, then you’ll have a lot of trouble maneuvering it to the right place, leave alone approaching it from the right angle.
Therefore, unless you’ve got a strong arm or can bend like a gymnast, you should go for a hair clipper that is light and compact. We also recommend favoring hair clippers with longer power cords. A long power cord won’t limit your reach.
Apart from these three points, the usual considerations of power output, corded or cordless, warranties, and cost apply even if you’re choosing hair clippers specifically for fades.
How to Give Yourself A Fade Haircut
Even the best clippers for fades will only be effective if they’re used properly. Here is a quick primer on giving yourself a fade haircut.
Prepare Your Hair
Clean, damp hair is the easiest to cut. Therefore, to prepare for the fade haircut, you should shampoo your hair. Wipe off the excess water so that your hair isn’t dripping wet.
If it dries up later, you can always mist it damp again with a spray. You should also ensure that your hair is free of tangles and combed.
Map It in Your Head
It is very easy to mess up the varying lengths of hair when giving yourself a fade haircut. This is why it is important to have a rough idea of how long you need your hair to be in different areas of the head.
It is best to start from the crown of your head. If you know how long you want the hair at the apex of your head to be, you can work out the back and the sides accordingly.
Remember, fades are usually short haircuts. If the sides and back of your head have long hair, then the fade will not be visible. Similarly, if the hair at the top of your head is too long, then you’ll end up with an undercut instead of a fade.
Fix the Top Length First
Once you know how you want your hair to look, you should begin with the hair at the top of your head. You can’t use the clippers on the top of your head, so you’ll have to rely on your trusty old shears. Some hair clipper kits actually come with shears precisely for this reason.
When trimming the hair at the apex of your head, you need to remember that it is always better to err on the side of longinstead of short. You can always cut the hair again later in a few minutes if you think that it is too long.
Use the Right Attachment Combs
Based on the length of the hair at the top of your head, choose the attachment combs you’ll be using on the rest of your head. Take into account that the lowest number guards will cut the hair shortest.
We suggest starting with a higher number guard near the apex of your head and then progressively moving to lower number guards for the back and sides.
Use the Adjustment Taper Lever to Finish Things Off
Once you’ve reached your hairline at the neck and above the ear, it is time to refine the cut. Use the adjustment taper lever to balance the cuts you’ve created. You’ll have to use the same attachment combs again, of course.
The more adjustment taper levels you have, the more you can refine your fade haircut. It is unlikely that you’ll be able to use more than one or two, though. Balance all horizontal sections until your hair transitions from one length to another smoothly.
10 Best Clippers for Fades Comparison Table
Top 2 Premium Clippers for Fades: Detailed Reviews
1. OSTER Classic 76 Universal Motor Clipper 76076010
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
Oster Classic 76 is built for people who already have some experience cutting hair. Technically, it is designed for professional barbers and hairstylists, but it can be used by home users who’ve been using hair clippers for years.
You see, Oster has been selling professional hair clippers for more than a century and they’ve squeezed in all their knowledge in this single clipper. As a result, this hair clipper is built to last and when we say last, we mean decades.
Since it is built for professionals and seasoned users, it also expects certain things from them. The foremost of these is that it expects them to have their own set of guards and attachments.
It only comes with two detachable blades of sizes 000 and 1 and doesn’t come with any guards or attachments. As guards are crucial to fading and blending haircuts, this limited functionality is a definite flaw.
If you don’t have separate attachments that will fit this clipper, you can get them from Oster. The plastic ones are pretty affordable, but if you really want durability, go for the slightly more expensive metallic ones. While the absence of attachments and combs is a flaw, the detachable blades make up for them to a certain extent because they do offer some versatility.
A much bigger problem than the missing attachments, though, is the lack of an adjustable taper lever. Taper levers can make fading and blending very easy, especially for first-timers.
The detachable blades are very easy to change and don’t get stuck. Moreover, when they’re off, you can see all parts of this device where hair can get stuck. Removing the blades makes these parts very easy to access and clean.
Further, removing the blades will allow you to use the lubricating oil, cleaning brush, and the clipper grease that Oster provides with this clipper. You’ll also get a blade guard for when you put this device away.
The blades are driven by a very powerful motor, designed specifically for heavy-duty, non-stop use. Moreover, this clipper has a very durable metal housing with a textured grip and a hanging hook.
It also has a nine-feet long power cord and comes in an amazing 14 colors! Your options will include brown, purple, orange, gold, pink, yellow, hot pink, silver, light blue, and green along with prints like snakeskin, wooden, and vibrant.
The metal housing makes this clipper quite heavy, though. The weight is especially problematic because this clipper is bulky too. Further, it is a noisy clipper, but that is only because of the power of its motor.
Since this clipper can stay operational for decades, it is priced accordingly. Its high cost may put it beyond the reach of many, but we can assure you that it will pay for itself many times over in the years you use it.
Who’s it for: If you’re an experienced clipper user and have separate attachments, this professional-grade clipper will stay with you for years.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 7.5 inches |
| Product weight: 2 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 4 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Has two detachable blades |
| Built around a heavy-duty, powerful motor |
| Very durable metal housing |
| Housing is textured for easy grip |
| Very easy to clean |
| Incorporates a hanging hook |
| Comes with a nine-feet long cord |
| Available in 14 different colors |
| Fairly compact |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Have to buy attachments and guards separately |
| Doesn’t incorporate an adjustable taper lever |
| Quite a heavy device |
| Noisy device |
| Very pricey |
2. Andis Master 15-Watt Adjustable Blade Hair Clipper (01557) (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
Andis 01557 is another professional hair clipper that can be truly excellent for creating fade and blend haircuts. However, like the Oster Classic 76, this one will also require you to buy attachments and combs separately.
However, unlike the Oster Classic, this one not only boasts of adjustable blades but also zero-overlap capability. The zero-overlap capability is excellent if you want a close fade while the adjustable blades are ideal for transitioning hair from one size to another so that the final result looks like a fade.
The provided blade on this clipper can be adjusted between 000 and 1 sizes, but if you want other sizes, they’re available too. The available options include one that goes from 00000 to 000 and a 1A-2 blade.
Apart from the provided blade, Andis also offers a bottle of lubricating oil and blade guard with this clipper. If you have separate attachments, these adjustable blades and the zero-gap capability make this clipper ideal for all types of fading and tapering.
The blades on this clipper are run by an electromagnetic motor that can generate up to 14,000 strokes every 60 seconds. The flipside of all that power, however, is that the motor makes this clipper vibrate heavily.
While the vibrations are manageable in short durations, they become quite difficult to handle over an extended session. Even so, this is isn’t a very noisy device. This clipper is made up of aluminum, which makes it durable and lightweight at the same time. Its design is also quite good and compact.
Who’s it for: If you want a powerful hair clipper with an adjustable taper lever and are willing to buy guides separately, get this device.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 2 x 1.8 x 6 inches |
| Product weight: 1.25 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 3 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Built around a heavy-duty, powerful motor |
| Very durable metal housing |
| Blades are adjustable |
| Boasts of zero overlap capability |
| Doesn’t make a lot of noise |
| Fairly compact |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Have to buy attachments and guards separately |
| Vibrates heavily |
| Very pricey |
Top 4 Value Clippers for Fades: Detailed Reviews
3. Andis Professional Fade Master Hair Clipper with Adjustable Fade Blade(01690)
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
While the Andis 01557 is a great all-rounder that can handle fading and blending, the Andis 01690 is specifically developed for that purpose. It is intended for extra-close cutting that incorporates both tapering and fading.
It comes with an adjustable blade that supports 00000 and 000 sizes. Further, the blades can be set up in a zero-gap configuration. In this configuration, there is no overlapping of the blades. As a result, they deliver closer cuts.
This clipper is based around the same motor as its bigger brother. The motor is very powerful and can generate as many as 14,000 cutting strokes every minute. It has a lot of cutting power, but that also means that it vibrates strongly.
Since the housing of this device is made up of aluminum, the motor makes the entire clipper vibrate heavily. Further, all this vibration heats up the motor and the clipper alike. Still, this is also a very long-lasting, durable, and dependable clipper. Its blade is made up of high carbon steel and is all but unbreakable.
Further, the aluminum housing of this device makes it very lightweight. However, it isn’t as light as the Master clipper from the same company. Its design is such that it is slightly on the heavier side. In fact, it is heavy enough for its weight to be a flaw in our eyes.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a clipper that can supplement your primary clipper for fades and tapers, get this device.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 2.5 x 7.8 x 10 inches |
| Product weight: 1.9 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 3 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Built around a heavy-duty, powerful motor |
| Very durable metal housing |
| Blades are adjustable |
| Boasts of zero overlap capability |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Have to buy attachments and guards separately |
| Vibrates heavily |
| A little too heavy |
| Gets very hot |
| On the pricey side |
4. Wahl Professional 5-Star Series Senior Clippers #8545
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
The #8545 from Wahl is the go-to option for most professional barbers and hairstylists, mainly because it offers a rare combination of power, versatility, and affordability.
Its versatility, of course, includes the capability of producing fade, blend, and tapering haircuts. This clipper comes with three cutting guides spanning 1/16 inches and 3/16 inches.
Unfortunately, while these cutting guides are excellent as starting points, they’re nowhere enough for the truly fade-loving self-stylist. This means that you may have to invest in some additional guides.
Don’t worry, though. The ones offered by Wahl are fairly affordable. However, if you’re not into elaborate styles, you may not need to go for extra guides since this device also has an adjustable taper lever.
In addition to the taper lever, the blades on this clipper can be arranged in the zero-gap configuration. The zero-gap configuration, as you may know, is perfect for close cuts and fades. The zero-gap configuration, taper lever, and the three cutting guides provide more than enough versatility to suit most basic needs.
At the same time, we recommend being careful with the guards since they’re a little on the flimsy side and not as durable as the clipper. Apart from the three cutting guides, this clipper also comes with a styling comb, a cleaning brush, lubricating oil, and a red blade guard.
This clipper also happens to be one of the most powerful devices out there. It boasts of an awe-inspiring V9000 electromagnetic motor that can mow down your lawn if you have the patience for it. It will also be as noisy as a lawnmower, though.
The motor is housed inside a sturdy aluminum casing that can withstand years of use. We should also add that the metal housing and the powerful motor combine to make this clipper quite heavy. As a result, it can be a little unwieldy.
The powerful motor of this device also generates a lot of heat. The metal housing conducts that heat well. Effectively, the clipper can get hot if used for too long without a pause.
Since its zero-gap ability makes its blades very sharp, you’ll need considerable skill to do justice to this clipper. Being cut and nicked is fairly common for users of this device, especially if they’re not careful.
Who’s it for: If you want the king of hair clippers in terms of power and cost, get the Wahl #8545.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 3 x 6 x 5 inches |
| Product weight: 2.2 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 8 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Very compact |
| Built around a heavy-duty, powerful V9000 electromagnetic motor |
| Very durable metal housing |
| Boasts of zero overlap capability |
| Blades are adjustable |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Gets very hot |
| The included guides are not very sturdy |
| Noisy device |
| Quite a heavy device |
| Demands skill from the user |
5. Wahl Professional 5-Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip #8148 (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
While the Wahl #8545 may be the best professional-class hair clipper out there, the Wahl #8148, is by far the best option for fade and taper haircuts. Also called, the Wahl Magic Clip, this clipper has everything a casual user will ever need.
The clipper is a part of an entire set that contains eight different attachment combs, a red blade guard, a cleaning brush, and lubricating oil. The eight attachment combs are perfect for all types of fades and tapers.
The device even boasts of an adjustable taper lever to help you bridge the length difference between two different combs. Further, if you want a short fade haircut, the blades can be zero-gapped.
This clipper is also one of the lightest we’ve come across. Since fade haircuts require a lot of precision, this clipper’s low weight makes them easier to use and reduces the chances of any mistakes.
The fact that it weighs just over half a pound also makes it very travel-friendly. You can even take it abroad since it is a dual voltage device. Moreover, you can use this clipper cordlessly or with a cord.
When refining the fade haircut that you’ve given yourself, we suggest using the device cordlessly as that will afford you greater control. Even though the power you’ll get on battery will be less, you won’t need a lot of it to refine a fade.
The battery is long lasting and you can use the device for more than 90 minutes without pause. It doesn’t even take that long to reach full charge, requiring only about 20 minutes. This clipper is available in three colors – red, burgundy, and black-gold combination.
In terms of flaws, the biggest is this clipper’s build quality. While this is a metal clipper, the metal could’ve given more protection. As it is, it is very prone to rust. Also, the metal housing tends to get too hot when the clipper is in use.
Who’s it for: If you want a hair clipper with everything, you’ll ever need to pull of fade haircuts, get the Wahl Magic Clip.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 6.25 x 1 x 1 inches |
| Product weight: 0.62 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 13 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Perfect device for fading and blending |
| Comes with eight attachment combs |
| Blades are adjustable |
| Boasts of zero overlap capability |
| Amazingly light device |
| Possesses corded and cordless capability both |
| Batteries have 90+ minutes capacity |
| Incredibly fast charge times |
| Available in three colors |
| Built of metal |
| Dual voltage device |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Lacks power when used without a cord |
| Gets very hot |
| Metal housing prone to rusting |
6. OSTER Fast Feed Adjustable Pivot Motor Clipper 76023-510
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
Oster Fast Feed 76023-510 can be seen as the “lite” version of the Oster Classic 76. While the latter is designed for professional setups, the former is meant to be a supplementary device better suited to styling than actual haircuts. This makes it a good option if you want to give yourself or someone else fade haircuts.
It has a steel blade that can be adjusted between sizes 000 and 1 and comes with four different guide combs. One of these combs is specifically meant for tapering and fading, which is why it is called “blending”.
While sufficient for basic fades and tapers, the guide combs may not be enough if you like to experiment with your hair. So, you may need to buy some separately. Apart from the guide combs, this clipper comes with the usual maintenance accessories such as a cleaning brush, lubricating oil, and a blade guard.
What sets this clipper apart from other similar devices in the market is how light and quiet it is. In fact, this is easily one of the quietest hair clippers currently available in the market. It is so quiet because it is built around a pivot motor instead of an electromagnetic motor.
The pivot motor is responsible for making this clipper quiet as well as light. Since fade haircuts require precision control, a light clipper will ensure there are no mistakes. However, the motor could’ve been more powerful. As it is, you will feel that this device lacks cutting power and speed.
This clipper has an “ultra-durable” metal housing that will make the clipper last a very long time. At the same time, the metal body of this device gets hot far too easily. Further, the only blemish on its durability is the adjustment arm. The arm is very flimsy and if you’re not careful, it will break in your hand.
The clipper is ergonomically designed and very easy to grip becauseits housing is textured. It is fairly easy to maneuver around the head too because of its eight-feet long power cord. Finally, it is easy to store because it has a metal hanging hook on one end.
If you decide to get the Oster Fast Feed, you’ll have six color options to choose from. These include light blue, burgundy, purple, silver, dark blue, and vibrant.
Who’s it for: If your requirements aren’t very elaborate and your fade haircuts are simple, get the Oster Fast Feed.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 6 x 3 x 10.5 inches |
| Product weight: 1 pound |
| Accompaniments: 8 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Possesses a powerful but quiet motor |
| Amazingly light device |
| Very durable metal housing |
| Blades are adjustable |
| Housing is textured for easy grip |
| Incorporates a hanging hook |
| Comes with an eight-feet long cord |
| Available in six colors |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Metal housing can get hot |
| Lacks power and cutting speed |
| Low build quality |
| Adjustment arm breaks too soon |
Top 4 Budget Clippers for Fades: Detailed Reviews
7. Wahl Professional Super Taper II Hair Clipper #8470-500
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
As the name suggests, this Wahl hair clipper is designed particularly for fades, tapering, and blending. It features a blade that can be adjusted between 000 and 1 sizes. Further, it comes with eight attachment combs.
Between the combs and the adjustment taper lever, this hair clipper can serve all but the most extreme fade haircut requirements. Even those extreme requirements can be met with separate attachment combs, though.
Unfortunately, this clipper’s biggest flaw is its adjustable taper lever. As useful as the lever is, it doesn’t lock in place and tends to change position on its own. The result is an uneven haircut unless you monitor its position regularly.
Inside, the hair clipper runs on a V5000 electromagnetic motor. While this isn’t the strongest or the fastest motor in Wahl’s arsenal, it is more than sufficient to handle most hair types and styles.
Thisis a metal hair clipper which means that it will stay with you for a long time unless you expose it to too much moisture. When exposed to moisture, it’s metal casing tends to rust really fast.
The metal housing also manages to translate all the heat, noise, and vibration that the powerful motor generates into the user’s hands. Each of these sensations doesn’t seem much in shorter bursts but can become real annoyances if you use the device for an extended amount of time.
This device is fairly lightweight too. In a market, where the best hair clippers seem to weigh closer to 1.5 or even two pounds, this one only weighs one pound.
This makes it easy to use, especially if you’re giving yourself a fade. Another thing that will help you in this endeavor is this device’s eight-feet long, professional-grade power cord.
Who’s it for: If you want a hair clipper specifically designed for fades, tapering, and blending, get the Super Taper II Hair Clipper from Wahl.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 12 x 4 x 6 inches |
| Product weight: 1.0 pound |
| Accompaniments: 12 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Perfect device for fading and blending |
| Comes with eight attachment combs |
| Blades are adjustable |
| Boasts of zero overlap capability |
| Built around a heavy-duty, powerful V5000 electromagnetic motor |
| Lightweight device |
| Built of metal |
| Comes with an eight-feet long cord |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Gets very hot within 20 minutes |
| Noisy device |
| Vibrates heavily |
| Adjustment lever moves on its own |
| Metal housing prone to rusting |
8. Wahl Professional 5-Star Balding Clipper #8110
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
Wahl #8110 was developed to deliver extremely close cuts, which is why it is called the “balding clipper”. While it performs best when delivering surgically-close cuts, it is no chump when it comes to fades, tapers, and blends either.
However, to tap into its full potential, you’ll have to buy attachments and guides separately. As it is, this device comes with two attachment combs which can be placed upon incredibly well-aligned blades. The blades, themselves are German-milled titanium with a self-sharpening design.
This means that the blades start very sharp and that they don’t get blunt over time. Since they’re so sharp, you’ll need to have some experience with hair clippers or you may cut and nick yourself.
As good as this device is, it lacks an adjustable taper lever. If it had one, then it would be one of the best options in the market for skin and bald fades. Even so, this device is still an excellent option for these types of fades because of its weight and design.
This is a very compact hair clipper that doesn’t weigh a lot. Its compact design makes gripping it easy while the fact that it is light makes it one of the more maneuverable hair clippers in the market right now. Its maneuverability is also boosted by its eight-foot long professional-grade power cord.
This hair clipper is fairly powerful too. It is based on a V5000 electromagnetic motor that can handle all but the coarsest and thickest hair. Unfortunately, the body surrounding that motor isn’t as durable as it should’ve been.
This hair clipper’s housing is plastic that gives off the impression of being cheap and fragile. Still, if you take care of this hair clipper, it should last you a long time. Even though its build quality is a little suspect, it still offers value for money because it is so affordably priced.
If you decide to get this hair clipper, you’ll get the usual maintenance accessories in the box such as a cleaning brush, lubricating oil, and a red blade guard along with the previously mentioned attachment combs.
Who’s it for: If you like skin and bald fades and don’t want to spend too much, get the Balding Hair Clipper from Wahl.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.8 x 5 inches |
| Product weight: 0.6 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 6 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Made to deliver very close cuts |
| Built around a heavy-duty, powerful V9000 electromagnetic motor |
| Incorporates German-milled, self-sharpening titanium blades |
| Comes with an eight-feet long cord |
| Very compact |
| Amazingly light device |
| Very pocket-friendly |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Have to buy attachments and guards separately |
| Doesn’t incorporate an adjustable taper lever |
| Fragile device |
| Requires skill to be useful |
9. Wahl Clipper Elite Pro High Performance Haircut Kit #79602 (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
The Wahl Clipper Elite Pro #79602 personifies value for money. It offers an unbelievable number of features and accessories for a very affordable price. In fact, the #79602 is a part of a well-endowed hair clipper kit as opposed to being a clipper with some add-ons.
The kit contains ten different guards, shears, a styling comb, a small bib, a bottle of lubricating oil, a cleaning brush, a briefcase-like hard storage case, a cord wrap, a blade guard, and a drawstring pouch for the guards.
The ten attachment combs are perfect for a wide variety of haircuts, including fades, tapers, and blends. Blending is made even easier since this device comes with built-in adjustable taper lever.
This hair clipper has impressive cutting power and speed because of its very powerful motor. While the motor in this clipper isn’t industrial strength, it is still more powerful than most other consumer hair clippers in the market.
Its immense power has downsides too, though. Firstly, this clipper is very noisy. Secondly, it gets pretty hot if the clipper is used for an extended period of time without a pause. You’ll feel this heat as well since this clipper is all metal.
It’s metal body means that it is a very durable device. However, it also means that it is very heavy and quite prone to rusting. You’ll have to pay special attention to its maintenance. At the very least, you should oil the blades regularly.
Managing this clipper’s weight is not as difficult since it comes with an eight-feet long power cord. Considering the kind of features and benefits of this hair clipper, its price is quite unbelievable. The value it provides is unmatched, particularly since it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Who’s it for: If you want the most bang for the buck and fulfill your fade requirements to boot, get the Elite Pro from Wahl.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 10 inches |
| Product weight: 2.0 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 21 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Perfect device for fading and blending |
| Blades are adjustable |
| Comes with ten attachment combs |
| Built around a heavy-duty, powerful motor |
| Built of metal |
| Comes with an eight-feet long cord |
| Amazingly priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Quite a heavy device |
| Noisy device |
| Bulky |
| Gets too hot |
| Metal housing prone to rusting |
10. Wahl Color Pro Complete Hair Cutting Kit, #79300-400T
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
The Wahl Color Pro is one of the cheapest offerings from a company that prides itself in the quality, functionality, and durability of its hair clippers. While this hair clipper may not be as durable and dependable as other products from the same manufacturer, it beats most of its competitors comfortably.
Further, this kit happens to be the most expansive on our list of best clippers for fades. More importantly, it happens to be one of the most expansive in the budget price segment.
This hair clipper comes with 13 attachment guards. The attachment guards are ideal for a wide array of haircuts and hairstyles, including tapering, fades, and blending.
With these types of haircuts, the biggest challenge is to create a smooth transition between various hair lengths. To help with this, this hair clipper has an adjustable taper lever that you’ll be able to access easily with your thumb while gripping the device.
Further, the attachment guards are color-coded to make it easier and faster for you to choose the one you need. While the attachment guards are hugely effective, their durability is questionable. They seem flimsy in hand and fall apart when handled roughly.
Along with the attachment guards, this kit also includes lubrication oil, a cleaning brush, a barber’s cape, two hair clips, a neck duster, a pair of scissors, and three hair combs.
You’ll even get a storage case with a handle making this entire kit very easy to move around. However, like the attachment combs, the storage case isn’t the sturdiest and may break if not handled with care.
You’ll be fitting the attachment guards over high carbon steel blades that have been precision ground to maintain their sharpness. The longevity of their sharpness is also helped by the fact that they have a self-sharpening design.
The blades are driven by a decently powerful motor. While this motor will not be able to handle multiple haircuts without a pause, you can be sure that it will be good enough for most home uses.
Like most Wahl hair clippers, this one also has a metal body. The metal body adds a nice heft to the device, but you can also see this weight as a major flaw. It is possible that women will find it difficult to manage this hair clipper for any extended period of time.
The maneuverability of this device also suffers because of its short power cord, which only measures about 6.5 feet. Needless to say, if your plug points are not placed well, you’ll struggle to use this hair clipper.
This device’s metal body makes it durable, but only if you keep it dry and oil it regularly. The metal body barely has any protection from moisture and rusts very quickly when exposed.
Gripping the metal body of this hair clipper is easy because it has a soft touch grip on the sides.
Who’s it for: If what you really want is maximum convenience with minimal spending while getting a fade haircut, get this hair clipper set.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 10 inches |
| Product weight: 2 pounds |
| Accompaniments: 26 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Perfect device for fading and blending |
| Self-sharpening, high-carbon steel blades |
| Blades are adjustable |
| Comes with 13 color-coded attachment combs |
| Built around a heavy-duty, powerful motor |
| Housing is textured for easy grip |
| Amazingly priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Very heavy device |
| Bulky |
| Metal housing prone to rusting |
| Fragile device and attachments |
| The cord is too short |
