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If you started noticing a receding hairline or even some bald spots on your head and took the brave decision of shaving your head, congratulations and welcome to the club, bro!
In order to make your life a bit easier, we decided to create this complete guide to help you choose the best balding clippers.
Keep reading because, in this article, we are not only going to list some of the best clippers on the market but also talk about how to choose them and answer some frequently asked questions, so let’s get to it.
Our Top Picks Overview
Best Closest Shave Balding Clippers: Andis 17150 Pro Foil Lithium Titanium Foil Shaver
8 Best Balding Hair clippers
Wahl 5-star Balding clipper – Best Overall balding Hair Trimmer
Wahl is one of the oldest hair clipper manufacturers in the clipping business, and there is a good reason why they are still one of the best. They see opportunities and create solutions.
This is the case regarding their Balding clippers; Wahl understood that there is a huge market for a clipper for balding guys and created the best product for this purpose.
So, let’s see why the Wahl Balding clipper is the best product on the market today.
First of all, you need to understand what makes a good balding clipper. The most important factor is the closeness of the cut; another important factor is its power and its ability to cut in bulk, even the thickest hair. And now we have got that out of the way, let’s talk about the Wahl Balding clipper.
When Wahl designed this clipper, they wanted to innovate and create a blade that would not only deliver a very close cut (razor-like) but, at the same time, cut with ease through thick hair. The result was the #2105 blade that is only used by Wahl in this model.
The #2105 stainless steel blade is very sharp (it almost feels like a razor), and it cuts down to 0.1mm – 0.2mm, which is pretty much as close as you can go with a clipper with a #000000 blade.
The motor Wahl chose for this clipper is the V5000 motor which is a very strong motor but not Wahl’s strongest motor (V9000). We don’t know why they have chosen this motor and not the V9000 but believe us; the V5000 is way more powerful than the average hair clipper motor.
And now we have discussed the mechanics of Wahl’s balding hair clippers, let’s see how they do in terms of ergonomics.
Let’s start with the dimensions and weight. The dimensions are 6,24,” and the weight is 1 pound, which is the average weight for a bulky corded hair clipper, so nothing special here.
The grip, though, is very good, and you can rest assured that it won’t slip off your hand. So, in terms of ergonomics, it is safe to say that Wahl did not disappoint with this model.
If you are familiar with Wahl products (especially the V9000), you probably know that they are prone to overheat, but this is not the case with the balding clipper. Of course, it will get hot if you use it for a while, which is normal, but it will not overheat like other models.
Some other pros are that it is relatively quiet and doesn’t vibrate too much. We think the last three features result from using a V5000 motor instead of the stronger V9000.
Overall, the Wahl Balding clipper is a very good hair clipper for bald heads, and if you don’t care about its bulkiness, you will enjoy its performance a lot.
Pros
- Very close cut
- Powerful motor
- Relatively quiet
Cons
- Somewhat bulky
Related Article: Best Wahl Hair Clippers
Andis T-Outliner -Best Balding Hair Trimmer For Sensitive Skin
If you are familiar with Wahl, the chances are you are familiar with Andis and its T-Outliner model, as it is a model that almost every barber uses. But what makes it a good choice for balding men?
Just like we did with Wahl, let’s start by examining the blades, as it is the most important feature of a balding clipper. If you don’t know already, Andis uses carbon blades in all their products, and the T-Outliner is no exception. Carbon blades are stronger and more durable than standard stainless steel blades and can deliver close cuts no matter the thickness of the hair.
Another important feature of the sharp carbon steel blades is their shape. As the name suggests, they are T-shaped, so they will not only cut through larger surfaces but also get into hard-to-reach areas.
The final important characteristic of the blades is their gentleness. To be honest, we can’t explain why but as long as you use the T-outliner with caution, it will not nick or irritate your skin.
Finally, something you should keep in mind is that if you want the closest cut possible, you have to zero-gap the blades, which is something we don’t advise beginners to do cause if you don’t do it right, you can do serious damage to the blades.
But that’s enough with the blades; we have covered everything, so let’s move on to the motor.
The Andis T-outliner uses a powerful magnetic motor, cutting at 7200 SPM (Strokes Per Minute). And while it is not something you can brag about, it is more than enough for delivering a fast and close cut.
Regarding the design & ergonomics, we must admit that the T-outliner is not the best-looking clipper in the world. It is an average-sized trimmer (5,5” and 0.7lbs) with a grey design that won’t win a design award but gets the job done, so if you care about the performance and not the looks, it’s not a big deal.
Now we have talked about all the good stuff of the Andis T-outliner, let’s talk about the bad things.
By far, its biggest downside is that its blades overheat easily. This is a common problem amongst high-performance professional clippers, and the T-Outliner is no exception.
After some tests we run, we can confidently tell that the blades get pretty hot after about 15 minutes of use; you can read our complete T-Outliner review here.
Pros
- Carbon steel blades
- Magnetic motor
- Sensitive skin friendly
Cons
- Blades overheat
Andis 17150 Pro Foil Lithium Titanium Foil Shaver – Best Closest Shave Balding Clippers
While technically, Andis 17510 is not a trimmer but a shaver, we decided to include it in our best balding clipper list because it is the best solution for those that want a razor-like close shave.
Like always, we will start talking about the blades, but we have to warn you that the way this shaver works is completely different from the rest of the clippers on this list cause it is a foil shaver.
It has two super thin foils arranged very close to each other to ensure you get a very close shave. The material of these foils is Titanium Nitride, a common ingredient in premium shavers that minimizes friction and irritation.
What all these mean to you is that you will get a razor-like close shave.
So the quality is there when it comes to the blades, but as you can understand, we can’t really compare it to other clippers on this list as it has a completely different design.
With that being said, let’s talk about the motor.
Again while most clippers on this list use a magnetic motor, this one uses a rotary motor for higher efficiency and better performance (most shavers use a rotary motor). Something we can compare, though, is the cutting speed, and we can safely say that with 9000 SPM, it is faster than most hair clippers.
Regarding the ergonomics and design, Andis kept it pretty minimal with this one. It is a small and light shaver with a grey plastic body. And although it is plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap at all; in fact, it looks and feels quite sturdy.
The grip is Ok without any special features, but thanks to its small size, it won’t slip from your hand.
The bad news is that this shaver’s vibration, heat, and noise levels are on the high side, and the longest your hair is, the more intense they become. This happens because shavers are designed to cut very short hair (like a razor), so if your hair is long, the motor has to work harder, causing all these undesirable effects.
Overall it is a good affordable choice for those who want the closest shave possible.
Pros
- Very close cut
- Strong rotary motor
- Lightweight
Cons
- High levels of vibration, heat, and noise
Oster Classic 76 – Best Professional Clipper for Bald Heads
The Oster 76 is a multipurpose clipper that can work both for fades and balding heads as long as you know how to set it up correctly (more on that in a bit).
With this one, we would like to start a bit differently and not talk about the blades first but about some general stuff that makes this clipper such a good all-around choice.
First of all, it is its precision that makes it such a great tool. With the Oster 76, you won’t have to worry about putting too much or too little pressure on your scalp when you buzz your head as you would need to do with other clippers.
The second pro of Oster is the evenness of the cuts, which is one of the most important things when talking about balding heads. When you are cutting your hair that short even the slightest length difference will be very noticeable, and Oster 76 is one of the best clippers regarding evenness.
The final pro, which makes it such a great choice for professionals, is its durability. It is one of the sturdiest and most reliable clippers on the market that many barbers swear by. So, if you treat it right, it will be a pair of hair clippers that will last you a long time.
And now, it is time to talk about the technicalities. Remember when we told you that you need to set it up correctly? The reason we said that is that while the Oster 76 comes with high-quality cryogenically tested blades, they are not #000000.
What this means for you is that you won’t get the closest cut possible, and you have to replace the blades with Oster’s #000000 blades.
To be honest with you, it is not a big deal as the blades it comes with are very high quality and will cut your hair without any issues, but it won’t be as close as it would be if you used a #000000 blade.
The design of this blade has a vintage feel to it, and if you are a vintage fan, then you will love it. But it is not only about the looks; its body is made from tough plastic, so you won’t have to worry about breaking it if it falls.
Finally, the cons of this clipper are the same as every powerful clipper, with the most important one being the heat and noise it produces. We have a complete Oster Classic 76 review article you can read here.
Pros
- Durability
- Evenness of cuts
- Precision
Cons
- Overheating and noise issues
BabylissPRO Gold FX – Best Premium Balding Clippers
If you want a touch of luxury every time you trim your head, you should look no further than the BabylissPRO Gold FX clipper.
Design-wise, it is the best hair clipper on this list and one of the most beautiful ones you will ever see (it has a gold-plated body). But we would never include a clipper in our list just because it looks pretty. And Gold FC, even though it is beautiful, has some features that blow away the competition (it is not a coincidence that it made it both our best clippers for fades article and our best clippers for lineups article).
The blades are titanium coated which makes them very durable and, at the same time, very sharp. We don’t like exaggerating, but you should be very careful when using GoldFx, cause if you don’t, it will nick your skin badly.
And now that we have talked about the blades, it is time to talk about the best part of the GoldFx, its motor.
If you have been dreaming of having a Ferrari, your dreams will come true with this pair of hair clippers. And before you start asking if we are high, please let us inform you that the motor of the GoldFx is made by Ferrari.
We don’t know the details behind the deal between Ferrari and Babyliss, but we know that the motor is very powerful, reliable, and quiet.
If you haven’t noticed, it is a cordless clipper with a lithium-ion battery that will last for 120 minutes, which is way above average.
And because not even Ferrari is perfect, let’s talk about the cons.
The first one has to do with ergonomics. While it is a relatively lightweight clipper (0.7 lbs), the grip is not that good. As you can see in the photo, the body has a round shape, and it is not that ergonomic.
Another con you should know about is the price, which is one of the highest on this list.
But, honestly speaking, if you can afford it and make good use of it, spoil yourself and get the GoldFX.
Pros
- Titanium coated blades
- Ferrari designed motor
- Awesome design
Cons
- Pricey
Remington HC4250 Shortcut Pro – Best Ergonomic Design balding hair clipper
When you look at a photo of the Shortcut Pro, you might be thinking if it is some kind of joke or trying to figure out where is the body of the clipper.
Well, this is the Remington Shortcut pro, a hair clipper that fits in your palm (this is why we think it is the best ergonomic clipper for bald heads).
Of course, it is not a barber-grade hair clipper, so if you are a professional, this is not for you. But if you are looking for the most lightweight, ergonomic hair clipper that will fit in your palm, this one is for you. So let’s examine its blades and other specs.
When we examined the Remington Shortcut Pro blades, we were happily surprised! It has very sharp, detachable, self-sharpening, stainless steel blades that will give you a very close cut. Of course, they are not as good as the barber-level blades of Wahl and Andis Clippers, but they will get the job done. And even though they are not professional blades, they have a special feature that makes them good for balding heads.
When you look at a photo of the Shortcut Pro, you might be thinking if it is some kind of joke or trying to figure out where is the body of the clipper.
Well, this is the Remington Shortcut pro, a hair clipper that fits in your palm (this is why we think it is the best ergonomic clipper for bald heads).
Before talking about the specs of this clipper, we would like to clarify that this is not a product designed for professional use. As you will see during our review, it is designed for home use. So now we have made that clear, let’s talk about its specs.
To be honest, after deciding to give it a try, we didn’t think it would make it to our list, but when we examined the blades, we were happily surprised! It has stainless steel, detachable, self-sharpening blades that can deliver a close cut. And while they are not as good as the barber-level blades of Wahl and Andis clippers, they will get the job done. But what surprised us the most it is not the characteristics we mentioned but the fact that they are curved to fit the shape of your head. So, even though they aren’t that sharp, they will get the job done and give you a clean cut, thanks to their shape.
As you can guess, it is a cordless clipper that is powered by a lithium-ion battery, with a charging time of 4 hours and a battery life of 40 minutes. We have seen way better charge-to-run ratios, but if you think about its size and the size of the battery, it makes sense.
Before talking about the cons, let’s talk about the vibration, heat, and noise levels because the Remington Shortcut Pro is one of the quietest and least vibrating clippers we have tested.
And now, as you can imagine, it is time to talk about the negatives of the Shortcut Pro.
The first con has to do with its power. Because Remington has invested a lot in the ergonomic design and the small shape of this clipper, it has a weak motor. As a result, to avoid hair pulling, you have to work with it slowly and not press it hard against your scalp.
The second con is the battery life, 40 minutes is way less than the average battery life of professional hair clippers, and again it has to do with the shape of Shortcut Pro. The average battery size of professional clippers is bigger than the whole Shortcut Pro, so it’s not surprising that it doesn’t last that long.
Honestly speaking, if you are looking for the most comfortable hair clipper for home use and don’t have crazy expectations, consider giving the Remington Shortcut Pro a try.
Pros
- Ergonomic design
- Curved Blades
- innovative design
Cons
- Not very powerful
Andis Master – Most Powerful Clipper for bald heads
Any barber that respects themselves has or had, at some point, an Andis Master hair clipper in their kit. The main reason it is so famous among professionals is its powerful magnetic motor that delivers 14,000 strokes per minute, almost double than the Oster Classic. So let’s start by examining the blades as we did with all the clippers on this list.
Its stainless steel blades are very sharp, and the high stroke rate will cut through any hair type. Another nice feature of the blades is that they can easily be adjusted from 000 to 1 with a taper fade level. If you want a shorter cut, you can zero-gap them, but please don’t do that if you don’t know what you are doing.
We will not talk more about the motor as we mentioned everything you need to know, so let’s talk about the design and ergonomics.
As you can see in the image above, Andis Master has an aluminum body which has its pros and cons.
The good thing about the aluminum body is that it makes the clipper very durable and fall-resistant. But it also means that it overheats easily, which is the biggest con of Andis Master. Regarding size and weight, we are talking about a bulky, heavy-duty clipper (1.2 lbs) that won’t be that easy to maneuver.
Finally, because of the very powerful motor, it’s much louder and more vibrating than most hair clippers.
Overall, if you are looking for a durable hair clipper that delivers the most power, then Andis Master is what you are looking for. However, keep in mind that with this power also comes some downsides.
Pros
- Sharp blades
- Powerful motor
- Heavy duty
Cons
- Heavy and overheats easily
Wahl Clipper Elite Pro – Best Haircutting Kit
Because we are talking about a complete kit, we won’t start talking about the blades like we normally do but rather jump right into the accessories.
The kit has 10 different length guards from number 1/2 to number 8, so you can do any buzz cut length you like if you don’t feel like shaving your head or just use them to keep your facial hair at the desired length.
But the best part is not the number of guards but their quality. They are Wahl’s premium steel attachment combs, so you can be assured that they won’t be your standard cheap plastic guards. Finally, you will get a pouch to keep them in.
Besides the guards, the kit includes scissors, a plastic comb, a cleaning brush, blade oil, a plastic storage case, and a small barber’s cape.
Now we have talked about all the nice stuff of this kit, let’s talk about the blades.
The Elite Pro has stainless steel self-sharpening blades that are sharp enough to cut through any hair type. Of course, they aren’t as sharp as professional hair clippers’ blades, but they are way better than the average home clipper’s blades.
The same thing applies to the motor; it is more powerful than the average home clipper but nothing close to Wahl’s top-of-the-line V9000 motor.
As you can understand from what we have said, Wahl made Elite pro more powerful than your average home hair clipper but less powerful than professional hair clippers, and because they did that, its size and weight are also somewhere in between a home and professional model.
And now, it is time to talk about the cons of Elite Pro.
The biggest con of Elite Pro is that it is a “somewhere in between” hair clipper. What we mean by this is that it is not powerful enough to be considered a professional hair clipper, but it is also not cheap and small like an average home clipper, and this might be something you don’t like about it.
Pros
- Complete kit
- Comes with professional Wahl guards
- More powerful than the standard home clipper
Cons
- A somewhat in-between clipper
Related Article: 7 Best Hair Clippers for Black Men
What to look for when shopping for balding clippers
Before you choose a pair of clippers from our list, you should understand what makes a good pair of balding clippers.
1) Blades
The first and most important thing you should look for in a pair of balding clippers is their blades.
You should pay attention to the quality of the clippers meaning the material they are made of and their sharpness, but most importantly, you should choose a pair of clippers with blades that will cut as close to your scalp as possible.
But how do you know how close a pair of clippers will cut?
The answer is simple; you must look at the blades’ number.
The number of the blades will tell you exactly how close of a cut they will give you.
- #000000: 0.1mm (this is the closest clipper blade you can find and is the one Wahl balding clipper uses)
- #00000: 0.2mm
- #0000: 0.25mm
- #000: 0.5mm
2) The Motor
The motor is the heart of your clipper and the part that makes the blades move.
This means that the more powerful the motor, the faster the blades will cut and the smoother the cut will be.
But this comes at a price. The stronger the motor, the heavier, louder, and more easily overheated the clippers will be.
So, as you can understand, there is not one size fit all solution in terms of motors. You should not choose a pair of balding clippers because they will have a very powerful motor, but rather consider your needs and choose according to them.
3) Ergonomics
Another important factor that you should look for in a pair of balding clippers is their ergonomics.
Ergonomics are how comfortable the clippers feel in your hand and how easy it is to use them.
If you are a beginner that has never used a pair of clippers before, it is probably better to choose a clipper with good ergonomics and sacrifice some power. On the other hand, if you are a professional that wants a powerful clipper that will be able to cut through any kind of hair easily without any problem, you should go with a heavier and louder clipper without worrying about ergonomics.
4) Cord / Cordless
Another big decision you must make is choosing between a corded or cordless clipper.
As a general rule, corded clippers are more powerful than cordless ones, but cordless clippers are much more convenient and allow you to move freely while cutting hair.
So, again it is not a black-and-white situation; think about your needs and choose the one that suits you.
Balding Clippers FAQ
No with clippers, you will not be able to completely shave your head as you would do with a razor. The closest you can get with a good pair of balding clippers is 0.1mm of hair.
Zero-gapping clippers is the act of adjusting the two blades of the clippers very close to each other (zero-gap) to achieve the closest cut possible. You should not do it yourself if you are not experienced because you can damage the blades if you don’t do it right.
Wahl balding clippers use the #000000 blades that will cut your hair down to 0.1mm. This is the closest cut you can get with clippers, and if you want shorter than that, you should probably use an electric shaver or a razor.
The buzzcuts are the best way to deal with balding heads and receding hairlines because they will make the contrast between bald spots and hair less obvious.
Conclusion
Ok, guys, we think that’s all you have to know about the best balding clippers. We have listed a variety of hair clippers for different needs and budgets and also talked about what you should consider before purchasing them. Finally, we answered the frequently asked questions about balding clippers. If you think there is a model we should have included in our list or you have any other questions, let us know in the comments section below.
Russell is the founder of themensattitude.com. He is a barber a beard enthusiast and he is obsessed with trying men’s lifestyle products and blog about them. If you have any questions you can hit him up via the contact page.