Please enter a search term.
Please enter a search term. Professional Hair Straightener
by: Kevin Luna, BestReviews Staff
by: Kevin Luna, BestReviews Staff
Fade haircuts are among the most fashionable styles today. If you’re a barber or want to give yourself a cut, you need to have the skills to produce a top-quality fade base, but you should also have the best tools possible to do so.
Fading hair clippers will make it easier for you to produce crisp, clean-looking fades. It’s a good idea to invest in a high-end machine, such as the Wahl Professional 5-Star Cordless Magic Clip, that delivers elite cordless performance and power.
The best hair clippers will feature one of three motor types: rotary, magnetic or pivot.
Hair-cutting tools should always have sharp blades. Dull blades require more effort to cut hair, resulting in uneven or low-quality cuts.
The most common blade material is steel, which is sharp and requires no maintenance. High-end fading hair clippers feature carbon or titanium blades, which are self-sharpening and more durable. You can also find clippers with sharp ceramic blades, but these kinds of blades require some maintenance since they’re more fragile.
If you get a haircut with clippers, you should know the number of your cut. Numbers go from 1 to 8 and correspond with the desired hair length in inches:
So, for example, if you tell a barber you’d like a 1 to 4 fade, the lowest part of your fade will be 1/8 inch, and the highest will be 1/2 inch.
Fading hair clippers come with several guide combs for precision cutting. Comb guides are simple plastic connections that are easy to use and attach directly to the blade. Most hair clippers will come with anywhere from 5 to 10 plastic guides. The more guide combs in a hair clipper set, the easier it’ll be to achieve the desired hair length of a fade.
Many hair clippers only work if connected to a power outlet via a power adapter cord, but some have rechargeable batteries for use without cords. Cordless clippers usually offer 1 to 2 hours of efficient performance and are great for traveling and convenient for self-touch-ups. However, some cordless clippers don’t offer as much power as corded ones, so they’re a less popular option for professional use.
Some hair clippers come with just a few guide levels, but more comprehensive kits come with several accessories. The most common ones you’ll find in a fading hair clipper kit include blade maintenance oil, cleaning brushes, clips, scissors and travel cases.
You can get decent-quality hair clippers for about $30-$50, but if you’re looking for a complete kit with all the bells and whistles in terms of accessories and quality, they can cost anywhere from $60-$150.
A. No, but it does minimize friction and allow for a smoother cut since the blades will snag or pull at the hair less often.
A. Some hair clippers are designed to function as 2-in-1 machines and can effectively trim beard hair, but most hair clippers are designed to cut and fade hair on the top and sides of the head.
Wahl Professional 5-Star Cordless Magic Clip
What you need to know: These hair clippers are excellent for fades and ideal for those seeking convenience and professional-grade results.
What you’ll love: They sport patented stagger-tooth blades, which give seamless blends for both hard and soft fades. They come with eight comb guide attachments and a taper lever and offer superior speed for high-precision fades. They’re cordless and last up to 90 minutes on a full charge.
What you should consider: Some customers find the plastic taper lever to be of inferior quality.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Wahl Clipper Fade Cut Haircutting Kit
What you need to know: This is the perfect kit for those who want to keep their budget low but still get high-quality fading clippers and accessories.
What you’ll love: These clippers have a powerful but quiet motor, self-sharpening blades and a gentle blade angle that provides smoother cuts and fades. There’s an adjustable taper level, and the kit comes with 10 comb guides ranging from 1/16 of an inch to 1 inch.
What you should consider: They get extremely hot after only 1-15 minutes of continuous use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Fade King All Metal Quiet Motor Hair Clippers
What you need to know: This kit is worth your attention if you want a machine that doubles as a hair clipper and beard trimmer.
What you’ll love: These hair clippers operate quietly but are powerful enough to cut through coarse hair without any tugging. They feature both corded and cordless functionality and last up to five hours on a full charge. The LED display indicates how much battery power remains.
What you should consider: It cuts well, but it takes some effort to “catch hair,” meaning some areas may have to be run over several times to achieve the desired fade.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
Auto Rotating Ceramic Hair Curler Watch for us in your inbox.