The Best Balding Clippers (Updated for 2022)

With so many balding clippers out there on the market, choosing the right one for you can be a challenging task.

From the quality of the blades, speed of the device, battery life, through to the price tag, there’s so many factors to take into consideration when choosing the best balding clippers.

I’ve taken the hard work away from you.

It’s taken me several weeks of testing individual devices, but now I’ve compiled a list of the best balding clippers of 2021.

The Best Balding Clippers of 2021

How Were The Best Balding Clippers Chosen?

I have personally worked tirelessly to put together this list of best hair clippers on the consumer market, specifically for balding men.

Firstly, I scoured hundreds of customer reviews based on personal experience, addressing the pros and cons of individual products.

I also spent hours surveying balding or receding men that were known on a personal basis, from lifelong friends to family members. This gave me the type of honest and first-person insight that is hard to ignore, while it helped me to cut through each products’ marketing bluster.

As if this was not enough, I even purchased the hair clippers on our list and tested them personally.

This allowed me to verify what I am saying with confidence, and hopefully lead you to make informed purchasing decisions.

So, below is a ranked list of eight of the best hair clippers that can help you achieve the type of confidence and masculine look at that you crave.

Let’s get started!

 

Wahl 79400-800 Colour Pro Coded Mains Hair Clipper Kit

We start with one of the cheapest options on our list, but one that offers genuine value for money. Currently priced at £44.99 on Amazon, it has been available for less than £30 previously so it is always worth looking out for deals and promotions.

The Wahl 79400-800 is a cordless operated, multi-cut clipper that is quiet, powerful and surprisingly comfortable to grip. Featuring the brand’s patented PowerDrive system, it can also deliver a close cut even through thick hair and offers cutting lengths of between 0.8mm and 25mm.

Interestingly, each of its eight combs are colour coded, so you have no issues in identifying the right cutting length for you. I thought this was a nice touch, and one that made the product a little easier to use in a hurry.

 

At a Glance

• Wahl’s patented PowerDrive system for cutting thick hair
• 8 Colour coded blades and a cutting length of between 0.8mm and 25mm
• Precision ground, high carbon steel blades for optimal performance over time
• Quiet and with a comfortable grip

 

Remington HC4250 Quick Cut Hair Clipper

While Remington’s HC4250 may be slightly more expensive at £59.95 – it is still a fantastic choice. It could not be much different in terms of design. In fact, I was immediately struck by its ergonomic design, as it sits comfortably in the palm and genuinely delivers a smooth finish.

I found that its design also makes it far easier to trim sideburns and remove hair from the neck, which is always a bug bear when shaving your head.

The ease of use is also empowered by the lack of a cord, as the clipper is powered by a Lithium battery that has up to 40 minutes run-time. It has a quick charge feature too, so there is no need to worry about the battery running flat!

While the product has nine combs and fixed cutting lengths, the highest is 15mm so it is aimed primarily at those who want a genuinely close cut.

 

At a Glance

• An ergonomic design that sits comfortably in your palm
• A cordless design and Lithium battery with 40 minutes run-time
• Nine fixed comb lengths of up to 15mm
• Designed for a close cut and the easy trimming of sideburns and neck hair

 

Wahl Lithium Power Hair Clipper

Next up is Wahl again, with their Lithium Power clipper. This is available for around £79.99 on Amazon, while I was intrigued by a marketing message that advocated its professional quality and salon standard performance.

At first glance, it has the traditional Wahl design, as an upright hair clipper with a chrome finish and a comfortable grip. The lack of a cord does represent a nod to the future, however, with its Lithium ion battery one of the best on the market and capable of delivering a run-time of up to 120 minutes (twice as much as any other clipper available!)

I found this to be a nice, if slightly unnecessary, feature, even though it does minimise the amount of times that you need to charge the device. The 15-minute quick charge facility also provides enough power for a single use, so there is little chance that this product will ever run out of steam!

The eight combs also offer a wide cutting range of 0.8mm to 25mm, so it is capable of delivering close and longer cuts as you desire. I found that the finished looked good and even too, so it provided good value for the asking price.

 

At a Glance

• A Lithium battery that delivers up to 120 minutes of run-time
• A 15-minute quick-charge feature for a single use
• 8 combs and a cutting range of between 0.8mm and 25mm
• A professional quality clipper motor and high carbon steel blades

 

Wahl Five Star Balding Clipper

At around £60.00, the Wahl five star may seem like an expensive balding clipper, but the more I researched, it was one that intrigued me from the outset. This is because it has been specifically designed for balding men who want to achieve a full head shave, and is capable of delivering an exceptionally close cut.

Marketed as a professional, mains operated hair clipper, the first thing that strikes you about the design is just how sturdy it looks. It also features a professional-grade, V5000 oscillating armature motor, which optimises its performance and guarantees its longevity as a product.

This product’s magic sits with its fine-precision blade set, which delighted me from the moment that I clapped eyes on its classic chrome design. The set features zero-overlap for close and exceptionally short cutting lengths, while it also allows for full head balding and skin-tight fades.

Here is a video of the Wahl 5 star balding clipper in action, directly from the manufacturer.

I personally loved the focused and quality nature of this product, which allowed me to achieve a full head shave quickly, safely and to a professional standard. If you are serious about your look and your tech, these hair clippers should be high on your list.

 

At a Glance

• Specifically designed for a full head shave
• Uses a V5000 oscillating armature motor to deliver a professional finish
• Features a fine-precision blade set with zero-overlap and skin-tight fades
• Allows for ease of use and safe operation

 

Philips DIY Hair Clipper QC5570/13

I must admit that I am a sucker for unique and ergonomically designed clippers, particularly ones that are priced at around £70.00. This is why the Philips DIY Hair Clipper QC5570/13 caught my eye, with its contemporary design and 180-degree rotating head.

This feature may be eye-catching, but I also found that it allowed for greater reach and made it easier to achieve an even cut. This was further empowered by the fact that it has a cordless design, with a Lithium battery providing up to 60 minutes run-time from a single, one hour charge.

I also liked to attention to detail of this product, with a total of 13, lock-in-length settings starting from 0.5mm. So, while the cutting range only goes up to 15mm, the QC5570/13 is ideal if you want a genuinely close cut and have a specific length in mind.

Personally, I also liked the fact that the product was fully washable and easy to clean. This means that you can maintain it great look and performance for longer, no matter how frequently you use it!

 

At a Glance

• A 180-degree, rotating head for greater reach and an even finish
• 13 lock-in length settings ranging from 0.5mm to 15mm
• A cordless design and up to 60 minutes run-time from a single charge
• Fully washable and easy to clean

 

Andis Pro T-Outliner Trimmer

I were racking my brains (and my bald head) to determine where I had seen the Andis brand before, only to realise that it was probably in every single barbers that I had ever visited! Make no mistake; this is a professional grade hair clipper that is perfect for dry shaving, and while it may seem steep the £78.00 price tag reflects this.

As quiet and smooth as it is high-performance, this hair clipper has been specifically designed to deliver a close, full head shave. Its close-cutting, carbon steel T-blade underlines this, as it produces an incredible tight and even finish that I was happy to pay good money for.

The devil is in the detail, and I was also impressed with the product’s capacity for outlining and fading. This makes it possible to enhance the finish of the cut, while adding some intricate touches around the sideburns and hairline.

I didn’t even mind that the product was corded, as the eight-foot length of the wire meant that it performed as freely as a cordless clipper.

There is an old adage that you get what you pay for, and this is certainly the case with the Andis Pro T-Outliner Trimmer!

 

At a Glance

• A close-cutting, carbon steel T-blade for a close and even finish
• Ideal for dry shaving, outlining and fading
• Delivers a quiet, smooth and professional performance
• An eight-foot cord for flexible and easy use

 

Choosing the Right Hair Clippers for you

When it comes to choosing the right one for you, it is ultimately a matter of personal choice. I would recommend starting with your top-end budget, as this will allow you to create a short-list of hair clippers that you can comfortably afford.

You then need to compare these in more detail, while keeping in mind your precise needs and the type of cut that you want. Some of the products on our list deliver an exceptionally close cut, for example, while others allow to experiment with slightly longer hair.

Before you make a decision, you should also look at customer reviews online. This provided a huge learning curve for me when I was comparing the market, and absorbing the experiences of others can help you to make a truly informed decision that delivers value for money.

 

Do I Even Need Hair Clippers?

At the risk of repeating ourselves, whether or not you need to buy a hair clipper is entirely a matter of personal choice. While I would recommend shaving your head when dealing with thinning hair or a receding hairline, I also recognise that this is a bigger deal for some than others. Even in a world where baldness is more of a choice than a hindrance, you may still take some time embrace your new look.

Some of the balding clippers on our list offer slightly longer cutting lengths up to 25mm, which allows you to closely crop your hair without initially committing to a full head shave. This type of cropped cut is exceptionally flattering on balding men, so you can become accustomed to the style before deciding whether or not it is right for you.

Remember, all of our recommended balding clippers have a minimal cutting length of between 0.5mm and 0.8mm, so you will be able to go shorter as you get used to a close crop and eventually progress to a full, and close, head shave.

 

Are There Any Other Factors to Consider Before Buying  Hair Clippers?

Remember, budget, your precise needs and online customer reviews are the three main factors to consider before buying a hair clipper. They are not necessarily the only ones, as other considerations may ultimately impact on your final decision.

We understand the importance of branding, which makes sense when you consider that there are three separate Wahl clippers in the top four entries on our list. With this in mind, you may decide that you want to buy hair clippers from a reputable and recognised brand (particularly if you have used these before or benefited from a personal recommendation).

You should also look for the length and type of the warranty associated with the clippers that you buy. Most operators offer a standard warranty with a maximum length of three years, but check with each individual brand before you make any assumptions. More expensive products may offer a longer guarantee, while you may be able to purchase add-ons with others.

 

What Makes for a Good Hair Clipper?

As you can tell from our carefully cultivated list, there are a number of factors that contribute to the design of a good hair clipper. Professional grade performance and durable design immediately springs to mind, as does the use of precision and high carbon steel blades for a close and even cut.

Most good clippers also offer a minimum of eight separate blades and a diverse cutting range, unless they are specifically designed to achieve a particular type of cut (such as TurnRaise’s full head shave razors). Premium clippers also tend to offer a comfortable grip, regardless their shape, design or any ergonomic features that they may boast.

I found that price is also a good indicator of quality and value for money, particularly as all eight clippers on our list cost between £30 and £80. This is a relatively narrow range given the diversity of the products and the features on offer, but it reflects the quality that can be purchased at competitive prices. So, you don’t need to spend over the odds to obtain a durable and effective product that is fit for purpose.

 

Our Final Thoughts

If you have watched nervously as your hairline has receded in recent times, now is the ideal time to take action and embrace a bold, shaven headed look.

After all, the plethora of online customer reviews have made it easier than ever to identify the best products on the market, while the sheer range of affordable and high quality hair clippers out there mean that you can achieve a close and professional cut without leaving your home!

So, keep our guide in mind when comparing the market, and make sure that you initially consider hair clippers based on your budget and precise look that you are going for. This will deliver the best results, and help you to embrace your new look with confidence!