When shopping for the best detachable clippers for black men, it may be tempting to go for whatever has the most features or user reviews. However, the hair of black men has a specific structure that any hair care product must address before any treatment can begin.
Before we get into the best clippers for black men, we need to first differentiate clippers from other black hair care products. This will not only help you get the product you need for any hair type but also help you with future grooming products.
What is A Clipper or Hair Clipper?
Clippers are grooming devices used to clip hair to a uniform length. These handheld devices look similar to electric shavers, but clippers have different blades for clipping lots of hair in large areas. However, clippers do not give a close cut to the skin, so they have limited use beyond shaving one’s head.
Clipper vs. Trimmer
Trimmers are for trimming your hair. These are small devices with fine blades that outline or add details on your sideburns, around the ears, and other small areas. On the other hand, clippers are large handheld devices used for cutting lots of hair in large areas.
Clipper vs. Razor
If you want a clean and smooth look, use a razor. Razors and shavers have blades that are designed to remove hair. Clippers have more powerful, but indirect blades meant for shredding through large amounts of hair at once.
Now that you know what each hair grooming item can do, we can move on to finding the best clippers for black men.
Best Clippers for Black Men Buyers Guide
Black men are blessed with afro-textured hair. This specific type of hair is known for its impressive look and high strength, giving rise to impressive hairstyles and magnificent beards. However, this is also a weakness – afro-textured hair is much more durable than other hair types and requires stronger tools to trim and tame.
The best clippers for black men need to be up to cutting through thick, tough hair while being gentle and comfortable enough not to hurt the user. The best hair clippers for black men will ideally have a powerful motor, sharp blades, and a comfortable grip.
While a powerful motor is always essential, it is significantly more so for black men. A better motor means better cutting power. At the same time, loudness does not mean strength, so be sure to get top-rated, strong, yet quiet clippers.
Sharp blades are a necessity for clippers. Well-maintained blades cut close to the roots of one’s hair, meaning that not only do they cut cleanly, but they also reduce the risk of injury due to tearing or pulling.
Finally, a good grip ensures the clippers can be held for long periods without discomfort. Some clippers come with ergonomic designs or rubberized grips for even better handling. These are more of an add-on, but if you plan to shave, invest in clippers with a comfortable grip.
5 Best Clippers for Black Men
With those features in mind, here are some of the best clippers for black men on the market.
Wahl Professional Cordless Magic Clip
Wahl has a long, successful history with hair grooming products. That’s why the Wahl Professional Cordless Magic Clip knows what you need and delivers power and accessibility conveniently.
Special Features:
- Adjustable quality blades help with hard or soft line fading
- Eight comb attachments and cutting guides
- High-precision stagger-tooth blade with crunch technology to create texture
- Powerful lithium-ion battery
Pros: Cordless use, durable body, easy to handle
Cons: Much stronger when plugged in, pricey
The Wahl Professional Magic Clip is a simple but effective clipper. Adjustable, sharp blades help with creating fading lines and helping you not only tame but also style your hair. Eight attachment combs help you get the length just right, while the blade’s stagger-tooth design helps it clip hair at the roots while giving your hair texture.
Bottom line: The Wahl Professional Cordless Magic Clip is a favorite of many customers. It’s light, easy to use, and, most importantly, strong. This cordless clipper is a top contender for one of the best clippers for black men because it gets the job done quickly and efficiently.
Andis Professional Master Hair Clipper
Andis has a simple motto: if it isn’t the best, they don’t make it. The Andis 01557 Professional Master Adjustable Blade Hair Clipper was created with this motto in mind. While people have differing opinions on what the best hair clipper is, the Andis Master is still a very good clipper.
Special Features:
- Magnetic motor provides 14,000 cuts per minute
- Adjustable blade for any size
- Lightweight but durable aluminum construction
- Powerful lithium-ion battery
Pros: Quiet motor, easy to handle, the thumb-side switch allows for one-handed operation, comes in cordless or corded models
Cons: Heavier than it looks
The Andis 01557 Professional Master Adjustable Blade Hair Clipper has virtually all your hair clipping needs in one package. A simple thumb-side switch design makes one-handed operation possible. The clippers’ aluminum construction is durable, and its chrome finish makes the clipper fashionable, too. However, veteran barbers have noted that these clippers are still heavy despite the aluminum build, and newcomers to the clippers scene should try the weight out for themselves.
The best part about the Andis 01557 Professional Master Adjustable Blade Hair Clipper is the adjustable blade. These can be calibrated from size 000 to size 1, all with a flick of a lever. This removes the need for attachable guards and gives users a much more comprehensive array of lengths to choose from.
Bottom line: While “the best” may be debatable, there’s no denying that this Andis clippers are a high-end product. Its incorporation of form and function without any add-ons is very nice, making this product a delight to use.
BaByliss PRO Barberology MetalFX Series Clipper
Power, luxury, performance. The BaByliss PRO Barberology MetalFX Series Clipper embodies all of these things. The result is a hair clipper that’s fast and powerful while retaining the look and feel of a premium product.
Special Features:
- High-torque, Ferrari-designed engine
- Stainless steel blade
- Eight guard combs for length
Pros: Compatible with Wahl guards and blades, all metal parts, very quiet, blades don’t heat up.
Cons: Pricey
The BaByliss PRO Barberology MetalFX Series Clipper makes a striking first impression with its beautiful metal finish that’s available in four different colors. This clipper backs its fancy looks with its high-powered, Ferrari-designed engine that offers extremely quiet but precise cuts, ensuring no hair goes unclipped. A stainless steel blade looks great and is designed to cut black men’s hair at the roots to minimize tugging and tearing.
Eight guard combs of varying lengths help you achieve the look you want. A lithium-ion battery speeds up charging, giving you much longer shaving time.
Bottom line: The BaByliss PRO Barberology MetalFX Clipper is expensive, commanding a price tag of slightly over $200. It makes up for it with its superior design and all-metal construction, ensuring this clipper will last longer. While it doesn’t offer anything new, this is one of the best clippers for black men that are available on the market.
Oster Classic 76 Professional Hair Clippers
When you need power, get an Oster. The Oster Classic 76 Professional Hair Clippers is a hardy and reliable clipper that’s unrivaled in sheer clipping power, making it an excellent pick for black men.
Special Features:
- Single-speed universal motor
- Detachable 000 and 1 blades that work on wet or dry hair
- Ergonomic design with textured housing for comfortable grip
Pros: Heavy-duty cutting power
Cons: Not cordless, blade guard isn’t adjustable
The Oster Classic 76 Professional Hair Clippers is a professional grooming tool, as its name indicates. This powerful clipper is renowned for its ability to clip through any hair for a neat, close-cut look. Even the tough bonds of afro hair yield quickly to the Oster’s cutting power, making this a strong contender for the best clippers for black men.
A powerful single-speed universal motor serves as the Oster’s core. Detachable 000 and 1 blades give you a choice between super-close and close hair. An ergonomic design comes with grooves that further improve the Oster’s handling without sacrificing comfort.
Oster’s clippers may not look particularly fancy, but they are among the strongest clippers for black men available on the market. They’re also remarkably durable and very reliable tools, making them a great pick for someone who’s looking for long-term clippers.
Kemei 1986 Mens Hair Clippers
A relative newcomer to the hair grooming market, Kemei nonetheless delivers products that are both incredibly affordable yet function perfectly. The Kemei 1986 Men’s Hair Clippers is the best example and is a fantastic pick for anyone shopping on a budget.
Special Features:
- Angled blade for increased safety
- Adjustable taper for easy fading or blending
- Six guide combs for length
Pros: Very affordable, built-in indicators for oil and battery life warnings, cordless design
Cons: Can be noisy at zero gap level
Summary: The Kemei 1986 Mens Hair Clippers is as simple as it gets – a clipper and its requisite accessories, with nothing else. This unassuming product often flies below the radar not only because of its low cost but also because of the newness of the Kemei company.
However, happy customers swear by the efficiency of the Kemei. What makes the Kemei stand out is its low, low price. At roughly a fourth of most of the clippers on this list, the Kemei has no trademark engine design, expertly-crafted ergonomic grips, or a long history of hair care. What you have is a clipper that works and works well.
Bottom line: Sometimes, you need a clipper without the extra bells and whistles. For those times, Kemei has you covered. Don’t be deceived by the low price – this is a vital piece of kit that lasts well beyond what you’d expect, considering its price tag.
After getting your pair of clippers, it might be tempting to work on your own hair. Here are some pointers for shaving your own hair.
How to Use Hair Clippers and Cut Own Hair Black Men
- Use a comb to clear your hair of any tangles.
- Attach one of the guards; make sure it’s set to the length you want!
- Move the razor from the sides slowly up towards the middle of your head. You can pull your ears down to get a cleaner, safer shave. Use firm but fluid motions to get the most out of each pass.
- Work the razor on the back of your head. If need be, you can use a mirror.
- Move on to the top of your head, and work the razor from your bangs to the back of your head. Remember to change the guards if you want a different length.
Make sure to perform maintenance on your clipper to get the most out of it. Here are some tips to help you keep your clippers well-maintained and working for a very long time.
Clipper Care
Clippers do a very thorough job of shaving hair, but they need regular maintenance, or they’ll degrade. Make sure to clean the clippers when you’re done. Most clippers come with a cleaning brush for this purpose, but you can also use your own. Detach the guard to clean out any hairs caught in your clippers.
You can also blade oil your clipper’s blades to fight against rust, which can cause tearing or snagging. Put one drop of oil on each corner on top of the blade and another at its foot. Turn the clippers on to let the oil work through the machine.
Best Clippers for Black Men: Verdict
Each of these clippers for black men will do a great job, but special mention goes to the BaByliss PRO for its premium looks and performance and to the Oster for its sheer cutting power. However, these clippers are excellent choices, and it’s entirely up to you which one to get.
FAQs about Clippers for Black Men
Can I use hair clippers on my beard?
You probably won’t hurt yourself if you try, but you won’t get results. Hair clippers are meant for cutting large areas of hair, not delicately shaving it.
Can I use hair clippers for body grooming?
Don’t attempt this – not only will the clippers not do a good job, but you can also get injured. Remember that clippers are made for clipping lots of hair, not finely shaving it. Get a body groomer or a multigroomer if you want an all-in-one razor for cutting hair and body grooming.
How do I change how much hair the clippers cut?
Hair clippers usually come with several guards or combs. These combs have different lengths, usually indicated on the comb or instruction manual.
Frank is a barber from San Francisco. He has 10 years of experience providing the best straight-razor shaves, haircuts, and barber facial services for men. With all of his training, he is the go-to for any advice on beard and men’s hairstyles. When Frank’s not working, he spends his free time fishing or spending quality time with his wife and son.
