While having fast hair growth might be an exciting thing for women, this is not the case for men. Visiting the barbershop every week will put a dent in anyone’s wallet, and fortunately, there is a simple way to keep your haircut in tip-top shape without having to pay hundreds of dollars at the barbershop. The best and most cost-effective solution to avoid hair issues is to get your own set of hair clippers. However, buying the right pair of clippers for your needs is not as easy as going to the local electronics store and asking for the best model.
African American men need to consider a bunch of factors before they purchase a set of clippers that can groom their beards just the right way. You will need a trimmer that is powerful enough to tame thick, coarse, and curly hair. Without any further ado, let’s go ahead and check out which are the top five best clippers for black men.
Wahl Professional 5-Star
The Wahl brand is going to be the first thing you see when visiting the “barbershop isle” of any electronics store. This company has been manufacturing premium clippers since back in the early 90s, and the Wahl Professional 5 Star is one of the best products that it has ever launched. Although this is not a simple set of clippers. The Wahl Professional 5-Star is an entire kit that has been specially designed for the everyday needs of African American men. The kit ships with eight attachment combs, cleaning brush, blade oil, and even a recharging transformer alongside other accessories.
If you are searching for hair clippers that are going to reach every difficult spot and help you cut crisp corners, then you don’t need to search any further than the Wahl Professional 5 Star. The reason behind this is that the Wahl Professional 5 Star is a cordless package, and this means you will be able to use it freely, without having to worry about stumbling on the cord. Also, the clippers can run for a total of 60-minutes before going out of battery, and this is more than enough time than you will need to groom your beard.
Another essential feature that makes the Wahl Professional 5 Star the ideal device for African American men is the fact that it offers high precision when doing the outline of a haircut. This is all thanks to the zero-overlap 2161 blades that provide superior speed in comparison with other hair clipper set models that are cheaper.
Pros:
- Superior blade speed
- Excels at cutting curly hair
- Premium quality blade
Cons:
- The clipper can easily break if dropped
Wahl Professional All Star
On our second spot, we have another device from Wahl that has been designed for professional use. However, you don’t need to be a barber to enjoy the powerful performances that this set of clippers has to offer. The fact that Wahl is marketing the clippers as the ideal device for professional use is showing to us that the Wahl Professional All Star has what it takes to tame the thick mane of African American men. What makes the Wahl Professional All Star stand out is its versatility. This set of clippers can handle all types of hairstyles, and you will never have to pay a visit to the barbershop again!
The Wahl Professional All Star is 6.26-inches long, and it weighs in at only one pound! To make things even better, the folks at Wahl have equipped the clippers with an ergonomic design, which makes sure that the device doesn’t slip from the user’s hands when cutting crisp corners that require steady performances.
Since we previously mentioned the performances of the clipper set, we want to highlight that the Wahl Professional All Star is fueled by an electromagnetic motor that can cut at twice the speed of pivot motors. Although this is not the best feature that electromagnetic motors offer. What makes them a barber’s favorite motor is how silent they are. Therefore, you can use the Wahl Professional All Star in the earliest hours of the morning, and no one in your house is going to wake up because of the noise.
Pros:
- Designed for professional use
- It weighs just one pound
- The electromagnetic motor is super silent
Cons:
- It needs to be plugged in at all times
Andis Master 15-Watt Adjustable Blade Hair Clipper
The Andis Master 15-Watt Adjustable is a fantastic set of clippers that does much more than cut through all curly, thick, and coarse with ease. This set of clippers is an all-round tool that can be used to cut, taper, and fade all types of hair. You will never feel overwhelmed grooming your beard as long as you have the Andis Master 15-Watt Adjustable in your hand to help out. This is because the blade is adjustable from fine to coarse size. Not only that, but the blade can also be adjusted to zero-gap so that you can get in those hard to reach posts.
Even though it may be the first time that you are cutting your hair, using the Andis Master 15-Watt Adjustable will feel comfortable because the device is equipped with a thumb-controlled side switch that makes it super easy to use it with a single hand. Since this is a premium quality product, then no one should be surprised to find out that the housing of the device is made top-grade aluminum that is unbreakable. Th unbreakable case guarantees that the Andis Master 15-Watt Adjustable will work for the years to come and that you will not have to spend any more money on clipper sets.
The motor is the most crucial part when it comes to clipper sets, and this is why the folks at Andis have equipped this model with a powerful magnetic motor that doesn’t just run silently, but it also generates 14,000 cutting strokes per minute.
Pros:
- Premium-quality materials
- Convenient to use with one hand
- 14,000 cutting strokes per minute
Cons:
- The blades are so sharp that they can cut more than only hair
Philips Norelco Hair Clipper series 7100
Just like Wahl, Philips is another reputable company that has made its name in the industry by continually launching premium products. The Philips Norelco set of clippers is the perfect example of that shipping with an innovative DualCut technology that promises high-durability performance. If you are unfamiliar with the DualCut technology from Philips, then all you need to know about it is that it features double sharpened blades and reduced friction, thus making it quite easy to get through thick or coarse hair.
The biggest problem that you will have to deal with when grooming yourself or to add detail to your haircut is finding a cord that is long enough to help you do it in the mirror. Fortunately, this problem can be avoided when using the Philips Norelco, which is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that can last for up to 120 minutes in a single hour charge!
If the innovative blade technology and the long-lasting battery didn’t sell you on the Philips Norelco, then you should know that the clipper set is also equipped with an adjustable comb. The comb features a total of 24 settings that can be adjusted from 1/32 inch to 1 inch at 13/2 inch. If you are dealing with long or curly hair, then you can always drop the comb and use the standard 1/64 inch trim.
Pros:
- Innovative DualCut technology
- Self-sharpening blades for long-lasting performance
- The battery lasts 120 minutes
Cons:
- The clipper set is quite heavy weighing in at 2.1 pounds
Remington HC4250 Shortcut Pro Self-Haircut Kit
The Remington HC4250 is a highly versatile set of clippers that does great in every situation. This device is so small that it can fit in the palm of your hand, which makes it the perfect clippers set when traveling, and you don’t want to use up too much baggage space. Since Remington HC4250 can fit in the palm of your hand, this will enable you to reach difficult spots such as the neckline, back of the head, and more. Although you shouldn’t be fooled by the small size of the set of clippers and think that it doesn’t offer reliable performances.
Despite being tiny in size, the Remington HC4250 is equipped with a sizeable lithium battery that runs for up to 40 minutes. The battery is rechargeable, and it provides enough time for you to cut your hair and groom your beard. If 40 minutes are not enough for your needs, then can plug in the cord and use the set of clippers for as long as you want.
The folks at Remington know that African American men have a difficult time dealing with their hair, and this is why they have equipped the Remington HC4250 with a total of nine length combs. To top it all off, the Remington HC4250 is bundled with an extra-wide curved blade.
The curved blade is a super useful accessory because it makes it possible for African American men to give themselves hair contours that look professional. The last thing that we want to note about the Remington HC4250 is that it is a 13-piece kit. The kit includes a hand-held clipper, travel pouch, blade oil, cleaning brush, and more useful accessories!
Pros:
- Curved blade
- Runs with and without a cord
- High versatility
Cons:
- The guards of the clipper are not very stable
Clippers for Black Men Buying Guide
The internet has made it super easy for everyone to find products to purchase online. However, this is both a blessing and a curse. While your new hair set of clippers might be just a couple of clicks away, you will find so many models on the internet that you never really know which one to pick, and you have to rely on price as a measure of the product’s quality.
However, this is not always the case for hair clippers because they all excel at different things. This is why you will need to check for a bunch of essential criteria before deciding what product to purchase. The list below will show you the factors that determine the quality of hair clippers.
- Reputable Brand
This might be obvious, but it needs to be mentioned anyways. Make sure that the product you are interested in purchasing is manufactured by a reliable brand such as the ones featured on our list. Even though you might find a good deal from a lesser-known brand, especially with for events such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday, these small brands do not guarantee quality or offer warranty.
- Comfortable Design
A great design for hair clippers does much more than make the device aesthetically pleasing. The design also provides comfort during continuous use. You never want your hand to get tired when grooming your beard because if this happens, then you are more likely to make a mistake that you will regret. A comfortable grip and easy access will go a long way.
- Premium Blades
The blades are doing all the hard work, and this is why you shouldn’t overlook their quality. Stainless steel blades are the most popular choice when it comes to cutting hair, but this doesn’t mean that they are also the best ones. Some companies have started introducing new carbon steel blades that will go through thick hair like it’s nothing! More importantly, they will not wear out quickly.
- The Battery Life
If you are a professional barber or stylist, then you know very well that powerful batteries are a must! Most premium hair clippers feature long battery life, but this is not the only feature that you should be searching for. Make sure that the batteries do not heat up after 30 minutes of use because if they do, you might as well plug in the cord instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cut black hair with clippers?
The trick to cutting thick, coarse, or curly hair is to spray a mist of water before using the clippers. Although, you will want to make sure that the hair is wet evenly so that you do not end up with a bad haircut. Also, the spray bottle can be used with a wide-tooth hair comb to untangle the hair so that it becomes easier to cut through thick hair.
How to give a fade?
Just like in our previous answer, you will first need to wet the hair. The hair needs to be damp so that molding and cutting the hair is a smooth process. A good tip here is to pay attention to where the hair will be parted so that you can blend the shorter side more than the longer one.
After getting the hair wet, you need to start thinking about how short you want the hair to be. Our advice is to start with a higher guard size because there is no way to go back if you cut too short. Now, simply shave the sides while leaving the top untouched.
How long do hair clippers last?
Premium hair clippers are not cheap, and you are better off visiting the barber every week rather than buying a new one every couple of months. Fortunately, you can increase the longevity of your hair clippers with the right maintenance. The trick is to rigorously use oil on the blades to lower friction and the chances of the blades wearing out after continuous use.
When do I need to replace the blades?
Even with the proper maintenance, you will eventually have to replace the blades. They are still pieces of metal, and while they might not get rusty or break down, their performances will decline, and you won’t be able to cut hair properly anymore. This is inevitable, but luckily, you don’t have to do it that often.
How can I oil my blades?
The last question that we want to answer is also the most important one because it will help make your haircuts and beard grooming that much more professional. Oiling the blades is part of the maintenance process, and this doesn’t just increase the longevity of the hair clippers, but also increases the speed and performances of the blades.
The process is relatively simple because the only thing you need to do is to turn off hair clippers, clean the blades with a brush, and then put a few drops of oil on the blades.
