Cutting hair at home with the right clippers.

Good clippers don’t pull, cut in a single pass and hold the length you’ve set. What makes the difference in blade, motor and guards – and which hair clippers we recommend.

ARBUTI Hair Salon · Updated October 2026

Barber shaping a fresh fade on the side of a man's head with hair clippers

Hair clippers we recommend

1Panasonic ER-DGP84

Professional clippers

Panasonic ER-DGP84

Clippers from the professional segment: according to the manufacturer, the blade with its 45-degree cutting angle is carbon- and titanium-coated, so it runs with less friction. You set the base length on the clipper itself between 0.8 and 2 millimetres, and three guards cover 3 to 15 millimetres. Runs on battery and mains power.

What we like

  • Very clean, even cut
  • Battery and mains operation
  • Also for edges and beards

Keep in mind

  • Considerably pricier than household clippers
  • Guards stop at 15 millimetres
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2Philips Hair Clipper 9000 Prestige

Many lengths, digital

Philips Hair Clipper 9000 Prestige

You choose the length on a control panel rather than with sliders – more than 60 settings up to around 41 millimetres, according to the manufacturer, and you can save favourite lengths. Handy if several people in the household have different lengths cut.

What we like

  • Very finely graded lengths
  • Lengths can be saved
  • Also for longer short cuts

Keep in mind

  • Bigger and heavier than professional clippers
  • Electronics rather than simple mechanics
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3Panasonic ER-SC60

Compact and precise

Panasonic ER-SC60

Small, light and with a linear motor that, according to the manufacturer, cuts even thick hair in a single pass. Two guards cover 0.5 to 20 millimetres in half-millimetre steps, and the blade can be rinsed under running water.

What we like

  • Handy, good for cutting your own hair
  • Fine gradations
  • Washable

Keep in mind

  • Only two guards
  • Too short for very long top hair
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4Braun Hair Clipper HC5050

Solid basics

Braun Hair Clipper HC5050

Straightforward clippers with two guards: the small one covers 3 to 24 millimetres, the large one 14 to 35 millimetres – 17 lengths in all. The body is washable and the last length you chose is saved.

What we like

  • Easy to use
  • Long lengths up to 35 millimetres
  • Washable

Keep in mind

  • Not a professional finish
  • No very short cut without a guard
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5Hatteker hair clipper set

Set with trimmer

Hatteker hair clipper set

An affordable complete set of hair clippers, beard trimmer and detail trimmer. According to the manufacturer, around 90 minutes of charging gives up to two and a half hours of runtime. Good for beginners who want everything in one box.

What we like

  • Lots of accessories for little money
  • Beard and edges included

Keep in mind

  • Build quality below big-brand level
  • Model names change frequently
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What we look for as hairdressers

Blade
Sharp stainless steel blades with a titanium or ceramic coating cut without pulling. Blunt blades tug at the hair and leave steps.
Motor
A powerful motor keeps its speed even in thick hair. Professional linear and rotary motors run more evenly than simple vibrating motors.
Guards
For classic men’s cuts, 1 to 25 millimetres is enough. Firm guards that don’t wobble matter more than a long list of lengths.
Battery or cable
A battery gives you freedom of movement around the back of the head. Ideally, the clippers keep running on mains power when the battery is flat.
Cleaning
A removable or washable blade, plus a drop of oil on the blade after every cut – that keeps it sharp for a long time.
Trimmer or clippers
A trimmer has a narrow blade for edges and beards. For the whole head, wide hair clippers are faster and more even.

For fringes and longer hair, scissors are the better tool – more on this in our overview of haircutting scissors. For beards and edges, we recommend a dedicated beard trimmer.

Frequently asked questions

Which hair clippers do hairdressers use?

In the salon, we use robust professional clippers with a powerful motor, a high-quality blade and mains power, for example from Panasonic, Wahl, Moser or Andis. At home, you don’t need the most expensive model, but you do need a sharp blade and sturdy guards.

What’s the difference between hair clippers and a trimmer?

Hair clippers have a wide blade and guards for longer lengths – they’re designed for the whole head. A trimmer is narrower and made for edges, the neckline and beards.

Do you use clippers on wet or dry hair?

Dry hair. Wet hair clogs the guards, and you only see how long it really is once it’s dry.

Which hair clippers are good for beginners?

Clippers with plenty of clearly labelled guards and a length memory, such as the Philips 9000 Prestige or the Braun HC5050. Start with a longer guard and work your way down slowly.

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