quality hair clippers, wahl pro

hi i am trying to choose some new hair clippers, i have had wahl before and not been happy, they were a hoe chrome set or something but i have heard that the professional series are much better

i am looking at the wahl super taper http://www.wahlglobal.com/united-kin...per-taper.html and the wahl academy clipper http://www.wahlglobal.com/united-kin...y-clipper.html

they seem to have the same motor (the best one they do i think) and the only difference i can see is that the academy comes with more comb attachments (8 instead of 4)

i was also looking at the taper 2000 http://www.wahlglobal.com/united-kin...aper-2000.html but it looks to be the same as the super taper but with different case

is there any other difference between the super taper and the academy than the comb attachments?

should i be looking elsewhere than wahl for a quality clipper? i had a babyliss clipper once and irt was quite good but have bought one of their products recently and the quality was poor. i am looking for something of professional and high quality as cheaper wahl clippers don't seem to be that good

many thanks

 

What are you planning to use the clippers for? General hair cutting, or sideburn and neck trimming?

I bought an inexpensive Wahl clipper set and shave my head to prepare to razor shave and that was the single time I used it. So my experience would not be of a "repeat" usage.

 

thanks for replying gd

i have cut my own hair for years, i'm losing it now so i just cut it all off with clippers, usually with a number 1 comb guard but i will probably go back to using no guard at all which i used to do about 10 years ago. the clippers i have now are wahl home ones and not outstanding, i want/need something better as i have to cut my hair more often. i had some babyliss ones about 15 years ago which were better than my current wahls but i have tried a babyliss beard trimmer recently and it was junk so not sure about babyliss anymore.

wish i wasn't going bald but i am

 

Ive been shaving my head with clippers for just about two decades now. I had a few pair of inexpensive clippers and they worked alright for a year or so. About 15 years ago, I picked up the Oster 76 classic clippers. IIRC, I paid about $85US for them back then, but they are bullet proof. You don't need plastic guards, just pop a new blade on it. During the summer I use a 0000 and during the winter I use a 00. They are completely rebuildable and were well worth the money to me. Now they are roughly $120US, but are also available reconditioned for a bit less.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012IXTT8/?tag=thshde-20

I wish I could be of assistance with the Wahl clippers but it has been far too long for me to remember details about my experiences with them.

 

No a beard trimmer just will not hold up under daily use. Wahl makes some good equipment. You may, however, go to a barber's supply store (maybe do a search on the internet) and inquire what set is better to use for that purpose. That would more than likely be equipment that would last.

Good fortune in your search.

 

thanks panchango

i have looked at the oster classic 76 in m research but they are about £100 in my country (the uk) and i just can't afford that, would love to have the best but just too much. i can get the wahl super taper for around £40 and was hoping these would be good

thanks again

 

thanks

i didn't mean i bought the babyliss beard trimmer for my head, i just used it a couple of times to tidy up my beard neckline and it's not very good quality

 

The Wahl clippers may be excellent clippers and well worth it. I also understand a tight cash flow.

See if you have a friendly local barber and ask about used equipment. You might be able to find something used or refurbished.

I'm not sure I would pay that much ($161 at current exchange rate) for the clippers either. Mine were considerably less expensive when I picked them up.

One thing about them is that I paid a premium for the clippers when I bought them, but they are still trucking after 15 years. I have had to replace the blade every few years, but they were under $20. If I had not bought them, I would most likely have gone through about 10 pairs of clippers at $35-$40 a piece. Sometimes saving and spending more will cost you less in the long run if you can swing it.

Also, welcome to the shave den.

 

I share your tonsorial situation (actually I've stabilised at "solar panel & large aperture early detector of rain") & when I did the research, I came up with the Wahl Afro Balding Clippers - claimed to cut down to 1/64" (0.4mm) which is basically a 1-day stubble. Been using them 12 months on a 3-4 times per week basis and unlike the Remington ceramics before, they show no signs of slowing down or blunting - and a significantly closer crop.

Run to about £40-45 delivered (if I remember rightly mine came with 2 guards - 0.5 & 1.5 - would never use them so they got passed on) if you search. Just be careful to get the "new" red handled one rather than the old "black" handled one (the black ones are more prone to jamming).

 

thanks

 

i looked at those as well, i read that they cut so close they gave people a shaving rash, is that true? i didn't realize they came with any guards at all, i thought it was just the very short one length clipper, are those 2 comb guards equivalent to a number 1 and 2 do you know?

thanks very much

 

Well given they were labelled 0.5 & 1.5, I guess they're midway between guard free (0) & 1 & between 1 & 2 - the Wahl guard sets are readily available mail order though. (edit: just spotted the sleeve from the box: they're 1/16" & 3/16" guards). Model is 8110-017.

As for shaving rash on the napper - none here, and if ever there was a guy to get a shaving rash it's me - I'm having a hazy recollection that the "old" (black handled) Afro were a bit less-refined though - so could be they gave a rash (or took lumps out of the unwitting).

edit: This one - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000VVT94G

There are a lot of people who (insanely IMO) use them to shave their face with - that way pain lies.

 

Good luck in finding an Oster 76 in 230V in the UK for anything like a sensible price - the 110V version (so need to buy a step down convertor as well) runs to $190 (£120) here before shipping, and that's with no warranty.

Cursory glance suggests the Andis Excel is more still... £149, knocking on $250!

 

When it comes to making the best haircut at home, you only need the right tool to do the job properly. Wahl Color Pro Hair Clipper Kit is your best bet to get the job done.

 

+1 I use that model.

 

Yep. I have an older version with the same color coded combs.

I forget, what's the little lever do?

 

I actually use the lever to fade the edges and taper the sides in front of and over the ear. It works out perfectly, because I use the light green (#1/2 ) guard for the max length, and taper off that. It's a weekly thing for me.

 

@quinton ... i recently purchased the whal balding clipper pro series....i have a friend with a beauty store discount so i paid 52$ i like them alot....the oyster classic 76 is another great clipper and andis makes some good ones

 

I use the Oster.