The 9 Best Hair Clippers for DIY Buzz Cuts, Bald Men, and Shape-Ups

I’m not the only one who likes that trophy-esque plating, either: “Its sleek gold finish adds a touch of luxury to my toolkit, providing me both quality and style,” says Noriega. “All of my clients comment on how they want to get cut with my gold clippers.”

The Best Zero-Gap Clippers: Bevel Pro Clippers

Why we love it: As much as we love the best Wahl hair trimmers, they don’t have much cool factor. On the other hand, the Bevel Pro clippers definitely pass the vibes test. (They nabbed a GQ Grooming Award in 2022.) These famous clippers have a sculptural, geometric body, an LED smart display, a sharp zero-gap blade, and an extra-powerful motor that’s strong enough for the barbershop. I’d even go so far as to call these clippers sexy. While they’re made specifically for textured hair, the zero-gap blade is also suitable for bald, coily, and short-haired guys. You can use it to trim your beard, too. Yes, it’s pricey, but there’s nothing else like it in the grooming world.

Normally, when you want to adjust a zero-gap clipper, you have to pop off the blade and manually adjust it with a tiny dial. Not so here—when you press one of the two buttons on the Bevel Pro, a second internal motor automatically opens/closes the graphite-coated stainless steel blade in 0.1mm increments. It’s so subtle you’ll have to look closely to see the difference, but every millimeter matters if you want clean lines and fades. With the included comb guards, you can trim hair from 0.0mm to 10mm. Not only are the guards sturdier than most, but they also pop on magnetically with a satisfying click. The Pro even comes with an extra-slim blade for touchups.

Best Hair Trimmer + Beard Trimmer: Philips Norelco Multigroom 9000 Series

Why we love it: So, you want a trimmer and hair clipper, but you don’t want to drop $250 on a salon-quality tool. Enter the Philips Norelco Multigroom 9000, which has been our pick for the best beard trimmer for three years running. This waterproof grooming tool has incredible muscle and endurance—more than enough to mow through thick patches of head hair. Its self-sharpening blades eliminate the need for blade oil. The Multigroom 9000 is one of the only multitasking beard trimmer and hair clipper devices I’ll recommend, and it’s the right choice if you only occasionally need to touch up your hair at home. The same goes for guys who trim their beard more often than their dome.

The Best Mid-Range Hair Trimmer: Wahl 5 Star Magic Clip

Why we love it: You’ll notice this guide to the best hair trimmers for men is dominated by a single brand: Wahl. Hair trimming is very much Wahl’s turf, and they make the best hair clippers for barbers and home touch-ups alike. And according to Wahl, this is the best-selling professional hair clipper in the world (and we believe them). The Magic Clip is part of Wahl’s 5 Star professional line of products for barbers, and I love the retro-tech vibes. I also love the powerful pro-level motor, which provides even trimming so you don’t have to do multiple passes on every patch of hair.

The ubiquitous Wahl Color Pro trimmer I praised earlier is a smart choice for your first clipper (it was mine). But when you’re ready for something a bit more powerful, skip right past Wahl’s $50-$100 trimmers and pick up this tool instead. I’ve tried most of Wahl’s clippers made for home use, but the Color Pro is the only one I can really recommend. Sure, the Magic Clip is moderately pricey, but with an under-$200 price tag, it’s more affordable than other pro options from brands like Bevel. The Magic Clip comes with sturdy titanium-coated high-carbon steel blades, plus all the standard comb guards you’d find at your local barbershop.

Best Hair Clipper + Head Shaver: Panasonic Multishape

Why we love it: Back in 2021, GQ called this versatile device a God-tier groomer, and it’s only gotten better since then. The MultiShape comes with a cordless handle and swappable wet/dry heads and accessories, and you can use it as a beard trimmer, electric shaver, body groomer, hair clipper, electric toothbrush, nose hair trimmer, and facial brush. You can buy some limited sets at Amazon, but I recommend going to Panasonic and customizing your MultiShape to get all the attachments you need.

The motor isn’t as powerful as professional trimmers from Wahl, BaByBlissPRO, or Bevel, but nothing comes close to matching the versatility. (There’s a reason it’s landed in our guides to the best beard trimmers, electric razors, and now hair clippers.) Plus, while most trimmers max out at 0.8” to 1” cutting lengths, the MultiShape goes all the way up to about 1.2”, making it the best hair clipper for long hair. Still, I think short-haired guys will love it, too.