There’s nothing like a well trimmed hairline to make a fresh cut stand out. Whether you’re getting it done professionally or doing it yourself, you want your lines and fades on point. If you cut hair for a living or are someone looking for something to use at home, we’ve put together a list of the best clippers for hairline use so you can start lining and fading your cuts like a pro.
We’re going to break down a few main things for each one so you can choose the one that works best for you. We’ll look at:
- blade features (can it be zero gapped)
- battery life (if it’s a cordless clipper)
- attachments and accessories
- what customers are saying about each one
Short on time? Check out my top pick on Amazon.
What are Hairline Clippers Used for?
Have you ever seen someone walking down the street and noticed their hair has perfectly crisp lines that seamlessly outline their head and flow into a nicely groomed beard?
All of that is achieved using hairline clippers.
They are generally just a clipper that can be used for shaving, trimming and many other things. But, they should be slimmer in design so you can easily maneuver around your head.
They are great for maintaining the shape of facial hair but you can use them around your forehead, sideburns, neck line and anywhere else you can think of.
Key Features to Look for
Keep in mind a couple of things you’ll want when looking for the right clipper to use on your hairline:
Blade – Having a blade that you can adjust to at least #000 is crucial for getting the closest cuts possible to get those crisp, clean lines.
Size – You don’t want something that’s overly bulky or it will be tough to cut perfect lines, especially in hard to reach places like around the ears.
| Clipper/Trimmer | Motor | Weight | Cord/Cordless | Warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andis Outliner II  | Magnetic - 7,200 SPM | .7 Pounds | Cord | 1 Year | See on Amazon! |
| Oster Classic 76 | Universal Motor | 2 Pounds | Cord | 1 Year | See on Amazon! |
Andis Master  | Magnetic - 14,000 SPM | 1.25 Pounds | Cord | 1 Year | See on Amazon! |
Slimline Pro Li Cordless Trimmer  | Rotary- 6,000 SPM | .3 Pounds | Both - 2 hour battery life and 2.25 hour charge time. | 1 Year | See on Amazon! |
Wahl Professional Chromini  | Rotary - 7,000 SPM | .25 Pounds | Both - 100 minute battery life with quick recharge. | 1 Year | See on Amazon! |
Wahl Professional 5-Star Razor Edger  | Electromagnetic | .58 Pounds | Cord | 1 Year | See on Amazon! |
Wahl Professional Series Detailer  | Rotary | .43 Pounds | Cord | 1 Year | See on Amazon! |
Breaking Down the Best Hair Liner Clippers
Andis Outliner II Square Blade Trimmer
Although this is technically a trimmer, it deserves to be in this list because outlining the edges of your hair is exactly what it’s meant for. It even says it in the name!
Andis makes some of the best clippers and trimmers on the market and the Outliner II is no slouch when it comes to cutting and trimming hair at home or professionally.
Blade
The Outliner II features a carbon-steel blade that can be zero gapped for the closest cut possible and is perfect for outlining and fading.
Battery Life
This is a corded trimmer so battery life is of course unlimited! No need to worry about it dying or having to recharge it.
Motor
This trimmer has a powerful high speed magnetic motor that stays quiet and cool to the touch. It also cuts at a solid 7200 strokes per minute.
What’s in the Package?
- trimmer
- tube of blade oil
- two prong grounded cord
Unfortunately the guards for it do not come with the trimmer itself but can be purchased separately.
Customer Impressions
You’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t love the Outliner II. It’s a professional grade trimmer that’s great for people that tend to get razor bumps.
They provide an extremely close shave whether you’re using it around your hairline or even shaving your entire head and you don’t have to worry about cutting your scalp like you would with some other trimmers.
They are a great size and are easy to hold for long periods of time. Keep in mind that some people have said they do run a bit hot if used for a long time but if you use it for moderate shaving and outlining it should be fine.
Click here to see more Amazon customer reviews.
Conclusion
The Andis Outliner II is a fine choice if you want a powerful trimmer for those crisp clean hair lines. In fact, it’s one of the best trimmers for lineups that you’ll find when it comes to quality and performance.
It will last you for years to come but might not be the greatest choice if you’re looking for something for heavier shaves as it doesn’t come with your standard attachments and may run hot with heavy use.
Oster Classic 76 Universal Motor Clipper
Oster is known for making a whole range of products from toasters to coffee makers. But another product it makes well is the hair clipper.
Sought after by many barbers and stylists, the Oster Classic 76 is a powerful clipper that will conquer any job you throw at it.
Blade
It comes with two handcrafted high-carbon steel blades (#000 and #1) that are great for making close cuts and do well in either dry or wet hair.
Battery Life
This is another corded clipper so having to charge it is not an issue.
Motor
The Classic 76 is equipped with a powerful single speed universal motor that is perfect not just for outlining but also for heavy duty hair cutting as well and is built to run for long periods of time.
What’s in the package?
- clipper
- blade guard
- lubricating oil
- clipper grease
- cleaning brush
- 9-foot power cord with break resistant housing
It too does not come with any blade attachments but they can be bought separately.
Customer Impressions
This clipper is truly a classic and is highly rated by customers for it’s durability and build quality. It is definitely a clipper of professional grade and has an ergonomic design that makes it easy to handle when doing heavy duty cuts and using it around your hairline.
The only downside about the clipper itself is that the size of the blade makes it a little bit difficult to get around your ears but is great for lining the neck and sideburn areas.
Click here to see more Amazon customer reviews.
Conclusion
The Oster Classic 76 is obviously a staple in the hair clipper industry. It is very well built and will last so long that you may never need to buy another clipper again.
The Classic 76 is great to use around hairlines but might be a bit tough to use in tight spaces. It also doesn’t come with any extra attachments but does come with a blade guard and cleaning brush which is nice to have.
Ultimately, you almost can’t go wrong with this beast!
Andis Master Adjustable Blade Hair Clipper
Again another fantastic clipper by Andis, this time with a gorgeous unbreakable aluminum housing. Even though it sounds heavy, it’s actually very lightweight and easy to use for both professional or home use.
Blade
This clipper comes with a long lasting carbon-steel blade that can be adjusted using the built in taper lever from 000 – 1.
Battery Life
The attached cord means there is no need to charge this unit.
Motor
It comes with a high speed magnetic motor that runs cool and quiet and cuts at 14,000 strokes per minute. That’s almost double the speed of the Outliner II!
What’s in the Package?
- clipper
- tube of blade oil
Customer Impressions
Andis Masters is another clipper that has a reputation for being one of the best clippers for outlining hair. They are must haves for fading and designs and will get through thick coarse hair without any pulling or clogging.
While these are clippers that are used by professionals, there are a ton of people that use that at home to cut their own hair and love them.
Some people complain that it runs hot, but that is standard when running a heavy duty clipper for 30 minutes or more. If you can keep the run time around the 15 – 20 minute mark you should not have any issues.
Click here to see more Amazon customer reviews.
Conclusion
Andis Master clippers are a fantastic choice if you want clean crisp lines, epic fades or just need to do some heavy duty hair cutting. They fit nicely in the hand and will give you the ability to make the precise cuts you’re looking for.
They do not come with much as far as attachments and accessories go but you will be investing in a very high quality clipper that will last the better part of a lifetime, and that makes it worth every penny.
Andis Slimline Pro Li Cordless T-Blade Trimmer
The thing about cordless trimmers is that they can be a bit smaller and lightweight than the heavy duty corded clippers and trimmers out there.
While that might mean it sacrifices a bit of power, they will give you the fine lines you want and also get to those hard to reach areas which is exactly what the Slimline Pro was intended for.
Blade
This trimmer features a close-cutting carbon steel T-blade that can be zero gapped.
Battery Life
It contains a lithium ion battery that will give you up to 2 hours of continuous run time and can be fully charged in 2 hours and 15 minutes. It can also be used while plugged in.
Motor
It’s equipped with a 120V rotary motor that cuts at 6000 strokes per minute.
What’s in the package?
- trimmer
- charging stand
- tube of blade oil
- 4 attachments (1/16″, 1/8″, 1/4″, 3/4″)
- BeauWis blade brush
Customer Impressions
People love the Andis Slimline Pro for how surprisingly powerful it is for being a battery powered trimmer.
It cuts great around corners and is exceptionally sharp, especially if it’s zero gapped. Overall, it provides excellent performance and some people even used it to shave a full head of hair without any problems.
This isn’t the greatest trimmer for cutting wet hair as it will likely clog the blade and it would be nice if it had an aluminum housing but instead is just plastic.
Click here to see more Amazon customer reviews.
Conclusion
I personally love cordless clippers and trimmers because they’re easy to maneuver around the hairline as they are usually a bit smaller in size and I have always been satisfied with the close shaves they provide.
The Slimline Pro is definitely a top of the line trimmer that’s great for lining around the ears, sideburns and neck lines. It also comes with some extra attachments which are always good to have.
The downside to them is that they do sacrifice some power and if you plan on using them for large amount of hair they they may not be right for you.
Wahl Professional Chromini T-Cut
Don’t count Wahl out when it comes to making some great clippers and trimmers. They keep up with the rest of them and are also used by professionals and people like you and me that want to cut our own hair at home. The Chromini is great for that.
Blade
It comes with German made detachable T-blades that provide a close shave and are perfect for getting around any hard to reach areas around your ears, face and neck.
Battery Life
The Chromini is cordless and has a nickel metal hybride battery and has a run time of 100 minutes. It also has a quick recharge option.
Motor
It features a high speed rotary motor that will have no problem giving you the clean, close cuts you’re looking for.
What’s in the Package?
- trimmer
- recharge stand
- blade oil
- cleaning brush
- red blade guard
This trimmer is strictly for lining and trimming hair for precise cuts so there aren’t any additional attachments for it.
Customer Impressions
The Chromini is used by many people and most of them have nothing but good things to say about it.
It’s powerful enough that some have no problem using it to shave their entire head, and the blade quality is so good that you can actually feel the difference compared to cheaper trimmers or clippers.
It’s built well and you can tell that it’s a strong and durable product. The reason people like trimmers like this is because they do exactly what they need without the bulkiness and limited mobility of a corded clipper.
Click here to see more Amazon customer reviews.
Conclusion
Wahls Chromini T-cut is another great trimmer backed by a great name. If you are on the hunt for something that you can use to finish off your hair cuts with perfectly straight, crisp lines then you will find this to be a great trimmer for you.
It may not include any attachments as it is meant to solely be used for getting close cuts and shaves, but the Chromestyle clipper accompanies it perfectly so you can cut larger amounts of hair and use the Chromini for the finishing touches.
Wahl Professional 5-star Razor Edger
The Wahl Razor Edger is a trimmer that was made for the pro’s to deliver razor sharp lines
Blade
The blade that is included is a 1062-600 adjustable T- Blade that is adjustable to be zero-gapped.
Battery Life
It has a built in 8 foot professional grade cord so battery is not an issue. Corded devices are known to produce more power as well.
Motor
It comes with a powerful electromagnetic motor that is intended to let off little to no heat while in use compared to other units. Electromagnetic motors tend to be quieter and have faster blade speeds compared to rotary motors.
What’s in the Package?
- 3 T-blade guards
- pro set tool
- oil
- cleaning brush
- red blade guard
Note: The pro set tool is used to easily adjust the blade to it’s lowest setting. Check out how it works in the video below.
Customer Impressions
If you want to know how a clipper or trimmer performs, then who better to listen to than the professionals themselves.
Barbers that have used the Razor Edger love it’s power and it’s ability to stand up to heavy use. Some even said it’s the best edger they’ve had in all their years as a barber.
It runs very quiet as advertised and will give you the nice crisp lines that you expect to get when edging. It works well for lining up your beard as well.
While the majority of users found it to be quiet, some did find it to be loud and the blades needed to be adjusted upon opening to get the closest cut.
Another downside it that it does run hot in some cases even though it’s advertised as providing “no heat build up”.
Click here to see more Amazon customer reviews.
Conclusion
Wahls Razor Edger is definitely a great unit and it’s doubtful that you’d be disappointed with it’s performance in any way. It’s highly rated and there is great feedback on it from people using it at home and professionals as well.
While some found that it’s loud or runs hot, opinions can vary and the majority of users didn’t have that issue.
Everything considered, this trimmer is a solid contender to say the least.
Wahl Professional Series Detailer
The 5-Star Detailer is not only good for lining hair but also for detailed artwork or what is often called “hair tattooing”. This is not to be confused with actually getting a tattoo of hair on your head.
It’s designed for extremely close trimming around the head and for facial hair. It’s only 5″ long and weighs 6.9 oz. so it fits nicely in your hand without weighing you down.
Blade
The 2215 Adjustable T-Wide Blade is made from carbon steel and designed to give your hair an extremely close trim that is perfect for facial hair and hair designs. It is 1/4″ wider than a standard Wahl T-Blade.
Corded/Cordless
This is a corded trimmer that features an 8 foot professional grade cord that is chemical resistant.
Motor
Comes with a rotary motor. These motors typically run cooler than electromagnetic and are better for cutting through thicker hair.
What’s in the Package?
- trimmer
- 3 attachment combs (1/16″, 1/8″, 1/4″)
- oil
- cleaning brush
- red blade guard
Customer Impressions
If you’re just someone who likes to keep a clean shaven head, the Detailer could be a great option for you too. Many bald men use this on their heads and it gives almost as close of a cut as shaving with a razor.
Due to it’s small size, it’s easy to use and even easier to travel with. You’ll appreciate that if you travel often.
Users found it to run very quiet and the blades easy to adjust to zero-gap for crisp cuts.
The downside to this unit is that although rotary motors are better for cutting through thick hair, people found that this motor wasn’t. It’s intended use is for edge up’s and detailing.
Secondly, the blades are very sharp and cut so close that they can cut the skin. So, you’d have to be cautious and adjust the blades accordingly.
Click here to see more Amazon customer reviews.
Conclusion
Wahls Detailer has a nice compact design and sharp blades that can make edging and shaving short hair a breeze. They are a good choice for people at home if you want a well made trimmer and to get professional quality cuts.
The ones who will benefit the most from it are all of the pro barbers out there. If you’re a professional that does a lot of precision work like hair tattoos, then you may find this trimmer to be just what you’re looking for.
Wrapping it up
When you get a clipper for your hairline it should give you the closest shave possible, be strong and durable so that you get a good product that will last, and slim enough in size for easy maneuverability around your head.
Obviously I have included a few trimmers in this list. the reason for that is because they are smaller in size and are perfect for lining and edging.
That being said, the clippers in this list are considered to be the best in the market. They are comfortable in size, extremely high in quality and powerful enough for any type of cut. The choice comes down to what you want to get out of them.
These are products that will hopefully last you a lifetime, and that’s a great thing.
