5 Best Clippers For Fades In 2023

There’s nothing better than a bomb ass fade. They’re one of the most popular haircuts around. Everybody rocks them. But just any ole’ clippers won’t do if you want the best-looking fade on the block. So, these are the 5 best clippers for fades, because it’s all about making sure your haircut is tight and looking right. That’s how you feel your best.  

And it starts with having the right set of clippers.

BaBylissPRO Goldfx Metal  (Our Top Pick)

If you are looking for one of the best set of clippers that’ll give you a sharp lineup and the perfect fade, then BaBylissPro Goldfx Metal is definitely one of the first you should be looking at.

I love that this brand is one of the all-time best if you’re looking for that classic pair of clippers that you can rely on to get the job done.

They’ve been making some of the best clippers in the game for more than 50 years now. They’re even sold in more than 100 countries.

The BaBlyissPro Goldfx Metal is easily one of the best clippers for fades and here’s why.

First, the blades are sharp enough to cut all different hair types while also not being too sharp where it’ll irritate your scalp. It also has a 5-Deter taper control which is vital when you’re doing a fade.

That control is like an extra guide for you so you can get a nice close cut but not take too much off and screw the whole thing up. And that’s actually my favorite aspect of these clippers––they’re great for the fellas that are new to cutting their own hair.

But there’s also the battery. It only takes two hours to charge and once it does, it’ll last for more than four hours. You can’t beat that!

And if you’re like me and can’t decide what length you want to start your fade, it comes with eight comb attachments so you can try out different lengths before going too low.

There’s nothing worse than having a fade that doesn’t actually fade.

Pros:

• Has a 5-Deter Taper Control that helps guide you when doing your fade.
  
• The blades are the bomb. They’re great for all types of hair textures and won’t pull at your hair or irritate your scalp. That’s super important.
  
• The battery life is awesome. Only two hours to charge and gives you four hours of usage.

Cons:

• I hate that it doesn’t come with a replacement charger. That would be great for those of us who lose or damage things easily.
  
• And I also wouldn’t recommend using it to line up your facial hair. It’s great on your scalp but I don’t like it for the skin on your face.

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Stylecraft Protege Cordless Hair Clipper

You’ve probably seen Stylecraft on Good Morning America or read about them in Hollywood Life. And that’s because they’re a brand that has been making great tools for your hair over 30 years now.

The Protégé Cordless Hair Clipper is another one of my favorites on this list because of the blades.

When you’re doing a fade, the blades on your clipper are uber important and this one has an adjustable zero-gap blade that will help even the most novice dude cut a great fade.

The zero-gap blade is like a buffer. It allows you to cut close to the skin without balding yourself or taking off way more length than you intend.

And the battery life on the Protégé is great, too. It only takes two hours to charge and that’ll give you four hours of usage––more than enough time to do some killer fades.

Pros:

• The adjustable zero-gap blade is great for fading. It’ll let you get in close without chopping off too much.
  
• The battery life is awesome. You can use these clippers for up to four hours with a full charge.
  
• And I love how quiet it is. That helps when you’re concentrating on getting your fade just right.

Cons:

• The blade can pull on your hair if you have a longer length.
  
• It gets hot really fast. If you’re not using it, it’s good to remember to turn it off while you’re coming or brushing your hair to get the right fade length.

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Andis Professional Master Adjustable Blade Clipper

If you want to talk about master clippers, you’ve got to talk about Andis. They’re another brand that’s been producing top of the line clippers and other hair tools for a whole century.  

And when it comes to tapers and fades, this is the pair of clippers other brands want to beat. The steel blades are awesome. They adjust to any length you want which is exactly what you need when you’re doing a fade.

That’s one of those important details you look for. If your clipper’s blades aren’t adjustable or have one of those stop guards, they’re not the best clippers for fades.

But there are some other cool features, too. It’s super lightweight which makes it easy to use without tiring your hand out.

And there’s a bonus: it’s waterproof.

Pros:

• The clippers are quiet. I love that. There’s nothing more annoying than the loud buzzing in your ear when you’re cutting your hair.
  
• The motor is super-fast. That makes the blade fast, too, which makes fading your hair out much easier. Trust me, dull blades and a slow motor are a nightmare. You don’t have to worry about that with these clippers.
  
• I love the ergonomic design. The body is molded so that it doesn’t tire your hand out while you’re using it. And that’s important.

Cons:

• The handle is great, but the grip isn’t. There are no ridges to help you grip the clippers so if your hands get sweaty, it’ll be really easy to drop them.
  
• I don’t like how fast it gets hot. It can overheat so you have to remember that when using it.    

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Wahl Professional 5-Star Cord/Cordless Magic Clip

If you’ve ever gotten a haircut, you’ve used Wahl clippers. They’re known for being used in barbershops all over the world for the last 100 years. Every barber worth his salt has Wahl clippers dangling from his station.

But it’s 2022 now and we’re onto cordless clippers that give you the freedom to move around and angle yourself perfectly to get the perfect fade.

And that’s one of the things I love about the Wahl Professional Magic Clip. You can use it with or without its cord.

But the best part about the Magic Clip is its stagger-tooth blade. This type of blade does all the heavy lifting when it comes to doing tapers and fades because it blends really well without you having to use a comb as guard against cutting too much off.

That’s my favorite part about the Magic Clip. And you can also adjust the blade, too. Just push the lever down for a closer cut (think a bald fade) or push the lever up to leave more hair.

Simple and easy.

Pros:

• The stagger-tooth blade is a great blade for doing fades and tapers. The blending power it has is awesome and super convenient.
  
• I love the side adjustment lever. It’s a big help when you’re trying to fade your hair out.
  
• Great for all different hair types and textures.

Cons:

• A full charge only lasts 90 minutes. That’s definitely not enough time to get a good fade without rushing. Not a big fan of that.
  
• It takes longer to charge the battery than you are able to use it.

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Oster Fast Feed Hair Clipper

Oster is another classic brand that’s been turning out awesome clippers literally for decades. And here’s a fun fact: they make kitchen appliances, too. But I digress.

Their Fast Feed Hair Clipper has a special place in my heart. The blade on this bad boy is alloy steel that can cut through any hair type or texture whether it’s wet or dry. That’s amazing.

Especially for fades.

I also love the motor. It’s a pivot motor which means it’s super quiet but packs a big punch. And it’s adjustable, too. The lever on the side will allow you to move the blade in for a closer fade or out for the longer length at the top.

Pros:

• I love that it’s super comfortable to use. The texture along the body of the clippers makes it easy to grip.
  
• It’s quiet. That’s a huge plus, too.
  
• And because of the design, it won’t cramp your hand.

Cons:

• The blade’s teeth aren’t that great for long hair. It can pull from the roots when you’re cutting and that can damage your scalp.
  
• It overheats, too. You have to remember to shut it off when you’re not using it like those times you’re brushing or combing your hair right before you trim.

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What To Look for When Buying Hair Clippers For Fades

When you’re buying hair clippers for fades there are some things to keep in mind. There are good clippers and there are bad clippers.

Good clippers that will do an amazing job on your fade should always have steel blades. You want to be sure the blades are sharp enough to cut any grain of hair while not damaging or irritating the scalp. I like to stick with steel blades. Those are amazing and all of the best clippers for fades have steel blades.

You also want to make sure it has a fast motor. The faster the motor, the faster the blade, the easier the cut.

It’s that simple.

A slow blade will pull your hair while you’re trying to cut and can also nick you, too.

Then you want to be sure if you get cordless clippers, that the battery life is long enough to get the job done. Most clippers take about 2 hours to fully charge so you don’t want one whose battery dies 40 minutes into the cut.

That’s a blower.  

And the last thing to look for are the accessories that come with it. I like a good 5 to 8 comb attachments (they come in handy for fading) and the cleaning oil and maybe a replacement charger (if you’re lucky) are all accessories that should be included.