Let's face it, cutting your child's hair at home can be a daunting task. Wriggling bodies, fidgety hands, and the fear of accidental nicks can turn a simple trim into a stressful experience for both parent and child. We have all been there. However, there's a solution! Kid-specific hair clippers can be a game-changer. These clippers are designed with your little one in mind, offering features like:
- Quiet operation - Loud buzzing can be scary for children, making them more likely to move around. Quiet clippers create a calmer environment for a smoother haircut and make your life a great deal easier
- Safety features - Rounded blades and adjustable cutting lengths minimise the risk of nicks and uneven cuts, giving you peace of mind.
This article is here to help you navigate the world of kid-friendly hair clippers. I'll explore the key features to consider, review some of the top contenders available in the UK for 2024, and guide you towards finding the perfect clippers for a stress-free haircutting experience for your entire family.
Key Considerations When Buying Hair Clippers for Kids
Choosing the right hair clippers for your child is all about creating a comfortable and safe experience for everyone involved. Here are the main factors I think you should consider before buying any clippers:
Age
- Toddlers - For the wiggliest of clients, make sure the clippers have a very quiet operation to reduce fidgeting. Consider clippers with a lightweight design for easier handling by you.
- Older Children - As your child becomes more patient, noise level might be less of a concern. Features like adjustable cutting lengths and a wider range of guard attachments become more important for achieving desired hairstyles. You know how fussy they can be.
Hair Type
- Thin Hair - Look for clippers with ceramic or titanium blades that offer a closer cut without pulling at the hair.
- Thick Hair - Clippers with a powerful motor will handle thicker hair with ease. Stainless steel blades are also a good choice for their durability.
- Curly Hair - Prioritise adjustable cutting lengths for more control and to avoid accidental shaving of precious curls. Look for clippers with ceramic blades that tend to glide through curly hair more smoothly.
Safety Always
- Rounded Blades - This is truly a non-negotiable feature to have! Rounded blades minimize the risk of nicks and scrapes, especially important for a squirmy child.
- Adjustable Cutting Lengths - This allows for gradual trimming and reduces the chance of accidental shaving.
- Comb Guards - These attach to the blades and provide a set cutting length, offering additional control and preventing overly short cuts.
The most important thing to consider is that the clippers are safe and sound. Many adult clippers have very sharp blades which are of course needed to cut through very fine hairs. They do however have what are called flat blades and if care is not taken, then they can nip the skin.
That is painful and certainly something that you would never want to happen to a child. So although the blades on children's clippers are also sharp, the manufacturers round the edges of these, and that eliminates the risk of any nips and cuts. All of the ones we have shown on the list above meet that important criteria.
Make Your Life Easier
- Weight and Grip - Lightweight clippers are easier for you to control and maneuver, especially when wrangling with a restless child. A comfortable grip for you is also important for maintaining control.
- Cordless vs. Corded - Cordless clippers offer greater freedom of movement, which can be helpful for a wiggly child. However, corded clippers often have a more powerful motor. Consider your needs and those of your child.
- Easy Cleaning - Look for clippers with detachable blades for easy cleaning. Some clippers are even waterproof for quick rinsing.
The Peaceful Life
As I mentioned earlier, quiet operation is a top priority for younger children and a smoother haircutting experience for everyone. Look for clippers with decibel level ratings in the product descriptions. The noise of clippers, especially when they get close to the ears can make children nervous. Hey I am an adult and I don't like the sound of them either. So another key feature of children's clippers is to keep them as quiet as possible.
All clippers use a motor and blades do rub together, so there will always be some noise. Again the manufacturers of children specific clippers are aware of this, and make their clippers as quiet as they possibly can.
Low Vibration
For any child with sensory issues or for kids with autism, vibration can be quite upsetting. All hair clippers vibrate simply because of the way they are made, and the fact that blades do have to move. Most kid's clippers will try and reduce this to as low as possible without losing the power of the clippers.
By considering the above factors, you'll be well on your way to choosing the perfect pair of kid-friendly hair clippers for a stress-free haircutting experience for you and your little one.
Top Contenders: Best Hair Clippers for Kids UK 2024
Finding the perfect clippers for your child depends on their age, hair type, and your priorities. Here's a look at some highly-rated options available in the UK:
1. Lumitact Professional Hair Clippers for Kids
These clippers offer a step up in features for older children who are comfortable with haircuts. The adjustable lever allows for more precise length control, while the stainless steel blades are durable for various hair types. They come with a variety of guard attachments for different hairstyles.
Average Price on Amazon UK is around £18 Read Our Full Review Here
PROS
These charge quickly and are nice and light making them easy to use.
Adjustable lever for precise control, durable blades, variety of guard attachments.
CONS
Not as quiet as some other options, may be bulky for younger children.
2. ENSSU Quiet Baby Hair Clippers
These clippers are a great choice for toddlers and younger children with their ultra-quiet operation (under 50 decibels). The ceramic blades are gentle on sensitive scalps and offer a close cut for thin hair. They're also lightweight and come with several adjustable cutting lengths for added control.
They are fully washable so easy to clean after use. These are smaller than standard hair clippers and that makes them a great deal easier to use. They come with 3-6 mm and 9-12 mm guide combs, which give your baby a easy and fast hair cutting with no fear of making mistakes.
The manufacturer recommends that you can first give your child a touch of our hair clipper and turn it on to familiarize him with the sound of the hair clipper before cutting your child's hair.
These also come with 1 x USB charging wire, a cleaning sponge puff, a static free bib, a spray bottle for lubricant and a cleaning brush
PROS
These charge quickly and are nice and light making them easy to use.
CONS
Battery life could be improved and they ay are smaller than usual clippers
You can find the ENSSU Quiet Baby Hair Clippers on Amazon.co.uk. Read Our Full Review Here
3. Bimirth Baby Children Hair Clippers
As the name would suggest another set of hair clippers designed with children in mind. They recharge through a USB cable, the blades are made from ceramic/stainless steel and they are extremely quiet. If you have ever used normal hair clippers, then you will be aware they are noisy, and that can often make children anxious. This set is really ultra quiet so that should at least get rid of some apprehension.
The rounded stainless steel blades are safe for sensitive scalps, and the washable design makes cleaning a breeze. It comes with a few adjustable cutting lengths and combs.
PROS
Ultra-quiet, washable, rounded blades, good for sensitive scalps.
CONS
May not be as powerful for very thick hair.
Average Price: £29-£30. Read Our Full Review here
4. Wahl Colour Pro Cordless Hair Clipper Kit
PROS
Cordless, powerful motor for thick hair, colour coded guide combs.
CONS
Not as quiet as some toddler-specific clippers
Average Price: £47. Read Our Full Review here
5. Remington QuickCut Hair Clippers
The Remington QuickCut clippers are a good choice for occasional trims on children with thin to medium hair. The cordless design offers user freedom, and the washable blades are easy to clean. It comes with a 9 guide combs for length variation.
This versatile option from Wahl caters to a wider age range. The cordless design offers freedom of movement, while the powerful motor handles thicker hair types. It comes with a variety of coloured coded guide combs for easy length selection and even cutting.
PROS
Cordless, powerful motor for thick hair, colour coded guide combs.
CONS
Not as quiet as some toddler-specific clippers
Choosing the right hair clippers for your child doesn't have to be stressful. By considering their age, hair type, and your priorities, you can find a pair that makes haircutting a breeze for everyone. Remember, kid-specific clippers offer key benefits:
- Quieter operation for a calmer experience, especially for younger children.
- Safety features like rounded blades and adjustable lengths to minimise nicks and uneven cuts.
- Ease of use with lightweight designs and features like cordless operation for greater control.
With the information in this guide and a little research, you can find the perfect clippers to transform haircutting from a battle into a bonding experience for you and your little one. So grab your new clippers, take a deep breath, and get ready for a smooth and successful haircut!
Tips for Cutting Children's Hair
We are going to offer a few tips here that will make cutting your kid's hair a great deal easier.
- Try not to turn it into an event - it is a lot easier if Dad is getting his hair done and then the child goes next. That way you can remove the drama and also help to negate the fear factor.
- During the actual cutting, keep your other hand lightly on the top of their head. It gives them reassurance and also helps keep the head still.
- Let them play with the blade guides. These are not sharp and they can easily be turned into all sorts of toys. My grandson can easily turn a plastic blade into a munching monster, or a scoop for a digger very easily indeed.
- Don't cut their hair when it is wet. They have probably just has their hair washed and will not be in the best of moods. Trying to plonk them in a chair after that is not a great idea. It is also harder to use hair clippers on wet hair.
- For older kids, they will likely need some encouragement. There are some very good YouTube videos of where barbers create some cool looking haircuts, with a set of clippers. Try watching those with them.
- Take the stress out of the situation by having the TV on, or something similar like music. Anything that distracts them from that task in hand is a great idea.
Hopefully we have provided you with enough information to be able to help you decide on which hair clippers are the best choice for your children.
Hair Clippers for Kids FAQ
What age can you use clippers on a child?
We would recommend starting to use hair clippers after your child is around 1 year old. There really is no need to use clippers on a baby, unless there is exceptional hair growth. We would also suggest taking really young children to a hair salon or barbers first and allow experts to make that first cut. It also helps get kids used to the sound of the clippers.
Can You Use Clippers on a Toddler?
Most toddlers will not need their first haircut until they are around 12-18 months. There will be a few exceptions to this rule, but generally speaking, this is the ideal time. Most toddlers will not like this first experience, especially if you take them to a hairdresser or barber.
It is almost always a better idea to try this at home in a location and atmosphere they are used to. We would recommend doing this when both you and your toddler are relaxed. Begin with using scissors and then move to clippers after they get used to those.
In the ideal world, if there is an older sibling getting their hair cut, then allow the toddler to watch so as they know there is nothing to worry about.
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