When it comes to detail work, liner clippers are an essential tool for cutting hair. Edgers and outliners are used by barbers to create clean hairlines, shape beards and trim the neck, giving guys the perfect haircut. Whether you want a Wahl, Andis or BaBylissPro trimmer, there are several high-performance edge up clippers and liners that will help you achieve your desired look. These trimmers are made with quality materials, sharp blades, powerful motors and ergonomic designs, offering professional barbers the cutting tools they need to style a shape up.
Some barbers will prefer a powerful T-blade trimmer for all-around outlining, while others may want a cordless machine for lineups that provides maximum convenience and crisp cuts. With so many different models on the market, it can be a challenge choosing the right trimmer.
To help you find the right products, we’ve compiled this list of the best hair liners and edgers for barbers to get right now. From the Andis T-Outliner to the Wahl Professional Detailer, these shape up clippers will help you trim your client’s hairline, beard and neck with ease.
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7 Best Hair Edgers, Shape Up Trimmers and Liners For Barbers in 2023
Andis Professional T-Outliner
The Andis Professional T-Outliner is a high-quality edger that continues to be a popular option in barbershops around the world. As a great clipper brand, professional barbers and stylists trust Andis to deliver a smooth and clean cut consistently. The T-Outliner blade has ultra-fine cutting teeth that make this machine ideal for outlining and fading.
Adding to this machine’s versatility, its hardened carbon-steel blade can trim hairlines, beards, and mustaches and edge around ears with precise detail.
This excellent edger has a powerful magnetic motor that cuts 7,200 strokes per minute. Despite its high speed, the motor stays relatively cool and quiet. This model has a lightweight polymer housing, making it easy to hold when detailing a hairline and beard.
While it can get warm with prolonged use, it shouldn’t be an issue since most barbers will use these clippers for only 5 to 10 minutes when doing design work, edging, and shape up styling.
The outliner has a very sharp blade that should be cleaned to extend its life. A small tube of blade oil is included, but you’ll need to get a larger bottle for long-term maintenance.
The Andis T-Outliner is a performance shape up clipper made for professional barbers who need perfection.
BaBylissPro Barberology MetalFX Outlining Trimmer
The BaBylissPro Barberology MetalFX Outlining Trimmer is a cordless machine that offers performance and durability, making it one of the top-rated hair trimmers on the market. This high-quality outliner is used by professional barbers to cut lineups, skin fades and hairlines.
For starters, these clippers come with a high-torque, brushless motor that is engineered by luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari. Powered by a lithium-ion battery with a cordless runtime of two hours, this commercial-grade product was designed to be a heavy-duty tool. If you don’t have time to recharge the edger, you can still finish a lineup by plugging in the extra-long 10-foot power cord.
The exposed T-blade is made of titanium, very sharp and can be zero-gapped with the adjustment tool. Together, these outstanding features give you the ability to cut the sharpest and cleanest shape up haircuts.
With all-metal housing for a cool sleek look, this product has a barbell grip for both comfort and control. Another design feature is the detent hook on the base if you like hanging your tools.
Well-known and trusted, the BaBylissPro Trimmer is a best-selling option that provides easy and smooth haircutting.
Wahl Professional 5-Star Detailer
The classy Wahl Professional 5-Star Detailer has a cool retro aesthetic with its burgundy body and gleaming chrome finish. With a powerful motor and sharp blades, these liner clippers were specifically designed for the precise edging that professional barbers demand and expect from a Wahl product.
This compact, ergonomically engineered detailer is only five inches long and weighs just 6.9 ounces. It can easily fit into the palm of your hand and gives you excellent flexibility and control. While lightweight and easy to handle, this machine comes with a robust rotary motor that cuts 5,000 strokes per minute, which is great for quick edging.
Even though it’s less powerful than other edgers, it can still cut through most hair types and lengths. Barbers will appreciate that the unit warms up but never gets uncomfortably hot.
The detailer is equipped with a stainless-steel T-blade that’s a quarter-inch wider than others, letting you cover large areas and cut faster. If you’re doing skin fades throughout the day, the T-blade can be adjusted to zero-gap.
This is a corded tool with an eight-foot, commercial-grade and chemical-resistant power cord. Included in the package are three comb guards (1/16-inch, 1/8-inch and 3/16-inch), cleaning brush, and blade oil.
Wahl’s 5-Star Detailer is a great choice for detailing beards and cleaning up hairlines, giving professional stylists a powerful and versatile tool.
Andis Professional Cordless T-Outliner
For nearly a century, Andis’ reputation has been based on the consistent quality of their barbering products. If you’re tired of snapping your trimmer’s cord like a whip, the Andis Professional Cordless T-Outliner will give you the flexibility to shape and detail any haircut or facial hair.
It offers a lithium-ion battery that charges in only an hour, and even running nonstop, it stays charged for an amazing 100 minutes. The long-lasting rechargeable battery is engineered to power the high-speed rotary motor at 7,200 strokes per minute.
The famously sharp carbon-steel T-blade can be zero-gapped for ultra-close fades and design work. The T-blade works in tandem with a robust motor and can cut through thick, coarse hair quickly and efficiently. Versatile and well-made, this product comes with four comb attachments for different hair lengths.
The T-liner is engineered with contoured housing to make it easy to grip and hold. This machine weighs in at only two pounds, so it’s comfortable to hold for hours.
The Andis Cordless T-Outliner is one of the most convenient and popular edge up clippers . It offers you the ability to create perfectly shaped hairlines, necklines and beard shapes. The T-Outliner is worth the extra cost for professional barbers who take their craft seriously.
Wahl Professional 5-Star Razor Edger
Another great product that won’t drain your bank account is the Wahl Professional 5-Star Razor Edger. Highly rated by barbers, it’s the ideal tool you’ll need for finishing a lineup with a professional touch.
The edger is powered by a strong electromagnetic motor that’s quieter than the competition’s trimmers and won’t irritate your clients. It’s a bit long at over six inches in length, but it weighs just about half a pound, so you won’t feel sore at the end of the day.
The Razor Edger’s precision T-blade is about half the length of other T-blades, and it helps you achieve perfect 90-degree edges, curved designs, and tapers. This well-engineered machine needs minimal pressure to get the crisp, clean lines of a straight razor.
The edger’s slim, ergonomic design fits nicely in your hand. The professional-grade eight-foot power cord gives you maneuverability for tight, up-close work. Accessories included are three T-blade guards, a zero-gap adjustment tool, oil, and a cleaning brush.
The Wahl Razor Edger comes highly-recommended by barbers and stylists who have been using this trimming and lineup tool for years.
Andis Slimline Pro T-Blade Trimmer
Lightweight and easy to use, the Andis Slimline Pro T-Blade Trimmer will fit nicely in your hand and give you ultimate control over line ups. The stainless-steel T-blade is exceptionally sharp, particularly if it’s zero-gapped. Barbers love this cordless model for design work, shape ups, and quick buzzes.
The trimmer comes fitted with a lithium-ion battery that charges in a little over two hours and powers the strong rotary motor for a full 120 minutes of cutting time. The motor cuts at a speedy 6,000 strokes per minute so it makes short work of any hair type.
The outliner is made with a durable ABS polymer housing that absorbs annoying vibrations and keeps the unit relatively cool. The model’s aesthetics add to its wow factor. Coated with a stylish brushed-metallic finish, this Andis model will add elegance to your cutting station.
The T-Blade trimmer also comes with four attachment combs ranging from 1/16” to 3/8” for controlling the closeness of the trim.
If you love cordless functionality and an edger that delivers fresh, crisp lineups, you can’t go wrong with getting the Andis Slimline Pro. There are many reasons why this trimmer is recommended by barbers around the world.
Wahl Stainless Steel Lithium-Ion+ Trimmer
The Wahl Stainless Steel Lithium-Ion+ Trimmer is one of the most versatile trimmers on the market today. This multi-purpose product shatters all conventions of what a grooming tool should be.
This Wahl liner is equipped with self-sharpening and long-lasting stainless-steel blades. The model boasts the lithium-ion+ technology that doubles the motor’s power of prior models.
The powerhouse battery charges in just an hour and has an amazing six-hour runtime, longer by far than any other edger. If you forget to charge the battery and power runs out, this model has a bonus feature. It can be charged for 60 seconds to get three minutes of use for a quick edging.
This all-in-one model comes with 12 attachment guards and four heads: a precision T-blade, detail shaver, trimmer and a rotary detailer. Great for new and experienced barbers, this model gives you everything you need to trim hairlines, beards, brows and around the ears.
For its versatility and advanced engineering, the Wahl Lithium-Ion Trimmer simply has no match.
How To Choose Edge Up Clippers
High-Quality Sharp Blades
To achieve the best results, it starts with your machine’s blades, which need to be ultra-sharp and durable. You can’t go wrong with top-quality stainless steel blades. With proper care, they’ll last for years.
An edger with stainless blades will give you the precision you need for any type of cut. Carbon steel blades are another good choice for hair liners, but they wear down quicker, and you need to be on top of their maintenance. Self-sharpening blades last the longest and are the best choice for edgers.
Many barbers prefer ceramic blades, which don’t corrode. Clippers with ceramic blades stay cooler since the material doesn’t absorb as much heat as stainless steel.
Titanium blades are harder than steel blades, stay sharper longer, and need no maintenance. Because titanium blades are so valued, they are the most expensive.
Powerful Motor
Liner clippers need to have a powerful motor to cut different hair types and styles quickly and easily. Magnetic, pivot and rotary motors are the most common.
Most inexpensive clippers have a magnetic motor, which has an electromagnet and a compression spring that drive the blade back and forth. A magnetic magnet is reliable, but it doesn’t have as much power as a pivot or rotary motor.
A pivot motor has two electromagnets and no spring. While its blade speed is lower, this design delivers two times the power of a magnetic motor. Clippers with a pivot motor can cut through wet hair in no time and are preferred by professional barbers.
Rotary motors are powerhouses, but they’re pricey and too noisy for a calming salon environment. Products with a rotary motor are usually used for bulk-hair removal and heavy-duty grooming.
Long Battery Life and Short Charge Time
If you’re going with a professional cordless model, you’ll need an edger that’s fully charged and ready to go when the customer sits in the chair. The best liners will have a lithium-ion battery. This type of battery will charge in one to two hours and will hold the charge for 40 to 60 minutes. High-quality clippers with lithium-ion batteries can often hold a charge for up to 90 minutes.
Corded vs Cordless Use
Corded and cordless products have advantages and disadvantages that a barber should consider. A cordless clipper runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and gradually the battery loses the ability to hold its charge, which decreases power and run time. Corded versions have a fixed power source that’s consistent and reliable.
But with a corded machine, you’ve got to contend with its cord. It needs to be long enough so you can maneuver around the client. A cordless edger gives you more maneuverability and the freedom to deliver a clean and precise edge up.
Versatility
A barber needs a liner that’s versatile for cleaning up and shaping hairlines as well as trimming and styling beards. The most versatile clippers come with guards (or guard combs) for precisely cutting different hair lengths and textures.
These attachments are essential for achieving certain hairstyles, like lineups and fades. The best sets give you the versatility to create defined cuts along hairlines, sideburns, and the back of the neck.
Design and Build Quality
The design and build quality separate the best from the mediocre. Many have plastic housings that are much less durable than those with aluminum housings. The best edgers will have insulated housings that absorb the machine’s intense vibrations.
Newer models have an ergonomic design that can help the clippers fit comfortably in your hand for hours at a time. Some will have handles with textured grooves that allow for a firm grip.
A heavy hair liner can indicate that it’s more powerful and better engineered than a lightweight model. If you’re a barber who does back-to-back haircuts, you might not want a machine that is too heavy. The size and weight of the machine come down to what feels right in your grip and is comfortable to use all day long.
Why Barbers Need An Outliner Trimmer
Beard Shaping & Styling
Many outliner trimmers have different attachable guards, which give you the ability to trim beards to different lengths. It cuts very closely and can shape and design facial hair with extra-fine detail. With an outliner trimmer, you can also get creative and shave definitive corners, edges, and arches.
Clean Hairline For Men’s Haircuts
An outliner trimmer is essential for cutting the sharp, crisp lines of an edge up. You could do it with a straight razor, but it’s time-consuming work that requires uninterrupted concentration. With the right electric machine, you’ll achieve clean hairlines in a fraction of the time.
Easy To Use
Trimmers are designed to be user-friendly. The Wahl Professional line is engineered for barbers, but they’ve become more popular for at-home haircuts because they’re easy to use. If you’re giving back-to-back haircuts, it makes the work simple and fast.
Smooth, Close Cutting
Close-cutting trimmers are a must-have for fine detail work. The best trimmers have ultra-sharp blades and are powered by a robust motor. Many can be zero-gapped for delivering a smooth shave without nicking or irritating the client’s skin.
Long-Lasting Blades
Trimmer blades are designed to be long-lasting for multiple haircuts throughout the day. Stainless-steel self-sharpening blades can last up to five years without needing replacement. Titanium-coated stainless-steel blades resist corrosion and stay sharp longer.
Low Maintenance and Simple Cleaning
Barbers need an outliner that is low-maintenance and easy to clean. Although the motor and blade may need a few drops of clipper oil to enhance their longevity and prevent rusting, a good machine should be made with quality materials and engineered to last years. When working with commercial-grade trimmers, all you need to do regularly is brush off excess hair and spray the blades with disinfectant.
