Comparison VGR V-256 vs Ardesto HC-Y40-DBS

— Blade for cutting. The device is equipped with a classic hair clipper. Hair clippers usually have a fairly wide blade, allowing you to capture a large amount of hair at one time. In beard trimmers, the blade width is slightly smaller, but still allows you to fully care for a certain area of the face.

— Additional blade for cutting. An extra blade can serve as either a backup or a supplementary tool. While spare blades usually match the width of the main blade, auxiliary ones are typically narrower. A narrower optional blade is primarily used for precise detailing and cutting intricate designs. Conversely, a spare blade can come in handy when the main blade is entirely dull.

— Trimmer for goatee. The goatee trimmer is a special nozzle with a narrow blade, with which it is convenient to shape the contours of the goatee and easily care for this type of beard. A characteristic feature of this nozzle is a blade about 20 mm wide. The goatee trimmer can be represented as a replaceable nozzle or an additional blade built into the clipper.

— Trimmer for ears and nose. The clipper is equipped with a special nozzle that allows you to effectively and safely cut hair in the nose and ears. The ear and nose trimmer is usually a small cylindrical blade, the diameter of the cutting head is usually 5-7mm, and the length can be up to 30-40mm. The pres...ence of a trimmer for ears and nose allows the machine to take a more comprehensive approach to hygiene and hair care.

— Eyebrow trimmer. Eyebrow trimmer — a special attachment in the form of an oblong cutting head that allows you to care for eyebrows, correct their shape, and also shorten thick and unruly hairline. The eyebrow attachment is often double-sided. On the one hand, the trimmer can be equipped with a 3-4 mm high comb, which allows you to protect the eyebrows from excessively short cutting, and the other side is usually represented by a bare blade, which makes it possible to cut off excess hairs on the eyebrow line under the root.

— Foil razor. The foil razor head is tailored for trimming short stubble. The mesh effectively and delicately cuts through three-day growth, leaving behind a smooth complexion without discomfort. Numerous clippers featuring foil razors enable shaving without the need for foam, commonly referred to as a "dry shave".

— Body trimmer. The body trimmer is an accessory designed for removing hair from the torso and sensitive areas. The shaving head for body grooming usually features a dual structure. The primary component is a conventional blade that effectively handles coarse hair. Positioned behind the blade is a shaving foil that ensures a clean shave for any remaining stubble. Additionally, the body trimmer often includes a detachable 3 mm comb. When dealing with dense hair growth on the initial pass, using the fixed comb is recommended as the foil shaver might not be as effective.

— Universal comb. The adjustable-height comb provides seamless hair cutting transitions without the need to change attachments. Altering the comb's height is easily achieved on-the-fly by pressing the latch and shifting the comb. These combs offer convenience as they enable cutting with a single attachment, maintaining workspace organization. However, due to their intricate design, the reliability of such attachments may be compromised. The adjustable comb attachment is versatile, with typical models allowing you to select any height between 1 to 20 mm.

— Comb for cutting behind the ears. Comb attachment for precise work behind the ears. Allows you to perform a smooth edging along the lower border of the scalp in the area behind the ears.

The cutting height is influenced by the type of cutting element and the inclusion of detachable combs. Toothed blades can trim hair as short as 1 mm. By coupling a toothed blade with a detachable comb, the cutting height can range from 2-3 to 20, and even 30 mm – the precise height hinges on the provided comb attachments. There are defined minimum and maximum cutting heights. The minimum pertains to the blade's inherent capabilities, devoid of attachments. The maximum cutting height is determined by the detachable comb type.

The number of haircut length options provided in the design of the clipper or the design of the nozzle. The more such options, the more versatile the clipper and the more cutting options it provides.

The performance of the tool, the maximum rotation speed of the motor and how well the device handles with thick and coarse hair depends on the power of the electric motor. So, for cutting thick head hair, you need a clipper with a power of at least 15 W, the performance of such a device is usually enough to ensure a motor rotation speed of 10,000 rpm. But there are also more powerful clippers(from 20 W). Trimmers for beards and mustaches usually need 5 W of power. Such models most often have a performance of 3,000 – 5,000 rpm.

The device's range of adjustable speeds is noteworthy. While most clippers typically operate at a single standard speed, there are models with dual speeds, often referred to as turbo. More advanced variations have been developed by certain manufacturers, featuring 3, 4, or even more speeds. Clippers equipped with variable speeds are designed to effectively manage denser hair by increasing the motor's revolutions.

— Stainless steel. The standout feature of stainless steel is its exceptional resistance to rusting. When the clipper or trimmer boasts a sealed casing, the stainless steel cutting head can be conveniently cleaned using water pressure. While stainless steel is common in lower-tier devices and its blades can endure high temperatures, they tend to lose sharpness relatively swiftly.

— Titanium. Titanium alloys showcase impressive durability against substantial mechanical strain. The titanium cutting edge adeptly manages hair of various thicknesses and densities, retaining its sharpness admirably. Tools equipped with a titanium blade are reliable for frequent usage, notably in beauty salons. However, the drawback lies in their notably steep expense.

— Ceramic. Ceramic offers remarkable strength; its blades remain cool and sharp over time. Machines or trimmers featuring ceramic blades effortlessly handle even the thickest hair, allowing for frequent and prolonged use. Interestingly, models with ceramic blades often come at a more affordable price compared to those with titanium blades. Nonetheless, fragility is a significant drawback of ceramics; these blades are susceptible to damage from impacts and falls. Clippers and trimmers that are equipped with a ceramic cutting part must be handled with extreme delicacy.

— Titanium ceramics.... Blades made of ceramic with a high titanium content. Ceramic in the context of the material used improves cutting performance, reduces friction and maintains a sharpness for a long time, and the titanium coating gives the blades strength, provides resistance to wear and corrosion. Titanium-ceramic blades are good for cutting coarse, thick hair, but they are quite expensive.

— Diamond. Diamond-coated blades have increased edge strength. Typically, these blades are based on steel, most often stainless, but thanks to diamond coating, the knife acquires higher reliability and durability. Of course, the presence of diamond coating on the blade significantly increases the cost of the device.

— Steel. Steel blades are the budget-friendly option. Steel performs effectively in devices used sporadically, mainly for home purposes. Although steel edges tend to lose sharpness relatively swiftly, their durability can be enhanced through the application of protective coatings like diamond, ceramic, or titanium. Clippers or trimmers with uncoated steel blades typically fall into the low-cost category.

— Graphite. Graphite coating is typical for stainless steel blades, it allows the blade to glide more easily through hair and skin and generally increases the efficiency and convenience of working with such a device. Most often, detachable trimmer blades are equipped with graphite coating.

The typical duration of uninterrupted operation for a clipper powered by a self-contained source (battery or rechargeable batteries, refer to Power Source) without requiring a recharge or battery replacement. Extended continuous operation time becomes particularly crucial when intending to use the clipper in locations where recharging or battery changes are unavailable, such as during long trips.

Time to fully (from 0 to 100%) charge the battery of the clipper. For rare cases of using the model, charging time is not so relevant, but for everyday use it is better to choose fast charging clippers.

The ability to charge the battery of the clipper from the USB port of the computer. This function is not particularly significant when using the machine at home, but for travel it can be useful: if necessary, the battery can be recharged from the USB port of a portable computer (laptop or tablet). In this case, the connector in the device itself can be microUSB, USB-C or branded, which will require an appropriate cable.