Is Andis Black Master Really Worth It?

To say it looks amazing would be an understatement. Every barber shop, every home possessing these will scream “style” to anyone visiting.

However, is Andis Master Black label worth its rather substantial price? What are the differences between the 01705 Black Master and the original Andis Master professional clipper? Time to find out.

Black Master’s body

In the veins of Master traditions, the Andis Black Master clipper features an extra tough aluminum housing. It’s these polished, durable looks that made the product so famous among barbers.

The Black Master, however, goes even further. The aluminum body here is powder-coated with a matte black finish. Sure enough, this detailed work makes it twice the more stylish and gorgeous.

It’s not only cosmetics, though. The coating further protects your Andis Master Black label clipper from any chipping or rust.

The other nice aspect is that it is less prone to scratches, unlike the aluminum silver Master. Your clippers get put through the wringer in a professional barber shop. And the shinier the coating the more those scratches are going to stand out.

Additionally, the black finish makes the hair cutter’s body more textured. You’ll have an even better grip – and the original Master clipper was already doing good in this regard.

The other nice aspect is that it won’t end up with fingerprints all over it.

Look at this quick tour video to get a better idea of how it actually looks:

Inside the Black Master clipper

Looking at the Andis Black Master clipper’s motor and blades, it’s not much different than the traditional Master’s. You have the trademark Andis magnetic motor operating on 14,000 cutting strokes per minute. The motor is ready for heavy-duty and won’t stumble even after several consecutive haircuts.

Cosmetically, the Andis Black blades are different – black-on-black finish powered by Andis’ own Electro-Glide Technology. Elegant and stylish, the black blades really distinguish themselves from your usual steel blades.

At the same time, though, they’re just like the Master’s in terms of operation. Same high quality and sharpness. Same option to adjust them from size #000 to #1 through the lever on the Black Master clipper’s side.

The funny thing, though, is that most of the time they are going to be covered with some plastic comb attachments so it isn’t much of a selling point.

An even better hair clipper for fades?

The original Andis Master electric hair clipper is a fantastic choice if you want to do some fades. It will be of no surprise to you that the Black Master clipper maintains the status quo.

However, there’s a slight improvement here. I’ve said before, but the original has some serious heating issues with longer haircuts. And proper fading can take quite some time. As a result, the Master’s warms a little bit too much and might be uncomfortable in your hands.

In my opinion, Andis Black’s powdered coating makes a difference. It isolates some of the accumulated heat so it stays a bit cooler in your palm. So while the motor and blades are not different, this little difference might make it a better hair clipper for fades.

The heat transfer to the blade still applies, however. The blade can get quite hot if you run the clippers for too long at a time. If you use these as your primary clippers, keep that in mind.

I started out as a barber with the Andis clippers since they were inexpensive and get the job done, but after a while, I ended up with an Oster 76 just like my father used to use. I couldn’t stand the heat. So, they became a solid back up clipper that I would use to finish fades by getting rid of the lines left by the 76 nonadjustable blades.

Andis takes the best of the Master and improves upon it. Some of the negatives, especially hot hot it gets, are dealt with when it comes to the Pro Alloy. It is much more solid, stays cooler and is not nearly as noisy as the Master. If I had to choose between the two for a primary clipper, I would go for the Pro Alloy.

You can read our review on it here.

You get the full premium treatment

Andis have gone above and beyond in pampering anyone who decides to fetch the Black Master hair clipper. Limited edition gift box aside, the hair cutter arrives in a wonderful drawstring bag made of black velvet. Compared with how usual clippers get packaged, this is the ultimate way to tickle your fancy when it comes to accessories.

Though it’s what’s inside the box that ultimately counts, the packaging does make a difference. Just as Apple!

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Black Master

Now that you have a stylish clipper ready to make a statement, you need to take care of it to make sure it lasts for you.

Here are some quick tips to keep your machine in peak condition.

Clean the blades

Your blade should be kept sharp at all times. Both for the clients comfort and for your speed. If it is dull then it will pull the hair and make it take longer to do the haircut.

The easiest and most effective way to keep your blade sharp is to wipe the hair away before and after each haircut. I like to use a can of compressed air at the end of the day to make sure there are no hairs left lingering there.

The acidity of the hair left on the blade will do a number on it and end up making it dull.

About once a month you need to do a deep clean to get the grime that has built up removed. Use a blade wash to make your life easy.

You’ll literally hear the blade speeding up as it cleans in the solution.

Keep it oiled

If your blades are clean they also need to be lubed. Keep them well oiled to run smoothly.

You should spray the blades with a blade disinfectant after every cut. Use on that also lubricates and you’re golden.

Then, after every few cuts, you should add a few drops of clipper oil to the blade. Just add a drop at either end while the clippers are running to get the oil distributed evenly across all of the teeth.

This also helps the motor and longevity of your clippers overall. If your blades are struggling, then they put a strain on the motor. When the motor has to work harder, ti causes it to degrade quickly.

If you don’t take care of your clippers, then you’re going to be going through them pretty fast and that really adds up. Why throw all your hard earned cash away like that?

So what’s the conclusion?

The Andis Black stays true to the original Master quality and improves on it with premium looks. You can’t deny its beauty – you won’t see a clipper more exquisite than it. Bonus points if you go ahead and pair it with the GTX T-Outliner trimmer from Amazon.com.

If you’re starting out or just not a dedicated Andis fan, though, it doesn’t make much sense to spend so much money. The original Master’s will do the job well enough on a cheaper price. There’s just not that much of a difference from a functional viewpoint.

Looks aren’t everything, but they do count. This is especially true if you are a new barber. If you look like you’re using the same kit from school, then you may not be taken seriously. If your gear looks stylish, it may translate to some people that you know what you are doing. If it helps you pull down and extra client per day then these clippers will pay for themselves in a very short time.

And you look pretty cool in the process!

For any appreciator of Andis brand, though, this one is a must. You don’t know when it will get depleted. You won’t see anything Andis be even remotely that exquisite (well, at least at the time of me writing this post). Andis Master Black label limited edition is the holy grail for clipper connoisseurs. You just can’t skip on it.

When it comes to Andis, you pretty much know what you are getting. I personally am an Oster guy, but I do love the look of Andis clippers over Oster every day of the week. These clippers really up the style game of any barber.

Do you have questions about these clippers or want to know how they compare to some other brands? Leave a comment in the box below and we will get back to you! We’re here to help and love receiving questions and comments.