6 Best Vacuums For Long Hair That Will Make Vacuuming A Breeze

Do you hate cleaning the tangled hair on your brushroll after each run?

Does your vacuum need frequent maintenance to keep it clog-free and operational?

Or, do you feel awkward seeing long hair strands on your carpet and floors?

If so, stay tuned; I’ll show you the six best vacuums for long hair in this post. These vacuums don’t get tangled with long hair and effortlessly pick up stubborn hair on the carpet.

Also, they will save your time, effort, and money while making your vacuuming joyful!

Without further ado,

6 Best Vacuums for Long Human Hair in 2022

1. Shark APEX Upright Vacuum With Zero-M Technology AZ1002 – Best Overall
2. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed With Zero-M ZU561 – Best Value for The Money
3. Shark Vertex Upright Vacuum With DuoClean PowerFins AZ2002 – Upgrade Pick
4. Shark Vertex Stick With DuoClean PowerFins IZ462H – Best Cordless Vacuum for Long Hair
5. Shark Apex Uplight Stick Vacuum LZ602 – Best Corded Stick Vacuum for Long Hair
6. Shark CH951 UltraCyclone – Best Handheld Vacuum for Human Hair

Let us dive deeper into the top-rated vacuum to pick up long hair from carpets and floors.

Self-Cleaning Brushroll with Anti Hair Wrap – Zero-M

The innovative “Zero-M” technology might sound like a gimmick or marketing jargon, but it works.

The anti-hair wrap process effectively removes tangled hair from the brushroll.

This feature doesn’t prevent hair from wrapping in the brush roll; however, it actively removes the hair wraps while the vacuum is operational.

Powerful and Variable Suction for Multi-Floor Cleaning

The Apex 1350 watts motor generates a 101″ water lift suction, the highest in the shark lineup.

Note: The newly launched Shark Vertex has even more suction than Apex and currently has the most suction in Shark’s upright lineup. Read my in-depth comparison between Shark Vertex and Apex here.

There are 3-floor settings to adjust the suction across multiple floors

1. Bare floor
2. low/mid pile carpet
3. Thick carpet/area rugs

The suction and brushroll rotation speed changes in each mode to achieve optimal performance.

For example, the suction reduces on the carpet, and the brush roll spins faster for a deep-cleaning performance.

However, the suction is too powerful to clean throw rugs, drapes, curtains, and other delicate fabrics. Many customers complain about the lack of a variable suction slider.

Dual Brush for Exceptional Cleaning Performance – DuoClean

Another Shark’s great invention, the DuoClean, combines two brush rolls in the same cleaner head.

Each roller serves a different purpose. The soft front roller directly contacts the hard floors thanks to its design.

The soft roller can pick up anything from the finest dust like flour to the larger debris like cheerios on hard floors and carpets.

It also buffs the hard floors giving a polishing touch, so you no longer have to mop them.

The back brush roller with stiff nylon bristles and rubber straps agitates carpet fiber to loosen embedded debris and hairs.

Unfortunately, the stiff brush roll doesn’t turn off in the bare floor mode, but it rotates at a slower speed.

Not Just for Cleaning Floors

The Powered lift-away mode extends the cleaning performance of Apex beyond the floors.

You can reach underneath the bed, sofas, and kitchen cabinets in the lift away mode.

With this feature, you can use the Apex as a powerful handheld vacuum to clean stairs, table tops, window sills, etc.

Customers highly praise this feature due to its versatility and mobility.

What all things to look for

Though the Shark Apex has many innovative features, it’s not the perfect vacuum out there in the market, and it has some limitations.

1. The Zero-M is very effective but not perfect

The Anti-hair wrap function works only in unwrapping hair tangles around the bristle brush, not on the soft roller.

So, the soft front roller is still prone to hair wraps, which many customers have complained about.

However, you can easily remove the soft roller for cleaning and maintenance—no tedious task of cutting the tangles with scissors.

2. Need many passes on a thick pile or plush carpet

Though the Apex performs exceptionally well on low and mid-pile carpets with two sweeps, this is not the case on the fluffier or plush carpet. It requires three or more run through to loosen hair, dirt, and debris and suck them from the thick pile carpets.

Please read our full review of Shark Apex AZ1002 with Zero-M.

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Zero-M Works Better in the Navigator

Though the Navigator is not the most powerful vacuum, it has the same Zero-M feature as the Shark Apex that removes hair wraps much better.

It is due to the lack of a DuoClean floor nozzle.

The anti-hair wrap mechanism in Navigator works the same way as the Apex.

The Navigator has only the stiff bristle brush roll in the floor nozzle.

So, the hair wrapping issue with the front roller is not the case with this model.

Check out the comparison between the latest Shark Vertex AZ2002 and Shark Navigator ZU561.

Good Cleaning Ability on Low to Mid Pile Carpets and Bare floors

Unlike the Apex, the Navigator offers only two-floor settings – bare floor and carpet.

It has a good agitation on low to mid-pile carpet and shows a deep-clean ability.

The brush roller spins slower on bare floors and suction increases.

A lining of rubber strip on the back of the floor nozzle produces a seal on hard floors, enhancing the airflow to suck more stuff.

Due to this seal, the Navigator effectively picks up sand on the floor.

However, its suction is not as strong as the Apex, which is noticeable when picking cheerios and fruit loops.

Versatile to some extent

The Navigator has a “lift away” mode but not the “powered lift away” as the Apex does.

The significant difference is the lack of power to run motorized tools in lift-away mode.

You can use the suction-only attachments to clean stairs, upholstery, and other surfaces above floors.

Another great feature is the completely sealed HEPA filtration which is matchless with any other vacuum at a similar price range.

The Negatives

The Navigator is not self-propelled, so you must put more effort into moving it on carpets.

Few owners have complained that it is challenging to push on plush carpets.

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DuoClean PowerFins – More Effective At Removing Long Hair Wraps Than Zero-M

The DuoClean PowerFins is an upgrade to their classic DuoClean roller. This new design has flexible silicone fins and short bristles in the back roller.

Unlike the Zero-M floor head in Apex, the Vertex does not have a comb at the back of the roller. The PowerFins does the job of preventing and removing hair wraps for a tangle-free cleaning experience.

Also, this design can handle longer and more human hair than the Apex.

Unbeatable Suction & Airflow

The Vertex has the highest suction and airflow in the Shark Upright lineup and even beats the Apex in raw cleaning power.

This power shows up in crevices, hard floors, baseboard edges, and carpets. It can pick up debris in a single pass on cracks, which is rare for other vacuums in this list.

More Efficient At Bare Floor Cleaning

The PowerFins also increase the efficiency of cleaning hard floors.

Wondering how?

The flexible fins make non-stop contact with the surface to pick fine dust, large crumbs, and other debris off the floor. Also, they cover more surface area in each pass. So, you don’t have to go over the same spot multiple times, saving time and effort.

Moreover, the soft front roller is a must for hard floors. It pulls large particles or piles of debris inside the nozzle instead of scattering them or pushing them away. At the same time, it even polishes the floor for a shinier look.

Very Good At Deep Cleaning Carpets, But Not Perfect

Thanks to its powerful suction and airflow, the Vertex is good at removing nasty stuff stuck in the carpet fibers.

However, the silicone fins don’t create the same agitation as conventional bristle rollers. So, don’t expect a 100% deep cleaned carpet with one sweep.

Also, the openings between the two rollers cause suction leakage, which decreases the airflow at the bottom of the roller.

It is still great at deep cleaning carpets, scoring close to 100%.

Built For Whole House Cleaning

Like the Apex, the Vertex also has Powered Lift-Away, which provides 3-in-1 versatility. With this, you can clean the whole house in one go.

You can easily use the powered lift-away mode to get under furniture and appliances. Also, you can lift the pod to reach high surfaces like walls, shelves, and ceiling fans.

Besides, the suction controls on the handle make moving from carpets to floors a breeze.

Few Caveats – Not A Deal Breaker

Short and Stiff Hose 

The Short hose and lack of flexibility cause the vacuum to tip over while upright. In a lift-away setting, the tension on the hose can be tiring on the hands while cleaning high-up surfaces. In short, the hose can be annoying if you are used to longer hoses, as in Dyson uprights. But, for previous Shark owners, this won’t bother them much.

Transparent Dust Cup

The big clear dust canister looks elegant when brand new. However, with usage, dust particles stuck on the inner wall are visible from the outside, making the vacuum look ugly.

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Let’s dig deep into its features and their benefits to you.

DuoClean PowerFins Brushroll – Say Bye-Bye to Hair Wraps

The DuoClean creates an exceptional seal on hard floors to pick up piles of debris without any mess up. The front roller buffs hardwood and laminate floors, giving them a polishing touch. The DuoClean brush roll is a must-have for households with hard floors.

The PowerFins roller on the back is great on the carpet. The fins agitate embedded dirt and hair from carpet naps with nylon bristles. At the same time, the rubber fins also keep the roller free from hair wraps.

Owners rave about it as the best cordless vacuum for a household with long hair women.

The PowerFins roller is more effective at resisting hair tangles than the Zero-M. As a result, the Vertex cordless picks even more long hair than the previous models.

However, there are a few downsides to this design.

The floor nozzle is narrow, requiring more sweep to clean large surfaces. Yet, a slim head means more concentrated suction and airflow.

The silicone fins make an unpleasant, high-pitched noise.

Some owners have experienced static shocks while using the vacuum in dry conditions.

Suction & Cleaning Performance

The Shark Vertex IZ462H is more potent than the Rocket Pet Plus.

Like Pet Plus, the Vertex also has two cleaning modes and a boost mode for MAX power.

There doesn’t seem to be a significant difference between max and low power. The suction power on Low seems equal to that on Boost mode, thus giving more battery juice to cover more areas.

Thanks to a better seal, its pickup ability on the bare floor are exceptional. The dual rollers can suck fine dust and large piles of debris without pushing them forward. It is flawless at picking dust, sand, cheerios, kitty litter, pet food, and hairs.

It does an excellent job of removing stubborn hair strands on the carpet without getting clogged or wrapped. It also cleans surface dirt from the carpet and area rugs.

It’s ideal for spot cleaning or day-to-day upkeep of carpets but not optimal for deep cleaning.

An excellent edge suction makes vacuuming hidden mess under kitchen cabinets a breeze. You don’t have to swap between the floor head and attachments.

Multi-Flex Wand

Another excellent feature that you’ll praise – if you have lots of furniture.

With the Multi-Flex wand, you don’t have to bend over or move your furniture while vacuuming. With the click of a button, the rod breaks in half to reach under the couch, bed, dining table, etc.

It makes cleaning under these hard-to-reach surfaces easy.

The folding design takes less storage space than a conventional stick vacuum and doesn’t need a wall mount to store it.

You don’t need to lean it against a wall during short breaks and worry about the vacuum falling over.

Versatility

The Shark Vertex offers 2-in-1 versatility. It converts into a handheld vacuum cleaner for quick cleaning above-floor areas. Also, you can use the motorized powerhead in handheld mode, which comes in handy while cleaning carpeted stairs that need the agitation of a power nozzle.

Cleaning cobwebs, ceiling fans, and walls are no longer a chore with the extension wand and crevice tool.

Ease of Use

The Vertex cordless stick is also pretty easy to use for everyday cleaning.

There are two different settings to choose between carpet and hard floors. Moving from carpet to hard floors requires sliding a switch on the handle and no more switching the floor head like the Dyson V11.

There is no trigger to hold on to keep the vacuum running, causing strain on your palm. The Shark does have a trigger-activated MAX mode, but it’s only needed if you want a boost.

Due to strong suction, the Vertex is hard to operate on the carpet; it feels like a self-propelling vacuum on carpets.

Another negative is its top-heavy design. The weight of the motor suspends in hand, causing strain to the wrist and arms; this can be a severe concern for people with arthritis.

Battery Life

The Shark Vertex also has an improved runtime over the Rocket Pet Plus. On a full charge, it delivers 60 mins of runtime using suction-only tools. With the powerhead, the battery lasts for 35 mins approximately.

However, it has a removable battery that you can replace with a charged one to extend the runtime, which is not the case with similar priced or premium Dyson cordless.

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Detachable Mini Motorized Self-Cleaning Brushroll

The motorized brush picks stubborn hairs from carpeted stairs and upholstery with ease, requiring much less effort than the air-driven turbo brushes that need more muscle to get the job done.

Moreover, the anti-hair wrap feature keeps the roller tangled and clog-free.

And, its small size makes it convenient for usage in smaller or tight spaces.

Better Air Intake for Clog-Free Pickup

This handheld has a new air intake design. Its two cyclones are more efficient at separating larger debris from smaller particles. The air intake path is simple and doesn’t resist the airflow, making it less prone to clog.

Due to this, the Shark CH951 can pick up extra-large debris without getting clogged; this is not the case in older Shark and other handheld models that clog with large debris.

Cleaning Performance

It is flawless at sucking stuck hairs from places a full-sized vacuum can’t reach.

Besides, it’s also good at picking up litter, food crumbs, cheerios, coffee grinds, etc.

It’s great for tackling those accidents in the kitchen or small daily chores around the house.

With the mini motorized brush, you can even spot clean carpets.

The Negatives

Although it weighs 2.8 lbs, most of the weight is towards the handle, making it feel heavy on the wrist.

The runtime is 12-13 mins on a full charge without the motorized brushroll.

It’s loud for a handheld unit, and the noise is comparable to an upright vacuum.

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Choosing The Best Vacuum For Long Hair – Four Important Features To Look For

A good vacuum cleaner for long hair should,

• Remove hair stuck in the carpet with ease.
• Suck hair from the bare floor without scattering them.
• And, the vacuum should not get tangled or clogged with long hair.

To avoid such pain and hassle, here are some features to consider. These features make the top-rated long hair vacuums stand out from regular ones.

1. Suction & Airflow

Suction and airflow are essential for the smooth operation of a vacuum.

Airflow pulls the dirt and debris through the passage/hose and then deposits them into a bag or a cup. Hence, the stronger the airflow, the stronger the pull will be.

A vacuum with good suction and airflow is more effective in pulling long hair trapped in carpet fibers.

Also, a strong suction vacuum cleaner doesn’t get clogged with hair. Thus it reduces the required maintenance and efforts.

2. Brushroll

The brush roll or roller is another crucial component as it produces the required agitation for loosening embedded hair, dirt, and dust in the carpet.

But the downside is that a brush roll is prone to nasty tangles with long hair strands or thread fibers, which can be a pain to remove.

Note: If you primarily have hardwood floors with few rugs, a vacuum without a roller brush is a perfect pick for you.

No one enjoys cleaning the tangles in the brush roll. Taking apart the brush roller to cut off the tangled hair is disgusting!

To avoid such pain and hassle, choose a vacuum with a brush roll that avoids the hair wrapping issue.

Two such popular brush roll designs vacuums are;

Tangle Free Brush Roll Vacuum

A tangle-free brush roll design prevents long hair from wrapping around the roller. So the vacuum doesn’t get tangled with hair.

Such brush roll is standard in Bissell pet vacuum models.

Their roller is large in radius than a regular brush roll. The larger roller doesn’t allow hairs to wrap around it, thus avoiding tangle.

A tangle-free brush roll vacuum effectively picks up the pet hair without getting tangled.

But, they don’t work against long human hair.

Self Cleaning Brushroll Vacuum

A self-cleaning brush roll automates the manual task of cutting the hair tangles.

Sound great, isn’t it.

Today’s famous self-cleaning brush roll is the “Zero-M Technology” by Shark. These vacuums have a comb that removes the hair tangles while the vacuum is operating.

Recently Shark has evolved their self-cleaning brushroll design by introducing the DuoClean PowerFins roller. This design has flexible silicone fins that remove hair wraps from the roller.

The self-cleaning brush roll vacuum effectively picks up long human hair.

3. Motorized Powerhead

A motorized powerhead is a must for removing hair from carpets. The powerhead creates the necessary agitation to loosen hair stuck in carpet fibers, and the suction pulls the debris into the vacuum.

4. Tools and Attachments

As hair spreads everywhere, proper attachments are essential to keep them at bay. The accessories also enhance the vacuum for cleaning many surfaces. Choosing a vacuum with the tools to suit your cleaning needs would be best.