I used to think a small regular hammer was fine for everything. After a similar close call with a lens mount, I bought a dead blow hammer with plastic faces. The right tool for the job is never a waste of money.

Gavin's on the right track with thinning shears. I'll take it a step further and use a 40-tooth texturizing shear on the very bottom layer of that double crown before I even touch the clipper. It breaks up the weight without leaving any visible lines. Then I go in with my clipper over comb, using a much lighter touch. It stops the hair from fighting back so hard because you've already taken the fight out of it underneath.

That "design feature" @jordan330 mentioned is just a wobbly table waiting to tip over.