Hair clippers need to be cleaned and maintained in order for them to work properly. Ideally, they should be cleaned after each use and deep cleaned as needed. Here’s how to get the job done:
Start by holding the hair clippers over the bathroom sink and removing as much loose hair from the blades as possible. An old toothbrush or a can of compressed air will sometimes help to remove the hard to reach hair from the blades.
If hair remains stuck in the blades, you may want to try using a blade wash solution before attempting to disassemble the hair clippers. A 16 ounce can of blade wash may be purchased through beauty supply stores for as little as $10. My parents were licensed cosmetologists and would typically use a can of Clippercide instead of blade wash. Clippercide will clean and lubricate the clipper blades all in one shot. You may purchase it through a beauty supply store for $8 a can.
Removing the Blades
When a deep cleaning is needed, you’ll need to take out your screw driver and loosen the screw that holds the blades onto the clipper. Remove the blades and thoroughly clean them. You may opt to soak the blades in a cleaning and disinfecting solution or use a specially formulated spray. Once the blades are clean, make sure they are dry before you attempt to reassemble the clipper. Use caution when reassembling the clipper. If you over or under tighten the screw, it could have an adverse effect on the hair clipper’s performance.
Oiling the Blades
After the hair clippers have been reassembled, be sure to apply a few drops of oil to the blades. A 4 ounce bottle of hair clipper oil will tend to cost you $3 from most beauty supply stores. To oil the blades, hold the hair clipper over the sink with the blades facing downward. Turn the clippers on and place a few drops of oil across the top of the blades. Be careful not to add too much oil. You want to avoid having any of the oil drip into other parts of the clipper.
Sharpening the Blades
Most hair clipper blades are designed to be self-sharpening. That, however, doesn’t mean that they will never need to be sharpened. Many hair clipper manufacturers will sharpen the blades for you, especially if they are still under warranty. Simply contact the company and ask if they have sharpening services. If they don’t have sharpening services, you may be able to sharpen them yourself or just purchase replacement blades.
Killeen Gonzalez’s parents were licensed cosmetologists. They owned and operated a full service hair salon.
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