How to properly care for your hair clipper

Regular maintenance is the key to a long service life for any hair clipper. All it takes is a few simple steps – cleaning and oiling the cutting head properly and following the basic rules for charging and using the clipper.

Cleaning and oiling the cutting head

By far the most important part of regular maintenance is cleaning and then oiling the cutting head after every haircut. Hair, fur and other debris get between the moving parts of the head during use. Without sufficient lubrication, friction between the individual parts of the head also increases.

A neglected or poorly lubricated cutting head can gradually start to drag, heat up and put more resistance on the clipper. This not only wears out the head itself faster, but also puts unnecessarily high strain on the motor and other parts of the clipper.

You will usually find a small oil bottle in the packaging of a new hair clipper. For regular maintenance, we recommend also keeping a larger bottle of quality oil designed specifically for cutting heads on hand, such as WAHL/Moser oil or our mineral oil for cutting heads.

How to oil the cutting head correctly?

After removing hair and debris, apply a few small drops of oil to the clean cutting head – especially where the moving part of the head meets the fixed part. Then switch the clipper on for a few seconds so the oil spreads evenly. You can gently wipe off any excess oil with a clean cloth.

Regular oiling takes only a few seconds, but it greatly helps reduce friction, heating and premature wear of the cutting head.

Caring for a cordless clipper

With cordless clippers, a properly maintained cutting head also matters for how long the clipper runs on a single charge. If the head is dirty, dry or stiff, the motor has to overcome greater resistance and energy consumption increases. The clipper may then discharge faster than when working with a clean, properly lubricated head.

When charging, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations in the instructions for your specific model. Modern clippers may use different types of batteries and charging electronics, so it is not advisable to apply universal rules to all models.

Use only the correct adapter and charging stand

If you have several clippers in use, pay attention to which adapter or charging stand you connect to the clipper. Even if the connectors of different models look similar or are mechanically compatible, the electrical parameters may differ.

Using the wrong adapter or charging stand can cause charging failure and in some cases also damage the clipper's electronics or battery. We therefore recommend always using only accessories intended by the manufacturer for the specific model.

Be careful when using the clipper connected to an adapter

If a particular model allows mains operation, you can use this option, for example, when the battery is flat. For everyday work, however, we recommend not putting unnecessary strain on the adapter connector.

Especially in professional use, frequent movement of the clipper can put stress on the cable and connector. The result can be a damaged cable or a broken adapter connector. In the worst case, it can also damage the charging connector directly in the clipper, the repair of which tends to be considerably more demanding.

What to do when the cutting head heats up during work?

The cutting head heating up during longer continuous operation is to a certain extent normal. In professional use, where the clipper runs for a long time without a break, we recommend using a product designed for rapid cooling and maintenance of the head, such as WAHL Blade Ice.

The spray helps cool the cutting head quickly and also makes ongoing maintenance easier during work. However, neither a cooling nor a cleaning spray replaces regular oiling of the cutting head.

A few minutes of maintenance can extend the clipper's life by years

A hair clipper is a mechanical device that runs at high speed every time it is used. By cleaning, oiling and handling it properly on a regular basis, you can significantly reduce wear on the cutting head and the clipper itself.

The most important rule is simple: clean the head after every haircut and oil it regularly. Your clipper will reward you with smoother running, reliable performance and a longer service life.

You will always find further recommendations for your specific model in the instructions supplied with the clipper.

Oils, cooling and cleaning sprays and other products for regular care of hair cutting equipment can be found in the Oils, sprays and cleaning category.