As a man, you carry around many tools in the tool belt that you will use daily.
You probably have everything from the assorted set of screwdrivers to numerous wrenches.
Well, it is the set of hair clippers that is oftentimes overlooked. A good, quality set of hair clippers can save you a lot of money and time. Just think about it.
You probably spend anywhere from fifteen to twenty bucks a pop every time you visit the barbershop. And, you probably visit the barber at least once every two weeks.
When you sit down and think about it this is a lot of money. If you factor in two kids or more, you are even talking about more money. A good set of clippers can give you the ability to cut and style your hair at home.
However, a set of clippers is just like any other tool out there. If you want it to last and perform in top condition every time, you are going to have to maintain and care for it. You’ll need to start with a set of clean hair clipper blades.
Why It Is Necessary To Clean Clipper Blades
Before you learn how to clean and air your clipper blades, you need to learn why it is important to do so.
First, cleaning the blades will ensure you get top-notch performance every time. Also, it means that the clippers won’t have to work as hard.
When clippers have to work harder, it puts more strain on the motor because it has to work immensely harder to cut your hair.
The Clippers have to work harder because hair gets trapped behind the sliding blade and causes double cutting, which will eventually lead to the rapid dulling of the blades.
Dirt and other debris can also become entrapped between the blades further increasing the work of the clippers.
Another good reason to clean the blades is for sanitary purposes. Hair contains bacteria and the longer that bacteria sit on the blades it could potentially cause them to rust.
In addition to this, if you are using the clippers to cut another individual’s hair then you are exposing them to that bacteria.
Keep Your Clippers In Top Running Condition With These Tips
You just learned that bacteria, dirt, and debris get trapped in between the blades of the clipper and cause the motor to work harder while dulling the blades at the same time.
This is why it is always recommended to clean your clippers after every use. To start cleaning the clippers, you are going to need to set up some kind of work surface where you can catch the debris and dirt that is going to come out of the clippers.
For instance, you can place a towel over the sink to catch the dirt and debris or you can simply place a rag over a workbench.
After doing this, you will want to go ahead and detach the comb guide, inspect the blades and the surrounding area, and brush away loose hair trimming.
Most clippers will come along with a small brush when you make the initial purchase, but an old toothbrush or cosmetic brush will work as well.
There are some models of clippers were the blade unit can be removed from the device. This information will be available in your instruction manual and it will also show you have to properly remove the blade unit.
If you own a set of clippers that has a detachable clipper unit, you will want to remove this unit and gently brush away any clippings, dirt, or debris. Once you are finished with this, you can go ahead and pop that unit back in place before the area is exposed to any more dirt or debris
Also, keep in mind that if you do not want to disassemble the entire blade unit, you can always use compressed air to blow free any dirt, hair, or debris that might be trapped in the blades.
This will save you a little bit of time as you won’t have to go through the process of disassembling the unit. Once you are done with the cleaning process, you will always want to make sure that you are snapping the blade guard back in place.
Protecting the blades when the clippers are in storage is just as important as properly cleaning them. Keep in mind that you should only clean your clippers with a soft brush.
You never want to insert anything that contains loose, fibrous materials like cotton swabs between the blades because fibers can get stuck to the blades.
Lubricate Clippers After Cleaning
Not only is cleaning the blades after each uses important but lubricating the blades is just as important. Clippers are like any other machine in the world that contains moving parts and lubrication is the lifeblood that ensures those parts move freely as they should.
In addition to this, clipper blades are exposed to air, moisture, and friction, which can cause the blades to degrade over time.
Properly lubricated blades will stay sharper for longer periods and will resist rust as well. With well-maintained blades, you can rest assured that the blades will properly cut the hair rather than tugging it.
You will want to lubricate the blades after you clean them and you will do this by turning the clippers on and placing a drop or two of oil on the blades.
Make sure that you are always using a small amount of lubricant because over oiling the blades can cause damage. This is the same concept as putting too much oil in your vehicle.
After placing a few drops of lubricant on the blades allow the clipper to run for a few more seconds so that the oil is evenly distributed.
After a few seconds, you can simply switch the clippers off and wipe away any excess oil that might have accrued on the casing.
Keep in mind that when you first get your clippers they will probably come along with a specific type of oil. You always need to make sure that you are only oiling your blades with this specific type of oil.
Once again, using the wrong oil can cause damage. It would be the same thing as filling your vehicle with the wrong type of oil.
Sterilizing The Blades
It is also a good tactic to sterilize the blades from time to time. This is especially true if you are using the clippers to cut other people’s hair.
There are two different ways that you can go about doing this. First is probably the easiest way.
All you need to do is buy a sterilization spray, turn the clippers on, spray a few squirts on the blades, let the Clippers continue to run for a few seconds, and wipe away any excess liquid on the casing.
The other method is probably more effective, but it takes a little bit more time. To start, you will need to pour about ΒΌ-inch of rubbing alcohol into a dish.
Now, remove the hair and debris from the blades and submerge the blades in the alcohol. Be careful not to expose any other part of the clippers to the alcohol because it could cause damage.
Once the blades are submerged, you will want to turn the clippers on and let them run for 10 to 30 seconds. You will probably notice hair and dirt accumulating in the bowl.
You will want to repeat this process at least two or three times replacing the alcohol each time. After the third time, you will want to wipe the blades off with a soft, dry cloth and let the blades fully air dry before using them.
After sterilizing the blades in this manner, you will want to follow up with lubricating the blades as described above.
The Comb Guides Will Need To Be Cleaned As Well
It is also prudent to clean the comb guides as well because grease and hair products can get trapped on the guides. Small hair trimmings will oftentimes stick to the area after a cut.
To ensure that this doesn’t happen, you will want to clean the guides after every cut. Cleaning the guides is a little bit easier than cleaning the blades, but just as important for sanitary purposes.
To do this, you will simply need to remove the comb guide and gently hand-wash them in warm, soapy water. When the guides have been sufficiently cleaned, you can then dry them off before placing them back in storage.
You can also let the combs air dry by just letting them set on on a towel overnight if you prefer this method.
When you are cleaning the comb guide it will also be important to inspect them. These items are plastic and can easily be damaged if dropped.
Make sure that your guide hasn’t sustained any damage because broken teeth on a comb guide can lead to unpredictable results.
In addition to this, you want to make sure that you are storing the guides in a dust-free location so that they will be ready to go the next time you need time.
Most clippers will come along with a handy storage case or bag, which provides a good storage area.