Here’s an in-depth guide on how to clean your barber clippers!
Turn the trimmer off.
For your safety, it's best to unplug the trimmer and/or turn it off before beginning cleaning. Unplugging is especially important for corded trimmers since any water that may drip on the plug could damage it or cause you to receive an electrical shock when you plug it in again.
It's impossible to clean the blades while they are moving too quickly, so shutting off the power is necessary even if your trimmer is cordless.
Place a towel on a flat, sturdy surface such as a table or countertop.
Lay a clean towel on a flat, sturdy surface such as a table or countertop. This will minimize the chance of damage to your blades in case you accidentally drop them. The color of the towel should contrast with that of your clippers so that any hair fragments are visible and can be removed easily.
Spread out your clipper parts on the towel and ensure that they are turned off, unplugged and free from hair before you begin cleaning them.
Unscrew and remove the blade from the trimmer.
Unscrew and remove the blade from the trimmer.
- To clean your clippers, you will need to remove the blade. First, make sure it is unplugged. Turn your clipper over so that the bottom of the blade is facing up and grasp the blade guard into which it fits with one hand to prevent it from turning as you unscrew it. Then turn the screw counterclockwise to loosen with your other hand until it comes off easily.
- Remove any hair or dust from the blades by using a small brush, like a toothbrush or a small paintbrush, or by blowing them out with a small burst of compressed air (if you have some at home).
Remove hair from the blade by brushing it with a clean toothbrush or a clipper brush.
Next, you should use a clipper brush to remove hair from the blade. A clipper brush is made of boar's hair and has a long handle that makes it easy to reach the blade. You can find a clipper brush at most beauty supply stores or online.
If you don't have access to a clipper brush, you can use an old toothbrush instead. Avoid using your regular household toothbrush—the one you share with your family—as it may become contaminated with hair and human skin cells.
Hold the blade between your thumb and index finger as you carefully run the bristles of the toothbrush or clipper brush through the space between them. Move slowly to ensure that all stray hairs are removed from this area before moving on to cleaning other parts of the blade.
Clean the blade by wiping it with a damp cloth.
Grab a damp paper towel or cloth.
Don't use a wet one—just fold it so it's damp.
Then wipe the blade in one direction, taking care to clean both sides. Make sure you don't get water into the trimmer itself! If your blade is very dirty, use soapy water instead.
Dry the blade completely with a soft cloth.
Once you've finished rinsing the blade, use a soft cloth, preferably a microfiber one (but any towel will do), to dry the blade completely. A dry blade is a happy blade! If there's water on the blade, it becomes susceptible to rust. Rust can damage your clippers; if your clippers are damaged, they won't cut as well. The result? You'll be stuck with a lousy haircut and an underperforming machine. So remember: good haircuts come from clean blades, and clean blades are kept dry.
Apply three drops of oil to each side of the blade using an oil applicator bottle if you have one, or just pour it directly onto the blade in these areas if you don't.
This part is crucial for keeping your clippers in good condition. The oil helps keep the cutting action smooth, and also prevents rusting, which can be a major problem if you don't use the clippers regularly.
Apply three drops of oil to each side of the blade using an oil applicator bottle if you have one, or just pour it directly onto the blade in these areas if you don't. Don't overdo it though—you can actually damage your clippers by getting too much oil on them!
Wipe any excess oil off the blades with a soft cloth.
Wipe any excess oil off the blades with a soft cloth. It is important that you do this because oil can damage your hair when you are cutting it. You can use an old t-shirt or some other type of soft cloth to remove the excess oil from your clippers.
Reattach the blade to your barber trimmer by aligning it properly and screwing it back into place.
Reattach the blade to your barber trimmer by aligning it properly and screwing it back into place. Make sure to get the blade in the right position before screwing it on, or else you may have to unscrew and start over again. Try to put the blade back in exactly where you took it out from. If you are not sure if you have screwed the blade back on correctly, ask a friend or professional for help.
Turn the barber trimmer on for about 2 minutes to warm up and distribute oil along the blades evenly under high heat.
After spraying your blades with the oil, it's time to put a little heat into your trimmer. All you have to do for this step is turn on the trimmer and let it run for about two minutes. This is an important step because as the blades heat up, they'll distribute oil evenly along their length, which will help keep all parts of your clippers working smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, turning on your trimmer will help reduce any build-up on the blades that may be caused by rust or stains from chemicals and hair products. However, it's very important to take note of how long you're letting your trimmer run for—if you allow it to get too hot or run for more than two minutes straight, you might accidentally burn out the motor!
Turn off the barber trimmer again and wait another two minutes so that it can cool down before reattaching the cap over your blades or cleaning off any excess oil from your hands or clothing. Takeaway: Cleaning your tools keeps them working well for longer!
- Cleaning your tools keeps them working well for longer!
- If you don't clean your tools, bacteria and gunk can build up on and in them, which will make them less efficient.
- You should clean your tools after each use and be sure to clean them thoroughly.
- If you keep your blades oiled (as this tutorial shows), they will work better and be more efficient.
- Oiling your blades also prevents rusting, which is important if you live in a humid climate or have a lot of rain where you live.
