How to maintain your hair clipper?

Hair clippers aren't all the same, though: many of them require special blade care. For this reason, on this page, we will see what steps to follow to maintain an optimal fit.

What you need

The useful accessories to maintain the best performance of a mower are generally provided, at least the most important, while the others must be purchased at a later date.

The brush

Any mower has one. The brushes are not all the same: in fact, depending on the price range, we find different shapes and above all qualities.

A low-value brush does not have the bristles aligned and compact, and over time they lose shape. High-end models are usually equipped with higher quality brushes: the difference lies mainly in the quality of the bristles. A quality brush quickly removes hair left in the blades or regulator shoe.

Screwdriver or Allen key

These are used for a particular cleaning or for the replacement of blades, operations that may be necessary after several years of use, especially for hairdressers and barbers who use the clippers with a certain frequency.

Tissue

It is used to dry the blades after cleaning with running water, if possible, or lubricating (we will discuss this later). The type of fabric is not very important: however, we do not recommend using a fabric with filaments that can get caught between the teeth of the blades.

Oil

All professional models require blade lubrication. Special oil is always supplied, and can easily be found online or at sewing suppliers, as it is the same oil used to lubricate sewing machines. We remind you that the lubrication of the blades, depending on the model, is recommended not only for professional models but also for hair clippers for home use.

Cleaning of blades and hooves

Ordinary cleaning of a clipper should be done according to a certain procedure, although there may be variations depending on the type of product. That said, we can make distinctions between the cleaning modes of products with a fixed blade unit and those with detachable blades from the housing.

Mower with fixed block

Almost all professional hair clippers have this feature: we find two metal elements connected by two screws.
For complete cleaning:

Stop the mower. Brush off any residue with the brush.
If the product is equipped with different cutting positions, gradually raise the lever and continue cleaning as necessary.
Put a few drops of lubricating oil on the blades and rotate the trimmer for a few seconds, preferably downward to avoid possible splashes on the face.

Take a dry cloth and dry the lubricated blades.
Clean the housing of the device with a damp cloth, then dry it with another dry cloth.

After many cuts, or for a more thorough cleaning, the blade assembly can also be removed with a screwdriver, ensuring the correct alignment of the blades. After cleaning, remove the remaining hair inside, follow these steps:

• Align the two blades so that they are parallel.
  
  
• Place the pair of blades in line with the screw holes
  
  
• To squeeze
  
  
• Align the teeth of the outer blade with those of the inner blade.
  
  
• Visser
  
  

This procedure is much simpler than it looks. This is the same procedure used to replace blades when they show signs of wear.

Mower with mobile block

Commercial model blades consist of a single block attached directly to the mower housing. Cleaning and maintenance are much easier, although there may be differences depending on the model.

In order to better understand the different possibilities, we have made a distinction between low-maintenance and ordinary-maintenance hair clippers.

Low maintenance

• Detach the blade lock
• Brush residue from the blades and inside the trimmer
• Rinse the blade assembly and the housing of the device
• Dry and reassemble
  
  

Routine maintenance

• Detach the blade lock
  
  
• Brush residue from the blades and inside the trimmer
  
  
• Run a few drops of lubricating oil on the blades and rotate the trimmer for a few seconds, preferably downward to avoid possible splashes on the face.
  
  
• Dry the lubricated blades with a dry cloth
  
  
• Clean the housing of the device with a damp cloth, then dry it with another dry cloth.
  
  
• Replace blades
  
  
  

Blade disinfection

On the market, there are sprays and lotions to disinfect the blades, which are very useful for those who operate in the sector as a professional and who want to ensure maximum hygiene for their customers.

Hoof cleaning

There are no differences between professional and commercial models for cleaning tuning shoes: all you need to do is brush, wash and dry these accessories, then put them away.

How often should I replace my mower blades?

Lawnmower blades do not have a fixed lifespan, so it is not possible to predict when they will need to be replaced. Some of them can last several years without problems, provided they are well maintained. Also consider that it is more difficult to find replacement parts for commercial models, whereas companies that supply professional tools also offer easier blade availability. However, the latter should only be replaced when there are obvious signs:

• The cut is no longer fluid;
• The teeth are broken or dented from an accidental fall;
• There are traces of rust on the blades.
  
  

Protection and case

For the protection of the blades, we can find plastic caps or simple covering bases: these solutions are less and less common and do not guarantee maximum safety for a hair clipper. Our advice is to equip yourself with rigid packaging where you can store both the mower and the combs. Some models already use this solution at the time of sale.

Batterie Ni-Cd

Batteries of this type are not particularly powerful and can be recharged quickly. Their limit is to be subject to the “memory effect”, and thus to lose their initial strength and their autonomy over time.

To avoid this, we need continuous recharges and discharges: the battery, to be recharged, must be completely discharged, and in the last minutes of operation, when the power is low, the product cannot be recharged immediately for the bring it back to its maximum power. 

On the other hand, they have excellent resistance even if fully discharged for a long time or too many hours when charging.

Batteries Ni-Mh

Compared to previous models, they can offer superior performance, moreover, the chances of risking the “memory effect” are very low. Indeed, Ni-Mh batteries require much less frequent complete discharges. However, Ni-Mh is more expensive.

battery lithium

They have the advantage of being totally devoid of the “memory effect”, so there are no particular maintenance rules to follow: you can recharge it even when the battery is not completely discharged. The limit of this technology, in addition to having a higher cost, is certainly that of having a limited duration: after a certain number of years, it must be changed.