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Most hair clippers have an auto-sharpening feature that keeps the blades sharp, but they may still wear out quickly if they are not regularly oiled and cleaned. Prevent ragged, uneven cuts and snagged hair by sharpening your blades each time you notice problems. Clean the blades first to remove hair and rust, or the blades might not sharpen correctly.
Steps
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Unscrew the blades. Find and unscrew the screws that attach the blades to the rest of the clippers. On most hair clipper models, there are two screws at the base of the blade. Once these are removed, gently detach the blades and any pieces holding them in place.- If the bottom blade does not pop out easily, use a pair of tweezers to pull it off the base.
- Take note of how the pieces fit together, and how the blades are positioned in relation to each other, to make reassembly easier.
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Brush out hair and debris. Cleaning your hair clippers may already make them much easier to use, and allows you to sharpen them evenly and without mess. Use a wire brush, steel wool, or toothbrush to remove the hair stuck in the blades. [1] X Research sourceAdvertisement -
Remove rust with blade wash. If your blades have any visible rust, or if brushing doesn't remove all the gunk on them, you can use blade wash or another blade cleaning product to break it down. Soak the blades in a small bowl of this for a couple minutes, or dip a cotton ball in it and scrub the blade to remove heavy rust buildup.
- Some people report success with isopropyl alcohol, although you may need to find a strong, 90% alcohol solution. [2] X Research source Weaker isopropyl alcohol might not work.
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Dry the blades. Wipe the sides of the blades thoroughly with a clean towel to dry it and to remove the last particles of dust and debris. If you still see spots of rust, use the cleaning solution again.
- If the rust is difficult to remove by scrubbing, you may need to replace the blade.
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Test the blades (optional). It's possible your hair clippers only needed cleaning, especially if they are a self-sharpening model. Reassemble the clippers, turn them on for a few minutes so the blades scrape imperfections off each other, then try them on hair. If they are still dull or snagging hairs, move on to the sharpening instructions in the next section.- For best results, apply a couple drops of hair oil before testing. (This is recommended after every second or third session.)
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Use a magnet holder to pick up a blade (optional). Place the base of the blade in the slit of a magnetic holder, so the sharp edge of the blade extends past the magnet edge. This will make it easier to sharpen the blade without cutting yourself or dropping the blade.- A strong, flat magnet may work instead. Sharpen slowly if using this device, to prevent the blade from falling off the magnet and potentially nicking you.
- Sharpen both blades using the steps below, one at a time.
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Run the blade along a coarse honing stone. Also called whetstones or sharpening stones , these are available at some home improvement and hardware stores. Using a 4000 grit surface, angle the blade at about a 30–45º angle, and move it forward (only) across the stone five to ten times, until it looks shiny and even. Wipe away the ground-off metal powder onto a dry towel. [3] X Research source Turn the blade over and repeat for the other edge.
- If you are using a ceramic blade , you'll need a diamond sharpening stone instead. Read the label carefully, and don't confuse sharpening stones made from ceramic with sharpening stones that can sharpen ceramic.
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Repeat with a fine honing stone (optional). Your blade should now look quite even, but to create a sharper, fine edge, follow up the initial sharpening with a fine honing stone, about 8000 grit. As before, move each side of the blade five to ten times across the stone, moving forward only. Wipe the blade off on a towel.
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Reassemble the clippers. Make sure that you have the blades facing the direction they were originally facing, and spaced at close to the original distance apart. Screw the blades in tightly.
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Apply hair clipper oil. This step is recommended after every two or three uses, but especially after the blades have just been sharpened. Add a few drops of oil to the blades, to prevent overheating and reduce friction that can wear down the blade.
- While an alternate light, penetrating oil can work instead, avoid heavy, dark oils which can clog the blades. [4] X Research source You might want to check with a barber or online before using a new oil for the first time.
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Run the clippers for a couple minutes. Turn the clippers on and let the blades rub together for a couple minutes. This will hone the blades further. Your clippers should now be ready to use on hair, hopefully with a noticeably sharper, easier to use cutting edge.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhy does my hair clipper pull my hair?Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.Your clipper could be pulling because the blades are dull or misaligned, or it could just be that your hair is tangled or that you are moving the clipper too quickly.
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QuestionCan clipper blades be sharpened?Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.Yes; you'll need to disassemble the clipper and clean the blade, then use a whetstone.
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QuestionCan I use a different oil for my clippers?Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.You should only use clipper oil. Other oils may corrode the blade. You can find professional clipper oil at any beauty supply store.
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Tips
- Ceramic blades need less frequent sharpening, but also tend to be brittle, breaking easily when used on thick or matted hair, or if tightened too far. [5] X Research sourceThanks
- There are many different blade sharpening devices, including some marketed specifically for clipper blades. A cheap, two-sided honing stone is usually good enough for home use, but you may want to try out different products if you need to sharpen clipper blades frequently.Thanks
- You can instead send your blades to a commercial sharpening service, either locally or through the mail to your hair clippers' manufacturer.Thanks
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Warnings
- Clipping animal hair may wear your hair clippers out faster than using them for human haircuts.Thanks
- Remember that it may be easier to cut yourself on the blades after sharpening. Use caution while reassembling the clippers.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Wire brush, toothbrush, or steel wool
- Blade cleaning product or rubbing alcohol
- Cotton swab or small bowl
- Hair clipper oil
- Towel
- Tweezers (optional)
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about hair clippers, check out our in-depth interview with Candice Ayers .
References
- ↑ https://news.barbinc.com/2013/06/wahl-hero-how-to-sharpen-blades-repair-and-clean-wahl-hero-clippers-by-david-warren-youtube/
- ↑ https://www.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_sharpen_hair_clippers
- ↑ https://news.barbinc.com/2013/06/wahl-hero-how-to-sharpen-blades-repair-and-clean-wahl-hero-clippers-by-david-warren-youtube/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vFChjb4Tks
- ↑ https://groomwise.typepad.com/northern_tails_sharpening/clipper-blades/
- Videos provided by RICO THE BARBER
About This Article
Article Summary
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To sharpen hair clippers, remove the blade from the clippers and run it along a 4000 grit coarse honing stone, which you can get at a home improvement or hardware store. Angle the blade and move it forward across the stone about 10 times until it’s shiny and even. Turn the blade over and repeat on the other edge. After you reassemble the clippers, apply a few drops of oil to the blade to prevent overheating. To learn how to clean your blade properly before sharpening, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I've been clipping my own dogs' hair for many years. Since moving to a new city, I haven't found anyone close by to sharpen my blades. This tutorial was really helpful, and the video was great; I'll be able to sharpen all my own blades from now on!" ..." more
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"I've been clipping my own dogs' hair for many years. Since moving to a new city, I haven't found anyone close by to sharpen my blades. This tutorial was really helpful, and the video was great; I'll be able to sharpen all my own blades from now on!"
..."
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"I've just purchased an Oster, and I can't find the screw-on blades for purchase. This information will help enormously to keep the original one sharp until I can find somewhere to get replacement blades."
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"I'm a newbie in the barber profession, and my instructor never knew there was a better and easier way to sharpen blades. We used the local method, but it was never good for my fingers. Thanks. "
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"Whole article was helpful. Takes you through start to finish. I was originally looking for replacement blades, but I guess I don't have to now."
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"I've bought 5 dog grooming clippers, and they went dull on me. I'm so happy to know that I can fix the problem. Thank you so much."
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