One can really overspend every week or month if they aren’t careful. This is especially true if you have kids or are just one of those individuals that like to shop.
Whatever the situation is, if you are looking to stretch your budget and get more bang for your buck then cutting and tapering your own hair in the comfort of your own home is your very best option.
It might not seem like you save a lot on a haircut, but just look at how many times a month you get your hair cut.
And, a trip to the barber isn’t just the expense of the cut. You have to throw in your gas and the wear and tear on your vehicle. It will all add up.
Clippers are fairly inexpensive and with the right care and maintenance, they can last years and years.
Of course, this is not to say that you won’t experience a problem during the ownership of these clippers.
In fact, clippers need constant care and maintenance. Below, you are going to learn about some of the most common problems as to why your clippers aren’t cutting hair well and what you can do to fix them.
Things To Do When Your Hair Clippers Not Cutting Well
Make A Careful Observation
The first thing that you are going to have to do is listen to the clippers. Noise can tell you a lot about a mechanical device. Heck, if your hair clipper is making loud noise you would probably know it.
Well, you need to adopt this kind of familiarity with your clippers as well. Listen to them when they are in regular operation and get used to the sound.
So, if your clippers aren’t cutting good go ahead and turn them on. What do you hear? Does it sound like the motor is running fully? Maybe the clippers are getting bogged down in coarse and long hairs?
Check The Connection And Battery
If it sounds like the motor on your hair cutting machine isn’t running at full speed then there is a chance that something could be wrong with the batteries.
Maybe the Clippers aren’t getting the full power and juice that they need to power the motor. If you are using cordless clippers it could be because the battery isn’t fully charged.
Check the life of the battery and recharge it if necessary. If you are using a corded pair of clippers, you will want to mess around with the electrical cable.
Right where it enters the clippers. Move the cable around and see if you can notice a difference in the sound of the motor. It just might be that you have a short or a loose connection.
Checking For Obstructions
Just because you are oiling and washing your clippers at the end of every user doesn’t mean that your blades won’t wear.
Yes, they will wear more slowly, but they will eventually reach the point where they will become completely dull. That aside, regular cleaning won’t also prevent build-ups.
If you have noticed there are probably two big screw heads right on the front of your clippers. Removing these two screws will give you access to the blade, spring, and hinges.
After many uses, it is possible for hair, dirt, and other debris to enter this area. If your motor sounds like it is running at full power, but your blades still aren’t cutting it could be that something in this area has them obstructed.
Remove the cover and make sure that this area is free of dirt and debris.
Checking The Springs And Hinges
The springs or hinges are vital components of any set of clippers. Their specific job is to help transfer tension by offering an easier and more pleasurable cutting experience.
However, the only way that it can do this is if the springs are perfectly balanced. If one side gets out of whack, which isn’t all that uncommon, it is going to cause the blade to get stuck.
The best way to check this is by removing the clipper blade spring housing from the clippers. Simply take those two screws off on the head of the razor and you will see this set up.
Once removed, try placing it on a flat table. You want both sides to be perfectly even. If they aren’t it is going to cause hair to lodge on one side.
If you are looking at an uneven configuration then it is entirely possible that the springs have gotten damaged or bent.
You can try to rectify this by bending them back in place. Just be careful, as a spring can only offer so much bend and tension before it is done for good.
The Blade Sockets
The blade sockets are another integral part of your clippers. They can also cause some of the biggest problems if they are left unchecked.
And, one of those biggest problems is improper cutting or no cutting at all. For those unfamiliar with a blade socket, this is just simply the part of the razor that has 2 ears.
These two ears will fit perfectly into the hinge. The most common problem with this component is that one of the ears will become bent.
This is something that usually just happens because of regular use, but once it happens, you are looking at major problems.
If this is what is wrong with your clippers you will probably notice right away because the clippers will rattle. All that being said, making a repair like this can be both tricky and simple if you aren’t careful.
The most important thing to remember is that you want to bring the ears as close together as you possibly can without getting them too close if that makes sense.
If they are too close together, they will not be able to properly house the hinge, and you will just be looking at even more problems.
Dull Blades
Dull blades are an all too common problem when it comes to clippers and razors. Unfortunately, there really isn’t much that you can do about this besides sharpening or replacing them.
You can also make sure that you are oiling the blades after every use to get the most life out of them.
If blade life is a major concern, you can also invest in a pair of clippers that offer self-sharpening technology.
However, it should be noted that these models won’t last forever either, but they will last longer than the traditional ones.
Summary
It doesn’t take a genius to see that there really is a lot of clippers. Not only are there a lot of components, but there are a lot of things that can go wrong with these components.
And, it seems like they usually go wrong at the worst possible time. Maintaining and caring for your clippers will not only ensure that you get the most out of your product, but it will ensure that you get a comfortable, clean cut every time.
FAQ
Can you use clippers to cut pubic hair?
Yes. You are less likely to find a clipper specifically designed for grooming pubic hair, so you might have to go with regular hair clippers.
However, watch out for hair clippers designed for sensitive skin as they will offer more comfort while shaving.
What is the difference between a clipper and a trimmer?
A clipper is a grooming tool intended for bulk hair cutting on larger areas. With clippers, you can completely shave your head in a matter of minutes.
On the other hand, an electric hair trimmer is designed for outlining, edging, dry shaving, and light shaping.