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CLIPPER TIPS Sponsored by Andis Co.
Optimize Clipper and Trimmer Performance with Regular Maintenance by Eric Cheek
Similar to the way you work to keep your body healthy and physically fit, hair clippers and trimmers also require regular maintenance to keep them running at peak performance. Why is this important? It prolongs the life of your tools, but it also can help you deliver a crisper, cleaner cut. What You Need: You will need a blade brush, Andis Clipper Oil, Cool Care Plus® and Blade Care Plus®. A blade brush is first used to remove any visible hair from your tool. Cool Care Plus is a 5-in-one coolant, disinfectant, lubricant, cleaner and rust preventative. Even though Cool Care Plus has a lubricating element, it is not a replacement for clipper oil during your maintenance process. Andis clipper oil keeps blades clean and lubricated. Blade Care Plus is useful for removing hair that you cannot see between the blades and helps to de-gunk them. Properly combined, each of these components maximize tool performance and extend the life of the blade. Clean and Disinfect: After using a blade brush to clean off your blades, the next step in clipper maintenance is spraying your clipper with Andis Cool Care Plus and letting it sit for 10 minutes for proper disinfection and sanitization, wiping off any excess residue after. You can also use Cool Care Plus to help keep your blades cool during prolonged use. Oiling: There are three types of clipper motors, but regardless of design, the motor is the heart of the clipper or trimmer. Every time you turn on your tool, the motor works to move the blade back and forth from left to right, producing a cutting stroke. Over time, moving parts will wear out, especially if they aren’t lubricated. Oiling your blades helps to reduce wear and tear from friction caused by moving blades and will prolong the life of them. I recommend that you use Andis Clipper Oil before and after every cut. While your clipper or trimmer is on and the blades are moving, you should apply a drop of oil on each corner where the teeth of the blades meet, then three drops across the teeth of the blade. After the oil is distributed, you can turn your tool off and wipe any excess oil away with your towel. De-gunking: Finally, I would suggest that you use Blade Care Plus at the end of each day to remove hair that may be trapped in between the blades. These steps contribute to a longer-lasting life for your tools – see andis.com for the full maintenance step-by-step process.
Eric Cheek is a successful barber & beauty salon owner, barber educator and platform artist based in Charlotte, NC. Possessing multiple competitive barbering victories, years of practical experience and an artistic eye, his approachable and easy-to-understand style of teaching is second to none. He is often invited to tradeshows and events to share his artistry and knowledge where novices and experienced pros alike uncover hidden gems of advice and translate them into profit. 42
OTC Beauty Magazine July 2020
