WAHL: Tips & Techniques - clipper maintenance

WAHL'S GUIDE TO FOOLPROOF HOME HAIRCUTTING

BEFORE YOU CUT HAIR

Your clipper should be clean, oiled and in perfect working condition.
If your kit includes a plastic cape, place it around the neck, tying the strings and overlapping the cape portion to prevent hair from falling down inside the collar. If no cape is provided, a towel will do nicely.
Position the person whose hair is to be cut on a stool or chair so that the top of his head is about even with your eyes.
After combing the hair to remove all tangles, hold the clipper in a relaxed, comfortable grip, with nameplate under the palm near your index finger. This grip will help you maintain comfortable, accurate cutting control.

CUTTING HAIR
For medium to long cuts:

The first time you cut the hair, cut only a small amount until you become accustomed to how long each guide comb leaves the hair. Always start by placing the largest guide comb on the clipper, then use shorter combs if desired length is shorter.

Remember, between professional haircuts, the hair grows evenly all over the head and a light trimming at the lower neck and sides may be all that is needed to bring back that neat, well-groomed look.

Some kits do not include all Wahl guide combs. However, these combs may be available from your dealer, or can be ordered from Wahl.

WAHL GUIDE COMBS:
1/8"(3 mm)	1/4"(6 mm)
3/8"(10 mm)	1/2"(13 mm)
5/8"(16 mm)	3/4"(19 mm)
Right Ear Guide Comb	7/8"(22 mm)
Left Ear Guide Comb	1"(25 mm)

To attach combs, hold comb with teeth up. Snap guide comb attachment firmly to the clipper blade.

For uniform cutting, allow the clipper to cut its way through the hair. Do not force it through at a faster rate.

Start by combing the hair so it falls into its natural direction.
Place the largest guide comb onto your clipper and start by trimming the sides from the bottom upwards. Hold the clipper lightly against the hair, with teeth of the guide comb pointing up but flat against the head. Slowly lift the clipper up and outward through the hair, cutting only a small amount at a time.

Repeat around sides and back of head.

If you desire shorter hair, either change to a lower-number guide comb or apply more pressure and less lift away from head with the present attachment.

This entire procedure requires practice, and it is always better to leave too much hair the first few haircuts.

For the top of the head, you will give a fairly short cut if you use the 1" guide comb. With the teeth flat against the head, slowly start trimming from the front to the back. Again, it is better to leave the hair longer the first few haircuts.

For longer hair on top (no guide comb): Use either a barber comb or a regular comb, and lift the hair on top of the head, cutting over the comb. Or grasp the hair between the fingers and cut to desired length. Continue this procedure from the front to the back of the head, gradually cutting the hair shorter by reducing the space between the comb or fingers and the head.

Comb frequently, removing trimmed hair and checking for uneven strands.

OUTLINING

No attachments are needed. On a multi-cut clipper, push the lever up to the close-cut position. Comb hair into desired style. Starting between the ear and the sideburns, as shown, hold clipper with corner edge of blade against the hairline. Slowly follow the desired outline of the hair over, around and behind the ears. For defining sideburns and the back of the neck, hold the clipper upside down, against the skin at the desired length and move down.

Comb hair and check that sides are even. Check for uneven spots throughout the haircut.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUTTING MEN'S AND BOYS' HAIR

CREW CUTS AND SHORT CUTS

Starting with the longest guide comb, cut from the back of the neck to the crown. Hold the guide comb flat against the head and slowly move the clipper through the hair, as shown.

Use the same procedure from the lower side to the upper side of the head, as show. Then cut the hair against the direction in which it grows, from the front to the crown, and even up the cut with the sides.

To give a "flattop" look, the hair on top of the head must be cut over the top of a flat comb, rather than using the guide comb.

Use closer-cutting guide combs to "taper" the hair down to the neckline, as desired. Comb hair and check for uneven spots. Outline sideburns and neckline as previously described.

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