Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

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Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by Nanohedron »

I'd been using one for years and it was great, dependable, all that. Then it gave up the ghost and I had to buy another, but a different brand. This new one doesn't cut well at all; in fact, it seems to be getting worse over time. I was talking with a barber who said that all clippers are basically the same and should cut alike - I've run on that assumption, myself - but obviously my present experience contradicts this.

Anyone have the lowdown on these things? I'll get a professional-grade unit if that's what it takes, but I'm hoping to spend less if possible.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by Peter Duggan »

I'm no expert, but after (as usual) far too much tedious and conflicting research, I got Wahl clippers and they work.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by rhulsey »

I've cut my own hair for probably 25 years. Around 15 years ago I bought a Wahl Designer model and it cuts as well now as it always has. The oil they provide is pretty thick, and a good cleaning with WD40 works wonders now and again.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by chas »

I have a Norelco (Philips) with exchangeable heads, so it does hair, beard, and nose. I have very fine hair, which can be problematic, but I've been happy with it. It's my second one; the battery of the first died after several years.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by Sirchronique »

For facial hair I find any clipper works pretty much identically, so I'd have to side with your barber... Though I imagine the design might affect how closely it cuts. I'm not sure how one can't cut well- hair goes in, bzzzt, hair gone. I've not had my head hair cut for over 10 years though, so maybe that cuts a bit differently than thicker face hairs.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by calanthrophy »

I would agree that any clipper should work to your satisfaction, regardless of brand.
Perhaps you got a bad apple.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by Nanohedron »

Sirchronique wrote:For facial hair I find any clipper works pretty much identically, so I'd have to side with your barber...
He's not my barber. I cut my own hair, what's left of it. As for the face, I shave. Old-school, with a safety razor in case you wonder.
Sirchronique wrote:... Though I imagine the design might affect how closely it cuts.
I wasn't talking about closeness, but about how well it cuts - when it cuts at all. The length you want is a moot point if the head's not even cutting, or if it leaves uncut hairs in its wake so you have to keep going back over and over where you'd already gone. That's an issue.

Closeness is determined by guides, not the cutting teeth.
Sirchronique wrote:I'm not sure how one can't cut well- hair goes in, bzzzt, hair gone.
Yes, that would be the theory. Yet here we are.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by Latticino »

+1 for a Whal clipper. I use a plug in Whal "peanut" model. Cheap and seem bulletproof. Had too many cordless clippers die on me (Norelco, Phillips...)
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by Nanohedron »

That's 3 votes for Wahl so far. I noticed that some of theirs go for around $40, so that's tempting.

And it will definitely not be cordless, whatever the brand. I am done with cordless tools of any kind.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by I.D.10-t »

I have an Oster, fast feed adj. Keep it clean and oiled, works just fine.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by oleorezinator »

There's alway the tried and true.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by oleorezinator »

In my misspent youth Ripley's Believe It or Not
paperbacks were a source of endless fascination.
One entry was about a king in antiquity who wouldn't
allow his barber to shave him. Instead as illustrated
a glowing coal held in tongs was used for a trim.
And now the real thing from Turkey. Scroll to 10:30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODnMJLARzds
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by I.D.10-t »

oleorezinator wrote:Ripley's Believe It or Not
My grade school had that in the library. Several volumes, small, approximately 4X6 books of the strange and P.T.Barnum stuff. I didn't need to look it up in the card catalogue, it was past the librarian's desk, three rows back on the left hand side, on top of the shelves using book ends.

No historically yo-yos were not used as weapons.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by Nanohedron »

Okay, I ordered a Wahl Home Pro from their online store. Set me back only around $24, which is awesome, and the lady said she's been using that very same model on hubby and the kids for over six years, and she's been very happy with its performance. Sounds like good bang for your buck.
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Re: Consulting the Electric Hair Clipper Oracle

Post by Nanohedron »

That is one nice clipper. Got the job done, and cleanly, in no time at all. "Like a boss", as is said these days. The Wahl's performance exposed the one it's replacing for the craven weenie it is, and if memory serves, it outperforms the one I had before that, and that one was pretty good. So yeah, I'd recommend the brand. :thumbsup:
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