Oiling is the single most important habit in clipper maintenance. A few drops of the right oil, at the right times, keeps your blades sharp, your motor cool and your machine cutting cleanly for years. Skip it, and blades pull, run hot and wear out fast. Here's exactly how to oil your clippers and trimmers, how often, and the routine professional barbers actually use.
Why oiling matters
Clipper blades cut by two layers of teeth sliding across each other thousands of times a minute. Without lubrication that metal-on-metal contact creates friction, which means heat, faster wear and a duller edge. A properly oiled blade glides, stays cool and holds its sharpness far longer. Looking after your blades this way makes them last longer, saves you money on replacements and gives you the best cutting results.
What you need
- A proper clipper oil — a light blade oil made for clippers, such as Wahl Clipper Oil, which is specially formulated to get the best out of clippers and trimmers and help maintain cutting precision. Never substitute household, vegetable or cooking oils — they are too thick, gum up the blades and attract debris.
- A cleaning brush to clear hair from between the teeth before you oil.
- A hygienic clipper spray such as the Wahl Hygienic Clipper Spray to clean and disinfect.
- A soft, dry cloth.
Watch: how to oil your clipper blade
How to oil your clippers, step by step
- Clean the blade first. Switch the clipper off, then brush the loose hair out from between and around the blade teeth. Oiling over trapped hair just traps the debris.
- Switch the clipper on. Oil is best applied while the blade is running so it works right through the cutting teeth.
- Apply a few drops. Add a drop or two at each end of the blade and a line across the front cutting teeth — the top and the sides of the blade. You only need a few drops; more is not better.
- Run it for a few seconds. Let the clipper run so the oil distributes evenly along the blade.
- Wipe off the excess. Use a dry cloth to remove any surplus oil so it doesn't transfer onto the next client's hair.
How often should you oil?
This is where most people under-do it. The professional routine looks like this:
- At the start of every day — oil before your first cut.
- Through the day on busy days — top up two or three more times when the clippers are working hard and heating up.
- At the end of the day — after you've cleaned the clippers, oil the top and sides of the blade and leave it, so the oil soaks in overnight ready for the morning.
Oiling this regularly keeps the blades at optimum sharpness, so you won't need to replace them anywhere near as often.
Don't forget hygiene
One of the most overlooked parts of blade maintenance is hygiene. Using a hygienic clipper spray on your blades before each use protects every client by keeping the blades clean and helping resist bacteria, viruses and fungi. It's a quick, easy step — spray before you start, and again as part of your clean-down between clients. Combs, guards and removable blades should be immersed in a disinfectant solution such as Barbicide, following the dilution and contact times on the product.
Keeping blades cool on busy days
On back-to-back days, blades heat up — uncomfortable for the client and harder on the machine. A cooling clipper spray used during the cut keeps the blade temperature down for a more comfortable cut, while also lubricating and blasting hair and debris out from between the teeth. A quick spray between heavy cuts keeps performance consistent all day.
What kind of oil should you use?
Always use a purpose-made clipper oil. A light blade oil like Wahl Clipper Oil is formulated to lubricate fine blade teeth without gumming up. Household oils, cooking oils and thick lubricants do the opposite: they are too heavy, collect hair and dust, and over time clog the blade and strain the motor. A good clipper oil is inexpensive and a single bottle lasts a long time.
Signs your blade needs more than oil
If a blade still pulls, snags or cuts unevenly after a proper clean and oil, oiling alone won't fix it — the blade is likely dull or misaligned, or has simply worn out. Blades are consumable. We stock replacement sets including the Wahl 2 Hole Blade Set for Senior/Magic and the Legend blade set. For the full clean-down process and troubleshooting, see our complete clipper maintenance guide.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I oil my clippers?
Oil at the start of every day, two or three more times through a busy day, and again after your end-of-day clean so it soaks in overnight. A few drops along the blade while the clipper runs is all it takes.
Should I oil my clippers with the blade on or off?
Apply the oil with the clipper switched on and running, so it works right through the cutting teeth, then wipe off the excess.
How much oil should I use?
Only a few drops — a drop or two at each end of the blade and a line across the front teeth. Too much oil just runs off and transfers to the hair.
Can I use any oil on my clippers?
No. Use a proper clipper oil such as Wahl Clipper Oil. Household, vegetable and cooking oils are too thick, gum up the blades and attract debris, which damages the machine over time.
Why are my clippers still pulling after oiling?
If a clean, oiled blade still pulls or snags, it is likely dull or misaligned and needs sharpening, realigning or replacing. Blades are consumable and wear out with use.
Does oiling really make blades last longer?
Yes. Regular oiling reduces the friction and heat that wear blades down, keeping them sharp for much longer and reducing how often you need to replace them.
Shop clipper care at trade prices
Hairco & Beauty supplies clipper oil, hygienic spray, disinfectant and replacement blades at trade prices, with fast UK delivery. Browse the full clippers & trimmers range, or open a free trade account for trade pricing.
Written by Charlotte Read, Content Writer at Hairco & Beauty. Charlotte has over six years' experience in professional hair and beauty, and our guides are informed by colleagues with 100+ years of combined salon experience and by insight from the trade customers we supply. More about our content.
