Can You Cut Wet Hair With Hair Clippers? [Solved]

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Hair clippers make cutting your hair and maintaining a specific look easy without having to go to the barber.

However, their convenience often makes it seem like you can use them to cut and style your hair regardless of whether it’s dry or wet. That is not entirely true, though. 

Getting the most from a hair clipper isn’t just about the quality of the device; it’s also about knowing how to use it. If you want the best results, you need to make sure your hair will sit evenly on the blades without clumps, clogging, and other problems. That’s why it matters whether your hair is dry or wet. The latter is definitely not a good option.

Throughout this post, you’re going to learn more about this subject, so keep reading to learn if you can cut wet hair with clippers and all the geeky details behind it.

So, Can I Cut Wet Hair with Clippers?

No, you should never cut wet hair with hair clippers! There are many reasons for this, like the fact that you won’t be able to achieve a precise cut, your blades will get clogged and rusty, and it can be dangerous cause you can get electrically shocked.

If you are still not convinced, keep reading because we will discuss in more detail the aforementioned reasons and prove that cutting dripping wet hair with clippers simply doesn’t work. 

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Why you should not use hair clippers on wet hair

1. Using hair clippers on wet hair is unsafe

You have probably learned at elementary school that water and electricity don’t mix. So if you consider that hair clippers are electric and wet hair has water, you can understand why bringing them together is a major safety risk. You don’t want your electric device to come in contact with water when it’s operating as it might short circuit or, even worse, electrocute you. To learn more about how hair clippers work, read this article.

2. You won’t get the results you want

Most of the time, before even buying a pair of hair clippers, you already have a specific hairstyle in mind. You know exactly how much hair you want to cut and the exact look you want to achieve. However, if you choose to trim your hair while it’s wet, we guarantee you are not going to be satisfied with the results.

This is because it’s tricky to use hair clippers on wet hair.

For starters, completely wet hair won’t spread through blades evenly. That means you won’t get a precise cut.  At the same time, cutting wet hair can lead to clogged blades. As you’re running a hair clipper through your hair, the hair you cut off will end up sticking to the blades and thereby affect their functionality.

3. Thick, wet hair doesn’t get along with hair clipper

Generally speaking, thick hair holds different amounts of water, and because of that, it groups in clumps, with some clumps being bigger than others. For that reason, it is practically impossible to cut thick hair with a hair clipper when it’s wet. If you attempt to do so, you risk getting a choppy, uneven, and messy look.

Related Article: Do Clippers Damage Hair?

4. It’s particularly difficult for beginners

Using a hair clipper on wet hair is tricky for everyone, but even more for beginners. If you’ve never used a hair clipper before and still trying to learn how it works and what to do for the best results, using it on wet hair is not such a good idea. 

Wet hair is complicated, stretchy, and doesn’t sit on the blade the same way dry hair would. For that reason, wet hair is unpredictable, clumpy, and difficult to control.

While someone with more experience would have better control over the hair clipper, a beginner will find it overwhelming.

Using hair clippers on wet hair also increases the risk of rusting the clipper blades. This is especially bad for people who have never owned hair clippers before and aren’t used to maintaining them. So it is a good idea to use your hair clippers on dry hair and not take unnecessary risks.

What about manual hair clippers?

If by any chance you have these old-school manual clippers, you should not use them to cut wet hair either. Even with manual clippers, cutting hair while it’s wet increases the risk of rust. Also, just like electric clippers, blades can become clogged. You want to use manual hair clippers on hair that is completely dry or towel dry.

Dampness isn’t an issue as long as you use a towel to get most of the moisture out. Why? Because when damping your hair, it won’t form clumps. That means it will sit between the teeth of the blade more naturally, and as a result, you will get a cleaner, more precise look.

If you are experienced, you can use manual clippers on hair that isn’t entirely dry. If you’ve been using clippers for a while and know what to expect, you may be able to cut damp hair without a huge hassle. But keep in mind manual clippers aren’t scissors, and you still need to pay a lot of attention to what you’re doing. 

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Best way to cut hair with hair clippers

As seen above, using hair clippers on wet hair isn’t the best idea, as it can do more harm than good. So you’d be wondering what’s the best way to cut hair with clippers.

Well, the best way is by using your clippers on recently washed and dried hair. The key word here is “recently washed.” That means you should not use hair clippers either to cut dry or dirty hair. And the reason is simple, if you use your clippers on dry and dirty hair, it can lead to clogging the blades with grease. 

Ideally, your hair should be clean, i.e., recently washed and dry or slightly damp (but not completely wet). 

The process is pretty simple. Just wash your hair with a shampoo, as you usually do. Depending on the length, you should either towel dry your hair or use a hair dryer to dry it.

Comb your hair in the direction of natural growth and remove any tangles. This is particularly important for people with thicker or longer hair. It will prevent clumps from getting stuck on blades, which can lead to uneven cuts. Then, you can cut your hair. 

Sometimes hair clippers are enough, but in other cases, you may need to use scissors for extra precision. Of course, this depends on your expertise, the type, and the desired length you want.

PRO TIP: Don’t forget to clean and oil your hair clippers once you’re done cutting your hair. 

Related Article: “Seven Reasons Your Hair Clipper Is Not Cutting And How to Fix It“

Conclusion

Hair clippers are a practical tool for people who want to cut and style their hair at home whenever they want. Since these devices are easy to use, many assume they can work no matter their hair state. But the reality is different. You shouldn’t use hair clippers on wet hair. There are many reasons to avoid doing so, and they were discussed in this post.

What you should do is make sure your hair is clean, combed, and completely dry (or slightly damp) before using hair clippers. Wet hair is difficult to control, results are unpredictable, blades get clogged, and it’s a huge hassle. 

If you still have questions or concerns about using hair clippers on wet hair, let us know in the comments below. We’ll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.