Can You Use Clippers on Wet Hair? (The Wet Hair Dilemma)
When hair is wet and we need a cut, sometimes we just want to go for it, but Is it right?
Can You Use Clippers on Wet Hair? Does it rust our clippers?
In this article, I’ll reveal all you need to know about cutting wet hair with clippers (and some useful tips).
So with that said, take a look at the table of contents and let’s get into it.
Can You Use Clippers on Wet Hair?
You can certainly cut your hair with clippers, but it’s highly recommended you don’t.
Compared to wet hair, when you dry hair, you can better determine the length and texture of hair.
While you should keep your hair dry before cutting. there are times when wet hair has its perks and I will cover this later on in this article.
But what makes both types of hair so different when cutting hair?
We go through that next.
Wet or dry hair
cutting wet or dry hair…
It’s just hair, right? Well, not exactly.
When your hair is wet, it has absorbed a lot of water and it’s stored within your hair. This does one of two things:
- It makes the hair bloated.
- Makes hair smoother and silkier
Now, while this may make your hair great to look at after the shower or a salon wash, for clippers it’s the worst possible combination.
When your hair is filled with water it becomes thicker.
That makes it very hair for your clippers to actually ‘cut’ hair (especially the smaller finer hair).
In fact, some hairs just evade the blade as your whole.
You will come to notice:
- Your clippers pull more hair
- You have to constantly go over the same patch of hair
This is quite annoying and the more you go over the same hair, the more damage is to your hair and skin.
Also, there are more major problems.
Hair clipper on wet hair is a mess, not just for you but for your clippers.
Normally with dry hair, as you cut with clippers, it cuts cleanly and any loose hair drops to the flow or hangs around the blade edge and is easily brushed off.
However, with wet hair, it doesn’t just leave your clippers, it sticks to both your stays there.
Oftentimes, it even slides into your clippers, and because water is on the hair, as it stays in your clipper, over a period of time, your clipper blades begin to rust.
Overall, wet hair with clippers isn’t the best combination especially if you’re looking to take care of your clippers.
Can Clippers Be Used On Wet Hair
The machine does not matter.
Whether it’s trimmers or shaver clippers.
The look you see when you cut your hair is wet compared to when it’s dry can be completely different.
As I mentioned earlier, when your hair is wet it becomes bloated.
Dry hair shrinks. so you may find that you have cut more hair than to would’ve hoped for.
So, if you are very specific about your hair length or look, cut your hair dry.
This is especially the case if you’re looking to fade your hair.
Detail matters with this type of cut and so put yourself in the best position and that’s with dry hair.
While I do champion dry hair over wet hair, there are times when wet hair has its perks.
I go through this next.
What’s best for wet hair?
Does wet hair have any perks at all?
Yes, it does and it’s best in a barber shop or a hairdresser.
Clippers aren’t great with wet hair but they aren’t the only thing you can use to cut your hair.
You can use scissors on wet hair.
Wet hair is thick and has more base to it, while this isn’t best built for clippers, scissors make it a better match, especially for very long hair that is getting trimmed.
Using scissors on wet hair allows you to cut hair straight and easier than your would with dry hair.
Opt for scissors when just looking to cut hair lower (it also helps if your scissors are blunt).
But…
If you’re looking to just trim your hair, or target certain hairs like spit ends, cut your hair dry.
This is with clippers or scissors.
When your hair it’s wet hard to spot the finer detail in your hair. It basically all clogged up together so if you cut wet hair you lose detail from observation.
So while you may start off cutting large parts of hair with scissors, as you get to details, let the hair dry and do touch it up with scissors, clippers, or trimmers.
If you’re someone who prefers to trim in the shower, a water-resistant one would be ideal.
Below are our top picks for the best water-resistant trimmers.
Philips Norelco Multigroomer Best Overall
Wahl Aqua Blade Trimmer Best on power
Hatterker Trimmers Best Full Body water Resistance
You can read more in our article on the best waterproof trimmers.
Conclusion
In this article we asked the question, Can You Use Clippers on Wet Hair?
Simply put, avoid cutting your hair with wet hair clippers.
- You loose detail
- It’s harder for your clipper to cut
- It leaves a large mess as he sticks to clippers
- The water left of blades on the blade can rust your clippers blades
Keep hair dry just to cover all bases and it would be the best move.
No, it is not recommended to use an electric trimmer on wet hair. Electric trimmers are not designed to be used on wet hair, and using them can damage the trimmer or cause it to malfunction. It’s best to wait until the hair is dry before using an electric trimmer.
If you want to look after your clippers, cutting hair dry would be the better option but if you want more control as you cut with scissors, cutting your hair wet may be beneficial.
