By Ibrahim Khdair
17 august 26

How to clean and oil clipper blades - the 3-step barber routine

Blade careGamma+ routineClipper and trimmer

A clipper blade needs three things: the hair brushed off, a short spray between clients, and a drop of oil before it goes back on the shelf. A clipper or trimmer blade runs metal on metal; a dry blade drags and heats up. Blade care is about keeping two blades gliding rather than rescuing them later.

The routine below is built around the three Gamma+ maintenance products: Blade Oil 3 in 1 for the daily drop, Spray Oil 5 in 1 for the quick spray between clients and Blade Therapy 7 in 1 for the deep clean, when a brush no longer gets it out. If you work with another brand, the shelf section further down lists what else the shop carries.

Short answer: After every client: brush the blade, give it a short spray from about 10 cm, let the head dry. At the end of the day: brush, a few drops of oil across the blade, run the clipper briefly, wipe off the excess. When it drags or clogs: dip the running blade in Blade Therapy for about 10 seconds, wipe it dry and oil it afterwards.
After every client
Brush + short spray
End of the day
Drop of oil
When it drags
10 s dip
Spray distance
About 10 cm

How do you clean and oil a clipper blade? The routine in three steps

Three habits, in the order a busy chair actually uses them.

  1. 1
    After every client: brush and spray

    Brush the loose hair and debris off the blade with a Barber Brush. Hold the can of Spray Oil 5 in 1 upright about 10 cm from the blade and spray briefly. Wait until the head is dry before the next client. We spray in short bursts so the head does not get soaked.

  2. 2
    End of the day: the drop of oil

    Brush the blade clean first; oil on trapped hair only turns into paste. Put a few drops of Blade Oil 3 in 1 directly on the blade line, run the clipper for a few seconds so the oil spreads across the blade, and wipe off the excess with a cloth so only a thin film remains. Less is more: a thin film glides, a thick pool catches hair and dust.

  3. 3
    When the blade drags or clogs: the 10-second deep clean

    Brush the loose hair off the blade first and pour some Blade Therapy 7 in 1 into a suitable container. Use a cordless clipper with the cable disconnected, dip only the blade and let it run for about 10 seconds. Take it out, wipe the blade dry and remove the excess liquid. We finish with a few drops of Blade Oil, so the blade goes back to work lubricated. Only the blade, never the whole clipper, and never a corded tool plugged into the mains.

Which product does what?

The three Gamma+ maintenance products
Blade Oil 3 in 1 Lubricates the blade without leaving residue and helps prevent rust. Silicone-free, odourless and colourless, and can also be used on scissors. 150 ml. When: the daily drop, and after every deep clean.
Spray Oil 5 in 1 Removes dirt and hair and lubricates without leaving residue. Silicone-free. 400 ml aerosol: hold it upright, spray from about 10 cm and let the head dry. When: between clients.
Blade Therapy 7 in 1 A liquid for cleaning clipper blades by immersion: blade only, clipper running, wait 10 seconds, wipe off the excess with a cloth. For battery-operated clippers only, with the cable unplugged. Silicone-free. 500 ml. When: fine hair has packed between the teeth and a brush no longer shifts it.

How often should you oil a clipper?

We recommend a few drops after every cut in a busy chair, and at least at the end of every working day. The spray is the step between clients, the oil the step before the blade goes on the shelf, and the dip only comes when the blade drags or clogs. Skip the drop and two things show up: the blade gets warm in the hand and starts to drag.

Clipper, trimmer, shaver or scissors: not every tool gets the same treatment

Clippers and trimmers
The full routine applies: brush, spray, oil, and the dip when the blade clogs.
Shavers: check the water rating first
The Gamma+ BOOSTED Shaver is WATER RESISTANT IPX7: per the pack, resistant to submersion in water for 30 minutes up to 1 metre deep. The BOOSTED One Foil is IPX4 Splash Proof: resistant to water splashes, so wipe it. We clean the XCEED Shaver dry: brush out the foil head.
Scissors
Both the Blade Oil and the Spray Oil can be used on scissors. We put a few drops on the blade and around the pivot, open and close the scissors a few times and wipe off the excess.

The tools the routine is made for: Gamma+ clippers, Gamma+ trimmers and Gamma+ shavers.

Troubleshooter: what the blade is telling you

Five things a blade does when it wants attention, and what each usually means.

  • The blade drags or snags instead of cutting Usually a dry or clogged blade, not a dull one. Brush it, deep-clean it if fine hair is packed between the teeth, dry it and put a drop of oil back on the blade line. If it still drags, the blade itself is worn and a replacement blade is due.
  • The blade gets warm in the hand Metal on metal with no film between. Brush the blade and put a few drops of oil on it; between clients, the short spray keeps the blade clean and lubricated.
  • Fine hair is packed between the teeth Exactly what a brush cannot reach and what the dip is for: 10 seconds in Blade Therapy with a running blade removes the dirt. Wipe dry and oil to finish.
  • Rust spots on the blade Moisture left standing on bare steel. Keep the blade dry after cleaning and oil it regularly; the oil helps prevent rust. A blade left wet and unoiled does not survive a damp back room.
  • A sticky, greasy film on the blade Too much oil, or an oil that leaves residue. All three Gamma+ products are silicone-free, but you still wipe off the excess: a thin film is the goal.

Using the products safely

Safety: The Spray Oil 5 in 1 is an extremely flammable pressurised aerosol: keep it away from heat, sparks and open flames, do not smoke while using it, do not pierce or burn the can even when empty, and do not expose it to more than 50 °C or direct sunlight. Blade Therapy 7 in 1 may be fatal if swallowed and enters the airways: if swallowed, call a poison centre or doctor and do not induce vomiting. Dip only the blade, with a cordless clipper and the cable disconnected, never the motor, the housing or any other device. Keep all three products out of reach of children. Keep the Blade Oil and Blade Therapy out of your eyes and mouth and off your skin; the Spray Oil can cause skin irritation and an allergic skin reaction, so wear protective gloves.

What else is on the shelf?

The routine is brand-independent; the products are not. Next to the Gamma+ line the shop carries these blade oils, sprays and brushes, listed by name and size: Wahl Special Blade Oil 200 ml, Wahl Clipper Oil 118.3 ml, Wahl Blade Ice spray 400 ml, Wahl Cleaning Spray 250 ml, the Wahl Blade Care Set and the Wahl cleaning brush; BaBylissPRO SprayFX 4-in-1 150 ml; Monster Clippers Clipper Oil 100 ml; RedOne Technic clipper oil. For the station itself: the Barber Mat Organizer and the EVO Nano Mister. The JRL Diamante clipper T2025C14 comes with a cleaning brush, lubricating oil and a blade adjustment tool in the box.

The routine at a glance
Between clients
Brush and a short spray from about 10 cm, then let the head dry.
Before the shelf
A drop of oil on the blade line, run briefly, wipe off the excess.
When it drags
Ten seconds in Blade Therapy with a running blade, dry, oil.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I oil clipper blades?
Oil the blade regularly; in a busy chair we recommend a few drops after every cut. Brush the blade first, apply the oil, run the clipper briefly and wipe off the excess.
Can I put the whole clipper in the cleaning liquid?
No. Dip only the blade, never the whole clipper, and use a cordless clipper on battery with the cable disconnected. Blade Therapy is meant for cleaning blades, not the motor, the housing or any other electrical device.
What is the difference between the Blade Oil, the Spray Oil and the Blade Therapy?
Blade Therapy 7 in 1 is the deep clean: a 10-second dip for the blade only. The Spray Oil 5 in 1 is the quick spray between clients. The Blade Oil 3 in 1 is the drop of lubrication. Our routine uses all three: spray during the day, dip when it clogs, oil to finish.
Can I rinse a shaver under the tap?
Only if that model is made for it. The Gamma+ BOOSTED Shaver is WATER RESISTANT IPX7: per the pack, resistant to submersion in water for 30 minutes up to 1 metre deep. The BOOSTED One Foil is IPX4 Splash Proof: resistant to water splashes. We clean the XCEED Shaver dry. Check your own model before any water is involved.
Do I need to oil the blade after a deep clean?
Yes. The dip flushes the dirt out and leaves the blade clean, so put a drop of Blade Oil back on the blade line before the next cut. A clean blade without oil is still a dry blade.
Can I use the same products on scissors?
Both the Blade Oil 3 in 1 and the Spray Oil 5 in 1 can be used on scissors. We put a few drops or a short burst on the blade and around the pivot, work the scissors a few times and wipe off the excess.
Which clipper oil can I use if I do not have Gamma+?
Any blade oil from your clipper's manufacturer, or a universal clipper oil: the shop carries Wahl Special Blade Oil and Monster Clippers Clipper Oil, among others. The principle is the same: brush, a thin film of oil on the blade line, run briefly, wipe off the excess.

Brush, spray, oil, and a dip when the blade clogs: that is the whole routine. Everything from the brand is on the Gamma+ brand page.