The Wahl 5 Star cordless Magic Clip Red is Wahl Professional's cord/cordless clipper for the fade and the bulk cut, built around a chrome plated stagger-tooth blade 46 mm wide with CRUNCH BLADE TECHNOLOGY. The clipper has a variable taper across 0.5 mm - 1.2 mm and a blade adjustment lever. It runs up to 100 min on its lithium-ion battery.

In the box

• The clipper
• WAHL's data sheet lists 8 attachment combs, #0.5 (1.5 mm), #1 (3 mm), #1.5 (4.5 mm), #2 (6 mm), #3 (10 mm), #4 (13 mm), #6 (19 mm) and #8 (25 mm), as well as a flat-top hairstyling comb, a cleaning brush, oil and a blade guard

Why the Magic Clip

A cut in the chair runs in a fixed order: the clipper takes the length and builds the blend, the trimmer sets the line, and the foil shaver finishes. This clipper is the clipper in that order, and WAHL names both halves of its job: “Creates seamless blends when hard or soft line fading” and “Ideal for bulk hair removal”. Its blade is the reason to choose it: chrome plated stagger-tooth, with CRUNCH BLADE TECHNOLOGY. We would put it on the station of a barber whose day is fades.

Who it is not for

• Outlines, line-ups and beard detail - that is a trimmer's job: the Wahl Cordless Detailer Li
• Skin-close finishing - that is a foil shaver's job: the Wahl Vanish Shaver

Professional tip

Build the blend in small steps with the blade adjustment lever rather than one jump, and finish each upward stroke by flicking the clipper out and away from the head, so the blend is laid down in stages. The mistake we see most is making the whole move in one jump.

How to use

1. Charge it with the clipper switched off: plug the cord into the clipper first, then into the outlet.
2. Once it is charged, it runs without the cord. When the battery is low, connect the cord to the clipper and keep working; if the battery is completely run down, let it charge for 1 minute, switched off, before you use it on the cord.
3. Switch it on and off at the on/off switch, and switch it off after each use.
4. With the lever at the top, the blade gives its closest cut; pushing the lever down gradually increases the cutting length.
5. Clip on an attachment guide for the length you want, starting longer rather than shorter, and take the bulk off against the growth.

Care and maintenance

After each client, brush the loose hair from the housing and the blade with a dry brush. Oil the blade often, with Wahl clipper oil only: one drop in the centre of the moving top blade and one on each end, then switch the clipper on to spread it and wipe off the excess. Every so often, oil the heel of the blade too. Wipe the housing only with a soft, slightly damp cloth, never with solvents, bleach, benzene or thinner. If it cuts worse despite regular cleaning and oiling, the blade set needs replacing. The Wahl Special Blade Oil 200ml is the bottle for the station; the Wahl Oil Tube 10ml is the tube for your case.

Frequently asked questions