The Wahl Super Taper X is Wahl Professional's cord/cordless clipper for the middle of the cut: it takes the bulk out and then blends the taper off the scalp, between the first pass and the finish. It has a T-shape blade and 6500 RPM, and runs up to 100 min on lithium-ion.

In the box

• The clipper
• 10 guides: 1.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 4.5 mm, 6.0 mm, 10.0 mm, 13.0 mm, 16.0 mm, 19.0 mm, 22.0 mm and 25.0 mm
• WAHL also lists a styling comb, a power supply, oil, a cleaning brush and a blade guard

Why the Super Taper X

A cut in the chair runs in order: the bulk comes off, the taper is blended, the outline is set and the finish is shaved. It covers the first two. WAHL designed it for “Off-Scalp Taper Blending”, “Bulk Hair Removal” and “Shaping and Free Form Cutting”. So it is the clipper that takes the length out with a guide on, and then stays in your hand to blend the taper off the scalp, over the comb or freehand, once the guide comes off.

Key features

• The motor WAHL calls “High-Performance Rotary Motor”
• The T-shape blade, which WAHL sums up as “Stagger-Tooth™ T-Blade Blends and Adds Texture”

Who it is not for

• The finishing shave on the skin - that is a foil shaver's job: the Wahl Vanish Shaver
• Fine detail and the outline - that is a trimmer's job: the Wahl Beret Stealth Trimmer Black

Professional tip

Blend off the scalp. Lift the hair over the comb or work freehand, and flick the clipper out of the hair at the end of each stroke. Before the fade, use the corners of the T-shape blade to set your guide lines, then blend up to them.

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. Set the taper lever: at the top, the blade gives its closest cut; pushing the lever down gradually lengthens the cut.
5. For length, fit one of the ten guides; for outlines and off-scalp blending, work with the bare blade.

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