Can Wahl Pet Clippers Be Used on Humans? (Dog Clippers vs Human Clippers)

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Can Wahl Pet Clippers Be Used on Humans?

When it comes to getting a haircut, you probably usually head to your local barber. However, if you want to try to cut your hair at home, you might wonder if dog grooming clippers will do the job.

Wahl pet clippers can be used on humans. However, Wahl human clippers are more suitable for cutting human hair. Pet clippers feature blades specially designed to cut animal fur, and they don’t cut close to the skin. They are powerful and work fast, so they may pull your hair or cause painful nicks.

This article will discuss why it might not be advisable to use Wahl pet clippers when cutting human hair. Read on to learn more about the differences between dog clippers and human clippers.

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Are Wahl Dog Clippers the Same As Human Clippers?

Wahl dog clippers are not the same as human clippers since the two are designed differently. Pets like dogs require specialized tools to address their grooming needs, while humans can even use scissors or razor blades, ideal for use on short surface hairs.

Humans sport a single type of hair (terminal hair) on their heads, but pets’ bodies contain various types of fur.
For instance, a dog’s exterior coat is usually made of bristles thicker and coarser than the rest of the pup’s hair. This layer protects the soft, dense undercoat, referred to as wool.
Dogs also have whiskers and coarse long facial hair, while some, like Yorkshire terriers, feature human-like hair.
As a result, you require different blades to cut animal fur. These blades are specially designed to either target the bristles or the wool of a dog’s coat, allowing you to make layers that suit the dog’s breed and hair or fur type.

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What Are the Differences Between Dog and Human Clippers?

A cursory glance at both human and dog clippers might lead you to think they look similar – hence can be used interchangeably – but this is not entirely correct. If you take a closer look, you will notice subtle but unique differences between them.

Therefore, if you are wondering whether you can use Wahl dog clippers to cut male hair, the answer is yes, you can, but you probably shouldn’t.

The key difference between a dog and human clippers is that the former is designed for cutting through thick fur while the latter is meant for lighter human hair. Dog clippers are also sharper, thicker, pricier, and made with heavier metal than ordinary human clippers.

But that’s not all. Other differences between the two clippers include:

Dog clippers have more blade variety. Dog clippers have a wide variety of blade lengths and sizes. They are also sharper and boast varying teeth spacing, the multiple blades allowing them to cut different types of fur more efficiently.

Conversely, human clippers sport finer, shorter blades, making it harder to penetrate tangled hairs. Standard blades cut hair from 0.2 mm (0.02 cm) to 0.008″ (0.2032 mm) from the scalp.

Dog clippers are more powerful. Dog clippers move powerfully through thick and tough fur. Electric dog clippers, in particular, can work through thick clumps of hair without a hassle. Still, the blades are made in a way that prevents the dog’s fur from getting pulled.

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Dog clippers boast a higher-speed motor. Professional dog grooming clippers contain a high-speed motor, allowing them to work faster. The extra speed is also necessary to help them cut through dense animal fur.

Since human hair is light and fine-textured, it doesn’t offer much resistance; thus, human clippers don’t require a high-speed motor. That said, dog clipper motors are typically lighter than motors found in human clippers.

Pet clippers sport varying speeds. Dog clippers sport interchangeable blades and variable-speed motors to accommodate the different hair types.

The high speeds deliver a smooth sheen after a cut, while lower speeds enable you to work on tender areas like the face and feet. The blades are also designed to produce minimal heat and vibrations, ensuring your hand doesn’t tire as you work.

Human clippers wear down faster. Human clippers tend to heat up quickly, making them wear out much quicker due to increased friction.

Fortunately, you only need to use them for a few minutes, especially if you are doing a trim. Conversely, dog clippers can run for extended periods while remaining cool. They are also quieter since loud noises could scare off pets.

They are shaped differently. Human clippers are flat-shaped with super fine teeth that are set close together. Guillotine clippers, on the other hand, bear the perfect size and shape to cut through your dog’s nails.

The blades deliver different cut lengths. Men generally use human clippers to shave off their beards or cut their hair, which requires a good finish. However, dog clippers are designed to cut lengths suitable for pets.

Dogs’ skin is more sensitive, and cutting the hair too close to the skin could cause bruising. Most pet clippers contain a No.10 blade, which cuts pet fur up to 1/16 inch (1.58 mm) from the body.

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Dog clippers are pricier. Dog clippers are more expensive than human clippers because they offer more versatility in terms of design.

The clipper kits are suited to their purposes. Dog clipper grooming kits come equipped with a special brush for combing pet fur, whereas human clipper kits contain combs suitable for use on human hair.

You will find the clippers in different locations. You can usually find human hair clippers at your local barbershop, while dog clippers are typically available in pet parlor shops.

Here is a comparison table showing the differences between some of the most popular Wahl pet clippers and human clippers:

Feature	Wahl Pet Clippers # 79602	Wahl Human Clippers # 9281-210
Blades	Carbon, sharp and snag-free	Self-sharpening precision blades
Motor	Power drive cutting system	Powerful and durable
Noise	Low	High
Combs	4 pet guide and styling combs	Stainless steel, secure-fit, clip guide combs

Source: Medium

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Are Wahl Blades Interchangeable Between Pets and Humans?

Wahl has an adjustable blade line whose blade sizes overlap and are thus applicable between both pets and humans. The manufacturer insists that, in general, you should not use blades made for grooming pets on human hair.

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Final Thoughts

While Wahl pet clippers and human clippers seem alike, they are designed for different purposes. As such, pet clippers are not suitable for use on human hair. While you can use dog clippers in a hair-cutting emergency, it’s best to go for clippers specially designed for your type of hair.

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Sources

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