A clipper jam during a high skin fade in Phoenix

It was a Tuesday afternoon at the shop on 7th Street. My main cordless clipper just stopped dead halfway through a zero fade. Client had one side completely bald, the other side untouched. I grabbed my old backup Andis Masters from the drawer, oiled it quick, and finished the cut. Took about 3 extra minutes but he never even noticed. What's your go-to backup plan when your main tool fails mid-cut?

3 comments

3 Comments

claire_walker25d ago

Ever have that moment where you're just praying the client doesn't look in the mirror? My backup is a pair of ancient Wahl Seniors that sound like a lawnmower but always run. I keep them oiled and ready to go for exactly that kind of panic. Had a similar thing happen with a taper once, just switched clippers and pretended I meant to do it. The silent relief when they don't notice is the best feeling lol.

adam_thompson5325d ago

Man, I actually do the opposite. If my main clippers die mid-cut, I just tell the client straight up. Something like "Well, these decided to quit on us, hang tight for a second." In my experience, being honest about the little hiccups builds way more trust than trying to sneak a swap. They usually laugh it off with you.

the_tyler17d ago

Honestly, I have to disagree with just grabbing a backup without saying anything. That's a quick way to lose trust if they do notice. I always give a quick heads up, like "battery's dead, one sec." It takes two seconds and they appreciate the honesty. Trying to hide it feels sneaky, like you're hoping they're not paying attention to their own haircut.