Being a responsible dog owner means pampering and grooming your dog frequently. You may opt to pay for a professional groomer, but it is more practical to have a DIY grooming session at home.
You might wonder whether human clippers are applicable for pet grooming since they look quite similar to pet clippers.
The temptation to use them for economic purposes is probably high, but are they safe to use for your dogs.
Let's explore the difference between the two to answer the question, "can you cut dog hair with human clippers?"
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Human Hair vs. Dog Hair
Both human and dog hair, despite the different varieties and growth patterns, are made up of keratin. While the human hair is lighter and thinner, the dog's hair tends to be thicker, thus covering their entire body.
Humans can't regulate temperature using their hair as opposed to animals. Dogs have a special coating around their hair follicle, giving them protection against too much heat, cold, and rain.
Moreover, dogs have multiple hair types on their bodies. Some have inner thick-layered fur to allow insulation from the cold, outer coarser coat for more protection, and long thick whiskers for added sensory.
Difference Between Dog Clippers and Human Clippers
At a glance, the dog clippers and human clippers may look similar, but there are some key differences between them.
1. Motor
The motor is the powerhouse for both dog and human clippers, which are utilized for different amounts of time. While the human clippers are used for a shorter time due to less hair, the dog clippers commonly require longer operation time.
Dog clippers are equipped with lighter motors to minimize vibration and sound. This design also prevents the clippers from getting hot quickly to relieve the dog's stress and ensure safer cuts.
2. Blade
The blades of dog clippers are different from that of the human clippers. While the human clippers come with standard-sized finer teeth, the ones used for dogs have wider teeth meant for their fur texture.
This wider gap structure is ideal for clipping through mats without getting caught up in the dog's hair, thus reducing the risk of being pulled out. There are, however, fine-tooth blades that are fitted for grooming and leaving smooth texture on your dogs.
3. Speed
The speed of both clippers varies depending on their intended use or applications. While the human clippers offer fewer strokes per minute to achieve perfect hairstyling, the dog clippers require variable speed settings for optimum results.
Dog clippers usually require up to a maximum speed of 5000 strokes per minute to allow quick trimming even on long and thick hair. They also enable easy lowering adjustments on the speed when the delicate areas of the body are being groomed.
4. Clipper Kits and Accessories
Both clippers come with kits and accessories to make grooming a lot easier and more enjoyable. Human clippers usually offer accessories such as small brushes, which are perfectly suitable for humans.
On the other hand, dog clippers come with special grooming accessories suited for all dog breeds. This includes multiple comb sizes for a hassle-free grooming session.
Can You Cut Dog Hair With Human Clippers?
By now, you should be convinced not to use human clippers in grooming your dogs. Humans and dogs have different hair types; thus, they require different clippers to ensure safety and to come up with the best possible results.
The human clippers lack the blade teeth arrangement to avoid nasty nicks and cuts on the undercoat. They also don't have enough juice to cut and trim super thick fur without getting stuck.
These things will cause discomfort to your dogs; thus, it is recommended to use a dog clipper over a human clipper on any day.
However, there are some cases when the use of human clippers for dog grooming is somehow permissible. They can be used for dogs, if and only if, all their prerequisites for grooming most dog breeds are achieved.
Also, the use of a human clipper is only applicable for grooming dogs without an undercoat.
Now, is it the same the other way around? The use of dog grooming clippers on humans is not dangerous.
They are designed to be sharper and more powerful than human clippers, yet lack the risk of getting caught and pulling human hair.
Grooming Dogs Like a Pro
Dog grooming can be a daunting task, so you should be aware that it can take a lot of your time if you want to do it at home.
Here are some helpful tips to guide you along the way:
Final Thoughts
After learning the facts about human clippers and dog clippers, answering the question "can you cut dog hair with human clippers" is just a piece of cake!
While both dog clippers and human clippers seem to have the same application, they differ a lot in terms of their functionality and features.
Human clippers are not suitable for dogs and other pets as they can promote higher risks of dog injury. Also, these clippers come with noisy and high-powered motors that can be very stressful for your furry buddies.
There are, however, some exemptions that can be applied with the use of human clippers in dogs. But, these should be done with utmost care to avoid hurting your dogs.
On the other hand, dog clippers are carefully designed to fit in the needs of your dog grooming sessions.
They should be carefully chosen to ensure long-lasting performance and efficiency to get the job done.
With the various options available, it is best to invest in a good pair of dog clippers that are best suited for all dog breeds.
Happy dog grooming!
Hey there, I’m Ruby Smith, founder of Pet So Fun, and I’m here to provide you with useful information about your precious pet. All pets deserve the best care, don’t they? But not all pet owners have access to the right products and tips for their pets. And the central core of my work here is to change that.