That $200 clipper I bought on a whim saved my wrist from carpal tunnel

I've been cutting hair for about 6 years now and my right wrist was starting to ache real bad after long days. So last month I dropped $200 on a cordless Wahl Senior with a swivel head, figured it was a gamble. That pivot feature lets me keep my wrist straight when I'm doing fades and it made a huge difference by the end of my first week. No more sharp pain after my 4th client of the day. Has anyone else tried a swivel clipper or found another way to ease the strain on your hand?

3 comments

3 Comments

dylanward17d ago

6 years of cutting hair and a sore wrist is just part of the job honestly... I've been doing this for 12 years and my hand aches but I just stretch it out between clients. A $200 clipper seems like a lot to drop for a problem that might just be you getting older. Not saying it didn't help but maybe try some wrist exercises first before blaming the equipment.

seth_carr17d ago

Oh man, I totally used to think it was just wear and tear too. But honestly after reading your take I'm rethinking whether I've been ignoring a fixable problem this whole time.

laura_ross13d agoMost Upvoted

My wrist was killing me after two years in the salon and I just figured it was part of the deal. What actually helped me was switching to a lighter pair of shears, not even expensive ones, just ones that balanced better in my hand. Took a few weeks but the difference was night and day, especially on long cutting days. I still do wrist stretches before work but the equipment was making everything worse without me realizing. Sometimes a small change in gear can fix something you've been blaming on age or wear and tear.