Dragon Elite’s Guide to
Performance Excellence
Practical advice, demonstrations and expert guidance to help you maintain your tools, improve their performance and get the most from your equipment.
Explore the Guides →Get More From Your Tools
Correct cleaning, lubrication, maintenance and care can make a significant difference to the performance and working life of your tools and equipment. Our guides are designed to give you practical information that you can use in your day-to-day work, whether you rely on professional scissors, grooming blades, horse clipper blades or sheep shearing equipment.
Why We Recommend Oil-Based Cleaners
The type of cleaner used on professional scissors and clipper blades matters more than many people realise.
Professional clipper blades and scissors rely on extremely close, accurately finished metal surfaces to perform correctly. For that reason, the type of cleaner used on them matters more than many people realise.
Why Water-Based Cleaners Can Cause Problems
Water-based cleaners can remove hair, dirt and product residue, but they also introduce moisture directly onto precision metal components.
That moisture can remain trapped around:
- Blade teeth and rails
- Cutter contact surfaces
- Scissor pivots and tension screws
- Screws, springs and other close-fitting components
If moisture is not removed completely, corrosion can begin. This may eventually appear as visible rust, but deterioration often starts long before obvious rust can be seen.
Even very light surface corrosion can increase friction and interfere with the smooth contact required for blades and scissors to work efficiently.
The Effect on Performance
Early corrosion or moisture contamination can contribute to:
- Reduced cutting performance
- Increased drag or resistance
- Blades becoming hotter during use
- Pulling or snagging
- Rougher scissor action
- Premature wear of cutting and contact surfaces
- Visible rust and staining over time
Clipper blades are particularly sensitive because the cutter and comb must work together across extremely closely matched surfaces. Anything that disrupts those surfaces can affect performance.
Why Oil-Based Cleaners Are Better Suited
A suitable oil-based cleaner removes contamination without introducing water to the metal.
It can also help to:
- Displace moisture
- Reduce the risk of corrosion
- Protect exposed metal surfaces
- Remove accumulated oils and residue
- Maintain smoother working surfaces
This makes an oil-based cleaner much better suited to the routine maintenance of professional clipper blades and scissors.
Cleaning Does Not Replace Oiling
Even when using an oil-based cleaner, correct lubrication is still essential.
After cleaning, blades and scissors should always be lubricated with the appropriate clipper blade or scissor oil. Cleaning removes contamination; lubrication provides the ongoing protection and low-friction surface the equipment needs during use.
Dragon Elite Advice
Avoid introducing unnecessary moisture to precision cutting equipment.
For clipper blades and professional scissors, we recommend using a suitable oil-based cleaner followed by correct lubrication.
Good maintenance does more than keep equipment looking clean, it helps preserve cutting performance, reduce wear and protect the precision surfaces your tools depend upon.
Video Guides
Practical demonstrations and advice from Dragon Elite. Watch, learn and put the techniques into practice.
Coming Soon
Scissor Care & Maintenance
Our video guide is in production. In the meantime, read our complete guide to cleaning, oiling, tension and general care for professional hairdressing and pet grooming scissors of all types.
Read the Guide →Coming Soon
A5 Clipper Blade Care
Our video guide is in production. In the meantime, read our complete guide to cleaning, oiling and maintaining standard and wide A5 clipper blades.
Read the Guide →Coming Soon
A2 Horse & Sheep Shearing Blade Care
Our video guide is in production. In the meantime, read our practical guidance covering cleaning, lubrication, fitting, tension and routine maintenance for A2-style horse clipper blades. Much of the same cleaning and lubrication guidance also applies to sheep shearing combs and cutters.
Read the Guide →More Video Guides
Visit our YouTube channel for the latest demonstrations, maintenance advice and practical guides from Dragon Elite.
Visit Our YouTube Channel →Advice & Performance
Practical advice to help you maintain the cutting equipment you rely on and recognise when professional attention may be required.
Scissor Care & Performance
Cleaning, lubrication, tension, storage and general care for professional hairdressing and pet grooming scissors.
A5 Clipper Blade Care
Cleaning, lubrication, inspection and routine maintenance practices for standard and wide A5 detachable clipper blades.
Horse & Sheep Blade Care
Cleaning, lubrication, fitting and tension guidance for A2-style horse clipper blade sets, together with relevant care principles for sheep shearing combs and cutters.
Need Help With Your Tools?
If you’re unsure about the care, maintenance or performance of your scissors, clipper blades, horse clipper blades or sheep shearing equipment, Dragon Elite is here to help.