Conair HCT420R - 2-in-1 Clipper Detailer Manual

DEVICE OVERVIEW

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

This appliance is intended for household use. Use on Alternating Current (120V AC 60Hz) only. This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). As a safety feature, this plug will fit in the outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not attempt to defeat this safety feature.
Your new Conair® Complete Grooming System has everything you need to achieve professional haircuts, beard trimming and detailing at home. It features a powerful clipper with adjustable taper control and stainless steel blades for cutting precision. Also included are 7 attachment combs; 1/8" (3mm), 1/4" (6mm), 3/8" (9.5mm), 1/2" (13mm), 5/8" (16mm), 3/4" (19mm), 7/8" (22mm) for different hair lengths, barber scissors, barber cape, deluxe storage case and a barber comb with straight teeth. It also comes with lubricating oil and a blade guard for easy maintenance of the clipper blades.

GUIDE TO CUTTING HAIR AT HOME

Before you start:

1. Inspect your clipper. Make sure it's free of hair and dirt, is properly oiled, and running smoothly.
2. Place cape around the neck of the person getting a haircut.
3. Seat the person so that his or her head is at your eye level. This gives you greater visibility and control.
4. First, comb hair until it's tangle free. Then hold clipper in a comfortable grip. Now you're ready to cut.

MEDIUM TO LONG CUT

To begin with, cut only a small amount of hair until you become used to the length each attachment leaves the hair. Try the longest attachment comb and put the taper control in the highest setting. If you want a shorter cut, you can then use shorter combs.

• Short attachment comb (#1) cuts hair to 1/8".
• Medium-Short attachment comb (#2) cuts hair to 1/4".
• Medium-Long attachment comb (#3) cuts hair to 3/8".
• Long attachment comb (#4) cuts hair to 1/2".
• Long attachment comb (#5) cuts hair to 5/8".
• Long attachment comb (#6) cuts hair to 3/4".
• Long attachment comb (#7) cuts hair to 7/8".

Attach combs by holding them teeth up, then snapping them onto the bottom of the clipper blade.

To remove comb attachments, place index finger and thumb as illustrated; then pull out and up.

NOTE: Never push or shove the clipper through the hair to make it move more quickly. Professional experience shows that the clipper works most efficiently when it cuts through the hair at its own speed.

To begin cutting hair:

1. The hair should be combed in its natural direction.
2. Using the largest attachment comb, trim sides from the bottom upward. Hold clipper lightly against the hair with teeth of the attachment comb pointing upward, yet flat against the head.
   Gradually lift the clipper upward and outward through the hair, trimming just a little at a time.
   
   Repeat around sides and back of head.
   
   If you want hair to be even shorter:
   1. Apply more pressure to the head with the attachment comb that is in place. This takes a little practice, of course.
      OR
   2. Just switch to a shorter attachment comb.

Remember, it's better to leave too much hair than too little. For longer hair on top, use the styling comb and lift hair on the top of the head, cutting over the comb, or hold the hair between the fingers and cut to desired length. Always working from the front to the back of the head, gradually cut the hair shorter by reducing the space between the comb or fingers and the head. Comb often to check for uneven strands, and to get rid of trimmed hair.

Equipped with a turbo switch, this unit is designed to provide extra power making it easier to cut thicker, coarser hair.

OUTLINING

Outlining requires no attachments. Comb hair into the desired style. Position the clipper between the sideburns and the ear (see illustration), making sure the corner edge of the blade is against the hairline. With the outline of the hair as your guide, slowly move the clipper over, around and behind the ears. For the back of the neck and the sideburns, hold the clipper upside down (see illustration) and, holding it against the skin at the length desired, move the clipper downward.

STOP. COMB. CHECK.

For best results, do as the professionals do: Comb hair often, and check clipping results as you comb. This way you avoid uneven sides, bangs, neckline, etc.

FOR ULTRA-CLOSE FADE STYLES

A fade cut is a haircut that starts with very short hair (almost bald) on the sides of the head, but lengthens as it nears the top.

1. Start with clean, dry hair. If hair is fairly long, use a long comb attachment (ideally #4) to remove the bulk of your hair before starting the fade cut.
2. Using the long comb attachment, trim hair, cutting against the growth of your hair (from base of neck up toward top of head). At first, until you become familiar with the different attachments, begin with a longer one. You can always go back and make your hair a little shorter. Brush or comb away cuttings as you go. Do not force the blades through the hair. Let the trimmer do the work. Using the #1 comb attachment, you can cut hair as short as 1/8".
3. Gradually trim hair from entire head, rotating trimmer when necessary. Keep cutting against the natural growth of your hair.
4. Establish the fade line. Remove comb attachments. With the taper control in position #1, start by blending the hair at the fade line by trimming up and out, repeating as you rotate around the head. Cut hair shorter on the sides and base of the head than on the top of the head.
5. With the taper control in the #5 position, the blade is as close as it can be to the head. Now repeat the above process, virtually removing all hair. Begin at the base of the scalp and blend toward the fade line. The goal is to blend the hair so there is no real line, just a perfect fade from bald on the sides to very short hair on the top. Continue blending – remember to comb or brush hair against the natural growth to remove cuttings as you go until you achieve the desired look.

FOR THE BALD CUT

Follow the instructions for the FADE CUT, cutting hair progressively shorter with each pass of the clipper. For a bald effect, remove all comb attachments and move the taper control to the #5 position. To receive maximum closeness, overlap strokes in a crisscross pattern. To achieve a smooth bald look, we recommend you finish by using a razor with lather to shave entire head.

SHORTCUTS TO PERFECT FLAT TOPS, CREWCUTS, ETC.

Always cut from the back of the neck to the crown, using the longest comb setting. Hold the comb attachment flat against the head and slowly move the clipper up through the hair. Use the same technique for the sides, cutting from the bottom to the upper side of the head.
For the front to the crown, cut the hair against the direction in which it grows, then even it up with the sides.
For a flattop, use the flat comb, not the attachment comb. Just cut hair on top of the head over flat comb (see illustration).

To taper hair down to the neckline, use attachment comb #1. Comb hair and check for uneven spots. Outline sideburns and neck areas (see "Outlining").

USER MAINTENANCE

CARE OF YOUR CLIPPERS

DETACHABLE BLADE SET

This clipper comes with a detachable blade set. To remove the blades follow these steps:

1. Hold the front part of the clipper with your thumb pressing on the blade and place another hand against the blade. (see Fig. 1)
   
2. When pressing the blade forward, the blade is detached. (see Fig. 2)
   

TO REPLACE BLADE:

1. Set the Taper Control Button to lowest position "1" (see Fig. 3).
   
2. Place the blade onto the clipper body by inserting the "Blade Tongue" down below the "Lock Tap." (see Fig. 4)
   
3. Snap the blade down. The blade is now fixed onto the clipper body. (see Fig. 5)
   

Use these instructions to switch between the clipper and beard trimmer blades and back.

SPECIAL OIL

To maintain the blades of your Conair^® clipper, oil them after every three or four haircuts. Gently place a few drops of oil on the teeth of the blades, using the special Conair oil included with your set. Turn the clipper on for a minute, then turn off. This light, natural oil was formulated specifically for the Conair^® high-speed clipper. Because it is the right oil to use, it will not slow down the blades. Never use any other product. There is no substitute for Conair oil.
KEEP OIL OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

ADJUSTABLE 5 POSITION TAPER CONTROL

Just like levers on professional clippers, the Conair^® taper control is positioned at the back of the unit, which functions for both the clipper and trimmer blade so you can hold the clipper in your hand and adjust the lever at the same time...while you're clipping/trimming. This taper control eliminates the need in some situations for an attachment comb, because it lets you gradually adjust the closeness of the cut. For the closest cut and the shortest hair, push taper control up as far as it will go to level #1. To increase cutting length, slowly push control down. If you push to the lowest position level #5 or #4, it will leave hair about the same length as the short attachment comb.
Because a different cutting edge is used in each setting, the taper lever lengthens the life of your blades. Packed-in hair can slow down any clipper. To remove it without removing the blades, take your cleaning brush and brush the hair from the blades. If you do this after every clipping, especially with heavy hair cutting, the blades should remain free of cut hair. If clipper stops cutting and this action doesn't help, try loosening the blades to remove the hair.

Any other servicing should be performed by an authorized service representative. The appliance has no user serviceable parts. The product is for household use (see note).
If clipper stops cutting, check to see if there is a clump of hair lodged between the blades. If that is the problem, unplug the clipper and then loosen the blades to remove the hair.
If the clipper stops cutting but does not stop running, you will need to check the blades. For new blades, send check or money order for $6.50, which includes postage and handling, to:
Conair Corporation 150 Milford Rd.
East Windsor, NJ 08520
NOTE: Never pull on the clipper cord. Never twist or wrap the cord around the clipper. To store your clipper, lay it flat with the cord coiled up, then place in cylinder.

TO OPERATE AS A TRIMMER

1. Make sure unit is OFF. Remove wide clipper blade by simply placing your thumb in front of the blade and pushing back until the blade detaches. Use a cleaning brush to remove any loose hair before attaching the trimmer blade. Attach the narrow blade from the back, (lining it up with the small tab) and then push forward until the blade snaps into place. Be sure that the taper control is set to the lowest setting (switch will be down from the blade) before replacing the blade. To begin trimming, push the taper control switch up to its highest setting.
2. To trim your mustache, comb hair in the direction of growth. Push the taper control button to its highest setting. Trimming only works in this setting. Hold trimmer in an upright position and bring the tip of the blade straight into the mustache to trim.
3. To clean the trimmer, turn unit to OFF position. Using your thumb, press upward against the blade. This will make it easy to clean. Brush or blow hair clippings from the cutter blade.
4. Again, snap in the blade set until you hear a click. Be sure that the taper control is set to the lowest setting (switch will be away from the blade) before replacing the blade. This trimmer attachment works well on sideburns and necks as well as goatees and short beard styles and mustaches. For thick, full beards we recommend using the clipper blade.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR TRIMMER

OILING THE BLADES

About once a month you should oil the trimmer blades with the oil provided in your kit. It is best to do this over a piece of newspaper. Turn the trimmer on and hold it so that the blades are pointed downward. Spread one drop of oil across the blades, then turn the trimmer off and wipe away the excess oil with a soft cloth.
Be careful not to use too much oil and don't oil your trimmer more than necessary, as this could damage the motor. (Never attempt to oil the motor bearing, as it is permanently lubricated.) KEEP OIL AWAY FROM CHILDREN.

BLADE CARE

Because the trimmer blades are precision made for a very special use, they should always be handled with care. Each time you finish using the trimmer, take a cleaning brush provided and brush away any loose hair that has collected in the blades. Then store the trimmer in its pouch to protect the blades until the next use.
Be especially careful when changing or adjusting blades.
To promote the long life of the appliance, use your trimmer blade only for the purpose intended by the manufacturer – to trim your beard and mustache.

TURBO FEATURE

This product is equipped with a turbo boost button. When activated, this will provide additional cutting power. This is especially useful for cutting through thicker hair.
To activate the turbo feature:

1. Turn the Power switch to the ON position.
2. Press the Turbo button.
3. Continue to press the Turbo button for as long as you need the extra power.
4. Release the Turbo button to return to normal power.

GROWING A BEARD AND MUSTACHE

There are three key factors that will determine which beard or mustache style is best for you:

1. The shape and dimensions of your face.
2. The natural growth of your beard/ mustache.
3. The thickness of your beard/mustache. If you are unsure about the type of beard or mustache that would most suit your face, speak with a professional hair stylist and ask for an opinion on what style would be best. Once your beard or mustache has been styled, it is essential that you maintain its appearance. To do this, use your trimmer to trim your beard/mustache weekly.

For the best trimming results, your beard should be slightly damp (NOT WET) when using your trimmer. This will prevent the trimmer from removing more hair than desired.

TYPES OF BEARDS/MUSTACHES

GETTING STARTED

OUTLINING YOUR BEARD

1. It is always best to begin with a clean, slightly damp beard.
2. After you have combed through your beard in the direction it grows naturally, you will want to outline the desired shape, beginning under your jawline.
3. Begin defining your beard's shape under your chin and work upward on each side of your face toward your ears. Then define the upper outline of your beard across your cheeks, past your sideburns, and toward your hairline.
   

NOW YOU'RE READY TO TRIM YOUR BEARD

1. The trimmer includes one 5-position comb for use with the 30mm facial hair blade, which provides lengths of 3/32" (shortest) to 3/8" (longest).
2. To use the 5-position comb, slide the unit over the trimmer blade and snap it down into position. At first, until you become familiar with the adjustments, use the longest trim setting. (You can always go back and make your beard a little shorter.)
3. To use the taper control, push upward for shorter cuts and downward for longer cuts. At first, until you become familiar with the adjustments, use the longest trim setting (3/8"). (You can always go back and make your beard a little shorter.)
4. Begin trimming your beard using smooth, even strokes. Start with your sideburns and work downward toward your chin. (Never attempt to trim against the natural growth of your beard because the hair will be cut too short.)
5. If you decide you want a closer trim, you can now adjust the 5-position comb attachment to a shorter setting (such as 3/32" or 5/32") and go over your beard again until you achieve the desired length.

BLENDING THE JAWLINE

1. The three jawline attachments will help you to achieve a neat, finished trim under your chin. To use one of the attachments, press it down over the trimmer blades until it clicks into position.
   
2. Hold the trimmer in an upright position and begin trimming under your jawline, using short, even strokes.
3. After your beard is blended, turn off the trimmer and remove the attachment by gently pulling up on the tab.

IF YOU THINK THE POWER IS OFF WHEN THE SWITCH IS OFF, YOU'RE WRONG.
KEEP AWAY FROM WATER
Everyone knows that electricity and water are a dangerous combination. But did you know that an electric appliance is still electrically alive even if the switch is off? If the plug is in, the power is on. So when you are not using your appliances, keep them unplugged.
ALWAYS UNPLUG SMALL APPLIANCES

Please register this product at www.conair.com/registration

Service Center
Conair Corporation
Service Department
7475 North Glen Harbor Blvd.
Glendale, AZ 85307
©2016 Conair Corporation
150 Milford Road, East Windsor, NJ 08520
7475 North Glen Harbor Blvd., Glendale, AZ 85307