The Wahl taper lever, also known as the blade lever, is used to adjust the closeness of your haircut, allowing for blending and fading. The reference video segment highlights its importance for achieving "beautiful faded haircuts." Essentially, it changes the cutting length without needing to swap out guide combs.
Here's a breakdown of how to use the taper lever:
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Understanding the Lever's Positions: The taper lever on Wahl clippers typically has three main positions:
- Lever Fully Up (Closed): This position provides the closest cut. The blades are aligned for the shortest possible hair length.
- Lever in the Middle: This is an intermediate setting.
- Lever Fully Down (Open): This position provides the longest cut without a guide comb. The blades are set farther apart. The reference refers to "opening the blade" which is this position (1:43).
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Adjusting for Fades and Blends:
- Fading: Move the lever in small increments between the open and closed positions to create subtle gradations in hair length. This is crucial for achieving faded haircuts (2:40).
- Blending: Use the lever to smooth out lines created by different guide comb lengths. By adjusting the lever, you can seamlessly blend the various sections of hair.
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Fine-Tuning: The taper lever allows for very precise adjustments. Experiment with small movements to achieve the exact desired length. This eliminates the need to change guards as frequently.
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Zero Gapping: The lever can be used to aid in zero gapping your clippers (though the reference does not mention this). Zero gapping involves adjusting the stationary blade to be flush with (or slightly forward of) the moving blade for the closest possible cut when the lever is in the closed position.
