(How) Can I use a second-hand hair trimmer?

I’d think if you wiped down the blades with some rubbing alcohol, lysol or a little bleach water it should be fine. Germs and bacteria do not live long on most surfaces. I wouldn’t be too concerned, just give it a quickie wipe down with a little disinfectant and you should be fine.

What she said. The barber reuses his equipment all the time as do the ladies who cut hair. They do not use new, sterile scissors as the surgeons do.

@gailcalled: Can you imagine the overhead if they did?

It might be almost as expensive as visiting your doctor.

A Wahl haircutting set, brand new, with more of the combs than I would ever use, cost me $24 at Costco last year. Why mess with a used clipper?

Mostly for the fun of it :P My girlfriend got this at the used products store (sorry, I can’t recall the English term) mainly for the lovely old picture on it, but I figured I might as well try it for the charm.

Thanks for the tips, I had the courage to try it now. Unfortunately, the thing did not work that well, so I’ll still have to go out and buy a new one. But hey, at least I got the retro box!