What is the consequence of clipping a Westie's coat with electric clippers instead of hand-stripping?

Clipping removes the harsh texture, leaving a soft, cottony coat that mats easily.

The desirable texture for a Westie coat involves two layers: a harsh, straight outer coat designed to repel debris and water, and a soft undercoat. The traditional maintenance method, hand-stripping, manually removes dead guard hairs while preserving this hardy outer texture. Conversely, clipping the coat with electric clippers severs these guard hairs, resulting in the loss of the essential harsh texture. This alteration leaves the coat feeling soft and cottony, which severely compromises its weather-resistant properties and makes the dog significantly more susceptible to developing painful tangles and mats much faster than a properly stripped coat.