I just figured out a way to take off the grip sleeve. First point is that the picture of the hand in the front was misleading! There is a thin gap between the head and the grip sleeve. I turned the trimmer so the back faced me. Stuck my fingernail into the gap, then slid it under the Rubber Grip Sleeve. Then pulled the sleeve up off the handle and down toward the bottom to create a flap my fingers could grab. After that I gently slid one hand to the front side so fingers were able to replicate the hand at the back. I pulled down gently keeping in mind the switch in the front.