Katana KS1 Haircutting shears

When it comes to selecting the right size hair cutting tool and scissors for cutting hair, you will find that men often prefer to use hair cutting scissors that are 5.5” to 6” in length. Many women will select a 5” or 5.5” hair shear. The most common method for determining the right size salon shear is by laying the hair scissor on your open hand (palm).  The finger rest of the shear should be at the base of your hand and the tip just below your middle finger.

 Stylists today also prefer to try the haircutting scissors and hair shears in their hands for comfort and will select the size based on how the hair cutting shear feels and not rely entirely on the Palm Sizing method. Either way can be used for selecting the correct size for scissors for hair including salon shears, hair thinning scissors, hair thinning shears and texturizing shears.

 How do you choose your size?

On the technical side, the top grades of Japanese Hitachi Steel used in producing shears for hair ATS314, V10, 440c, 440a and 420. All grades contain a certain amount of cobalt alloys.  The more popular selling models of hair shears and hair scissors are made from the 440c grade with cobalt alloys which is affordably priced between the top grade ATS314 and the lower grade 420c Hitachi Steel.

If in doubt about what hair cutting scissors or shears you want to buy – remember, with Japanese Hitachi Steel, you can’t go wrong.

What do you prefer?  German or Japanese steel?

The chromium will delay the onset of rust, but may not prevent it.  An early sign of water damage to your hair cutting shears is little black pit marks. This problem is the result of not wiping your hair scissors dry after performing a wet cut, and black pit marks are where rust is likely to occur.

Prevent rust damage to your hair scissors, shears, thinning scissors, texturizing shears and all of your hair cutting tools by practicing daily care of your salon shears.

How many of you are aware of this?

All hair shears, hair scissors, thinning shears and thinning scissors should be sharpened at regular intervals – intervals are based on the type of hair you cut and how often your shears for hair are used.  Normally, your hair cutting shears should be sharpened every 500 – 700 haircuts.

When having your cutting shears sharpened, be sure to use a Professional Trained Sharpener.

How often do you have your hair scissors sharpened?

The reason for this problem is that the handles and blades are in reverse order of a right handed hair cutting scissor.  With the left handed shears, you tend to push your thumb completely through the thumb ring and without realizing it, hook the thumb ring and pull it back - this causes the blades to spread apart and fold the hair.

To correct this problem, put your thumb about half way into the thumb ring of your left handed shears – and do not pull back on the thumb ring – let your thumb rest and relax as you close the hair shear blades together. With practice you can easily correct this problem and soon enjoy the comfort of the hair cutting shears designed for your left handed needs.

Has this happened to you?  Tell us your story!

Those hair cutting shears were often made from top quality steel from Solingen, Germany, a steel city comparable to our once thriving and popular steel city of Bethlehem, PA.  The shears for hair were made with bevel type edges and were finished with one blade serrated for holding the hair in place. These hair cutting scissors, thinning scissors and hair thinning shears were the most popular cutting shears in the industry.

Today, the market has changed dramatically!  German hair shears companies still manufacture and sell a sizable number of hair cutting tools, but today the Japanese Convex hair cutting shears dominates the industry.

These shears are hollow ground to make the shears quieter and lighter, and the front of the blade is convexed (rolled) into a very sharp 40-50 degree cutting angle.  This angle makes the cutting edges of the hair scissors and hair shears so sharp they actually bite into the hair and hold it in place for cutting and eliminate the need for a serrated blade.

Of what type of steel are your hair shears made?

Katana KS8 Swivel Thumb Hair Shear

Most professional hair Stylists today enjoy pain free hair cutting with ergonomic hair shears.  Many years ago, the only type of hair cutting scissor and shears for cutting hair were the opposing or straight handled shears, and if you suffered from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, your life was miserable and your career, possibly in jeopardy.

Today, you are able to choose from a wide variety of ergonomic designed hair shears, hair scissors, thinning shears, hair thinning scissors and texturizing shears. These shears for hair generally have the thumb ring of the hair cutting tools placed slightly below the finger ring and are bent down to different angles – this placement results in relief of the extreme pressure put on the hand and helps to relieve and prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

One of the most popular and effective ergonomic hair scissors and hair thinning shears is the Swivel Thumb hair scissor. The thumb ring is actually made onto the handle with a swivel joint allowing full movement of the thumb.  If you suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the Swivel Thumb Hair Scissor is a great choice of hair scissor for you.

Which do you prefer–Offset Handles or Swivel Thumb Shears?

Avoid buying a lemon! By arming yourself with a bit of knowledge about quality hair cutting scissors and shears, you can avoid making a mistake. Here are some things to consider when ready to make your hair scissor and hair shear purchase:

1) Determine that the hair cutting shears or scissors are made from high quality steel.

2) Make sure the manufacturing process is up to par – test the blades to see if they are well balanced, check that the scissor movement is not loose, and make sure the hardware works well.  Remember – the external hardware (screws, clicker assemblies, finger rest, etc.) must keep the hair cutting scissors properly tensioned and balanced through the completion of your cut. (Extra tip: It is recommended that you clean and adjust your hair shears at the end of each day).

3) Buying a good name brand is important; however, there are many quality hair shears in the marketplace today that meet high manufacturer standards but are not nationally recognized.

There is nothing more disappointing than being unhappy with your purchase, or finding out after the fact that the hair cutting shears you purchased are of poor quality.

When you are ready to make your next purchase of professional hair shears, hair scissors, thinning scissors and thinning shears, using the above information should help you in finalizing your choice.

What shears are you using?  What do you like or not like about them?

Also, please give some thought to the type and the condition of the hair you cut.  Cutting manikin hair may easily damage your shears – as will cutting chlorinated or treated hair.

It is a good idea to keep your hair cutting tools protected when not in use – and take them home with you.  Never leave your hair your cutting shears at the Salon.

Be sure to keep your hair scissors and shears cleaned and oiled on a regular basis.  Proper daily care will help you give your customers the best service possible and will also help to reduce the frequency of sharpening and tool repair.

If you have any tips of your own to share on hair cutting shears care, please send them on!

When having your hair scissors, hair shears, and thinning scissors sharpened, be sure to qualify the Sharpener by asking for references and if he or she will be using the right equipment .

Taking the time to verify the Sharpener’s references and equipment is worthwhile and may be the difference between having your scissors in good working order or wrecked beyond repair.

Have your shears been wrecked?  Tell us your story!