Hairdressing Scissors - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2023
Whether you use them to cut your kids' hair, trim your bangs between salon visits, or earn money as a professional hairdresser, a good pair of hairdressing scissors is an important and highly targeted tool. In other words, forget about using the same scissors you use to cut paper or cut your cuticles when cutting hair. The specialized hairdressing scissors also called cutting or hairdressing scissors they're essential if you want styling results that don't require hiding under a hat.
There's more to choosing barber scissors than you might think, though. Length, function, blade type, handle style, materials, and price all come into play when choosing the perfect scissor. That is why we have written this buying guide to choose and use the best hairdressing scissors. If you're inclined to trim your locks at home, scissors designed specifically for the job are a must.
Read on to find out more, and don't forget to check out our product recommendations.
Key Considerations
- Choose the Right Length
You'll find hair clippers with blades ranging from four to eight inches in length. Choosing the correct length is partly a matter of hand size and partly a matter of haircutting technique. Many stylists carry multiple scissors in a range of sizes, so the right tool for a specific cut is always close at hand.
As a general rule, students in hair and beauty schools learn to cut hair with 5.5-inch scissors, which is considered the industry standard. However, those with large hands may be more comfortable with correspondingly longer blades. Still, it is generally believed that the shorter the blade, the better the level of control when cutting hair. However, longer blades can make it easier for some to achieve consistent results, especially when creating looks with long, precise lines, such as bobs and other straight-edged styles.
Most stylists use short scissors with blades less than 5.5 inches for precise work. These tasks would include trimming individual hairs or thinning strands of hair around the ears, eyes, and forehead, as well as doing touch-ups and detail work near the client's neck. Shorter scissors are also useful for creating a tousled or shaggy look.
Scissors that are 5.5 inches and larger are the workhorses of the barbering world. These are the tools used for cutting bobs and other blunt cuts, cutting thick hair, using scissor-over-comb techniques, slide cutting, and crafting basic styles on both men and women.
Two Basic Types of Hairdressing Scissors
There are many specialized haircutting shears, but most fall into two basic groups: Straight Shears and Thinning Shears.
Straight Shears or shears are the basic tools of the barbering trade. These scissors have blades that resemble the scissors used to cut paper. Straight scissors are used for basic and advanced cutting techniques on all hair types, from fine to thick, thin to thick, and straight to curly. If you cut a lot of hair, enjoy creating a variety of styles, or have a complicated cut, you'll want to get a pair of shorter and longer straight hairdressing scissors.
Scissors or shears have small teeth along the cutting edge of the blade. Thinning shears are essential for cutting thick hair as they can remove weight without reducing the overall length of the hair, thus helping to reduce the tendency of thick or curly hair to take on a triangular, outline. . Thinning scissors are also great for blending cut lines left over from straight scissors and for blending sections of hair into a seamless style. Most men's cuts today, in particular, make heavy use of thinning shears.
Texture scissors are a subset of thinning scissors. The teeth on these scissors are spaced farther apart than those on thinning shears, making them ideal for creating textured or spiky styles that rely on a lot of volume and lift throughout the hair.
Two Basic Types of Hairdressing Scissors
You will find two basic types of blades when shopping for barber scissors: beveled and convex.
Beveled Blades have a slightly flattened cutting edge, and many have micro serrations along the blade that help hold hair in place while cutting. This makes beveled blades ideal for those who are new to the barbering craft, but are not useful for sliding techniques such as cutting into hair. Still, these basic scissors are ideal for most dry hair cutting techniques. On the downside, it takes a bit more force to cut with a beveled blade than a convex one, which can lead to hand and wrist fatigue. However, the bevel blade is durable and does not need to be sharpened as often as a convex blade.
Convex Blades, also called Japanese blades after their country of origin, lack a bevel and instead have a slight curve leading to an extremely sharp cutting edge. This makes them more difficult to handle than beveled blades and therefore suitable for the more experienced barber or stylist. It also makes them ideal scissors for advanced cutting techniques such as chipping and slicing. The sharp edge leaves a very smooth line and cuts through wet hair without catching or pulling. On the downside, these blades require more frequent sharpening than bevel blades and are generally a bit heavier as well.
When it comes to barber scissors, there are three basic handle styles: Symmetrical, Offset, and Crane. Choosing the right one is mostly a matter of comfort and personal preference.
Symmetrical Handles, also called opposite or even handles, have finger loops that are in line with the blades and are symmetrical to each other. This is the oldest style of hair cutting scissors, and many stylists still prefer it, especially those who first learned how to cut hair with this type of scissors. The alignment of these scissors tends to force the stylist to keep the elbows raised in a horizontal position while cutting, however, greatly increasing the chances of wrist strain or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Offset Handles have a thumb loop that is slightly shorter than the finger loop, so the thumb loop is not very centered with the cutting blades. This reduces stress on the thumb and wrist, but still requires the stylist to raise their elbows for many techniques.
The handles of the Cranes are of the most ergonomic style. On these scissors, both the thumb and fingers are angled under the blades, greatly reducing stress on the thumb and wrist and allowing the stylist to perform most techniques without raising the elbows to an unnatural or uncomfortable height. . This is the handle of choice for most professional stylists.
Tips
- Keeping your scissors in good condition will help you achieve the best results. Here's how to care for your hairdressing scissors.
- Clean bits of hair after each use, and then clean blades with Barbicide or a similar disinfectant specifically formulated for scissors.
- Always store your scissors with the blades closed.
- Don't use your hair clippers to cut other materials, such as paper, fabric, or string. Doing so dulls the blades.
- While accidents do happen, try to avoid putting your shears where they are likely to be knocked into the ground. Dropping scissors from a height is a good way to throw them out of adjustment, damage the blades, or even break them.
- Check the tension knob after each use. If necessary, tighten it so that the blades rotate smoothly without snagging or sticking.
- After each haircut, apply a drop of oil to the blades. Open and close them several times to spread the oil evenly over the metal surface. Wipe off excess oil with a soft cloth.
- If your haircutting shears come with a case or protective cover, use it whenever you store your shears.
- Keep your scissors away from heat, excessive humidity, and freezing temperatures.
- Have your shears professionally sharpened every year to keep them performing at their best. Note, however, that blades with serrated edges cannot be sharpened.
FAQ
Que. What is the best metal for hairdressing scissors?
Ans. Most hair clippers are made from an alloy of steel, usually stainless steel. Stainless steel from Germany or Japan is often considered to be of the highest quality. The titanium coating adds color for a distinctive look, but does not impact the performance of the blades.
You can also see haircutting shears made from more exotic alloys like cobalt, which resists oxidation, or molybdenum, which maintains a very sharp edge without blunting. These metals are quite a bit more expensive than stainless steel, however, and aren't really necessary for the average home stylist.
Que. I am left-handed. Are there hair cutting scissors for me?
Ans. Of course you do. There are left-handed versions of all types of haircutting scissors, including smooth, thin, and texturizing. And all of them are available in a wide range of lengths.
Que. Can I use my grooming scissors on my pet?
Ans. Not only do people need haircuts; many breeds of dogs and some cats also require regular trimming. You can use your haircutting scissors for your Fido styling session, but be careful to clean the blades with disinfectant afterward. Alternatively, you can use scissors or clippers designed specifically for use on pets. This is what many vets would recommend.