A professional hairdresser or barber knows how important the right pair of scissors are. Whether it’s a simple trim or a completely new style, hair scissors are a tool that are crucial for cutting hair efficiently. For experienced hairdressers, choosing scissors can be an easy job due to their expertise in the field. However, for individuals who have just started their journey as a hairdresser, it can be confusing to choose from the different types and brands of hair scissors available. Therefore, to find a pair of hair-cutting shears that will help you do your job perfectly, you’ll need to consider a few things first.
Here are 4 important things you should look for when choosing hairdressing scissors.
- Size
When deciding the length of your hair scissors, you need to consider the types of cutting styles you mostly create. Most people recommend measuring the length of the blade against the middle finger and to find out the total length, measure them against the palm of your hand. This is not possible if you’re buying the scissors online. In that case, you can choose the perfect size by measuring your finger and palm by using a ruler. This way, you’ll get a better idea of what size is right for you. From the wide range of sizes available, mostly from 4.5 inches to 8 inches, choose the one that matches your hand. However, you can also choose a larger pair of scissors since this size guide is only given to find ones that feel comfortable in your hand.
- Handles
Although there are different styles of hair shears in the market, there are three general shapes that are characterized by the handles.
- Classic
Since the lower and upper blades are aligned, these are also called straight scissors. The rings, or the finger and thumb holes, line up with each other since they’re directly opposite. With this kind of scissors, there’s a possibility of straining your thumb. Additionally, you also have to keep your elbow raised while using them.
- Offset
This design is one of the most common ones due to the ease it provides in cutting hair. These handles are slightly angled and the thumb side is shorter, which allows the hairdresser to handle the scissors naturally without putting strain on your thumb. This way, you can use different cutting techniques in a more comfortable and relaxed position.
- Crane
Crane scissors have an ergonomic scissor position with the upper blade being completely straight while the handle shank and the thumb ring are angled downwards. This design is said to be the most comfortable one since it helps to relieve the stress on your hands/wrist and allows your elbow to be in a lowered position. In this way, your shoulder and neck won’t get tired and do your job with precision.
- Blades
For beginners, serrated or micro-serrated shears work perfectly. Designed for a simpler cut, these scissors grip the hair and cut them straight. It’s vital that you start out with these before you can move to a convex or clamshell edge blade. If you’re a beginner who is confused by the multiple options and various designs, hair cutting scissor reviews at https://scissortec.com/ recommend trying out different styles before you can settle for the one that works best for you. If you want more professional barber scissors, you can try out convex edge blades that can help to get a smooth and sharp cut, making them an excellent choice for chopping or cliche cutting. Furthermore, to create texture and not leave a straight cut at the hair ends, a thinning scissor can help to reduce the thicker sections of the hair.
- Tension Screw
To ensure the longevity of this essential tool, the scissor tension plays an important role. If you’re not aware of what scissor tension is, basically it’s what keeps the two blades together. There are different types of tension screws, including a finger adjustable, a slotted one, and a flat screw. To adjust the tension in the case of a finger adjustable screw, you can simply move the dial of the screw without needing any special tool. Whereas the other two require a tool to adjust them.
To master the art of cutting hair, you’ll be needing excellent hair shears. Before you make a purchase, you need to know the cutting techniques you’re interested in using, which will then help you decide what shape and size of scissors will suit your style. For anyone thinking of investing in professional shears, it’s crucial to make sure they’re the right ones so that the investment proves to be worthwhile.
