As a hairdresser or stylist, you will know the importance of having a good pair of shears to work with. Your shears are possibly the most valuable item in your salon and one of the things that you use most often in your daily trade. They enhance your ability to cut more accurately and with greater efficiency, and at the end of the day that is going to affect your reputation as a stylist. Clients who are happy with their cut are more likely to become regulars and they may also refer friends to your salon because of their great experience. Therefore, it makes sense that when you are shopping around for a new pair of shears you know the difference between a good and bad pair.
What Makes a Pair of Shears Good for You?
The definition of a good pair of shears is quite subjective as each person has their individual preferences. The shears you choose should be a good fit for the type of hair you cut and for the type of styling you do. Ideally, the shears should be comfortable to work with so your fingers and arms do not take any unnecessary strain. Some stylists are used to the German-style bevel edge shears but it is a blade that requires more effort to use. In recent years, the Japanese introduced convex blades which cut with greater precision and are lighter, requiring less effort to use. If you are doing mostly cuts in your salon then you may opt for the convex type of blade so you don’t start to feel strained by the end of the day.
Characteristics of a Good Pair of Shears
A good pair of shears should handle comfortably. Most manufacturers have differently styled handles so stylists can cut comfortably no matter their technique. The blades also come in varying lengths so you can cut optimally. The way the shears are manufactured has a lot to do with the quality of the shears. Stylists often rinse their scissors between cuts. Because of this, the material used in the shears should be high-quality stainless steel so it doesn’t rust. A solid pair of shears should also remain sharp for a good length of time. The hallmark of a good pair of shears is that you should be able to get at least 1,000 cuts done before they require sharpening. Most quality pairs of shears come with special cases and cleaning equipment. This allows the stylist to be able to easily maintain the shears. A quality pair of shears should also come with a manufacturer warranty.
Shears You Should avoid
Shears that stiffen at the joint even after regular maintenance will become difficult to use over time. This will affect the accuracy of your cutting and styling. The same applies to blades that become blunt prematurely. Naturally, proper care is required to keep shears functioning properly but a bad pair of shears will require sharpening more often. It may be tempting to purchase cheaper shears when starting out but it may cost you more in sharpening in the long run. Often, it is a better investment to spend a little more and have shears that deliver a quality cut for your clients.
Evaluating the Quality of Shears
The type of materials used in manufacturing have a large impact on the quality of the shears produced. In addition, the manufacturing process also determines the quality of the shears. There are two main types of stainless steel that are used for manufacturing hairdressing shears. These are known as J2 or 420 which is commonly used by Japanese manufacturers, or 440 which is used by many other international manufacturers. To make the stainless steel more durable, carbon and chromium are added to the compound. The chromium improves the rust resistance and the carbon adds strength to the shears. Shears that have greater levels of carbon are stronger. The 440 type of stainless steel has a rating of A through C, with 440C being the strongest. With 420 or J2 stainless, there are larger amounts of chromium compared to carbon. While this results in a softer compound, it does allow for razor sharpness. The benefit of this is that it provides you with a more accurate cut. Sometimes the J2 types of shears are coated with titanium to enhance their strength and allow for greater sharpening.
Richard Kerns is a representative of Kissaki Shears.com We have been selling hair cutting shears and Razors for the Professional Hair Stylist since 2001. We sell worldwide and have tens of thousands satisfied clients. Our success is attributed to our high quality products at a great value and our emphasis on customer satisfaction.