Hairdressing Scissor Advice

Scissors – Diamond Edge advises …..

When considering which hairdressing scissors to buy there are a number of factors you will need to consider. What will the scissors be used for? Will the scissors be used infrequently or be in daily or continuous use? Do you want scissors for a specific purpose? You also need to consider your own comfort, the weight of the scissors and whether you need left handed or right handed, as some scissors are made specifically for left handed users. What material will the scissors need to be made from? For example, premium hairdressing scissors are made from harder steel and are therefore more suited to heavier use, as they are likely to stay sharper for longer and can still be sharpened throughout their lifetime.

A professional Hairdresser will require a range a scissors to ensure the best results and selecting the correct scissors for the right job will improve both your performance and customer satisfaction to enable you to give great customer service. At Diamond Edge we offer a range to hairdressing scissors to suit all requirements and budgets. Click here to view our range of hairdressing scissors.

Scissor components

How to hold Scissors

The generally accepted ‘correct’ way to hold a pair of scissors is shown below;the first two fingers to rest on the shanks, the third finger is in the bow of the scissors with the little finger resting on the finger rest (if fitted) to provide additional control. You move the thumb to create the scissoring action.

However - there are various ways to hold your scissors and the important thing is to feel comfortable and in control when cutting hair. You should experiment with different grips and try out various scissors before cutting someones hair, to make sure you are really confident first.

Left Handed Scissors or Right Handed Scissors

Left handed scissors are a genuine alternative for left handed people, although many left-handed people find right-handed scissors perfectly comfortable too. Diamond Edge supplies left-handed scissors which have the grips and blades reversed to provide more comfort and the correct grip when cutting hair. We have a number of left-handed models available to special order - please contact us with your requirements.

Scissor Blades

While comfort and ease of use are very important, the key component of your scissors are the blades. The material used in the manufacture of the scissors should be considered before purchase.

Blade Materials

There are a range of hairdressing scissor materials for scissor blades developed for either the occasional hair cut or the professional hairdresser using their scissors every day. The principal choices are:

Carbon steel scissors will provide good quality at competitive prices. The blade retains a good sharp edge although some routine sharpening and blade care will be required. We recommend that you use a fine oil to wipe down and protect the scissor blades at the end of each working day as carbon steel scissors can sometimes rust if they get damp or are stored in a humid environment.

Stainless steel scissors are by far the most popular and forgiving of hairdressing scissors in regular professional use. Good quality stainless steel scissors will satisfy the majority of daily hairdressing requirements.

High cobalt stainless steel scissors are the premium quality of scissors available. They have extremely hard steel blades to retain a fine cutting edge,and most are hand-honed for an exceptionally smooth action. High cobalt scissors will also reduce the strain on the hairdressers hand, particularly important when being used on a daily basis.

Types of Scissors

Straight scissors

Straight scissors are the most commonly used hairdressing scissors and come in a vast range of sizes to suit all types of hairdressers for weight and blade length. Scissor sizes shown represent the overall length of the scissors, not the blade length. Shop our range of hairdressing scissors.

Micro-serrations

Micro-serrations are, as the name suggests,very fine grooves machined into the cutting edges of your hairdressing scissors, as can be seen in the picture above. They help to grip the hair during cutting and reduce blade "fatigue" when the cutting edges may begin to become dull through daily use. Many new scissors are now supplied with one blade micro-serrated. When using the Diamond Edge sharpening service, micro-serrations are usually removed but they can be replaced so please specify this if you would like to retain them. We can also micro-serrate new un-serrated scissors if required, please specify when ordering.

Thinning Hairdressing Scissors

30 tooth, double-serrated thinning scissors

Thinning scissors are used to thin out or "lighten" a thick head of hair, or for blending between scissored and clipped hair without the sharp edges which can be left with straight scissors.

Thinning scissors come in double or single-serrated versions and generally come in three tooth pitches, fine, medium and coarse. Shop our range of hairdressing scissors supplied by Diamond Edge.

Double or single-serrated-Double-serrated thinning scissors (as shown above) have teeth on both blades and will generally remove less hair and leave a more natural finish. Single-serrated thinning scissors have teeth on one blade and one plain blade. The plain blade may be used to lift the hair, prior to cutting.

46fine tooth scissors- remove more hair than coarser tooth scissors.Ideal for use on fine hair. Only available in single-serrated version, as the teeth would not line up if double-serrated.

30 medium tooth scissors- Recommended for the novice hairdresser. Ideal for use on thicker hair. Available in double or single-serrated versions.

24coarse tooth scissors-For use on particularly heavy or dense hair. Available in double or single-serrated versions.