To start with, it’s important to know how you can abuse your shears. You may be doing the wrong thing with your shears without even noticing so read through and make sure you aren’t doing any of the following. As odd as it may sound, some stylists actually cut paper with their hair scissors. This is one of the worst things to do with your shears because it severely damages the blades.

One must be extremely careful not to offset the balance of the scissors. By cutting a piece of paper, no matter how thin it may be, you are cutting something that is much thicker than hair. Shears are made for hair because the thickness is measured in nanometers and is easy to glide through with a simple pair of shears. Paper is thicker than hair and stiffer so it is not as easy to cut through it with the blades of a pair of hair scissors. Paper cutting scissors are made with a thicker, less complex blade while shear blades are defined so precisely and balanced to a “t”.

Something that may be hard to avoid is throwing hair scissors when done using them. Once hairstylists get into their groove of motion and into a routine that helps them cut hair in a faster way, they tend to lack in the gentleness of using their shears. They may make a few cuts in a certain area of the hair and then toss the scissors onto the counter to pick up their next tool. This is extremely harmful to the shears because hitting up against other objects such as a comb, another pair of scissors, or even a simple countertop can ruin the cutting edge and sharpness.

Loaning your shears to a friend is an absolute no-no in the world of hair. You may think they are very trustworthy and would never do anything to damage your property but you may have two different ideas of being careful. They may not care about their tools as much as you which means they could toss your shears around or use them for the improper purpose. This is extremely costly for anyone who loans their shears out to friends or family.

Hairstyling isn’t the easiest job in the world when you look at the big picture. Precise measurements and cuts take not only knowledge, but also plenty of skill. Anyone cutting hair must be well educated in what they are doing, which includes taking care of their tools. As long as hairdressers free up a little time in their busy schedules to organize their tools, they can save themselves money by preserving everything and keeping it all in great shape.

Of course no one knows a hairdresser’s tools better than the hairdresser herself. That is why reading reviews is helpful but can also be deceiving to a stylist. On a review for a pair of hair scissors, someone might say, “I love these and use them everyday, they never fail!” While someone else may have a negative opinion and say something like, “I will never buy another of these shears, they do not cut hair the way the company promises.” Although someone might say this out of pure honesty, that could be their opinion. Maybe they did not cut their clients’ hair with the techniques they were taught or maybe they just had one bad turn out and decided to blog about one single haircut.

At the same time, a hair straightener could be slightly different. Someone who complains about a particular flat iron by saying, “This tool did not work when I plugged it in. I tried multiple outlets and nothing worked,”  is one example of a great review. This is because that customer is simply stating a fact about the tool that was purchased and was not satisfying. Saying that something burnt your hair or made your roots smell bad does not necessarily mean it was the straightener’s fault. Anyone can easily burn their hair on a flat iron if they don’t pay attention to the temperature of the plates or if they don’t use thermal protectant.

Today in America, there is much confusion on the difference between stating a fact and stating an opinion. You decide which is more of an opinion and which is more of a fact: saying a straightener will not turn on when plugged in or saying a particular pair of hair scissors doesn’t cut right. It may or may not seem obvious, but the complaint about the straightener is a fact and the complaint about the scissors is an opinion. Hairstylists must keep an eye out for feedback like this because one comment that is meant to be an opinion can be taken as a fact and can change the mind of the buyer.

Advice to all hairstylists is to, yes, read reviews like you have been. Reviews are great resources in buying a new product whether it be hairspray, scissors, a straightener, etc. However, choose wisely and consider the fact that you have control of what the tool can and can’t do for you in the end. Everyone has their own opinion and not always will you share the same opinion as the other people on a review.

First, you should know the differences between regular scissors and hair scissors. The primary difference is the sharpness of the shears. Professional hair scissors are made to execute the best cut possible.  This means they must be much sharper than a pair of scissors you would use around the house.  As you find more differences, think of which you would prefer to use on your hair. You would obviously prefer to cut your hair with quality, professional shears that are designed to do the job.

The more research you do on the topic, the more you’ll understand how important it is to have professional shears during a haircut. Search a little online to find pictures and resources about the best kind of barber and stylist hair scissors. Although they can be expensive, it is said that the best to use on your hair are the Kamisori brand hair scissors. They are well-worth the splurge due to their sleekness and great performance. These shears have guaranteed durability and sharpness. They are Japanese-made and have so many benefits. The ergonomic designs reduce CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and provide unheard of comfort while you cut.

Many hairstylists prefer these shears over any other brand every day! The work of these tools is spectacular! After you try these quality professional shears once, you’ll never want to go back to using kitchen or office scissors again. To find the pair that’s best for you, do a little online research or ask other stylists or barbers. Ask your beautician and your friends what kinds of hair scissors they might use. Reach customer reviews to help you decide what is best for you. There are different types of scissors for different types of hair. Never buy a pair without knowing whether they are the right pair for your style of hair. Having this basic tool will make a big difference in your hair cutting adventures.

There are many things to consider before making a major hair style change.  Although spontaneity seems like a good idea when for the fourth day in a row we can’t get our hair to do anything right and are forced to leave the house with a hat or a pony-tail, overall it’s best to do some planning and consideration before chopping off those locks.

First, consider what you currently don’t like about your hair cut.  Is it too long?  Too layered?  Too top-heavy?  Too dark?  Too light?  Too something else?  Just plain awful?  Whatever your situation may be, keep in mind the specific things you want to change, before you just waltz into a random salon somewhere.

The most important thing to consider when switching your hair style, is finding a stylist that you like and trust.  Because you like and trust your stylist, take his or her word for it when he/she tells you that the hairstyle you’ve selected simply will not work on your hair.  Listen to suggestions of how you might slightly change it to work better with your current cut or type of hair.

All in all, when you decide to have a drastic hairstyle change, wait awhile before you actually go through with it.  This will give you time to consider what you’ve decided to do and make sure that you don’t regret it a few days later.   Trust your stylist and consider all of you options.  You don’t want to end up with a flash-back of the perm/bangs/mushroom cut days.

Another visible feature of hair scissors is the thumb ring. Different styles of shears place the thumb ring at different angles and stylists choose based on comfort and preference.  Newer styles of hair scissors often come with an adjustable or “swivel” thumb ring to allow the stylist to adjust the ring for comfort and ease.
There are some aspects of hair scissors that are less obvious to the user.  For example, the blade style.  Two popular styles of blades are the convex and bevel varieties.  The convex style is newer and reportedly smoother than the bevel style.  Convex blades open and close with less force and are used on nearly all training scissors.  This style is required when slide cutting. The bevel style of blade has been available for much longer and it tends to require more force to open and close.

Shears are available in a wide range of styles, varieties and prices.  It is necessary to consider all of the above factors before selecting a pair of scissors to purchase.  A stylist should view this purchase as an investment in themselves and in their career.

Hair cutting professionals use high quality hair cutting shears or professional hair scissors.  The reason for using these hair scissors  and not the cheapest craft scissors at the dollar store is clear:  the better the scissors, the better the hair cut.

Professional hair scissors should be made from a high quality metal that is free from nicks or cuts.  It is important that the blades are sharp, and while they shouldn’t need sharpened after every use, a hair cutting professional should pay attention to how many cuts he or she can perform between each sharpening.

In order to keep their hair scissors in good shape, remember a few simple rules for their care.

Rule one: Always, always, always clean the hair scissors after each use.  Rinse them with soap and water to prevent bacteria and germ build-up.

Rule two: Sterilize the hair scissors with a non damaging formula.  It is not necessary to sterilize the hair shears after each use, but before doing so, be sure that the formula is gentle enough to prevent harm.

Rule three: Store hair scissors in a dry place.  To avoid moisture, keep the scissors in a holster or in a place where they are sure to stay away from water or any wet environment.

Rule four: Don’t be afraid to oil hair scissors if they are in constant use.  Proper and occasional oiling can prevent rust and maintain proper movement in the shears.

And finally, rule five: Never, ever use hair shears on anything except for hair.  These tools are called “hair scissors” for a reason and using them on anything else can damage the blades and prevent them from doing their job.

For those interested in being a part of this trend, keep in mind that a bob, and a growing out bob, looks better with an asymmetrical cut. Ask your stylist to cut it slightly longer in the front and a bit shorter in the back.  This hair cut is really the best of both worlds.  It’s short enough to be trendy, but long enough to wear in a casual pony tail or a fancy up-do.

To achieve this look at home, be sure to invest in a pair of very high quality hair scissors.  A pair of cheap shears from your local discount store isn’t going to cut it (pun intended).  This particular hair cut tends to be easier to do when the hair is damp, but not dripping wet.

Starting with small sections, comb out your hair and grab a part of your hair between your index and middle finger.  Measure your hair to the desired length and carefully snip off the excess using extra sharp hair scissors.  Repeat this process until you have cut all of your hair.  To make sure both sides are even, part your hair and carefully pull section that are directly across from each other on either side of your head and compare their length.

For those of you who are a little more daring, you could try a more complicated technique.  Comb all of your hair forward and cut it to the desired length, doing small sections at a time.  Be sure you keep a spray bottle filled with water nearby to use whenever you hair starts to dry out.  You may need to enlist the help of a friend to trim the back of your hair, but this technique will help you achieve the “shorter in the back” look that is so popular in bobs.

Of course, you can always visit a stylist and have him or her do the cut, then maintain it on your own at home, or revisit the salon every 4-6 weeks for upkeep.