A Buyers Guide to Hairdressing Scissors

www.scissorhands.info
This buyers guide to choosing the right hairdressing scissors will will walk you through everything you need to know, and the right questions to ask, when purchasing your next pair of scissors. This could be online, at a trade show, or from a traveling scissor salesman when they visit you in your salon.
"Hello Ashley I am just writing to you to inform you that the scissors I bought from you are fabulous I love them best scissors I've ever had and I have recommended them to my friends that have, or are starting hairdressing thank you so much! - Dani-Mae Briggs"
Hello. I'm Ashley Howard and welcome to the basics scissor guide. It's a guide that is designed for hairdressers to help choose the right equipment no matter where you're buying your scissors from.
There are 3 subjects that are very important when it comes to choosing your scissor. Firstly, the ergonomics or the handle of the scissor; secondly, the length of blade that you want to use and thirdly what the scissor is made from.
So, let's start then with the first subject, which is the handle of the scissor.
It really falls into 2 categories: firstly, you have the classic straight handle scissor and you also have the offset, or ergonomic handle. With the straight classic scissor, if I put them together, you can see the difference is the angle at which the scissor points. If you use the classic handle and you point cut someone's hair, your body position, the arm is much higher and if you use an offset it's much lower. Also, when you're cutting against the skin with the straight handle, the handles tend to be slightly more obstructed than if you use an offset handle, which is less obstructed. It's so important when you come to choose your scissor because it will affect long-term your body position when you're cutting hair.
Secondly, the length of blade that you use is really key depending on the kind of work that you do. Again, there are 2 basic lengths that hairdressers will use. One is the short blade - here I have a 5 inch scissor. This is designed for palm cutting techniques, or precision cutting in small sections against the skin.
The other type of scissor length is the longer blade - here I have a 6.5. This is designed for cutting over the knuckles and for manual point cutting texturizing techniques. So, if your preference is to cut in your palm in small sections against the skin - short blade and if it's over the knuckles and point cutting it's the longer blade. Many hairdressers will have a pair of each size because they'll do both types of work.
And to finish off the blade lengths section, the industry standard or average size is around 5.5.
Thirdly, the scissor itself will be made from steel and those steels fall into 2 main categories again. You have German steel, which is more stainless steels and you have the Japanese steels.
The main difference is that the German scissor blades are often made from a melted stainless steel mold, more basic and the Japanese steels tend to be higher quality alloys and often those scissors are made in 2 parts. The main difference though, as a hairdresser is that the cheapest steels will be less smooth. The more expensive steels will be quieter and smoother to use.
So, with that information in mind, hopefully now you have some useful questions to ask the person that you buy your scissors from. What do they recommend as the handle design, what blade length you're going to need for the kind of work you want to do and lastly, what kind of metal are your scissors made from. With those questions in mind, hopefully you'll be able to choose the scissors for the kind of work that you want to do.
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[@dawnrichardson4802]

Such a useful video, im joining a hairdressing college next month and had no idea about the scissors, no Ill have some idea. Thankyou :)

[@jetw9522]

Thank you for making the video, Ashley. It would be even nicer if you could zoom in to let us see the scissors you were holding.

[@gallardohairstudio9934]

thanks for sharing. I'm going back to the hair salon.

[@yunonasun]

Thank you, constructive and useful.

[@genji7536]

great explanation, i want to do my own hair since it costs a fortune... Japan salons have made me envy how they maintain their hair textures and style cuts

[@jaimeguevarrajr.4588]

Thanks. Very nice content.

[@VWTurboDieselTDI1.5_90CP]

thanks a lot for the video.it was very usefull !

[@amitd1572]

Very informative. ❤️

[@GirlArmy21]

Thank you so much. I am in Cosmetology school now...I get my shears tomorrow...i know they will be generic for our first set as students, but when I finish I will be looking for better ones. Thank you for the info. XO

[@polskatoja]

TA Lindsay Are you out of school making big bucks now? If yes then u ahould invest in either Mizutani or Matsuzaki shears....Yes they are expensive but no matter which steel u decide to go with this shears should last you your whole career!!! Make sure ur using a sharpener that really knows how to sharpen ur shears and ull be happier than a clam!!! Ur welcome!!!!!

[@khadraxy]

Thanks

[@Maxx2022]

Thx.

[@cynthiamarshall1517]

You didn't indicate how scissors are measured. is the handles length included and part of the length or does the length refer to the blade length?

[@naomihenderson7238]

Are the Japanese steel scissors on Amazon real? And what are the usual prices for them? Idk where to buy them. Can you recommend me some for trimming natural black 4c hair?

[@thecapitalbarberstation209]

Where we can get these scissors

[@francoisvanschalkwyk9858]

ok what scissors do you use if you have a fat fingers

[@cynthiamarshall1517]

Please demonstrate the exact way to measure the length of the scissors. Is it the overall length starting at the blade tip and ending where in the offset handled scissors I wonder? Do you measure the length of the blade alone and if so, where does that measurement end? Does it end at the beginning of the screw for? if anyone knows please email me. Thank you

[@govindagovindaji4662]

Doesn't it drive you nuts when people post tutorial videos yet never bother to answer your questions. I guess just the ad revenue is payment enough for them. Anyway, I find this frequently and it is rude.

[@jaco2chiu]

good scissor must be using for more than 300,000 cuts. otherwise you's scissor is not good enough.

[@fabulously695]

Chiu Chaochien no, not neccecerally, there is such a thing as a scissor sharpener, medium range scissors can last 5-6 years or more if looked after, good scissors, can last a decade or more

[@jaco2chiu]

yes, you are right. the condition is if the scissor has been taken good care of. In my country, most of hair dresser change scissor every one or two year. That's because they don't spend a large amount to buy a good scissor. If someone bought a good quality one, then it must last 5-6 years or more, otherwise, cost/performance value will not be reasonable. In China, you can easily buy a 304 SS scissor less than 10USD (buck or lot price). That is the reality.