Sharpening Hairdressing Scissors
Our meticulous process for hairdressing/barber scissor servicing consists of several steps to guarantee optimal performance and longevity.
First, we carefully examine the scissor blades under magnification to identify any damage. The scissors are then disassembled, cleaned and the original manufacturers' cutting angle is established. This step ensures that minimal metal is removed during the sharpening process.
Next, the blades are hand-sharpened using two different Japanese wet stones to restore the blades' ride-line.
The scissors are then sharpened by hand using highly advanced precision equipment, exclusively designed for sharpening professional hairdressing scissors (including left-handed scissors). To prevent overheating, water is continuously dripped onto the plate surface during sharpening.
Once the blades are sharpened, we remove the burr using a Japanese wet stone and inspect the scissors under magnification to ensure the elimination of all imperfections. The blades are then polished on a crystallite pad and cleaned by hand.
To further refine the blade edges, they are lightly re-polished on a fine polishing pad and finished on a Japanese stone to achieve a polished ride line.
If the manufacturer of your scissors provides replacement parts, we can replace components such as screws, washers, and scissor bumpers free of charge if needed.
After replacing any necessary parts, we reassemble the scissors, re-tension them, and ensure they are correctly balanced. Lubrication is applied and thoroughly worked into the scissors.
Lastly, we conduct a test cut along the length of the blades using specially made fabric and test the tips on clean hair.
Beware Of Unscrupulous Scissor Sharpeners
Unfortunately, there is hardly anyone in the UK who has the correct equipment and expertise to sharpen convex hairdressing scissors.
An inexperienced scissor sharpener or one without the correct equipment, could shorten the life of your hairdressing scissors/ left-handed hairdressing scissors or even destroy them. Many scissor sharpeners create bevel edges on convex scissors, remove excess amounts of metal, over-heat scissors and burn the tips.
Many mobile sharpeners, do not spend enough time servicing valuable hairdressing scissors because of the attitude 'time is money'.
Would you rather a sharpener spend 10 minutes sharpening your scissors, so that he can service as many scissors as possible in a day?
or
Would you rather someone take time and care with your scissors, spending between 15 - 25 minutes, professionally servicing them, removing the minimal amount of steel and guaranteeing that your scissors will cut like new?
If a scissor sharpener is only spending 10 minutes on a pair of scissors - they are not servicing them correctly - ALARM BELLS SHOULD START RINGING
What Is The Difference Between:
Convex & Bevelled Hairdressing Scissors?
CONVEX HAIRDRESSING SCISSORS
Most premium hair cutting scissors have convex edges, which are hand finished, razor sharp, highly sensitive edges and should be used for slide cutting, slice cutting, chipping and fan cuts. Convex hairdressing scissors will rapidly lose their sharp edges if used for blunt work or to cut thick sections of hair.
As previously advised, you must be extremely careful, when choosing someone to sharpen your expensive convex hairdressing scissors.
BEVELLED HAIRDRESSING SCISSORS
Bevel edge hairdressing scissors are much cheaper than convex hairdressing scissors, they have a machine cut face along the cutting edge, have tough edges and are very nick resistant. They are good for blunt/point cutting and for bulk hair removal.
WHAT CAN BE DONE IF CONVEX HAIRDRESSING SCISSORS ARE TURNED INTO BEVELLED SCISSORS?
If you have a pair of convex hairdressing scissors, which have been previously poorly sharpened and now have bevel edges, dependant on the damage, we may be able to re-profile very slight bevel edges back to original convex edges. We can advise you once we receive your scissors.
Hairdressing scissors that have had heavy bevel edges applied to them, will not be able to be re-convexed, however, we will be able to drastically improve them and send them back cutting perfectly.
Repetitive Strain Injury
RSI - Repetitive Strain/Stress Injuries
Some hairdressers suffer from RSI because of reasons such as: repetitive use of hands, poor posture and using poorly designed scissors.
Symptoms usually occur in the hand(s) and/or wrist(s) and can include:
Pain, aching, pins & needles, tingling, burning, loss of movement, swelling, numbness and loss of strength.
Early reporting of any of these symptoms is imperative; therefore if you suspect that you may be suffering from RSI, you must visit your doctor.
Prevention:
It is crucial that your scissors are adjusted to the correct tension at all times.
Protect your hands from exertion by ensuring that your hairdressing scissors are regularly serviced.
There are many hairdressing scissors on the market which can assist with hand problems, do not use opposite handle hairdressing scissors and look for ergonomic designs. When using convex scissors, less pressure is required compared to bevelled scissors.
You should be cutting with a straight wrist. Swivel hairdressing scissors can assist in keeping your wrist straight because the rotating thumb ring means that the scissors can be moved into different positions, without awkward wrist movements. Offset hairdressing scissors can also assist because this type of scissor does not force the thumb opposite the ring finger when closing and therefore allows the thumb more movement.
Check Scissor Tension Everyday
To ensure your hairdressing scissors cut correctly - You must check the scissor tension at the beginning of every working day.
Loose tension will cause scissors to fold hair, pull hair and not cut at the tips.
When scissor blades are too loose, the cutting edges of the blades will separate during the cutting action. Properly adjusted blades hold their contact throughout the full cutting stroke.
Tight tension will cause the blades to grind against each other and could damage them.
Both loose and tight tension, may cause user fatigue and could lead to hand problems.
The Correct Tension:
Whilst the scissors are closed, point the scissor tips towards the ceiling.
Choose the blade that houses the finger rest and release this blade.
The scissors should not close, and depending on whether you are left or right handed the blade should stop between the:
1 and 2 o clock position or the 10 and 11 o clock position.
Adjusting The Tension:
The blades must be closed when attempting to adjust tension.
More tension = clockwise and Less tension = anti-clockwise
Cleaning & Oiling Hairdressing Scissors
You should clean and oil your scissors after every haircut, this will:
• Make them cut better
• Ensure longer lasting sharpness
• Stop them corroding
• Extend the cutting life of your scissors
• Prevent build-up of debris and bacteria around the pivot area
Very carefully rinse your hairdressing scissors with warm water and carefully dry with a paper towel (do not rub the sharp edges with the paper towel), make sure you remove all hair and moisture; remember to pay particular attention to the screw/pivot area.
Use the tip of your oil dispenser to apply a thin line of good quality scissor oil along the scissor blades and apply a drop of oil to the screw/pivot area. The oil will help draw the hair out and will protect the screw by sealing out moisture.
If you are oiling scissors with a thumb tensioner; oil between the blades and on the back of the screw head.
If you are oiling scissors with a flat screw; oil between the blades and on the head.
Gently close and open them a few times to allow the lubricant to reach the washer.
Carefully remove excess oil and debris with a clean paper towel.
When You Get Your Newly Sharpened Scissors Back
It is very important, that you do not loosen or tighten the screw, when we return your newly sharpened hair cutting scissors.
The tension we set, is the correct tension for your scissors and this is how your scissors should feel when you re-tension them.
When you get your hairdressing scissors back, get used to the sharpness and the feel of them. If you were previously pressure cutting with your blunt scissors, your newly sharpened scissors will feel different; however, you must be extremely careful not to use the same pressure, because this would quickly dull the sharp edges.
Don’t lend your newly sharpened hairdressing scissors, other people don’t care for them as much as you and they may pressure cut, which will blunt the sharp edges. In addition, they may alter the scissor balance and make them feel different after one haircut.