A good quality pair of hair shears will make a big difference in you and your client's satisfaction. A good quality, razor sharp, pair of hair shears are easier on your hands, and make your cuts faster and easier. It will also leave your client's style looking great.
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Hair shears come in many different styles and with many different features. Prices can be as low as $50 or as high as $1,200. Like anything else, you get what you pay for, but if you're a beginner, you can only pay so much. So you have to know what features to look for.
A blade made from quality steel will be hard, flexible, strong, sharp and not brittle. The higher the hardness number the more durable the blade and the longer the sharpness will last. As you're starting out, the durability may be something you can sacrifice since you will likely determine what features you want after you've been working for a while. By the time your cheaper shears wear out, you'll have decided what you want in your next pair of scissors. Just know that the softer blades will require more sharpening. And a sharp blade means a cleaner cut.
The traditional style blade is beveled, which provides a solid cut, but requires more force, causing quicker fatigue. Many stylists today prefer convex blades. They cut quicker, easier and smoother. The convex style is more complicated to manufacture so is generally more expensive.
It's a good idea to try different styles of hair shears before you purchase your own so you know what features are most comfortable and give you the most control. You may be able to borrow some from colleagues for a few cuts or at least let you hold several different types to see what feels most natural.
If a straight handle feels unnatural, try an ergonomic handle. If the handle is uncomfortable, it can cause carpal tunnel and stress on your wrist and shoulder. If an ergonomic handle still is not comfortable, you can try a model with a bent thumb. You can also try offset or semi-offset handles versus a fixed handle. If you have unusually small fingers, you may want to consider shears that come with soft ring inserts.
Different blades are designed to work better for different types of cuts or techniques or for cutting dry or wet hair. Pay close attention to the manufacturers' recommendation. As a beginner, you may want to choose a model that is good for overall use. Different types are needed for thinning and texturizing as well. It's also a good idea to have a second pair of hair shears for overall cutting use so that you have a backup while you have professional cutting shears your main pair sharpened. If you're left handed, of course, you'll have to have left-handed scissors. Several models have dual finger rests and have blades that can be used either right or left handed.
If you want to work as a stylist or simply have a passion for cutting hair you will need to get your hands on the right equipment. A quality pair of hair shears should be thought of as a prerequisite, without such a product you will not be able to create the type of looks that you desire.
Usually, professional hair shears would feature fine toothed blades that have been designed specifically to cut the hair strands that pass over the teeth. They are in fact available in a wide range of designs, colors, and sizes. Each would have been manufactured to cut a specific type of hair as not everyone has the same density or thickness.
Different that regular hair scissor, a pair of shears would be best used when you want to cut specific portions or thin out thick and long locks. They are believed to provide a better effect when it comes to crafting a particular cut or style.
Before you rush out and purchase the first pair of shears that you come across it is important to be aware of how the designs can differ and what each should be used for. For example there are texturing shears that have channel like blades perfect for creating strong textures. Another option are wide toothed designs which can produce a smooth effect. You can also get hold of dual use shears that can be used for both thinning and layering thus saving time and effort.
When choosing a design make sure you opt for hair shears that fit your hand appropriately. When you work as a professional hair stylist the wrong choice of shears or scissors can quickly lead to hand and finger cramps and maybe even blisters and strained muscles. Check out a number of options to find those that best suit your needs.