What Swivel-Thumb and Related Hair Shears Allow Stylists to Do

If you're a hair stylist of any kind, one of your top priorities in many cases will be having multiple capabilities with the same pair of hair shears. Your clients will naturally desire a variety of different cuts or styles, and being able to accomplish these without any issue is naturally very important to you as you serve them. 

At Scissor Mall, we're happy to offer a huge variety of ergonomic hair shears, a category that includes swivel shears such as the Dynasty Iris and many others. What exactly is a swivel (or swivel-thumb) hair shear, what are some of the varieties involved here, and what do these kinds of shears allow you to do? Here's a basic rundown.

What Are Swivel Hair Shears?

First and foremost, let's discuss what swivel hair shears are in the first place. These scissors get their name from the fact that the thumb-ring is able to rotate 360 degrees. This not only provides a much higher level of comfort for you as the stylist, but also gives you greater control over how the blades move.

This is in contrast to "regular" hair shears, where the thumb-ring is locked in place and cannot move. As a result, you may find that it's more difficult to keep a consistent grip or motion going with these kinds of scissors. This can obviously lead to inconsistency in your work, as well as fatigue on your part over time.

Different Types of Swivel Shears

There are actually a few varieties of swivel-thumb hair shears to consider:

  • Standard swivel: The most common type of swivel shear, these scissors have the thumb-ring attached to the top blade. This gives you a very natural grip and feel, allowing you to use them in much the same way as regular scissors.

  • Offset swivel: These shears feature an offset handle design, which is intended to provide a higher level of comfort during extended use. This is accomplished by putting the thumb-ring closer to your body, which in turn reduces stress on your wrist, arm, and shoulder.

  • Double swivel: As the name suggests, double swivel shears feature a thumb-ring on both the top and bottom blade. This gives you an even greater level of control over the scissors, allowing you to make very precise cuts.

  • Bent thumb: Finally, some swivel shears feature a bent thumb-ring, which is designed to provide an even more comfortable grip. If you find that regular or offset swivel shears are still causing discomfort after extended use, bent thumb shears may be the way to go.

The Various Benefits of Swivel Shears

Now that we've gone over the basics of what swivel shears are and the different types available, let's discuss some of the benefits these kinds of scissors can provide:

  • Increased comfort: As we've already mentioned, one of the big advantages of swivel shears is the increased level of comfort they provide. This is especially true for offset and bent thumb shears, which are specifically designed to reduce stress on your wrist, arm, and shoulder. They allow the hand to be far more open as you're cutting, which can obviously lead to much less fatigue over time.

  • Greater control: Another big advantage of swivel shears is the fact that they allow you to have greater control over the blades. This is due to the fact that the thumb-ring is able to rotate 360 degrees, giving you a wider range of motion to work with. This can obviously be very helpful when trying to make precise cuts.

  • More versatile: Swivel shears are also generally more versatile than regular scissors, as they allow you to achieve a variety of different cuts and styles. This is obviously a big advantage if you're a hair stylist, as it means you'll be able to serve your clients more effectively.

  • Higher quality: Finally, it's worth noting that swivel shears are generally of a higher quality than regular scissors. This is due to the fact that they're generally more expensive to produce. As such, you can expect them to last longer and provide a better cutting experience overall.

Considerations When Purchasing Swivel Hair Shears

As you're going about the process of purchasing swivel hair shears, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind:

  • Size: One of the most important things to consider is the size of the shears. You'll want to make sure that they're comfortable to hold and use, as this will obviously have a big impact on your experience.

  • Blade type: Another thing to keep in mind is the type of blade you want. For example, some shears feature convex blades, while others have beveled blades. Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's worth doing some research to see which is right for you.

  • Material: The material the shears are made from is also worth considering. For example, some shears are made from stainless steel, while others are made from carbon steel. Again, each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's worth doing some research to see which is right for you.

  • Price: Finally, you'll obviously want to consider the price of the shears before making a purchase. Swivel shears are generally more expensive than regular scissors, so you'll need to make sure that you're comfortable with the price before proceeding.

For more on the realm of swivel hair shears and why they're so beneficial to many stylists, or to learn about any of our hair shears or dog grooming shears, speak to the pros at Scissor Mall today.