Important Factors in Selecting Your First Pair of Hair Shears, Part 1

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As any longtime stylist will tell you, there are few items more vital to your success in this field than proper hair shears. High-quality hair shears leave your clients with great cuts and make them happier, which in turn brings you most customers and builds your reputation as a stylist.

At Scissor Mall, we’re proud to offer a huge variety of designer hair shear products, from our point cutting shears like the Shisato Icon to numerous other types. If you’re a new cosmetology student looking to make your first foray into this field, selecting the right shears is one of the single most important tasks you’ll be faced with. Which important areas should you be considering? Let’s look at some basics in this two-part blog.

factors selecting first hair shears

Material Type

The first area to consider is the material used to make the shears, and there’s a single material that’s considered the gold standard here: Stainless steel, which is a quality metal that allows for consistent sharpening and looks the part to boot.

There are several additional alloys and elements that, when combined with stainless steel, provide the final product. These materials may include:

  • Carbon: The primary hardener for steel, carbon increases the hardness in the final product. It’s generally found in amounts between 0.95% and 1.2%.

  • Chromium: Chromium is known to prevent rust and other forms of corrosion, and also helps with heat resistance.

  • Molybdenum: This material adds toughness, plus also assists with corrosion resistance against pitting and dulling concerns.

  • Manganese: For blade tensile strength – that is, a blade that will retain a sharp edge for longer periods of time – manganese is often added.

  • Vanadium: Added to increase toughness and fatigue resistance for balance maintenance.

  • Cobalt or titanium: These are add-ons that may or may not be included to increase hardness and lower the weight.

Sharpening Concerns

Shears should be sharpened at least once or twice a year, but how often this needs to be done will depend on the precise shears you purchase. Other factors include cleaning, lubrication and balancing of the shears to ensure a proper cut.

Ergonomics and Feel

Finally, take the time to consider how a given pair of shears feels and works in your hand. Some stylists who purchase the wrong pair of shears deal with conditions like carpal tunnel, tendonitis and others related to overuse and poor positioning of the hands or arms.

There are several important factors here: Weight, balance, length and the configuration of the handle. There are a variety of potential setups depending on your preferences, which we’ll go over in part two of this blog.

For more on tips for selecting your first pair of shears when entering the stylist field, or to learn about any of our hair cutting shears or scissors, visit Scissor Mall today.