How often do hairdressing scissors need sharpening?
When it comes to hairdressing and barbering, sharp scissors aren’t just a nice thing to have – they’re essential. From trims to texturizing, your scissors are doing all the heavy lifting. And if they’re not in top shape, neither is your work. At Mr Knife Guy, we understand how important your scissors are, so here’s a quick guide to how often you should be having your scissors sharpened.
Spotting the Signs of Dull Scissors
Being able to tell when your scissors need sharpening is one of those behind-the-scenes skills every barber and stylist should have. Dull scissors can and do impact the quality of your work, and they can also cause lasting strain on your hands and wrists. If you feel like your scissors need some attention, they probably do.
Instead of a smooth cut, you might find your scissors are folding or snagging the hair. Sometimes it can get so noticeable that your client might even feel it. You might find yourself having to adjust your technique to make up for your scissor’s poor performance, or maybe they’ve started to feel a bit ‘gritty’ as you cut. Additionally, if your scissors have started to make a grinding or crunchy sound, this is another sign that they need to be looked at. You can read more about how to tell when your scissors need sharpening here.
Sooooo, How Often Do Scissors Need Sharpening Then?
This is one of those ‘how long is a piece of string’ kinda questions, as it really does depend on a few different factors. Having said that, as a super rough guide, we’d suggest a full service and sharpening at least every six months… but this can and does vary hugely depending on usage. High volume barbers and stylists may well find they need to call us out a more often, while those who make sure they’re really looking after their blades (keeping them clean, keeping them stored properly and keeping them oiled regularly) might be able to go a little longer between appointments.
Keeping Your Scissors Sharper for Longer
A few simple habits can go a long way in keeping your scissors at their best. Clean them between every use, make sure they’re completely dry before storing them, and keep them in a proper scissor case – not rattling round in the bottom of a drawer. Using them for anything other than human hair is the biggest faux pas we see; don’t use them for cutting foils, or boxes or even paper. If might seem harmless but it’s very easy to misalign and dull the blades. Proper care of your scissors can mean you’re able to go longer between sharpening appointments.
Let The Experts Handle It
We’ve all seen the videos where you use tinfoil or a honing rod to give your scissors a little top-up between sharpenings. What you don’t see are the panicked messages we get on a weekly basis from barbers and stylists who have rendered their scissors next to useless by believing this stuff. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – if sharpening scissors really was as easy as the videos suggest, we’d be out of a job. Professional sharpening and servicing is the only way to make sure your scissors don’t end up being the most expensive piece of kit you can’t use.
At Mr Knife Guy, we make it really easy. If you’re within our catchment area for our mobile sharpening service, we’ll come out to you and get your scissors expertly sharpened on the spot. We’ll give them a full MOT while we’re at it, replacing any worn or damaged parts on the way. And if you live a little further afield, we offer the same VIP sharpening treatment for your scissors with our postal sharpening service.
