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Hair Shears – An Overview of The Different Types and Variations of Hair Shears
When it is time for a hairstylist or barber to get all of the tools they need, one is rarely forgotten. Hair cutting shears are the most vital tool that will be in a hair professional’s toolbox, and buying the right one is essential.
As styles and trends change, having good hair cutting shears will give you the ability to adapt and attain the styles your clients want. When purchasing new hair shears, there are many different options to choose from.
Quick Fact: Most hair professionals do not realize that the handle on a pair of shears is just as important as the blade. Although it is easy to think that the blade is the most critical part, the handle is just as vital!
What are the differences in the types of hair shears?
Handle Designs
Offset Handle
This design seems to be extremely popular with stylists and barbers. The thumb handle is shorter, helping to reduce any overextension that can happen to the thumb with some handle types. This style helps to create a more “open hand” when cutting.
Check out the Centrix C500 Hair Shears as a great Offset Handle set of hair shears.
Straight (or Opposing) Handles
If you are a hair professional that cuts with your middle finger and thumb, this is an excellent handle style for you. Although it is not an ergonomically designed handle, it is the oldest type of hair shear handle on the market.
The Joewell K2 Series Shears with Straight Handle is a good straight handle hair shear option.
Crane-Style Handle
This handle type is the most ergonomic on the market, and hair professionals agree! The offset on this handle type is considered “extreme,” and helps in positioning the elbow to relieve stress on the wrist and the shoulders.
An option for Crane-Style Handled hair shears is the Sensei SZ600 ZIP shears.
Blade Types
When searching for a new pair of hair shears, you will most likely come across three different types of blades. These include the convex edge, the semi-convex edge, and the beveled edge blades.
Convex Edge
Crafting this type of hair shear is very “labor intensive,” and the process is not easy. However, shears with the Convex edge is exceptionally smooth and gives a precise cut that is hard to come by with other blade types.
The edges on convex edge shears are incredibly sharp, requiring less force when cutting hair. It should be noted that these types of shears with the Convex edges need much more care than other blades.
An excellent choice for Convex Edged hair shears is the Edge Ahead Quatrefoil Ergo Shear.
Semi-Convex Edge
Shears with these edges are considered a hybrid of both the convex and beveled edged shears. The beveled edge is more narrow but is not considered a true convex edged blade.
Beveled Edge
This style of blade is one of the oldest designs for blades on hair shears. The cutting experience is excellent, and they help in styling very well. It should be understood that these edge types do require more force when cutting.
When it comes to having hair shears that last for many years, beveled edges are known to have excellent durability. This durability comes from the thickness of the edge of the blade. Although for more advanced cutting techniques and styles, these blades would not be the best option.
A great choice for Beveled Edge hair shears is the Sam Villa Signature Series 5.5” Swivel Shear.
A common confusion among hair professionals is the difference between thinning and texturizing shears. Here we will briefly go over the differences to help you in making the right purchase for the hair cutting style and the method you are looking to attain.
Texturizing Shears
Shears designed for texturizing are typically outfitted with 10 to 24 teeth that are placed further apart. When the teeth are set wider apart, it means more hair is cut and is an excellent option for bangs or certain styling techniques. These shears are used when a hairstyle needs more “lift,” and can help in easily attaining the desired look.
Thinning Shears
If you need to blend in scissor marks, thinning shears are an excellent tool. Having teeth that are thinner than texturizing shears, these remove less hair which is excellent for styling and removing any “bulk” or “weight” from the hair.
Tips on Keeping Hair Shears Maintained
Taking proper care of your hair shears is essential for them to perform the way they should, and last for many years. Below are a few things you should do to keep your shears in the best working order.
- Be sure to oil the shears every day (especially in the screw area).
- Only use the shears to cut hair! Attempting to cut another type of material could cause bending or nicks on the blade.
- When you put the shears down, always have them closed. Open shears can easily get bent or cause an injury to you or a client.
- To check for nicks on the blade, very gently use the tip of your fingernail to run down along the blade edges.
The Typical Hair Professionals Toolbelt
Hair professionals all have their tools and techniques that they rely on. However, the average hair stylist or barber has five different devices in their toolbox. Which tools and devices are included can range from person to person. Below are the five essential hair shears and tools for a barber or hair professional to have.
Main Shear: These shears usually are 5.5 or 6 inches long. These are typically the “go to” shears for barbers and hairstylists.
Thinning Shears: Thinning shears can be different in a few ways, including having between 27 to 40 teeth. These are ideal for blending in and removing any lines after cutting.
Texturizer Shears: These vary in having 10 to 24 teeth. These are great if the need to remove any “weight” or the need to enhance the “volume” of the hair.
Long Shears: Long shears are usually 6 to 7 inches in length. They are used for cutting techniques that are more advanced. These hair cutting techniques include scissor-over-comb, deep-point cutting, and heavy-duty blunt cutting.
Narrow Bladed Shears: These blades usually are 5-5.5 inches long and are narrower than other blades. They are ideal for more intricate work that requires more detail.
These are the basic differences in the many types and kinds of hair shears. With many different options, it is best to find the kind of hair shears and design that you prefer the best. With some good maintenance, the hair shears you choose can last you for many years to come.
Which hair shears are you favorite? Let us know today! We love hearing from people on what their “Go to” hair shears are, and why!
