To know what size of scissors is the best, you need to measure your palm and middle finger with a measurement scale or a pair of scissors.
Men with large hands would find scissors of the bigger sizes such as 6" to 6.5" working alright.
Scissor handles are very important for a hairdresser to work for long hours at a stretch. If their design and size offer comfort while cutting, they can be a great asset. But if they don't, they can be just a pain to work with.
The options that are available in terms of styles and designs are as follows: coating, polished, ergonomics and straight, offset, & crane offset handles.
This is a very common and traditional variety of scissor handles. In this style of handles, the two blades are aligned on the handles. The handle rings line up one on top of the other.
The handles with offset or semi-offset styles are very common. They have a slight angle and a handle shank. This allows your hands a more relaxed and easy position.
These types of handles have the most pronounced angles. In this case, the upper blade is straight and the handle shank has a sharp angle downwards. These kinds of scissors are considered to be the most ergonomic and comfortable choices in the hair industry today.
Your choice of scissors will be determined by the style of hairdressing you do at the salon. A pair of good quality scissors is, of course, very important but at the same time it's important to understand every aspect of the blade and the entire instrument work. Your understanding of the scissors and how they cut every time you press the gear is more critical to achieve a perfect cut.
Kind of scissor blades
There can be many types of scissor blades but let's look at two primary types: Scissors for beginners, and scissors for professionals.
For beginners
For students and beginners, serrated hairdressing scissors are just fine. They tend to have a perfect grip on the hair before giving a straight and smooth hair cut. However, these scissors cannot do a good chopping or slicing of hair.
For professionals
A convex-edge blade is good for professional hairdressing and the barber's job. These scissor blades have an outstanding edge that provides a smooth and straight cut, both slicing and chopping. This kind of blade is made with hardened steel. Japanese hairdressing scissors are typically made with this kind of steel.
Knowing your cutting style matters
The style of your cutting or the way you hold the scissors would determine the size and style of the scissors you need for your job.
When you hold the scissors vertically for cutting, you need the offset scissors that have an angle and also keep your hands in a comfortable position.
For cutting bobs and one-length style, you need the scissors that would stay flat at the client's neck level. You need to position your hand and fingers in such a way that the fingers do not interfere with the cutting. For these styles of cutting, the crane full offset scissors are good.
If you need to carry out deep point cutting, your elbow needs to go up slightly vertically. For this kind of job, the classic straight scissors is the best.
For over the comb cutting common at the barber's shop, both straight and offset hairdressing scissors of 6", 6.5" and 7" size would work fine. The longer the size of the scissors, the better over-the-comb style of cutting is possible.
Final thoughts
Knowing what size of hairdressing scissors you need depends on a number of factors. These include the size of your palm and the fingers, your style of cutting, and the kind of cutting expected from you. But more importantly, you need to know the scissors well and how it cuts with every move of your fingers.
Comments will be approved before showing up.