how often should you get your hairdressing scissors sharpened?

As a serious hair stylist, you highly value the importance of your tools, and you would like to give it the best care and maintenance it deserves. We know we should clean it after every haircut, oil it every day, but when it comes to sharpening, there’s no hard written rule as to how often we should get them serviced.

We get asked this question all the time, both from novice and experienced stylists. Do you get your scissors sharpened only when they get dull? Or do you need to get them sharpened regularly? And if this is so, how often should you get them sharpened?

Today, we’re going to address those questions.

First, let’s learn why you need to get them sharpened. You see, your scissors are technical tools, they use sharp edged blades to cut through hair and achieve your client’s desired style. As such, it is necessary to ensure that those blades maintain their sharpness.

Some people assume that just because you spent hundreds of dollars on a pair of scissors, it would maintain its quality forever. Unfortunately, all shears, without exception, are destined to undergo through the process of dullness. While the quality of your blade would significantly extend the sharpness of your scissors, there are other factors that could come into play.

Thus, it is important for you to maintain the shape of the blade so that it functions in its maximum capacity and produce the best effects.

With regards to when you should get them serviced, the general rule of thumb is roughly after 700 haircuts. But of course, that’s a bit difficult to follow, so probably after 3-6 months is a good start. Don’t wait for your scissors to become dull before deciding to get them sharpened. Schedule your sharpening sessions so that you won’t have to suffer possible damages and injuries from using dull scissors.

Another thing to look out for are a few warning signs that would tell you your scissors need attention ASAP. Some of these circumstances include the presence of nicks. If you also notice that your scissors are pushing or pulling hair, that’s also a sign that you need to book an appointment with a professional sharpening service.

Bad sharpening can also contribute to quickening the wear and tear process, so make sure to choose a good service, someone that’s particularly experienced in handling hairdressing scissors because the shape of these scissors are different than regular ones.

If you follow these rules, not only will you get the most out of your investment, you will also be able to maintain the right set of tools that would help you prep for a long and successful career.