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.

While we discourage untrained professionals from sharpening hair cutting shears, if you’re really determined to try it out, try to avoid these six unforgivable mistakes.

1. Using aluminum foil

You may hear a lot of talk about using aluminum foil to sharpen your shears, mostly because it’s the cheapest available option. The results, however, are as poor as the money you put in. Using aluminum foil tend to round the cutting edge of the blade, losing its ability to work effectively as before.

2. Cutting through sandpaper

While using sandpaper or even an emery board to sharpen your scissors’ dull blades may sound like a brilliant idea…. Well, it’s not. This won’t just alter the shape of your blades, it could permanently damage its inside structure. Even if you bring them to a professional service right after, it would require taking away or removing more metal to fix the damage. In worst cases, it would mean having to replace your shears.

3. Treating hair scissors sharpening the same as knife sharpening

Just because they look the same on the outside, doesn’t mean they are. Many have suffered from making the mistake of using their kitchen sharpening tools to sharpen their hairstyling scissors. The blade shape and quality of knives are different from your hair cutting shears so make sure things that are meant in the kitchen, stay in the kitchen and out of the salon.

4. Poor shear knowledge

Technical knowledge is a must when you’re sharpening scissors. There are a lot of factors that need to be considered if you want your tools to stay in shape. An expert would know what shape would make maximize their target cutting style, or whether there is a damage to the ride line. Also, professionals who take their careers seriously know that each particular blade is unique, and knowing which sharpening technique to take is something you learn from careful study and extensive experience.

5. Using DIY home sharpening equipment

It seems like everything has a DIY home kit these days, and that includes scissor sharpening equipment. There are a lot of procedures required in the process of sharpening your scissors to its best shape, and these steps use equipment that cannot be bought at a simple hardware shop. Using these DIY tools could result in bad sharpening, thereby doubling your costs.

6. Not asking for professional help

Scissor sharpening is a technical job, requiring the services of a certified technical expert. We are here to help you avoid mistakes, save your investment, and help you make them last longer. Just as a car needs to be serviced, your haircutting scissors also need the best treatment. You not only rely on them for your job, they are also the key to unlocking your career’s longevity. For this, you owe it to your tools to give it the best possible service.

Even the best and most expensive steel will get dull overtime. Here are five warning signs to tell you that your hair cutting scissors already need sharpening.

1. The scissors are not cutting right

When you notice that your beloved scissors are not working as effectively as before, then chances are, it might be time to sharpen them. If you’ve checked the tension, and cleaned your scissors properly, and you think it’s still not working as well, then call your trusted sharpening professional to schedule an appointment. We suggest using an alternative pair of scissors while waiting as it’s not advisable to continue using a dull tool. It might cause injury or diminish the quality of your work. In addition, it could also worsen the condition of your scissors. So be patient, and ask for professional help.

2. Hair is pushing, pulling or grabbing

Many have approached us before complaining that their scissors are pushing away hair if they are blunt cutting, while others are noticing that the blade of their shears tend to pull or grab hair. If this is the case, we usually arrive in the same conclusion, the scissors are dull. Once they are sharpened, cleaned, and oiled, you will see its quality improve greatly.

3. After a few haircuts, you scissors tend to get dull

So your scissors have been sharpened, but you noticed that after three to five haircuts, it easily gets dull again. If your scissors have been maintained well, then this could be the consequence of bad sharpening. Make sure to have your scissors sharpened with a professional that is experienced in handling haircutting scissors. The blade of your shears are different from ordinary scissors, or knives, so it needs extra care and expert attention. After a quick sharpening session with a professional, your scissors sharpness would last long as they did before.

4. You feel a “crunch” when cutting hair

The crunch you often feel could be possibly caused by nicks in the blades. Immediately go to your sharpening expert and have your scissors sharpened. Continuing to use nicked scissors will only make it worse, and you could end up wasting your prized investment.

5. You are experiencing hand or wrist pain while handling your scissors

While this may not necessarily be caused by lack of sharpening, handling dull scissors can be more laborious, requiring your wrists to be worked up than usual. A quick trip to a professional hair cutting service would do the job.