The Secret to Choosing Hair Cutting Scissors – A Powerful Tool for a Stylist

How to choose good hair cutting scissors

A quality pair of hair cutting scissors is not simply sharp. It must meet many factors: high-quality steel, suitable design, technically correct blade style, reasonable price and reputable warranty. When all these factors are combined, the scissors not only help hairdressers create precise cuts but also maintain durability and sharpness throughout the working process.

Material

Steel material is a key factor when choosing hair cutting scissors. A good pair of scissors is usually made from high-grade steel, which is resistant to rust and corrosion, helping to maintain sharpness for a long time.

Among them, Japanese steel is considered the top choice. Steel lines such as VG1, VG10 or ATS-314 are famous for their high hardness, good impact resistance, long-lasting sharpness and easy re-sharpening. Therefore, scissors made from Japanese steel often have superior durability, providing stability for many years of use. Not only that, the Japanese steel processing process is often meticulously performed, helping the scissor blades operate smoothly, limiting the situation of tripping or chipping during the cutting process.

Compared to common steels, Japanese steel has a high carbon density, allowing for sharper sharpening while still maintaining durability. This is the reason why many high-end brands in the world prioritize using Japanese steel to produce handmade scissors.

Design

The design of scissors not only affects the cut, but also the feel of using them for many hours of work. A properly designed pair of scissors will help the hairdresser reduce hand fatigue, increase flexibility and precision.

• Fine-tuning and finishing: choose scissors sized 5.0 – 5.5 inches, with a thin convex blade, allowing for skillful manipulation of every small detail.
• Outline cutting, trimming: scissors size 5.5 - 6.0 inches, convex blade, balanced handle for easy control of scissor tip, suitable for creating outlines or trimming points.
• Frame cutting, speed cutting: 6.0 – 6.5 inches scissors, help to operate quickly, cut strongly, ideal for breaking frames or cutting thick hair.
• Scissors over comb: scissors size 6.5 – 7.0 inches, create strong, decisive cuts, especially suitable for men's hair.

In addition to function, hand size and gender also affect the choice of scissor size. People with small hands should choose a small size for easy control, while people with large hands (usually men) should choose a large size for a feeling of stability.

Blade type 

One of the most important factors when choosing hair cutting scissors is the blade type. Each blade type offers a different experience and technique:

• Sword Blade

Inspired by Japanese sword blades, the Sword blade is thick, strong, and feels solid in the hand. This type of blade is suitable for dry cutting or handling thick, hard hair. The advantage of the Sword blade is its fast cutting speed and the ability to cut even thick strands of hair. However, because it is quite strong and hard, the Sword blade is not as flexible as other types of blades in detailed cuts.

• Convex Blade

This type of blade is curved like a shell, thin and sharp, creating soft, natural cuts. Convex blades are especially suitable for slicing techniques, slide cuts or detailed cuts on wet hair. The special thing about Convex blades is that the sharpening process requires skilled craftsmen, because even the smallest mistake can ruin the precision of the blade.

• Flat Blade

Flat blades, sharp cutting angle, give a better grip on hair. This blade style is suitable for European style, but often cuts harshly and is not optimal for Asian hair.

Price

When choosing hair cutting scissors, many people often wonder about the price. On the market, scissors can range from a few hundred thousand to tens of millions.

For new students, it is recommended to choose mid-range scissors for practice, both to save costs and to ensure basic sharpness.

For the professional, scissors should be considered a long-term investment. A quality pair of Japanese steel scissors can last for many years, reducing the cost of sharpening and maintaining high performance.

Most importantly, never choose scissors just because they are cheap, because cheap scissors are often made from poor quality steel, quickly become blunt, easily damage hair and reduce the customer experience.

Warranty and repair 

A good pair of scissors is not only about the material and design, but also about the warranty. Reputable brands often offer a 1-2 year warranty, along with professional sharpening and repair services. After the warranty, the sharpness of the scissors can reach 99% of the original, giving hairdressers peace of mind when using them.

In addition, proper storage also affects the life of the scissors. After each use, clean them, apply special oil and store them in a separate box to avoid impact. In particular, never use hair cutting scissors to cut other materials such as paper or fabric.

Three basic steps when choosing hair cutting scissors

Step 1: Choose hair cutting scissors that suit your technique and usage habits.

Consider your usual cutting technique. If you do a lot of detail work, choose small, sharp scissors. If you do a lot of men’s hair, choose large, sturdy scissors. Also, try out a variety of scissors to find the ones that work best for you.

Step 2: Consider based on professional experience

Newbies can choose common hair cutting scissors to practice, but experienced workers should invest in high-end scissors to develop their techniques, avoid damaging hair and save energy when working long hours.

Step 3: Check the balance when holding the scissors

Each pair of scissors has its own center of gravity. When you hold the scissors, if the fulcrum of your index finger and thumb matches the center of gravity, you will be able to control them easily without fatigue. This is an important step to ensure that the scissors truly fit your hand.

Below is a video tutorial on choosing hair cutting scissors from Hair Stylist Cris Nguyen:

Common mistakes when choosing hair cutting scissors

Many people choose hair cutting scissors based on the advice of friends or because they see an eye-catching design. However, each person has their own hands, techniques and habits, so what suits someone else may not suit you. Some other common mistakes are:

• Choose intuitively rather than relying on technique.
• Prefer design over material.
• Buy cheap scissors but they break quickly.
• Try pulling in the air without testing on hair, leading to false feeling

Scissors are the “companion” of a hairdresser throughout his career. Choosing hair cutting scissors cannot be done carelessly or based solely on personal preference. You need to consider the material, blade type, design, price and warranty to find the right pair of scissors. Remember, a good pair of scissors not only helps you improve your work efficiency, create precise cuts, but also protects the health of your hands – the most valuable asset of a hairdresser.