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Where To Buy Matte Black Hair Cutting Scissors

Matsui Matte Black & Gold Shears

It’s not that many years ago that we wouldn’t have imagined seeing anything other than chrome scissors in a hairdressing salon. Now you see a wide range of colours and metal finishes. Many thought black wouldn’t catch on but it’s proved very popular amongst hairdressers and barbers.

Where & What Types Of Black Hair Scissors

Where once people associated black with evil and death, it’s now fashionable and elegant. The popularity of the colour has flowed into salons with matte black hairdressing scissors and shears all the rage.

The strong uptake of black scissors means you can now find all types of professional hairdressing scissors. From professional hair cutting scissors in all sizes to thinners, texturizers and blenders. There are individual scissors and matching sets. For those wanting ergonomic options, most matte black manufacturers provide scissors with offset handles or you can choose the swivel handle.

Black scissors and shears are popular with both males and females, hairdressers and barbers alike.

Japanese black hairdressing scissors

Japanese handmade scissors and shears are being produced with elegant black finishes. The Japanese Matsui brand is one of the most popular manufacturing matte black professional hairdressing scissors.

What are black shears finished in?

Matte black scissors are finished in a black titanium coating. The finish is extremely hard to withstand years of use and is covered under the lifetime warranty.

The quality of matte black scissors

Some people assume that scissors with a coloured coating are inferior to chrome scissors because the coating is covering up some imperfections but the opposite is true. Scissors that are being coated in a titanium finish need to be completely free of any defects otherwise the coating doesn’t adhere to the steel or shows up the smallest imperfection, meaning the scissors are rejected.

It often surprises hairdressers and barbers that the coating stays the same for the entire life of the scissors. Many assume the coating will remain for a year or two before it fades or wears off in the high touch areas like the handles. Others think the chemicals in hair dyes and being wet all day will cause problems with the finish but they’re pleasantly surprised.

How should you care for matte black scissors?

You’ll be glad to know that your black scissors don’t need any special treatment compared to a professional pair of chrome shears. Follow a few simple care guidelines and you will keep your scissors in good working order, free of corrosion and rust spots for many years.

Use a soft dry towel to clean and thoroughly dry the scissors at the end of the work day. Give them a quick look over to make sure you have removed all traces of hair and chemicals. Store them in their case rather than leaving them on a bench or in a drawer to ensure they don’t get damaged. If you drop your scissors, have them sharpened with a professional bladesmith before using them again. Be sure to oil your scissors at least weekly using professional scissor oil. Always oil directly after using a disinfectant on the scissors to replace the oil you removed.

Before using your scissors at the start of your next workday, check the tension and balance of the scissors.

Hold the scissors vertically and lift one handle. When you release the handle, it should fall slightly, closing halfway up the other blade. If the blade hardly moves when you let go, the tension is too tight and if it closes completely, the tension is too loose.

To check the balance of your scissors, open the scissors and wiggle the blades against each other to make sure there isn’t too much movement.

All Matsui scissors come with a tension adjuster so be sure to use it if you need to make a change. To tension up a pair of right handed scissors, turn the screw to the right and to adjust the tension down, turn the screw to the left.

If during the day, you feel any resistance cutting hair, stop and check the tension. You can cause permanent damage to the blades if you continue using scissors that aren’t balanced or tensioned correctly.

Using scissors that are the correct tension also ensures your hands and wrists aren’t working harder than they need to, risking a repetitive strain or carpal tunnel injury.

Where To Buy Matte Black Hair Cutting Shears

Below are some of our favourite Matsui options on the Scissor Tech shop.

Matsui Precision Matte Black Cutting Shear

Made from high quality Hitachi 440C Japanese steel, the elegant finish is enhanced by small touches of rose gold. The finger rest and tension screw are features of the shears. Available in 5.5 inch and 6 inch sizes.

The Precision is also available as a Triple Set with the 5.5 and 6 inch cutting shear and 5.5 inch thinning shear. The set is perfect for anyone who does ladies/slicing cuts and scissors over comb barbering cuts. Swap between the two sizes of shears depending on the cut.

Matsui Matte Black Aichei Mountain Offset Shear

Cobalt-infused steel makes these a lightweight pair of shears. The mountain blade is well regarded by hairdressers and barbers because it helps push the hair on to the razor sharp blade. Choose between 5.5 and 6 inch shears.

If one is never enough, the Mountain Offset is also available as a Thinner Combo Set . Choose the best size cutting shear, either 5.5 or 6 inches, to go with the 6 inch thinning shear.

Matte Black Matsui Swivel Shear

If you’re suffering a hand or wrist injury or worried about the potential for one, you can’t beat swivel handle matte black hairdressing scissors. The handles allow you to have maximum hand movement while cutting.

If you’re looking to buy black hairdressing scissors, there’s plenty of models and sizes to choose from. Don’t be concerned about making the wrong decision, Scissor Tech provides a 7 day return policy with all scissors. Either swap the scissors for another pair or request a full refund.

View all our matte black hairdressing scissors at Scissor Tech.

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How To Use Thinning Shears

Thinning shears are an essential part of a hairdresser’s arsenal. Really learning how to use thinning shears is essential. While they aren’t used on every client like the trusty cutting shears, they’re a great scissor for attaining the right look for some clients.

In the right hands, hair thinning scissors can do wonders.

How to use hair thinning scissors

Thinning shears are designed to enhance the shape created by cutting scissors. A hair stylist comes in at the end with thinning scissors to soften the haircut, not change the shape or structure. They may be used to remove unwanted bulk or for blending out a short or layered haircut.

If you go in too close to the scalp with thinning scissors, you run the risk of having short hairs that stand up rather than lie flat. It’s essential that thinning scissors only cut the mid-length and ends of the hair. Thinning scissors may not always be needed at the end of every haircut or trim. They’re only needed when the hair needs thinning or removing unwanted bulk.

Overuse can cause a change to the texture of the hair making it thin towards the ends. The hair can feel weak, thin and brittle if not used correctly.

Tips to thin out hair with thinning shears

The hair is separated into sections. For long hair, clips may be needed to control the sections of hair. Working on one section of hair at a time, the hairdresser or barber will hold the section or use a comb to keep it steady.

The thinning scissors can be held horizontal or with the tip of the scissors pointed towards the ceiling or towards the floor.

The hair is cut mid-way along the hair shaft, never close to the crown. The hair that frames the face is often avoided too.

The same section may be cut multiple times depending on the hair’s length. The hair is combed through to remove any loose hair and to see if the desired look has been achieved. If needed, the hair can be cut again to remove more hair.

If you don’t want to remove as much hair as the shears’ teeth are designed to do, you can use the blunt blade and tail comb to weave the shears in and out of the section of hair while you hold it. Less hair is cut when the scissors are closed.

Check out this helpful video showing how to thin hair to remove weight!

How to thin out thick hair

One of the main benefits of using thinners is to reduce the bulk from thick hair. Learning how to use thinning shears on thick hair requires some extra experience. When a client has too much hair, the cut lacks volume and movement that so many clients are looking for. Thinned hair often makes maintenance easier with less drying and styling time required. Some hair stylists prefer to use long layers while others prefer thinning shears.

It’s best to thin when the hair is dry so you can see the effect of your cuts as you go. Comb out the loose hair after you’ve made the cuts and decide if you’ve reduced enough of the bulk to achieve your intended look.

You may decide to use a mix of angles while holding the shears to achieve a more natural look. Work in sections around the back of the head until you’re happy with the amount of removed hair.

No matter how thick the hair is, don’t use thinning shears in the top section of the hair known as the crown or halo area or you risk not enough hair falling on top of the haircut to achieve the desired style.

How To Use Thinning Shears FAQ

Below are some of the most common questions we receive about thinning scissors. If you need an A to your Q, don’t hesitate to contact us.

What thinning shears to buy?

Some would argue it’s even more important to use a quality steel in thinning and texturizing than a cutting scissor. While you might not use a thinner or texturizing shear as often as your cutting shears, it only takes one broken tooth to render the scissors useless.

Good quality steel thinner scissors are less likely to catch and pull the hair as they move through the hair.

Should you use thinning shears on wet or dry hair?

Generally best used on dry hair but can also be used on wet. If used on wet hair, you need to be extra careful to not over use them. Once the hair is dried you may realise the style/cut has been lost or even ruined! So it’s best to use with dry hair.

Are thinning shears bad?

Thinning shears aren’t bad in the hands of an experienced hairdresser. Problems occur when the shears are used incorrectly or on hair that’s not designed for thinning shears. For example, some curly hair is best ‘thinned’ using standard cutting shears to make layers. Read more about the dangers of using thinning shears on thick or curly hair.

Is it good to use thinning shears?

Thinning shears enhance many haircut styles. They can remove unwanted bulk to add volume and fade heavy cutting lines. Thinning shears are used on both men and women, it all depends on the hair type and desired style.

What does thinning scissors do to your hair?

The teeth on thinning scissors means some hair strands are cut while others stay the full length. Thinning shears allow hairdressers to remove some of the bulk or weight from the hair without losing any length.

What are the cutting terms you use with thinning shears?

Point, slithering or notching are some of the terms related to using thinning shears. Point cutting means pointing the shears into the hair and making your cut. It’s used to create softer layers and leave curly hair with a softer, textured look.

Slithering, unlike point cutting, is where instead of cutting we hold the scissors slightly open to the hair and simply slide away from the length of the hair. Best used on straight, soft waved hair so it’s more subtle.

Notching is very similar to the point cutting, only it’s used on much shorter hair. Typically short pixie cuts or men’s cuts are the right fit for this method to give a very textured, messy look.

How do I thin out hair using thinning shears?

Hair is cut in sections where weight of the hair is removed to improve volume. Make sure you never start thinning your hair from the crown/halo area, start further down your head where the hair lies vertically otherwise you are going to see the cut hair sticking up. Start slowly and check your progress by combing out the loose hair to check how much is being removed. You can always make more cuts but you can’t go the other way!

Does thinning your hair make it grow back thicker?

Some people believe thinning is one way to thicken hair (sounds a bit strange I know!). However, the thickening process is simply the hair growing between haircuts and the extra weight makes it look thicker. A thinning shear won’t make a strand of hair thicker or make more hair, the hair grows back the same.

How often should you use thinning shears?

This all depends on the hair. For some types of hair the answer is never! Very thin hair shouldn’t see a pair of thinning shears because they will make the problem worse and you may see the different lengths of hair in lines (not a good look!). Some curly and frizzy hair should stick to standard cutting shears as thinners can make it more frizzy and difficult to manage.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, very thick hair can have thinner shears used at every haircut to remove some of the unwanted weight and increase volume.

What’s the difference between thinning shears and texturizing shears?

To the newbie hairdresser it’s easy to get thinners and texturizing scissors mixed up with their menacing looking little teeth. Thinners and texturisers both remove hair but they do have different jobs. It’s important to learn the difference between the two so you know which scissors to grab and when to ensure the client gets the best outcome.

Thinning shears have around 28-40 teeth whose job is to remove excess weight from hair and blend the demarcation lines left by cutting scissors. They don’t create visible texture or volume to the hair. Cut and uncut hair blend together. They are often used to soften and remove bluntness from the haircut.

Texturizing shears have fewer but wider teeth with more space between each one so they remove a larger section of hair and create volume and texture through layers. There are subtle and aggressive forms of texturizing shears. An aggressive texturizing shear may have as few as five teeth so they take out a significant notch of hair. They leave wider sections of uncut and cut hair. Thinners and texturizing shears are used to create specialty looks that can be subtle or dramatic.

So to sum up, it really comes down to what you’re most comfortable with using and of course what type of haircut/style you’re trying to achieve. As the rule of hairdressing goes – Less is more! Start off with a little and if you need to do more you can, because as we all know once it’s gone – it’s gone.

Happy thinning!

Next: How To Clean & Oil Your Hair Shears

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How To Clean Hair Scissors The Right Way

Cleaning your tools on the busiest day in the salon can seem too hard, but worth it in the long run. Learning how to clean hair scissors is and essential part of caring for your tools in order to extend their life. Why would you want to keep buying new scissors or clippers when you can prolong their life and keep the money in your pocket?

Cleaning and oiling your scissors also stops them from getting stiff. A stiff pair of scissors are not only unpleasant to use but also places unnecessary pressure on your fingers and wrist which can lead to injuries. Like clients invest in their hair – you should invest in your tools.

How To Clean Hair Scissors Properly

When you’ve finished using your scissors at the end of the day – or if you can’t daily at the end of every working week – wipe away any excess hair, dirt or dust from the scissors. Check there isn’t any product on them and if so run under hot water and dry thoroughly with a towel. Don’t leave scissors wet under any circumstances as it can cause rusting and a shortened life.

How To Oil Scissors After Cleaning

Once your scissors are clean, open them and apply a small amount of scissor oil in front and behind the fulcrum. Open and close the scissors gently so the oil can help any tiny pieces of hair and product work their way out from the fulcrum. Wipe away any debris then re-oil so you have a thin layer of oil along the blades.

Store your scissors in their case ready for use the next time.

Watch this video for more tips on oiling your hair scissors.

Cleaning Hair Clippers

Make sure your clippers are unplugged then remove the head. Brush away any hair or skin build up that’s easily removable. If the removable head of the clippers are waterproof, rinse the head to wash away any remaining hair, skin or old oil. Thoroughly dry and apply clipper oil to the blade and guard on the side. After applying, turn on the clippers for a few seconds to distribute the oil evenly so they’re ready for use.

Increasing The Life Of Your Scissors and Clippers

Learning how to clean hair scissors and clippers is important if you want to achieve the longest life of your professional hair tools you invested in. Without the proper cleaning of your shears and clippers, as you likely already know, they quickly become very dirty and unhygienic for you and your clients.

Any form of liquid left on them can cause rust spots and corrosion which can shorten the life of your tools. Good quality hairdressing tools aren’t cheap, so it pays to spend a small amount of time cleaning them to keep them in top notch working order.

We hope this blog post shared information that you can now use to ensure your professional hair scissors will always be in tip top shape!

Next Post: Why You Should Avoid Thinning Shears On Curly Hair

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Why You Should Avoid Thinning Shears On Curly Hair

  Our curly haired women and girls out there know a lot when it comes to their beautiful bouncy curls. While most embrace their curls, others wish they could lose them. The most common ‘quick fix’ for removing curls or the bulk from curls is to use thinning shears. However, many hair stylists don’t consider that using thinning shears on curly hair or frizzy hair can cause bigger problems than they started with.

Thinning Shears Risks For Curly & Frizzy Hair Types

Making cuts with thinning shears causes curly hair to become more frizzy and prone to split ends and breakage of the curl which, let’s be real, no curly haired woman wants their hair to break off.

The reason lies within the hair. No two strands of hair are the same on a person’s head. They are all growing at different rates. When you make a cut, the individual strands that help weigh down other strands spring up at a different curl elasticity for each individual strand causing the unwanted frizz.

We all know what thinning shears are but do we understand how they work? Thinning shears are scissors that have teeth on one side of the blade. Those teeth also have little grooves which allow stylists to cut every second, third or even fourth strand of hair without losing length. The other side of the blade is straight so it helps cut the hair to take out the weight or soften/blend unwanted lines.

Layer Curly Hair – Don’t Thin It With Thinning Shears

If you’re wanting to remove weight from your lush locks, it’s best to go to a professional stylist who specializes in curly hair. The internet is littered with sad stories of how my hairdresser over texturized my hair. The bulk of them were caused by stylists who have little experience with curly hair and used thinning shears incorrectly. Many of them would have had a better result if they layered the hair to remove the unwanted weight.

So if you have curly locks and a stylist comes at you and your curls with a pair of thinning shears – run! You’ll be saving your curls from the heartbreak and trying to grow it out. No one wants to recount their thinning shears disaster.

How to Recover From Thinning Shears Damages

If you’ve had a bad haircut with thinning shears, you can do a few things to improve your hair in the short and long term.

First, find a hair stylist who specializes in curly hair and arrange a consultation to discuss the course of action. If your hair isn’t too short, the stylist may recommend another cut to remove some of the split ends and frizziness. You might decide to use a product while scrunching your hair to help the curls return, particularly if it’s only a few sections of hair that have been impacted by the bad cut.

Sometimes you just need a good dose of patience to wait for your hair to grow out of a bad haircut. At least you’ll know from experience that your hair and thinning shears are a bad combination!

Next Post: Texturizing With Hair Scissors

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Steel Hardness In Hair Shears – What You Need To Know

Chances are you’ve heard about steel quality and hardness in relation to hairdressing scissors.

But how does the steel impact on how well scissors cut hair you might ask?

Read on to find out how much steel hardness matters.

Impact of Using Hard Steel in Professional Hair Scissors

The hardness of the steel used to manufacture shears affects the blade edge and how long it will stay sharp, the life of the shears, and the durability of the shears.

Blade Edge

The grade of steel used in scissors will affect the all-important blade edge. Poor quality or soft steel can’t be honed to a fine edge. The only way to get a super sharp edge on scissors that cut hair cleanly with minimal force is to use shears made from high quality steel.

Longevity of the Shears

The better quality the steel, the longer the scissors will last. Hairdressing scissors need to be sharpened at least annually. And to sharpen scissors, a bladesmith will need to remove a small amount of steel. The higher quality steel doesn’t need as much taken off so they can be sharpened more times than a cheaper pair.

Rockwell Hardness

The Rockwell Hardness scale is a measure of how hard a material is. It allows manufacturers to maintain quality control and a measure for consumers to understand what they’re buying.

The test is used to determine the hardness of most metals and alloys including the steel used in scissors and shears. It’s performed using a diamond tipped indenter under a large load to measure the depth of penetration.

The higher the number, the harder the steel and the better edge retention it will have. A soft steel will be in the 54-56 HRC range while premium hard steel will achieve a rating of 59-66 HRC. It’s common to see HRC further abbreviated to RC after the number. A Rockwell Hardness measurement of 58-60 RC indicates a high quality steel that’s ideal for shears and scissors.

What Makes Steel Hard or Soft?

No shears are manufactured from one material because steel is an exact blend of alloys, ores and elements. Carbon gives steel its strength and should have a content between .95 and 1.2% of the finished product. While you want shear steel to be hard, it can’t be too hard otherwise it’s not ideal for dry or slide cutting.

Molybdenum also helps with hardness and also increases corrosion resistance. Shears are at risk of corrosion because they’re exposed to chemicals in colour treatments and water. Without molybdenum in the shears, the steel would be pitted and dull.

Manganese helps with strength of the blade and a durable sharp edge. Chromium helps with heat resistance during the forging and finishing processes and later when the shears are in use, it helps with resisting corrosion. Vanadium also helps with strength and helping the scissors keep their set and balance.

Cobalt and titanium increase hardness and reduce the weight of finished shears.

Steel Grades For Hair Shears

All steel can be graded depending on the mix of materials used to produce it.

The order of steel quality from lowest to highest is: * 420 * 440A * 4440B * 440C * S1 * S3 * V1 * V3 * VG-10 * ATS-314

The 420 grade is used in cheap scissors made in Pakistan while the 440C is the more expensive Japanese grade. There is a significant difference in the Rockwell rating with the 420 stainless steel achieving 50-55 and the 440 cobalted stainless steel between 55-62.

The S1 has a low level cobalt steel for hardened shears while the S3 is high cobalt steel for sharp cutting edges. The V category is where vanadium and titanium are added for extra strength and sharp cutting blades.

ATS-314 has the highest quantities of cobalt, titanium and vanadium and has an impressive Rockwell rating of 59-61. An older high end Japanese steel used in Yasaka Scissors.

While raw materials are important, good quality steel also requires good craftsmanship and an ideal tempering process.

VG10 Steel

VG10 is a superior grade of Japanese stainless steel, also known as cutlery grade because it was designed for Japanese chefs. The V refers to the element Vanadium and the G stands for Gold meaning gold quality.

VG10 has a Rockwell Hardness of 59 to 61 due to its high carbon content and cobalt. The VG10 shears are known to maintain their sharp blade and remain durable for the life of the shears. VG10 can be made sharper than many other types of steel. The VG10 became known as the SuperSteel. Check out this range of VG10 Offset Scissors.

Damascus Steel

Damascus steel is made from layers of high quality VG10 steel being folded onto itself 15-17 times which creates around 5,000 tiny layers of steel. The layering technique gives the appearance of a fine wood grain or water mark in the surface of the shears.

The main benefit of using layers of steel is the shears blades are strong but still flexible with a soft feel as they close against each other.

440C Grade Steel

The 440C grade of steel contains the highest carbon content making it some of the most expensive steel available. With a Rockwell Hardness of 58 to 59, it is also one of the hardest steels in the 440 family.

Which Countries Manufacture Steel?

Scissor Tech always favours Japanese steel for hairdressing scissors. Japanese steel manufacturers have perfected the art of producing incredible quality of steel that’s yet to be replicated anywhere else in the world. The second best producer of steel is Germany.

Their steel is very hard, too hard in fact to sharpen to a razor sharp edge but works well for barbering scissors that use a bevel edge.

Other countries that manufacture steel include Korea, Taiwan and China. Their steel is softer than Japanese steel and doesn’t hold a sharp edge as long. The other two manufacturers are India and Pakistan.

Their steel is of the poorest quality and doesn’t sharpen or hold an edge well so isn’t ideal for professional shears.

Japanese Manufacturers

Our two favourite steel manufacturers in Japan are the acclaimed Aichi and Hitachi. Both factories produce steel used in Matsui and other brands of shears stocked in the Scissor Tech stores.

Aichi Steel

In business since 1934, Aichi Steel began as a steelmaking division at Toyota Industries Corporation in Japan. The business name changed to Aichi Steel Corporation in 1945. Over its life Aichi has continued to develop new automotive steel products but also a range of new steel shapes and products for a variety of industries from steel rods, dental implants to magnets for drone motors and everything in between.

Hitatchi Metals

Established in Japan in 1956, Hitachi Metals prides itself on producing high quality steel blades and products for the automotive, infrastructure and electronics industries. Hitachi produces the highest grade of Japanese steel, the ATS-314.

If you’re unsure which scissors are the best quality for the cutting you do, contact the experts at Scissor Tech.

Thanks for coming by the Scissor Tech blog!

NEXT POST: Best Professional Hair Shears Brands

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Interview with a Bladesmith – Everything you Wanted to Know About Sharpening Hairdressing Shears

At Scissor Tech we know hairdressing shears and shears. Sharpening not so much. But we’re definitely into helping you care for your hairdressing and barber shears.

We want you to have a long and happy relationship with your shears. And a big part of that long life is keeping your shears and shears sharp.

So we interviewed an experienced bladesmith so we can pass on the information to you so you’ll know everything that’s important about shears sharpening.

If you’re new to hairdressing and you need a bladesmith to sharpen your shears, we recommend you ask a colleague to refer one or do a little research and ask a few questions before trusting your investment to a bladesmith.

Q. What should I consider when looking for a bladesmith?

Some people will tell you mobile bladesmiths aren’t as good as those with a shopfront but it’s not true. Mobile bladesmiths are usually just as experienced and have access to the same equipment from their van. Being mobile, you won’t have to leave the salon so it’s a convenient option for many hairdressers and barbers.  You also get your shears back the same day normally within the hour.

When deciding on a bladesmith, ask if you will have access to loan shears while yours are being sharpened. You may be without your shears for half an hour to an hour, even longer if the salon has several pairs it needs sharpened. You should expect a pair of loan shears that are of similar or better quality to what you’re using. Often the loan shears are a good indication of how much a bladesmith cares about what they do.

Q. How often should hairdressing shears be sharpened?

Most hairdressing shears need to be sharpened every 3-12 months depending on how they’re being used. But a hairdresser who is only cutting part of their day because they do colour treatments and blow waves may be able to leave it 12 months between sharpenings. A hairdresser who only cuts and barbers will likely need to have their shears sharpened quarterly. But it’s personal preference, what feels sharp to one person might seem blunt to another.

If shears are dropped, they need resharpening. Some people think dropped shears are rendered useless but that’s not the case as long as the tip hasn’t been broken off.

Most professional quality shears can be sharpened 10 or more times before they need replacing.

Q. How does a hairdresser know their shears need sharpening?

A blunt pair of shears will cause the hair to bend, fold, catch or push off the shears. Dropped shears also need sharpening. Sometimes shears need servicing and sharpening because they have been used on clients’ hair that’s dirty. When a client visits the salon or barber shop with sand or dust in their hair, the particles blunt the shears. Hair products such as gel or mousse can leave a sticky residue on shears that is hard to remove without servicing.

Q. How does a bladesmith sharpen shears?

A bladesmith starts by checking the baseline for how the shears are working before taking them apart. The shears are stripped down and checked for nicks, corrosion and rust which are taken off.

The shears are then put on a custom-made hairdressing sharpening machine. These are specially designed and can cost many thousands. The machines allow very fine adjustments to be made to half a degree to the current blade angle or the angle can be completely changed to match the style of cutting required. The shears are closely inspected to ensure the blade is balanced, even along the length.

The shears are buffed and polished. The tip of the shears is shaped to make them safe and to provide some protection in case they’re dropped in future.

The reassembled shears are tested by cutting a piece of folded wet tissue. The cut should be a straight line that follows the line of the blade. If the shears aren’t cutting properly, the tissue won’t have a clean cut and may be frayed at the end. If the shears don’t pass the tissue test, they’re taken apart for more work.

Q. Can a bladesmith damage a pair of shears if they sharpen them incorrectly?

Yes, if the stone used to rebalance the shears is too coarse, the ryde line can be damaged or the shears won’t polish up to a high shine and will catch and pull.

Lower quality machines don’t have multiple honing discs so the carbide and aluminium oxide discs need changing to get the best finish on the shears. Changing discs can be time consuming so a bladesmith can be tempted to use the one disc.

Bladesmiths with high quality machines have ready access to five discs, and the knowledge from the manufacturer to provide a better quality finish.

Q. Are Japanese made shears sharpened differently to German shears?

Yes, it’s much quicker to sharpen German shears because there is no ryde line like Japanese shears have.

The other differences between the two types of shears are Japanese shears are hollow ground and German shears are flat. German scissors are robust so they’re better for barbers but don’t have the razor sharp edge that Japanese shears have.

Q. How do you sharpen a pair of thinning shears? Do you worry about all the teeth?

Yes, the teeth are rebalanced on a flat stone. They go through a few different grades of flat stone before buffing off. Depending on the number of teeth, they can be finicky to sharpen properly.

The folded tissue test is used to check all of the teeth are sharp.

Q. When do you know that a pair of shears can’t be sharpened again?

Some bladesmiths will tell you your shears can no longer be sharpened but it is often not true. High quality shears can usually be sharpened around 10 or more times before they need to be replaced.

Q. Do old shears need to be thrown out or can they be used for anything?

Old shears can be repurposed with a harder angle. So cutting shears used on women’s hair can have a harder angle added and used on men’s hair for shears over comb cuts.

Fine serrations can be added to shears so they feel sharper for longer and are ideal for cutting straight lines.

The post Interview with a Bladesmith – Everything you Wanted to Know About Sharpening Hairdressing Shears appeared first on Blog | Scissor Tech.

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Best Professional Hairdressing Shears

Everyone wants to be a pro. It usually takes 10,000 hours of practice to be a master performer in any field.

But apprentice hairdressers need not put in the hard yards before enjoying success. A set of professional hairdressing shears will make those thousands of hours of hair cutting easier. All hairdressers deserve to use high quality shears for safety and productivity.

What are the best shears for a hair stylist?

All hair stylists no matter what level they’re at – new or experienced – need high quality, professional shears. While there are plenty of ‘professional shears’ on the market, we’ve always maintained that they need to be manufactured from the highest quality of steel. We only stock Japanese or German steel handmade shears.

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Matsui

Joewell

Yasaka

What type of shears can I buy online?

You can buy all kinds of shears online. From the comfort and safety of your home, you can choose a new set of shears and have them delivered in no time at all. Whatever you can dream of (and no doubt more) in professional shears you can find online.

Best of all, Scissor Tech makes online shopping risk-free. With a generous returns policy of seven days, you can try out the scissors before deciding if they’re right for you.

How many retail stores allow you to try the shears in-store making a mess of their floor? At Scissor Tech, we’re happy for you to cut and chip away to your heart’s content to make sure they’re right for you. If not, get in contact with us to arrange an exchange or refund. Just like a pro.

Why are premium hair cutting shears so expensive?

There’s no denying professional hair cutting shears aren’t cheap. Like all good quality products, you pay a little more for the best. The higher price tag comes with peace of mind that your shears will stay sharp longer, offer a better cutting experience and have a long life. No one wants to buy a pair of hair shears that only last a year or two of professional hair cutting before they’re rendered useless.

The main reason for their price is the quality of material. Scissors are made from high grade steel. To achieve a razor sharp edge on the blade, scissors are made from cobalt-infused hardened steel.

The saying ‘you get what you pay for’ couldn’t be more accurate with professional shears. The good shears aren’t cheap but at least they’ll give you a quality cut and stay in good form for many years.

Hairdressing Shears That Are a Cut Above

These are some of the best hairdressing shears we’ve found with hundreds of hairdressers agreeing with us.

Matsui

Established in 1998, Matsui has been producing some of the highest quality Japanese steel shears. Judging by the reviews, Matsui are some of the world’s best.

Matsui Precision Gold Cutting Shear

A beautiful gold finish with matte black trims, these shears are made from premium Hitatchi Japanese steel.

Rose Gold Swivel Matsui

For any hairdresser who has suffered hand or wrist pain, you’ll know the importance of using ergonomic shears. A swivel handle gives maximum movement in the hand to reduce the chance of a repetitive strain injury (RSI) or carpal tunnel.

Matsui Precision Matte Black Cutting Shear

A classy black shear with just a hint of gold in the trims. Plastic inserts ensure your fingers fit comfortably in the handles for the best possible fit. Choose between the 5.5 or 6 inch options.

Matsui Matte Black VG10 Limited Edition Offset Triple Set

For the pro hairdresser who wants a set of shears in the highest possible quality steel, the VG10 is the one. The lightweight shears use a mountain blade that helps with pushing the hair on to the cutting edge and makes for a rigid pair of shears you can use for point cutting, feathering and texturizing. A quality tension system makes the shears comfortable to use.

The set includes: 5.5 inch matte black VG10 shear 6 inch matte black VG10 shear 6 inch matte black VG10 thinning shear

Matsui Rainbow Scissor

Another popular choice is the Matsui rainbow range. Made from superior Hitatchi Japanese steel, these shears are lightweight and comfortable to use. Choose between the 5.5, 6 and 7 inch sizes.

Joewell

Established in 1917, Joewell Shears are synonymous with quality, design and expert craftsmanship. They combine their 100 years of experience with leading edge technology to produce award-winning hand-finished scissors.

Joewell FX Pro Rose Gold

These sleek and stylish shears offer maximum radial movement in the wrist with an offset handle grip, ring finger control and an anatomical thumb set. The supreme Japanese steel is coated in a beautiful yet durable rose gold finish with a diamond-like coating for the screw cover.

Available in 5, 5.5 and 6 inch sizes.

Joewell FX Pro Black Titanium Series

Blades don’t come much sharper than this sword-edged shears with a front blade that has an angled sword edge and a back blade that’s flat so it sits flush against the comb and panel of hair.

The lubricated pivot is made from lightweight resin that makes it the smoothest and quietest action.

Available in 5, 5.5 and 6 inch sizes.

Yasaka

Unique manufacturing techniques and master craftsmen produce the world famous Yasaka shears. The clam-shaped blades are hardened and then annealed in a complete vacuum to ensure a long-lasting pair of shears that will see many years of cutting.

Yaskaka Offset Handle

These high quality, lightweight shears are ideal for slicing and point cutting and will stay sharp for longer. They’re ideal for any technicians suffering from a RSI or carpal tunnel.

Choose between 5, 5.5 and 6 inch sizes.

Advice on Buying Hairdressing Shears

Plenty of choice can make the decision making process hard. If you’re overwhelmed by all the hairdressing shears available, don’t hesitate to get in contact with a shears expert for advice. Even if you don’t make the right decision, don’t worry. Scissor Tech offers a seven day exchange or return policy so whichever pair of shears you try is risk-free. We want you to love using your shears for many years to come. You’ll be a pro before you know it.

The post Best Professional Hairdressing Shears appeared first on Blog | Scissor Tech.

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How to Texturize With Hair Scissors

Not all clients know how to describe it. They tell you they want bounce and body and do the thing with their hands. Lucky you know they want – a textured cut. 

Texturizing hair with scissors takes some practice and the right tools. But once you’ve mastered it, your clients will return to order the ‘same again’ like they’re sitting in a bar. 

What is Texturized Hair Anyway?

Texturizing is cutting hair so it adds movement and interest to the style. It’s perfect for clients who want that volume and texture to give the hair an effortless look when really it’s been days since they washed their hair. Hair cut on the straight and narrow is a bit boring. But cut it into choppy or feathered layers, hello texture. Clients notice the difference. They walk out of the salon thinking they’re a modern day Meg Ryan.

Texturizing Techniques

There is an entire range of techniques hairdressers and barbers use to achieve a textured cut. 

Chipping

Snipping little slices of hair with the scissors held vertically to the hair’s direction to give a smoother finish rather than a blunt edge. 

Point cutting

Snipping little slices of hair with the scissors held vertically to the hair’s direction to give a smoother finish rather than a blunt edge. To remove more hair, hold the scissors at an angle (more perpendicular) to the hair being cut. 

Razor cutting

This technique often brings in the big guns – a razor over scissors. A comb guard reduces the amount of hair cut then the razor lightly slides over sections of hair from the mid-lengths to the ends. A fluid motion is needed to shorten and thin out the hair evenly.

Slicing

Don’t be put off by the name. It’s an ideal technique for thick hair to thin and add volume so it doesn’t look flat. With a light grip on the scissor handles, gently slide the blades out from the mid lengths of the hair to the ends. 

Weaving

This technique involves using a tail comb to weave through a section of hair in an m-shaped motion moving up and down quickly through the hair, similar for applying foils. The small slices of isolated hair are cut to thin it out. 

Twist cutting

Who doesn’t like a little twizzle and turn? To achieve this technique, sections of hair are twisted tight and cut with scissors to texturize. The scissors contact the hair twisted at different lengths to gain an even thinning effect. It’s ideal for thick hair and to soften blunt tips. 

Which Technique Do you Choose?

The technique used will depend on the hair type you’re working with and the look you’re after. For fine hair, you’re best to use the smooth or twist cutting technique while thick hair responds best with slithering and chipping techniques.

How to Texturize Hair with Scissors

There are no hard and fast rules for using scissors to texturize hair. Trial and error lets you learn what works best on different hair types. Just err on the side of caution if that trialling is on anyone besides your brave mom.   

How to Texturize Medium to Long Hair with Scissors

Lift a section of damp hair from the top. Look for the middle of the hair shaft and point cut small sections of hair along the width. With the hair still lifted move your scissors to a slightly higher level and again take small pieces out of the hair shaft. 

Repeat the same technique by lifting a circular section around the crown. This is an area of hair that usually goes very flat when hair is long. Do the same again with sections of hair in the back. The shorter areas of texturized hair will give your look more lift, volume and movement.  

How to Texturize Short Hair with Scissors

While a razor will give you a textured cut as it thins and feathers the hair, a pair of scissors offers you more control. Scissors also cause less damage to the hair than razors do. 

Short haircuts often have a strong shape. But you’ll want to create the shape without compromising on a softer, diffused edge. Instead of using a straight shear and doing lots of little point cuts, it’s quicker and easier to use a blending shear. 

Determine how much length you want to remove then following the contour of the head shape, cut the hair. You’ll achieve the desired length and be left with a soft edge rather than a hard straight one. Continue with more sections moving around the head until you have the desired length.  

Texturizing Curly Hair with Scissors

Take small sections of hair and slide cut with the shears at a 45 degree angle inside the hair shaft rather than the ends like you would a men’s cut. Section off another part of the head and repeat. Don’t start the slide cutting too high up the hair otherwise you will have pieces that stick out. 

Hair naturally bends so cut below the bend. For touching up after the hair has been blow dried, walk the scissors down rather than sliding the scissors down. With some of the weight removed, there is more room for the curls to form.

What is the Difference Between Texturizing Scissors & Thinning Scissors?

Texturizing scissors are different to thinning scissors because they have wider teeth with more space between each one. The extra space means they take out a thicker piece of hair than thinning scissors to create layers that add volume and texture. 

Thinning shears are designed to blend the lines left by hair scissors. They soften the edge of hair and cut away some hair so there’s more movement in the style. 

Heavy coarse hair can benefit from both texturizing and thinning. The combination techniques thin and add texture to the ends and mid-section of the hair.            

Buy the Best Hair Thinning and Texturizing Shears

Sure it takes good hairdressing skills but to texturize hair properly a hairdresser or barber needs the right tools to do their best work. 

After much searching, Scissor Tech has put together a range of shears that can only be described as precision instruments. Made from premium-grade Japanese steel, their ergonomic, sculpted handles provide maximum control and maneuverability. 

They work as an extension of your hand ensuring they do the hard work, not your body. We have a range of hair thinning scissors in beautiful finishes including classic steel, rose gold, matt black, rainbow chrome and printed styles.

Treat yourself and buy a new pair of scissors or contact one of our scissors experts anytime if you have questions.

The post How to Texturize With Hair Scissors appeared first on Blog | Scissor Tech.

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Top Shears for Barbers

  There’s no question, you know your cuts. Not the butchering porterhouse kind, the haircut type. You cruise through a crew cut, blast a buzz cut and never confuse an undercut. You’re possibly even a dab hand with the pompadour and its younger brother quiff. But do you really know your barber shears? The type of steel, the handle design and blade all matter. Owning a fine set of barber shears will put you a cut above the rest.

What to Look For in Barbers Shears

When it comes to barber shears, not all shears are created equal. Just like haircuts really. You may have even experienced a poor quality shears and vowed you’d never put up with inferior shears again. Here’s what to look out for when you’re buying online.

Blade Edge

The most important part of the design of a good pair of barbering scissors is the blade edge. You want your barbering scissor to have a bevel edge, or a semi convex, as this will handle the blades opening and closing thousands of times every cut. It will keep your scissors sharper for longer, and ensure you won’t be disappointed by a scissor that dulls after the first month of use in a busy barbershop.

Quality of Material

There are many good quality steel shears but you guessed it, not all steel is created equal. Shears made from Japanese or German steel are considered the world’s finest quality. Scissor Tech prides itself on never stocking any scissors or shears below 440C steel or an HRC/Rockwell hardness of 57. We look for 440C, ATS314, VG10, Damascus steel with high levels of cobalt to increase hardness and durability, depending on the application. We’ve found some of Japan’s best steel is produced by Aichi and Hitachi.

Of course, they’re also corrosion resistant but they’re also more durable to being damaged, lighter, and offer smoother cutting.

Ergonomically Designed Shears

There is no such thing as the perfect ergonomic pair of shears. We all have different shape and size hands so what fits like a glove for one barber will be too small for another. Also, every barber has their own cutting technique and method of holding their shears. The size of the finger and thumb rings impact on the comfort of the scissors too. Scissor Tech provides a free set of various sized inserts so you can choose the perfect fit.

Sharp Shears

Investing in good quality shears means they will stay sharp for longer. And your clients won’t walk out with split ends either. Sharp shears have also been linked to reduced wrist pain and strain compared to using a blunt pair. So the longer they start sharp the less chance of you suffering an injury. Having your shears serviced regularly will not only keep them sharp but also extend their life. A busy salon may organise a local sharpener to visit and revive an old dull pair of scissors no one wanted to use. By adding a hard bevel, or serration an old pair left in the drawer can be transformed into a great blunt cutter. And a pair of shears you thought were nearing their end, can have their life extended saving you time and money.

Tension

You might have your tense or loose days but your shears shouldn’t. You need barber shears that have just the right amount of tension so the closing action is effortless. Using shears with the right tension can reduce the chance of fatigue. It’s important to learn how to tension your shears correctly. Read our guide on How to Tension and Care for your Scissors.

Blade Sizes

Sure, you can have your favourite pair of shears, but you need multiple pairs to do the job. Shorter blades are best for precision cuts while longer blades are good for tackling a serious ponytail. While a longer blade takes some getting used to, long blade shears can save you valuable time with each haircut you do.

What’s the Best Shears for Barbers?

A busy barber shop needs premium quality shears that are durable to damage and reliable to cut, chip and snip away all day. Suave and sexy looking shears don’t hurt either.

The Shears We Love

YASAKA 7 INCH BARBERING

Made from hard Cobalt Japanese steel, they will last the distance. They have a semi offset handle position with a clam shaped convex edge that’s perfect for slicing. 

The ergonomics of the scissors ensures you can spend many hours a day cutting and slicing. They offer a comfortable grip with your finger and thumb in a naturally comfortable position. The polished finish will match the quality of your haircuts.

7 INCH MATSUI VG10 MASTER BARBER ERGO MATTE BLACK LIMITED EDITION

If you prefer the dark side, these matte black shears might be your style. They’re also made from high quality cobalt-infused Japanese steel for superior hardness. Finished with a semi convex edge for that extra bit of grip that never goes astray. A super sharp edge gives you a neat finish every time. The offset handle is ergonomically-designed keeping your thumb in a natural position. 

Comes with a case, razor, spare blades, shear oil, cleaning cloth, tension adjuster, and spare finger inserts.

2020 MATSUI PRECISION MATTE BLACK CUTTING SHEAR

Another meticulous Matsui matte black pair of shears with just a hint of rose gold on the trim. These limited edition shears could be just what you’re after. 

Made from Premium Hitachi 440C Japanese Steel with a premium titanium coating, the shears will look good despite any harsh treatment. Plastic inserts make sure the shears are the perfect fit for your fingers. The edge is well suited for blunt cutting and scissor over comb cutting. 

Comes with a Scissor Tech case to protect your scissors, razor, spare blades, scissors oil, microfiber cleaning cloth, tension adjuster and spare finger inserts. 

 JOEWELL CRAFT 01 SERIES

Looking for a versatile pair of shears? These could be the ones. The bamboo leaf blade shape means they’re perfect for everything from wet cutting to texture and slide cutting. Made from a high grade Japanese steel, they are lightweight with a low profile tension screw. The offset handle shears will feel as comfy as a pair of slippers, but way more stylish. 

JOEWELL JKX

Treat ‘em mean and keep them keen. If you’re hard on your tools, you might be in the market for a pair of shears with superior durability. These Joewell shears offer an impressive 2.5 times longer life than your average shears. 

But their toughness doesn’t mean they compromise on cutting quality. They deliver power, sharpness, and smooth cutting action. The cobalt base alloy and hard titanium coating make them ideal for barbers with metal allergies.

The sword blade and convex blade provide a superior cutting operation and the offset handle and removable finger rest make them comfortable for long hours of use. 

What’s the Best Thinning Shears for Barbers?

YASAKA 7.0 INCH DELUX BARBER SET

A combo of barbering shears and thinning shears means you’re set to tackle any head of hair. The set includes the Yasaka 7.0 Inch Barbering Shears already mentioned plus a 6.0 inch top of the range thinning shears. Made from extra hard steel, the thinning shears are resistant to corrosion and will stay looking this good for many years.   

MATTE BLACK MATSUI MASTER BARBER SHEAR & TEXTURIZER COMBO

If it’s texturizing shears you’re after, try these on for size. The combo set includes Matsui Matte Black Master Barber Shear & 6 Inch 14 Tooth Texturizer shears.

Choose between the 5.5″, 6″, 6.5″ or 7″ Matte Black Shear Set. Comes with cleaning cloth, oil pen, tension key, warranty/care guide card & extra complimentary finger loops.

SOZU ESSENTIAL ORIENTAL BARBERING SCISSOR 

If you’re on a budget but don’t want to compromise on quality, the Sozu is an excellent choice. They aren’t all plain Jane, there’s a delicate little detail on the handle. Available in 7″, they’re perfect for someone with a larger hand. 

Where to Buy the Best Shears for Barbers

A good pair of shears is easy to take for granted, which is exactly why we believe they deserve some respect. Protect them with your life and they’ll last you a lifetime.  

Show your craft some love and buy yourself some new barber shears or drop us a line with any queries.

The post Top Shears for Barbers appeared first on Blog | Scissor Tech.

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Why You Should Use Specific Hair Scissors

As a child, do you remember using kid-safe scissors to make crafts? That was the only kind of scissors you knew of. Once you started to mature, your parents let you use the sharper scissors until finally you got to use the big scissors from Dad's office. As an adult, you still might not know the difference between a regular pair of scissors and a pair of hair scissors that you see at beauty shops. Why can't hairdressers use regular scissors to get their job done?

First, you should know the differences between regular scissors and hair scissors. The main difference is sharpness. Hair shears are designed to give you the most precise hair cut possible. This means they must be much sharper than a pair of scissors you would use around the house. As you find more differences, think of which you would prefer to use on your hair. Would you rather trim your locks with your handy dandy craft scissors or with a good quality pair of hair scissors?

The more you inform yourself, the more comfortable you will be about getting your hair cut. Look up the best types of barber scissors. Although they can be expensive, it is said that the best to use on your hair are the Kamisori brand hair scissors. They are well-worth the splurge due to their sleekness and great performance. These shears have guaranteed durability and sharpness. They are Japanese-made and have so many benefits. They reduce the risk of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome and can adjust easily to your grip.

Read More: Why You Should Use Specific Hair Scissors