Avoid Problems with your Hair Cutting Scissors
Haircutting Scissor Problems
Author: Nadine Visscher
When giving a haircut, one of the most important tools are your scissors. If you have a great pair of haircutting scissors, it will make your job that much easier. With proper care, your haircutting scissors can last you a liftetime. Without proper care, however, you may experience a few problems such as –
* hair catching or pulling while you are cutting
* the hair sliding or moving towards the tips of your scissor blades rather than cutting
* hair being pinched or bent when you close the blades
* the shears feeling rough when you are cutting
You can address each on of these concerns with a good cleaning. When you are using your scissors, little bits of hair and chemicals can get around the screw and clog the pivot joint.
Cleaning Your Scissors
To clean them, wipe your scissor blades with a soft, dry cloth. Put a drop of oil between the blades and behind the set screw. Open and close your scissors several times to work the oil into the joint. The oil and the moving blades dislodge the hair bits that were stuck in the joint. Wipe the scissor blades with a soft dry cloth to clean off the hair and oil. Once you clean this area, the blades should be able to move freely, making it unnecessary for you to adjust your scissors.
If your scissor blades still feel rough after cleaning them, you may have damaged your shears and may need to replace them.
After cleaning your haircutting scissors, test them to see if they still need adjusting. If they continue causing problems where the hair is pulling, pinching, or sliding, you will need to adjust the tension.
Adjusting Your Scissors
Should you find that there isn’t enough tension and you need to adjust them, hold your haircutting scissors tightly in a closed positon, and press them down firmly on a hard surface. use a dime, a screwdreiver, or the adjustment tool (that came with your scissors) to turn the screw clockwise just a little bit (equal to 3 – 4 minutes on a clock face). You want to do this very carefully so you don’t damage the pivot screw.
If you have the opposite problem where the tension is too tight, follow the same steps, except turn the screw ever so slightly in a counterclockwise direction.
Once your haircutting scissors are adjusted to the proper tension and you are sitll having problems, you may need to get them sharpened. Be sure to get them sharpened by a specialist, someone who knows what s/he is doing.
With proper care, your haircutting scissors should last you a lifetime.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/haircutting-scissor-problems-181037.html About the Author Nadine Visscher is the author of haircutting ebooks and has an great selection of both haircut videos and haircutting scissors.10 Ways to Get the Career in Hairdressing That You Want
Due to the hair and beauty industry becoming an increasingly popular career choice for many, it’s never been more important to do what you can to stand out from the crowd. Competition for jobs in hairdressing can be fierce due to the outstanding level of hairdressing talent found throughout the world. Whether you’re looking to open your own salon or find a hairdressing job aboard a luxury cruise liner, there are many things every hairdresser can do and services that are available to help you find and secure that dream job.
1. Keep learning.
It’s crucial that you continue to learn new skills not only in preparation of future opportunities but to continue doing your current job to the best of your ability. Styles and the industry change often and its important that you remain up to speed with the latest looks and techniques. Asking colleagues can provide experience based knowledge on everything from effective techniques to customer service.
2. Invest in yourself.
Many stylists choose to attend privately run courses. Courses on a range of hairdressing topics take place at locations across the country held by some of the countries finest hairdressing bodies including L’Oreal, Schwarzkopf and many more. These offer an excellent opportunity to stay in tune with latest trends. (more…)
Losing a Salon Client to another Stylist at Work
Every hair dresser probably knows how awful it feels to lose their client to a co-worker. The agony in wondering what you did wrong can greatly affect your self-confidence, and you may even start to doubt yourself when styling a loyal client’s hair who has no intention of leaving you for someone else in your salon.
“What is she doing that I didn’t do?” is a question you may be asking yourself. But don’t worry, this situation does happen, and even though it may seem like an embarrassment to you, you can learn from the situation and turn it into a good experience.
Find Out Why
First off, you want to know what happened, right? Why did she choose my co-worker over me? There may be a few different answers to that question. You can start off by talking to your co-worker to discover why she chose to go to her instead of you. Does your co-worker style hair differently? Maybe her cuts are more modern. Maybe she specializes in curly or wavy hair. Maybe she can straighten out curly hair with an excellent blowout.
Any of these differences may be very important to your client’s needs. Every staff member is valuable to the salon for their different talents, and that’s a good thing! You want the salon you work for to be diverse to accommodate the needs of each individual.
If your client chooses another stylist at your salon because of her specific needs, something you may not specialize in, don’t fret. You have your own talents. Use them, market them and always make sure each client has a great experience, even if that means sending them off to a stylist that is better suited for them.
Be Professional
Addressing the client herself is not a good idea in this particular situation. She is still a loyal customer of the salon and that is important. Your number one priority as an employee is to make sure your salon doesn’t lose business. If you address the client personally, she may feel embarrassed and stop going to the salon altogether. Trust me, you do not want this to happen.
This will only cause problems with you and your boss and with your co-worker, and no one likes to work in a hostile environment. Tension between co-workers affects everyone in the salon, from clients to the staff, and that’s bad for business.
When addressing you co-worker about the situation, be sure to do so in a private setting, keep calm and be professional. Have an open mind. After all, it may not even be your fault. If you co-worker is professional, she will never make you feel bad about the situation.
Shrug it off
Don’t worry so much! Everybody is different, and different people like different things. Maybe you can learn something from this. If a co-worker has a great technique for curly hair, you can always ask her for pointers. Don’t ever think you already know everything; none of us do! All of us could use a little room for improvement.
Losing a client to a co-worker isn’t a big deal if it only happens once or twice. It’s when it keeps happening to you that there is a major problem. If that’s the case, do what you have to do to fix the problem, and fix it fast, because ultimately you are the one who will lose.
Your Shears Can Make or Break The Cut
I have heard it all from stylists about what you should and should not do when cutting curly hair, which got me thinking: What is the difference between shears and how they shape your hair?
For more information about this, I went straight to my local curly expert, Ron Valdez at Estilo Valdez Salon in Austin, TX. There are so many different types of shears on the market, each claiming that it is one and only tool you will need. Ron Valdez sings a different tune, “I cycle through six pairs of shears. You can’t tell which you will need to use until you cut down into the hair. Every head of hair is different, so it responds differently to each pair of scissors.”
How can you tell when you’re using the right pair or scissors? Valdez offers some advice, “Start off with one pair and (it) may change throughout the head. One pair won’t always cut it. When you close the shear and it glides through the hair and doesn’t push it out, that is the right type of shear for that hair.”
Not surprisingly, there are many types of haircutting scissors available on the market, including: barber shears, thinning shears, styling shears, tempered shears, left-handed shears and more.
One glance at these scissors will tell you just how different they are from each other. Each is designed to perform a specific task—some are used to create subtle effects while others are perfect for basic haircuts.
What Type of Shear is Best for You?
You have some choices to make before you select the right pair of scissors. Of course, you’ll also want to shop around for the best prices.
Type of Blades
Beveled blades feature one serrated edge and are ideal for layered cuts, tapered cuts and the “scissor over the comb” method.
Convex blades are razor sharp and promise a clean, smooth, flawless cut. They are ideal for slide cutting.
Type of Handles
Opposing grips feature handles of the same length that are symmetrical to the center screw. It is perfect for individuals who cut with the thumb and middle finger.
Offset grips feature a short thumb handle and a longer finger handle. This allows natural, fluid movement and is ideal for individuals who cut with the thumb and ring finger.
Crane grips feature a long finger handle and an angled thumb. This ensures less strain on the wrist and shoulder and allows a freer, open cut.
Types of Thumb Grips
Standard thumb scissors feature a removable and reversible finger resting piece that can be attached to either the left or right. This allows individuals greater versatility (with left and right hand use.
Cutaway thumb scissors do not feature the reversible finger resting piece, but does provide exceptional comfort.
Anatomic thumb scissors allow for greater radial movement due to its curved design. Thus it provides more freedom of movement for the stylist.
Rotating thumb scissors are a new advancement in the haircutting industry. They reduce hand and wrist strain and feature an open-hand grip design, which reduces thumb “travel” and creates a more comfortable experience for the stylist.
Length of Blade
Choosing the blade length is really a matter of comfort and preferred styling methods. You will find you probably need to utilize several different types of scissors, but your hand should feel comfortable no matter what size it is.
Short blades are useful for detailed touchups, such as cutting around the ears or very close to the skin. This type of blade is recommended for all stylists; chances are it will be used frequently for more intricate cutting. The blade should be no longer than 5.5 inches.
Long blades are ideal for cutting thick hair, slide cutting, scissor over comb methods, and bobs, to name a few.
Some other features that stylists may choose to focus on include the production material of the shears, the method of production of the shears and the tension system the shears provide.
So how can you get hands-on experience using various shears with different curl patterns? The new stylists at Estilio Valdez ask their curly friends to come in for a cut, and Valdez even puts an ad on Craigslist for all types of curls to receive a free cut while the stylists are learning how to shape and style curls correctly.
The best advice Ron could give me was, “It’s a craft and just like any other craft, you will master it over time.”
by Megan Dorcey
Experienced Stylists use Swivel Hair Shears
With twenty-one years of experience, colorist for Vidal Sassoon in London and owner of Salon 5th Avenue Hair & Spa Inc., Santiago Mojica couldn’t help but add the Shiro Swivel Set Combo to his collection. He couldn’t get past the quality and affordability of Shiro Shears. And as on of the most lavish and stylish Uptown Salons in San Diego, Santiago knows a good thing when he sees it!
Santiago was kind enough to put one of our Shiro stickers in the window of his salon. We absolutely love it when our customers give such great feedback and are willing to support us as we support them.
Quick Holiday Tip for Hairdressers
If you are like me, you’re all about saving money this holiday season. Well, here is a great idea to help you out.
Most hairdressers go to the beauty shows to buy their Styling Shears. You book a flight or fill up the tank for the road, pack up your bags and get your fellow stylists together for the annual trip to the big Beauty Show. Many stylists are prepared to spend up to $800 or more on a single pair of Styling Shears that they were convinced are some sort of special steel that is the best that money can buy. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but 9 out of 10 Japanese Styling Shears are made from the same type of steel.
The steel used is called 440C, we use it here at Shiro Shears. Sure, we could go to the beauty shows, pay thousands of dollars for a booth, and try to sell our products for 3-4 times what they’re worth. But we would rather extend our discount to the consumer by offering REALISTIC prices on all our Japanese Styling Shears online. Our prices online are always less than what you would pay in stores or in the field. Even our distributors don’t sell them for these low prices. Stop paying $500 or more on Hair Cutting Scissors, and buy the best quality at the lowest prices online. www.ShiroShears.com
If I were you, I would take a look at the Sale page at http://shiroshears.com/page/sale/ and pick out one or two pair. There is no risk involved in purchasing our products, they are 100% backed up by our Warranty! You can buy them from our website, try them for up to 30-Days, and if you don’t like them just return them for a full refund. Our Sale items are extremely low priced right now and they will not last so buy yours today.
By Shiro Shears Co.
Holiday Gifts for your Hairdresser
Holiday Gifts for Your Hairdresser
Buying a gift for your favorite stylist can be tricky. But you want to buy a gift that counts, right? The holidays are my absolute favorite time of year. Not only do I enjoy the cold weather, snow, Christmas music, and general sense of good fortune and family. But I absolutely love buying Christmas gifts for my family and loved ones. If you’re anything like me, you want to buy your favorite hair stylist a great gift for the holidays. And if you’re like most people, you find it hard to find that perfect gift. Over a years time, we spend over 24hrs together with our hairdresser. Most of us have been going to the same stylist for years and years, and will continue to visit them and stay in touch with them throughout the years. A hair stylist is not only a service provider; but for most, a lifetime friend.
A hairdressers most important tool is their shears, there is no question. Shears are used every day, and the best shears are meant to last a lifetime. Most hair stylists cannot afford to spend an average of $300 all at once on a nice pair of shears. What better gift could a hairdresser want than a shiny new pair of razor sharp shears. Stylists report happier clients, easier cuts, faster cuts, reduced fatigue, and an overall rise in self-confidence after buying Shiro Shears.
Buy a Gift Card – Click Here
Shiro Shears @ ARCS, San Diego
Your Most Important Client is the One in Your Chair
How many clients do you have? Tens? Hundreds? Thousands? We get wrapped up in measuring our business this way.
I would challenge you that whatever number you offer up is likely wrong, unless you offered up the number one. If you are reading this blog I hope you are not in the middle of a haircut. The only client we really have is the one in our chair right now.
I am sure we all agree that we do not own the clients. We are given the honor and privilege of serving them. That is customer service basics. They also do not belong to the salon. They are free to come and go and spend and choose as they wish.
Frequently we are lucky. They choose to come back. Yes, our efforts add up to more than luck. When you consider all the marketing messages, friendly referrals and impulse opportunities, it is a bit of a miracle any clients ever come back.
We work through an unwritten contract. When a client sits in our chair we have agreed to provide a service and they have agreed to pay for it when it is done. How many of us take the money up front? Have you ever asked to see the cash before you pick up a pair of scissors? It sounds silly to even suggest it. Therefore today’s haircut is a foregone conclusion. It is really done and paid for before we begin. So what is really the purpose of today’s haircut?
I will take the position that the purpose of today’s service experience is really an exercise to earn the next visit. That is the one we are working for. Today’s is done. Each visit is linked to the next. Today you might deliver a great haircut, but if the client does not allow you to cut the next one, this hair cut can really be seen as a failure.
I think we understand this concept better when the client is new to us. We work hard to earn that second and third visit. We know how to do it. The bigger challenge is to maintain that perspective beyond the first few visits.
Because, really, every visit is a first visit. If we do not treat it as a first visit, the client will likely treat it as a last one.
My wish for you is that you may have nothing but first-time clients in the coming year.
Link: CurlStylist
How to Get Into Hairdressing or Barbering
For jobs in hairdressing or barbering you will need to have a unique combination of skills and will also require a great deal of training. Rewarding opportunities such as salon management positions and hairdressing jobs overseas are all achievable for ambitious hairdressers. To be a competent hairdresser you will have to possess an almost unrivalled level of ability in a vast array of skills.
Hairdressers use a range of cutting and styling techniques to enhance the personal appearance and confidence of clients. They may work in a salon catering for men, women and children. Some salons specialise in particular styles and clients. For example, African-Caribbean hairdressing techniques include pressing, braiding, plaiting and attaching hair extensions, while traditional male barber services may include trimming beards and moustaches. (more…)