Short Shears vs Long Shears

Every hairdresser knows that scissors are the most important tools in their field of work. Without their trusty hairdressing set, they wouldn't be able to bring their clients' visions to life. However, as much as we'd want it, there are no golden scissors that can be used for every haircut imaginable. That being said, if you want to be a successful hairdresser, you need to have your professional toolkit fully stocked. After all, you won't get the job done with just one pair!

As such, you're in for a real challenge - the market is overflowing with options, and there are many different brands and types of hairdressing scissors for you to choose from. Still, before you get into details, you need to know the answers to a couple of important questions. First, what is the difference between short and long shears? And second, which ones should you choose?

In this article, we'll give you an answer to the first question, and help you make your decision regarding the second one. Keep on reading to learn the ins and outs of short and long hair cutting shears!

Short Hair Cutting Scissors

Short hair cutting shears measure between 4.5 and 6 inches. If you know you won't be using longer scissors, you can determine the length you'll need by measuring the length of the cutting blade against the second knuckle of your middle finger. Why be so specific, you may ask? That's because short shears are perfect for in-hand and palm to palm cutting.

Advantages Of Short Shears

Short scissors are the best for techniques that involve point cutting, precision, and cuts close to a client's body, such as the nape of the neck or around the ears. You'll also use a short shear for an overhand technique and during a haircut with technical sections (bobs, graduated hairstyles, and so on). With short scissors in hand, you'll work quickly, efficiently, and you won't have to worry about accidentally injuring your clients.

Long Hair Cutting Scissors

We usually talk about long shears in case of pairs that are between 6 and 7 inches, although some are up to about 8 inches. The most popular models are usually 6.5 or 7 inches long. Traditionally, long scissors have been used mostly by barbers - that's because of their go-to shear over comb technique.

However, many stylists use longer scissors to cut their clients' hair on a regular basis due to other techniques where such a type comes in handy. These techniques include cutting with a comb and cutting in-comb. You can also opt for long scissors when you're creating layers, or cutting the base of a bob.

Advantages Of Long Shears

Sometimes it's better to use longer shears. They are more efficient for cutting curves and making smoother adjustments to achieve a softer, organic look that matches the head shape. You can also use the additional length of your scissors as a guide when you're lining up your hair sections. Ultimately, longer shears take more hair per cut, saving you time and giving you a chance to make a well-balanced cut.

How to Decide?

As you can see, both long and short hair cutting shears have their advantages and disadvantages. If you want to do amazing haircuts time and time again, you should consider getting models varying in length, as well as purchasing different types of hairdressing shears. It goes without saying that professionals use more than one pair of scissors, so now it's up to you to make your pick. But, looking at our extensive offer, we get that making a decision can be tough!

In this case, let us give you some advice. You'll be able to perform all hair cutting techniques with both long and short scissors - you just need to find the length that's most comfortable for you. Obviously, it would be best to have both short and long hair scissors - that's what most stylists do.

Different types of scissors will feel differently while you're handling them. After all, you'll be using different hair cutting techniques depending on a certain type, be it texturizing, barber, hair thinning, or straight shears. You may choose ergonomic offset scissors with a convex edge, but if they're longer than you're used to, you may not find them comfortable at all.

An additional advice that we would like to share - you can also make your decision based on the size of your hands. People with smaller hands often find short hair scissors to fit their hair cutting style better - that's because they're more lightweight. Those who have bigger hands and are stronger handle long scissors better - but don't let that generalization stop you from getting your dream pair, even if your hands are smaller than those of a certain American president.

However, if you prefer to cut hair with shears that have a specific length, stick to it! It's good to have at least one spare pair of the type of scissors you tend to use the most because accidents happen, and you may drop, forget, or (God forbid) lose your trusty set.

You know what feels the most comfortable for you, and at Scissor Tech, we give you a chance to choose your own length depending on a brand and model of hair cutting shears. Then, browse our collections of hair thinning, left-handed, swivel, and colorful shears, and pick the ones you like (or need) the most.

Our Brands

Here at Scissor Tech, we believe that having the right tools will help you create hairdressing masterpieces time and time again. While it's up to you to hone your professional skills, we'll provide you with the best hair cutting shears available on the market. You can choose between products from some of the most reputable Japanese brands, such as Yasaka, Joewell, or Matsui.

If you have any doubts, feel free to reach out to us. We'll gladly answer all your questions and help you pick the best pair of scissors for your professional toolkit.