Why You Shouldn't Use Harsh Chemicals On Your Shears

Do you often wonder why there are so many different ways and places to store your shears? Some stylists use a station mat, while others prefer to use a holster. No matter which storage you use, they all have the same goal .. Protect our shears!

But what exactly are we protecting our shears from? Let's find out.

The Effect of Chemicals on our Shears

There are all sorts of chemicals being used daily in the salon. Hair color, perm solution, Barbicide, etc etc. What is so bad about your shears coming into contact with these?

Well it may seem like a good idea to use Barbicide, or a sterilization liquid to sterilize your shears between client's. After all, no client wants you to use dirty shears. However it is not recommended that you use these liquids to sterilize your shears. Barbicide's main ingredient is alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, if your shears are constantly exposed to this they will begin to corrode and rust.

You've accidentally spilled color on your shears.. now what! Well good news is a one off will most likely not affect your scissors. However you must make sure to clean them properly after so that the harsh chemicals are removed and do not cause damage to your blades. Color and other liquids can leave behind a sticky residue on your haircutting scissors, which is why a regular cleaning is important. Accidents do happen, which is why it is important to keep your shears in a protective case.

Proper Cleaning of your shears

Our shears are a big part of our day. Whether you are a hairdresser or a barber, you use your shears multiple times a day. When you buy your shears you invest quite a bit of money in them and have probably researched all the scissors available to you. The different steels, handles, blades, etc. If you put this much time and money in to purchasing high quality tools, you should make sure to put some time in to their care!

Our shears are made with the highest quality Japanese steel. Japanese steel is known worldwide for it's hardness. This is great for our haircutting shears as it means they will stay sharper longer and maintain their sharp edges. However you need to treat these high quality materials right! Even the best metal can be negatively affected by the wrong care.

You will notice all of our hair cutting scissors come with a soft cloth. This cloth is important for cleaning your blades. After every haircut we should wipe the blades with a clean cloth. This will help to remove any of your previous client's hair or product that may be on the blade. Build up of dirt, product and moisture on your shears can lead to rust spots and dull and damaged blades.

Once you have wiped your scissors clean it is recommended to wipe the two blades with isopropyl alcohol, otherwise known as rubbing alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is a drying cleaning solution. It will kill germs and also keep your blades from rusting or corroding. Your clients deserve perfectly clean shears! After cleaning your shears it is important to then store them in a clean, dry place.

Now your shears are clean

Before putting your shears away at the end of the day, it is important to make sure they are clean and oiled.

To oil your shears simply open your blades and put a small drop of scissor oil at the screw area, where your two blades meet. Using oil helps to remove any hair or dirt that may have made its way to the inside of your hairdressing scissors. Oiling your shears is an important step to keep your blades clean and moving properly.

After cleaning and oiling your shears make sure to adjust the tension. Simply open your blades to 90 degrees. Allow the thumb blade to fall. If it falls to about 20 degrees, you have the correct tension. If it stays above 45 degrees, it is too tight. If it goes below 20 degrees it is too loose. Make sure to adjust to the correct tension.

Don't forget after all this to make sure you store your scissor in a protective case. It is important to protect your tools from any accidents.

Here at Scissor tech..

We take shear care seriously! We want to make sure your haircutting shears last you for many haircuts ! This is why we make sure all of our shears come with a clean cloth, scissor oil, finger inserts and a protective case. You can be sure you will get the best tools and the best ways to protect your tools! And of course if you have any questions about your shear maintenance, don't hesitate to ask our Customer care team!