Shear Maintenance - Caring for Your Money Making Tools

Marc Matis

Caring for your money-making tools, your haircutting scissors, is easy and worth it. Create a daily habit of taking a minute at the beginning or end of every day to clean, lubricate, and adjust the tension of your scissors.

FOLLOW THESE STEPS

CLEANING THE BLADES

  1. Open the scissors all the way, to 90 degrees.
  2. Take a towel and double it over, then use this to carefully wipe down each blade by pinching the blade near the pivot; close to, but slightly back and away from the edge. Gently wipe along the length of the blade this way. Let the towel do the work near the edge.
  3. On the same blade, clean the inside of the blade behind the pivot.
  4. Carefully flip the scissor over and repeat starting at step 2 on the other side.

OILING THE SCISSORS

Two polished steel surfaces that are connected and moving require lubrication. Use an oil specifically meant for scissors so that you have the right dispenser and, in turn, prevent hair and oil build-up on the blades. Only a few tiny drops are necessary after cleaning.

  1. Open the clean scissors to 90 degrees
  2. Place three tiny drops of oil on the inside surface of each blade on the reflective ride line
  3. Carefully flip the scissors and repeat on the other blade.
  4. Close the scissors and then, with a cutting grip, open and close the scissors a few times.

CHECKING AND ADJUSTING SCISSOR TENSION

A proper tension setting will prolong the overall lifespan of your scissors and sharp edges. Too loose and you’re likely to fold hair and possibly damage the edges with normal use. Too tight and the scissors require more effort to close, and the blades wear on each other, dulling faster. Finding the tension sweet spot means minimized work on your part with everyday use and an effortless cut.

  1. With your left hand, hold the scissors in a vertical position by the thumb ring.
  2. With your right hand bring the finger ring to the 3 o’clock position, opening the blades to 90 degrees.
  3. Now let the finger ring drop.
  4. Adjust the tension using your tension dial or key until the finger ring stops at about 4/5 o’clock when dropped.

CHECKING AN EDGE’S SHARPNESS

  1. Holding the finger or thumb ring in one hand, open the clean scissors to 90 degrees.
  2. Using the back, flat surface of your fingernail, gently run your nail along the edge with minimal pressure.
  3. A sharp edge will feel silky smooth. A dull edge can feel rough and even bumpy.

Following this regime on caring for your shears will help make your shears last longer and deliver professional, great-looking haircuts.

THE EDGEMARC MATIS