How To Hold Hair Cutting Scissors Like A Professional

One lesson that hairdressers learn quickly is to hold their hair cutting shears correctly. Proper grip techniques are essential for hairdressers. 

One: This ensures greater precision and accuracy in the cutting process.

Two, it reduces strain on the wrists and hands, which can cause repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Remember that hair cutting scissors can feel light, but grow heavy after cutting hair for hours on end.

Hairdressers in the salon practice the perfect ergonomic grip when holding haircutting scissors in a professional environment.

There are two ways to grip your shears. While some prefer one grip, I recommend both for different tasks or cutting techniques. This makes some techniques more manageable, and it also reduces the risk of repetitive motion injuries.

Here are the main gripping options for shears. We also provide some information about the best uses for them.

Anatomy of a Hair Cutting Shears

Before we move on to the grips, we need to be familiar with the basics of shears. Ok, maybe not so hard to identify the components of the shears. Two blades are connected at the center with a bolt or screw and finger holes at the handle end.

The small part that protrudes from the smaller finger holes of hair cutting shears is called the tang. When properly held, this piece is known as the tang. Its purpose is to provide stability for the shears. That bolt at the center allows the shears' to open and close. It's known as the pivot point.

Let's move on to the grips.

Traditional/Western Scissor Grip

The Western grip is the most popular and ergonomic way to hold your shears. It is also the method that most of us were taught. This grip is similar to that used to hold any type of cutting scissors. However, there are some important exceptions.

The western grip requires that the thumb be inserted into one of the two-finger holes. The ring finger is then inserted into the smaller, with the tang attached. The index and middle fingers are then placed on the arm of scissors, just in front of and behind the blades.

Conclusion

It is easy to hold the scissors correctly if you have chosen the right size for your hand, thumb, and fingers. You won't be capable of gripping the scissors properly if the holes for your thumb or ring finger are too large.

This can lead to you dropping the scissors and possibly damaging them. They should be too small. This will make it difficult to insert your thumb and fingers into the holes. It can also cause discomfort for your hands, increase the risk of injury, and reduce the quality of the work you produce. 

You must get the best pair of shears. To make your scissor more comfortable and easier to use, you can either buy inserts separately or replace the ones that came with the scissors. 

After you've determined the size of your shears, you can now hold the scissor correctly. 

The best way to hold my professional hair-cutting shear is first to get to know the scissors before you can hold them in your hands. This is the best time to concentrate on other parts of your shear. 

For example, the pivot point is the central point where the two blades are connected. The finger holes follow the pivot point and then the tang. This part allows you to rest your pinky finger after all fingers have been inserted correctly. 

It makes cutting hair easier. After getting comfortable, you can now insert your thumb into one of the two-finger holes. Then, place your ring finger in the smaller hole. Although it may feel awkward at first, you'll soon get used to the motion, and it won't be as difficult or uncomfortable to do so. Next, the remaining fingers (index and middle finger) are laid/rested on the back arm of scissors. This is located in front of the hole for the ring finger and behind the blades. After all fingers and thumb have been in, it is safe to begin cutting hair.

Comments

• After reading this blog about how to hold hair-cutting scissors, I wonder how many people cutting hair really know why they hold hair-cutting scissors a certain way. Some people obviously do but I wonder how many people are more or less faking it? I’m not talking about hair-cutting pros but say, people cutting hair at home. LOL.

• This guy in the picture looks like he’s got bad intentions with those haircutting scissors. Knowing how to hold the scissors sounds important and I’m sure there is considerable potential for carpal tunnel syndrome if you don’t do things properly. If you’re going to cut hair for a leaving, you’d better know how to hold the scissors.

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