Professional hair cutting scissors must be properly cared for and maintained due to the unique design of their blades. Failure to properly care for your shears on a daily basis will result in less than maximum performance from your hair cutting shears. Without proper maintenance they will become damaged. The steps outlined below will ensure that your professional shears cut like new for a very long time.

1.Cleaning:

You need to clean your shears after every haircut. To do so, use a soft cloth towel and thoroughly wipe down your shears (being careful not to cut yourself). Most professional scissors come with a cleaning cloth when you buy them. Wiping down your scissors will reduce build-up on the blades from product in the clients hair etc. Make especially sure at the end of the day your shears are thoroughly wiped down and dry before you put them away.

2.Lubrication:

Your professional salon scissors need to be oiled at the joint at least once a day or more depending on how many cuts you do. Top quality oil for scissors is provided with your scissors when you purchase them.  To oil your shears, open them up and apply just one or two drops of oil to the joint after wiping them down with the cleaning cloth. The oil will help wash out any hair or debris from under the pivot and will leave a protective coating.

Daily cleaning and oiling of your professional hair salon scissors will extend the life of your shears and improve their performance. It will prolong the sharpness of your blades, protect against build up on your blades and the pivot area, and protect against rust and bacteria.

3.Tension Adjustment:

Having the correct tension is very important when using your shears. To test for the correct tension, hold your shears by one handle with the points pointed upward. Lift the other handle until your blades open to about a ninety degree angle and let the blade fall closed. The blade should fall closed about two thirds of the way. If it falls completely closed, the tension is too loose. If it's too loose, your shears may fold the hair when cutting. If it's too tight, it makes the shears too hard to use and will cause unnecessary fatigue. You can adjust the tension yourself or have a professional do it. Be careful if you have a diamond studded dial not the rub on the jewels. Turn the dial from the ridged area around the side when adjusting them.

4.Sharpening:

Although proper maintenance will ensure your scissors remain in good condition, your professional hair salon scissors will need to be sharpened occasionally. When the time comes, be sure and do your research. Have your shears sharpened through a professional sharpening service that has experience dealing with professional scissors. Be very careful when choosing this service. Your warranty on your scissors will be null and void if they are damaged due to improper sharpening.

5. Storage
Proper storage of your hair salon shears is very important. Properly storing them when not in use will prevent nicks in the blades and accidental damage. The best way to store your shears is to keep them in the case provided after making sure they are wiped down and oiled and the blades are closed. If you don't have a case, wrapping them in leather with the blades closed is recommended. The leather is tough enough to protect them, yet soft enough not to damage them.

So! In a nutshell:

1. Wipe down, dry and lubricate your scissors at the end of each workday.

2. Once a day, check the tension in your shears and adjust accordingly if needed.

3. Have your scissors professionally sharpened occasionally (normally once a month or so).

4. Properly store your hair cutting shears after cleaning either in their case or in a leather wrap or case.

5. Don't drop your shears! They will nick very easily.

6.Keep your shears away from any chemical solutions used in a salon such as perm or color solution.

By following these guidelines, you will get many useful years out of your professional hair salon scissors.

About the Author: Written by Lisa Earl. Lisa has been a licensed Cosmetologist for over 17 years.