Are my scissors sharp enough? How do we know?
The answer depends of course on many different things.
There was a time, many years ago, when the best scissors came out of Germany and even the UK but, over the years, Japan has become the leader in hand crafted scissors bringing the ancient arts of making samurai swords and applying them to making top quality shears.
There was a time, many years ago, when the best scissors came out of Germany and even the UK but, over the years, Japan has become the leader in hand crafted scissors bringing the ancient arts of making samurai swords and applying them to making top quality shears.
Generally, the material used is cobalt {27Co}
If buying a pair of good quality shears; make sure that
they are genuinely made in Japan – it is possible to find cheap scissors are made
in Pakistan with “Japan” stamped on them.
The difference, being a pair of scissors lasting you years and a pair lasting a few months at best.
The difference, being a pair of scissors lasting you years and a pair lasting a few months at best.
A good pair of Japanese scissors such as Asahi, take approximately 2 months to make from start to finish; a pair of standard stainless steel shears can be made in a matter of hours!
The other important thing about hairdressing scissors or barbering
scissors is size. Size does matter when it comes to using a pair of hairdressing
scissors that’s going to be comfortable for you. Generally, sizes range from
4.5 to 7 inches, with 7 inches being extremely popular with the barbering
industry, especially when using the scissor over comb technique.
How often do I get them sharpened and how much are they?
Prices are extremely varied, the cheap ones that you can get (possibly made in Pakistan) will cost you £15/£20 and the price reflects the quality. If you want a pair that won’t last, then these might be the ones for you.
If you take your hair cutting seriously, then the scissors you buy will reflect on how serious you take your work. A professional pair of scissors will start at around £120 and can be as much as £1000.
Prices are extremely varied, the cheap ones that you can get (possibly made in Pakistan) will cost you £15/£20 and the price reflects the quality. If you want a pair that won’t last, then these might be the ones for you.
If you take your hair cutting seriously, then the scissors you buy will reflect on how serious you take your work. A professional pair of scissors will start at around £120 and can be as much as £1000.
If you take good care of your scissors and only use them
for cutting “clean” hair, then you shouldn’t have to sharpen them for a few
years if at all. On no account should you give your scissors to someone that
walks through your salon door and says that he sharpens knives and scissors -
you will regret it. Ask the person you bought the scissors from who they
recommend for scissors sharpening, they
will give you the best answer. Asahi will sharpen all their scissors when
returned to them, normally at a cost of around £20 a pair.
