scissor care

Scissor Care Guide
This is provided to Professional Hair Stylists to help in maintaining the hair cutting integrity of your expensive shears and insure a long life for your investment in yourself as well as your clients. Because I am a hair stylist of 34 years I know you. I know that even though we hair dressers spend a lot of money on our scissors that most of us do not really take care of them. We get busy! Below are some simple steps to follow.
1. Spray water on your shears and gently wipe with a clean towel or paper towel
2. Rinse your scissors under warm to hot running water opening and closing the blades and gently dry with a clean towel or paper towel
3. Apply a few drops of oil to the screw and pivot area of the scissors. Massage out the length of the blades. Gently wipe with “clean” towel or paper towel.
Questions:
1. What kind of oil should I use? Clipper oil is fine or commercial scissor oil. Do not use sprays as some of the propellants can slowly dissolve nylon and plastic washers. We do not recommend “alcohol and wax lubricants” as it has been our experience that they can cause rusting. Stainless steel does rust ya know. If you get significant rust in the “ride line” (the thin shiny line that should be along the inside edge of your scissor blades), your scissors may be ready for the archives. Don’t let it happen…..oil baby, oil!!!
2. How often should I clean and lubricate my shears? Daily would be great, but I know most of you are not going to do that. Please do this a minimum of once a month and once a week would be pretty nice.
3. Should I take my scissors apart to clean? I recommend that you leave this to your professional scissor sharpener. There are very tiny parts in most scissors that can be hard to replace if lost.
Other considerations:
1. I have little nicks in my blades that I can feel when I cut hair. What should I do? Stop using immediately and call your sharpener
2. Do not place your shears on top of your station or lay a towel on top of them. This is the number one cause of them ending up on the floor, the washing machine, or the garbage can. At least put them in a drawer if you are not going to put them in a case or styling apron.
Hope all this helps…..tune in again!
Ryan Parrish
Xzacta Shears LLC http://www.xzactashears.com sales@xzactashears.com