(866) 201-4491

I am sure that everyone is acutely aware that the professional salon scissor is an expensive tool of the trade and that it must be kept sharp and in perfect working order. Scissors that push, fold or even "crunch" hair makes the whole cutting experience bad for the customer and bad for building a client base. Dull scissors cause the stylist to grip the scissor in ways not intended which causes the blades to dull even further. You just dont have time for this kind of scissor performance. Time is money!

If you already have a sharpener that is servicing your scissors and you are happy with the performance of your scissors, then you are all set...maybe. Their are some questions that you should ask each sharpener before you give him your expensive scissors. Does he sharpen convex and Bevel Edges? If you have a scissor with a serraded edge, he will need to have a special tool to put the serrade back onto the blade. What type of sharpening machine does he use? Does it look like a grinding wheel or is it a flat convexing plate? The Flat hone system is much better suited for Convex precision edges than the grinding wheel setup. What does he charge to replace missing or broken hardware? What kind of warrantee does the sharpener offer for the scissor he is about to sharpen? Most sharpeners will tell you all about their years of experience and may even produce a certificate from training they have had, but if they do not, ask them! These questions are all common and should be answered without hesitation. If you do not feel comfortable with his answers, then tell him that you are not and ask for referances or tell him you just are not interested.

Their are 3 basic kinds of scissor sharpening that take place in the beauty industry:
1. "In salon" sharpening
2. "Out of salon" sharpening
3. "Manufacturer only" sharpening

The "in salon" sharpener brings his equipment into the salon and sets it up or has a van in the parking lot where he will have his sharpening equipment. The benefit to using this type of sharpener is that you will have your scissors sharpened and returned to you the same day. It is also beneficial to the stylist because you can see the equipment that he is using to sharpen the scissors. However, their are some disadvantages. If the sharpening equipment is brought into the salon, their will be some mess and noise to deal with. Some busy day spas just do not have the time or space to accomodate this equipment. Also, if you drop your scissor and they begin to fold hair, the blades may have bent. You must ask the sharpener if he knows how to "SETT" the blades. Setting a blade requires knowledge of the type of steel that your scissor is manufactured from, a flat hard surface to check the sett, and a great deal of training and experience in working with bending metal. The sharpener can give you back the sharpest scissor in the world, but it will do nothing more than fold or push hair if the blade geometry is not perfectly aligned. Many sharpeners are not equiped or trained to sett a scissor blade.

The "Out of Salon" sharpener will take the scissor to his shop to sharpen the scissor and bring it back in a few days. This sharpener usually has a bench setup that can offer a more in depth servicing to your scissor. It is a more relaxed atmosphere for him to service your scissor and he will usually have additional equipment to buff, sett, and adjust your scissor. This sharpener will usually offer a "loaner" pair of scissors to use. Does he offer junk cheapo pairs as a loaner or will they be able to perform as you need them while he has your scissor? If you do a lot of slice or point work, then a cheap scissor just wont handle it. You cant risk your reputation while you wait for your scissor. What are the liabilities of using the loaner? Accidents do happen and you need to fully understand if their will be a fee to repair or replace a loaner pair. The out of salon sharpener will understand your indecision to give up your scissor for a couple of days, so he may offer things like a free or discounted first sharpening, coupons, etc. He will try to earn your trust. If he makes you feel like he is doing you a favor, then I would recommend you consider an alternative. You should still ask this sharpener all of the questions listed above to make sure that you are comfortable with his abilities.

Manufacturer only sharpening is common among high quality scissor manufacturers like Hikari and Sharpline. These manufacturers base their warrantees on very strict service conditions. They REQUIRE that their brand of scissor be sharpened by factory certified sharpeners only. This usually means sending your scissor in the mail to a listed company for servicing. The price for sharpening will usually be higher, but you will always get factory new performance with a warrantee. The downside is that you will not be given a loaner and will usually pay postage in both directions.

Our new education series DVD will be announced by spring of 2008 and will have much more information on the "scissor man" and the servicing of scissors. Be sure to sign up to hold your copy HERE!