PRODUCT FAQ'S 

We all hear one shears salesperson say that the brands they sell are the best.  How can I sort it all out?

There are many great shears available on the market today.  Please understand that better shears cost more money than lesser quality ones.  However, it is important to know that many sharpeners and sale people artificially inflate the prices of their products.  The first thing to understand is the differences in the metal that goes into the shears.  The harder the metal, the longer it will keep an edge (stay sharp).

How do I know I am paying a fair price?

All of the products that are sold by Sharpen My Shears are from reputable distributors.  Their products and retail prices are available on-line. 

How long should my shears be?

First of all, there is no set rule for determining length, however, longer shears are better for long straight cuts while shorter shears are more versatile for detailed work such as texturizing and point-cutting.

Measure

  • As a general rule you can simpy measure the distance from the tip of your longest finger to the heel of the palm of your hand.  Although this is a place to start, there are other factors to consider. 

 Location and Clientele

  • Most barbers will tend to use a longer shear, perhaps 6.5" to 7" or even longer.  For many, this is what they have been using since barber school.  A longer shear works well for a scissor over comb cut. 
  • If you are working in a salon that caters to the entire family, a medium length shear (5.0 to 6.0 is probably the most common).

Personal Preference

  • This is probably what most stylists and groomers base the buying decisions on.  It is very important that the tool feels good in your hand!  That is the advantage of choosing your shears from Sharpen My Shears.  We put the shear in your hand and let you try it.  You get to try as many as you like! 

Training

  • Chances are that you will continue to use the length that you used when you were in school.  What we learn first we learn the best and remember the longest.

Speed

How fast will you be expected to fut the hair.  In many locations, such a Great Clips and Fantastic Sam's, the stylists are required to cut more heads of hair in a given amount of time than private salons.  I see many of these stylists using longer shears because it allows them to cut faster than they could if they used a shorter shear.

It is likely that the longer you cut hair the more you will begin to buy more need specific shears.   In other words you have shears in multiple lengths and styles.

I have never used a swivel thumb shear, are they really that great?

I tell the stylists that I service not to try a swivel thumb shear unless they want to wind up loving them.  Most stylists absolutely love them.  I think you will too!  Ask me to try a pair!