Sharpology

Restored a pair of vintage thinners for a client today. Really cool steam punk look to them!

Client handed me these super cool looking thinners to restore today. Before pics @ Marietta, Georgia

SHEAR SIZING

One of the most important factors when choosing the right shears is SIZE. They must fit your hand comfortably. Shears that are too small for your hand limit your range of motion. Shears that are too large have a negative effect on your cutting motion.

The industry standard for shears (by size) is 5.5 inches, and it’s the size usually used when teaching future barbers and stylists. Only if your hands are larger than normal should you choose larger shears, such as 6.5-inch shears.

You also should take into consideration the size of the shear’s finger rings. One way to check for the proper fit is to slide your ring finger into a finger ring: the handle should not go past your second knuckle. The thumb ring, meanwhile, should extend only a little beyond the tip of your thumb.

The size also depends on the job; shorter shears generally work better for precision point cutting. No matter what type of job – or hand size – the bottom line is that you should have full control of the shears without forcing your hand and fingers into uncomfortable positions.

Before...