When was the last time you got a good haircut?

Your hair frames your face and a good haircut can lend it balance while emphasizing your best facial features. A new hairstyle can make you look trendy and youthful; and also immensely impact your personality and attitude.

Christopher Hopkins, the author of ‘Staging Your Comeback,’ opines that is important that our hair has an upward movement as we get older as it raises the eye up, which is more youthful.

Gone are the days when long, flowing hair was the order of the day. Today, there are more styles and cuts to choose from. In fact, cutting hair is now considered more of an art, and modern hair experts go the extra mile to create new cuts and styles that can be life-changing for their clients.

Celebrities are always trying out new styles to enhance their looks. For instance, check out Angelina Jolie’s hairstyles and see how different she looks in each one. If you too want to preserve your youth and stay in vogue, you need to get a great haircut as soon as possible!

This brings us to some of the latest hairstyling trends of 2016. If you want to get a new look this season, you can try one of the following:

• The Bob Cut: The bob is the biggest hair trend of 2016 and you can see an increasing number of girls sporting this style. This classic cut will always be in vogue because of the flexibility it offers. It looks good on curly, wavy and straight hair. You can also try the ‘wob,’ or the wavy bob.
• Curls and Waves: Hair texturing will also continue to rule in 2016. For maintaining this, you should learn to use different products such as diffusers, air-drying equipment, and so on.
• Fringes: Bold, blunt bangs will make a statement in 2016. This year, you can see more curly fringes than straight ones. In fact, adding fringes is the easiest way to get a new look – just add a few bangs to your existing hairstyle, and there you have it – a completely new look!
• Natural Hues: You may not see too many pink streaks in hair this year. People will stick to natural hues and opt for a natural look.

The experts say 2015 was the year of short hair, but 2016 belongs to the longer mane.

How Often Do You Need a Haircut?

One question that almost everyone asks their hairstylist is – how often should I cut my hair? Cutting them once in a while is definitely important as that’ll rid you of breakage and split ends. But, there seems to be no definite answer on the frequency of getting a haircut.

The general rule of thumb says ‘every six weeks,’ but some people get their hair cut only few times in a year. The frequency depends on the type of hairstyle you wear; for instance, if you have bob with bangs, you need trim them every three weeks to ensure your style stays precise and polished. For medium-long hair, trimming once every three to four months should be enough.

The frequency of getting haircuts also depends on the health of your tresses. If you have a healthy mane, then the chances of breakage and splitting are low, so you need a haircut less frequently. But, if they are damaged, you need to visit the salon every eight weeks.

It is best to get recommendations from an expert hairstylist about the frequency of getting a haircut. Taking proper care of your hair through combing, oiling, and preventing exposure to chemicals is necessary if you want to keep them in good shape.

Typically, you need a haircut when:

1) Your style looks messed up and

2) Your hair is visibly damaged.

So, head to the salon when you think you need a haircut and get recommendations from an expert.

Types of Hair Cutting Scissors

A hairstylist requires a complete set of tools to give his/her clients the desired look. These include scissors, clippers, combs, brushes, mirrors, etc. A pair of scissors is the most important tool that a stylist needs. Choosing the right kind of haircutting scissors is important to ensure precision in cutting and make sure no damage is caused to the hair shafts.

You will be amazed to know about the several types of haircutting scissors. Each is designed to style hair differently. Haircutting scissors are the primary tools for hairstylists and barbers. Thus, depending on the style you want to achieve, your hairstylist may use one or all of the following types of haircutting scissors:

1. Thinning Scissors

Thinning scissors look similar to normal scissors with loops for the thumb and index finger and are available for both left-handed and right-handed hairstylists. But the blades differ significantly – the top blade has widely-spaced teeth that remove a portion of the hair without affecting the overall styling. These scissors are used only on thicker parts of hair.

Thinning scissors can be classified into:

• Blending and texturizing thinning scissors: These scissors offer optimal performance and can cut 40 to 70 percent hair with one or two cuts only. The scissors come with an average of 25 teeth and offer excellent versatility. This pair of blending and texturizing thinning scissors can be used on any type of hair.
• Chunking scissors: These are used mostly for removing chunks of hairs and creating notches. They are ideal for cutting curly and thick hair. The number of teeth range from seven to fifteen and can remove 40 to 80 percent of hair with one or two cuts.
• Finishing hair thinning scissors: These are used to remove fewer hair strands and have more teeth than the two types of thinning scissors mentioned above. They offer excellent blending and finishing to any style.

2. Razor Scissors

These are texturizing tools, but are different from thinning scissors. The base has one loop for the index finger and the top has a single blade. This scissor does not make actual cutting motions. The stylist holds the hairs with one hand and uses the razor scissors to create textured cuts. You can achieve natural textures by varying the length of the hair.

3. Regular Scissors

The basic haircut is achieved with help of a regular pair of scissors. They resemble the ones we use at home, although the lengths can differ. The length of regular scissors varies between 4.5 and 6.5 inches. A stylist would choose the shape and size depending on his/ her comfort level and the style he/she is aiming for.

There is one more tool that stylists use for styling men’s hair: clippers. Most stylists use electric clippers due to their ease of use. Clippers come with a variety of guards that help stylists control the length of the hair. It is necessary that your stylist has the right pair of scissors to ensure precision in hair cutting.

Another important thing to know about is choosing the right pair of hair cutting scissors.

Tips to Choose the Right Hair Cutting Scissors

Scissors are the most important tools for a hairstylist, which is why choosing the right one is very important. Sometimes, people try cutting their own hair and defining their own style. Although DIY hairstyling can save you a lot of money, it is better to attempt this only after thorough research and training. If you want to save a trip to the salon and try your hand at hair styling, you must buy the perfect pair of scissors. Remember, you may need more than one type of scissors to get the desired look.

Before we get into the factors to consider when buying haircutting scissors, you must understand that the quality and finishing of a specific hairstyle depends on the quality of the scissors you use. Dull-bladed and inferior-quality scissors will not only adversely impact the styling, but also cause considerable damage to your hair. A good-quality scissor, on the other hand, will last longer, offering you better return on investment. It is, therefore, worth investing in a pair of high-quality scissors to ensure you get the desired look.

Here is a quick guide that will help you choose the right pair of hair cutting scissors:

1. Size Matters

The size of the scissors depends on the type of cut you are looking to achieve. A barbers’ scissor is longer than regular scissors as it needs to be aligned with the edges of the comb and cut large portions of the hair at a time. Regular scissors are used to cut small portions of the hair to give a nice finish to the haircut. Shorter scissors are used mostly for touch-ups.

The length of the scissors is measured from the tip of the blades to the end of the longest finger hole. When determining the appropriate size of the scissor, consider the length of your palm. Ideally, the blades of the scissors need to extend a few inches beyond the index finger. The length of haircutting scissors starts from 4.5 inches and are available in half-inch increments. The maximum length can go up to 6.5 inches.

The loops of the scissors should be large enough for you to slide your finger in and out easily. Swing your finger and thumb around to check whether or not you can use them comfortably or not. Remember, if you use scissors with very small loops, you can develop sore spots and calluses. On the other hand, if they are too large, you may lose control and hurt yourself or the person getting the haircut. So, invest a lot of time and effort to ensure you buy a scissor that is perfect for you.

2. Choose the Right Type of Blade

The type of blade determines the type of haircut. Generally hair cutting scissors have one of the following two types of blades:

• Beveled Edge: Beveled edge scissors are lighter as they are created from by mixing metals. Scissors with beveled edges have micro-serrations on one or both blades. These serrations prevent the hair from sliding down the blades and are considered ideal for newbies. Beveled-edge scissors are excellent for slow and detailed cutting or cutting dry hair, but they cannot be used for slice cutting as it tends to jam the blades. However, you can use the polished beveled-edge blades for slice cutting.
• Convex Blades: Often referred to as ‘Japanese Style,’ convex blades are made from stainless steel and are as sharp as razors. These ensure a clean, smooth and flawless cut. Convex-edged scissors are hollow inside (of the blades), which aids smooth cutting. While they can be used in almost all kinds of cutting, they are especially good for slicing. They are suitable for experienced hairstylists as they are extremely sharp. Convex-edged scissors are expensive compared to beveled-edge scissors due to the manufacturing process. These scissors need to be sharpened professionally and maintained well to ensure their longevity.

3. The Right Scissor Handles for Comfort and Ease of Cutting

Hair cutting scissors come with a variety of handles and each has its own set of advantages. But the most important factor you need to consider is comfort – how easily you can slide your fingers through the loops and perform the cut. Your choice of scissor handle also depends on the shape of your hand and your cutting style.

The most common types of scissor handles are:

• Level Handle: This is the most basic design; the handles are straight and equal in size.
• Offset Handle: This design features a longer finger handle and shorter thumb handle. This design allows for a smooth and natural cutting motion and is ideal for people using their thumb and ring finger in cutting hair.
• Crane Handle: This design features a longer handle like the level handle and an angled thumb handle. This type of handle ensures less pressure on the wrist and shoulder, and allows for precision in cutting.

Scissors with other types of handles such as twister, flex, etc. are also available. Choose a handle that reduces hand and wrist fatigue.

4. Scissor Material

The material of the scissor determines its durability and longevity. Earlier, scissors were made of stainless steel, but the newer models are made from the combination of steel and other materials, such as cobalt or molybdenum, to ensure greater strength. However, the handles are made of soft steel so that your fingers do not hurt. While those made from a combination of steel and molybdenum offer greater strength and flexibility; the ones made from steel and cobalt retain their sharpness for longer, if maintained properly.

5. Screws are Important

Screws hold the blades in place; so it is necessary that you choose scissors that can be adjusted easily. Most scissors come with flat or normal screws, which make adjusting easier; but you will still require a screw driver. To make adjusting easier, the latest models come with adjustable screws, which have a small knob that can be turned to adjust the tension. Moreover, the screws should be made from tough materials since they undergo tremendous wear and tear due to continuous use.

6. Maintenance

It makes good sense to opt for scissors that are easy to maintain. Apart from tightening or loosening the screws, you have to sharpen the blades at regular intervals. However, the frequency of sharpening them depends on their use. You also need to keep the scissors clean and tidy because dust and dirt can affect their sharpness. Regular oiling (with mineral-based scissor oil) is necessary and for best results store the scissors in leather pouches.

For achieving professional-quality cuts, it is best to get the scissors serviced by professionals every three to six months. Make sure only trained and experienced professionals sharpen your scissors as incorrect or insufficient sharpening may distort them.

7. Pricing

When it comes to haircutting scissors, the choices are many and the price range varies greatly, so it may be difficult to find the right pair of scissors. Scissors are the most important tools for haircutting, but you must not hesitate in buying one that guarantees quality and performance. Avoid buying cheap and low-quality scissors since their blades won’t last long and they won’t perform to your satisfaction. It is always better to buy haircutting scissors from reputed manufacturers that not only offer the best quality, but also provides ongoing support.

Conclusion

If you are on a hunt for the right pair of scissors, you will surely be spoilt for choices. From simple utilitarian designs to ornate ones, metallic and classic finishes, you can find almost anything and everything you are looking for. But, do not let the scissor’s look alone determine your buying decision. Do consider its functionality, utility and performance. Whether you are a professional or a DIY enthusiast, you will never want a haircut to go wrong. So, buy the right pair of scissors for creating the most stylish hairstyles.

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