Hairdressers quickly learn one important lesson early on in their training: If your shears aren't held properly, you will regret it. Proper grip techniques are important for multiple reasons.
One, this ensures more precision and accuracy during the thinning.
Two, it minimizes strain on hands and wrists that can lead to repetitive motion injury like carpal tunnel syndrome.
There are two options when it comes down to how you should hold your shears. While there are some who prefer one hand over another, I recommend both to be used for different tasks and thinning methods.
This can make certain techniques simpler and reduce the chance of repetitive motion injuries.
Read about how to use hair thinning scissors here!
These are the two main options for gripping shears. Also, a few details on the tasks that they best serve:
Anatomy of Hair Thinning Shears
Before we dive into the grips of hair thinning shears, let us first review the parts. Okay, it may not be difficult to identify parts of the shears. They have two blades that are connected together at a central point using a bolt, screw or bolt, and finger holes on either end.
Hair thinning tools also have a small section that protrudes from the smaller finger holes.
The tang is also known as the tang. When properly held, it serves the purpose of adding stability to the shears. (Oh, and the bolt in its center that allows shears to open or close? It's the pivot point.
Let's now get down to the grips used to hold scissors while thinning out hair.
Traditional or Western Scissor Grip
The Western grip may be the most used way to hold shears. It's also likely the most familiar. It's an identical grip to the one that is used to hold most types of scissors, with some key exceptions.
How to hold a hair thinning pair of scissors - Western grip
The western grip involves inserting the thumb into one of the finger holes. Then, the ring and middle fingers are inserted into each smaller hole. The index and middle finger are then placed on the arms of the scissors just behind the blades.
How Do You Hold Hair While Using Thinning Scissors?
Properly holding the hair thinning scissors can be easy if the appropriate size is chosen for your hands, fingers, thumb and hand. If the finger holes on the shears for your thumb, ring finger and middle finger are too large, you will not be able to grip them when you cut hair.
It can also cause you to drop them and damage them. If the finger holes are too small, you will not be able to place the thumb and fingers correctly in the shears. It's important to select the most appropriate pair of shears.
You don't have to modify the shears if they are too big. Inserts can be purchased separately or included with the scissors to increase the comfort and ease of use. Once you have the downpack size, you can hold your scissor correctly. For me, holding my professional hair-thinning scissors is the best.
You must first be familiar with them before you can actually hold them in the hand. Focusing on other parts is a great time. You can focus on the shear now, such as the pivot point.
It is clearly visible that there are two shear blades attached at a central location. Below the pivot is the finger holes and tang. Once all fingers are in their correct positions, this makes hair thinning more comfortable.
Once you feel comfortable, try to place your thumb in one of the two-finger holes. Next, insert your ring finger into another hole. Although the motion may be uncomfortable at first it will become much more natural and comfortable over time.
The index and middle fingers (or middle fingers) can then be laid or rested on the back arm, which is just behind the blades. Once all fingers have been inserted, you can begin to cut hair.
Conclusion: How to hold hair thinning scissors instructions
You might have to rethink your scissor selection. The wrong size shear may not be right for you, but it's always possible to fix them quickly. A scissor that is not comfortable for you to hold immediately may also be a reason.
This is all personal preference. A traditional offset shear is what I prefer. This allows my fingers to fit perfectly in the holes and my remaining fingers to rest comfortably in the grooves.
It's offset also means that my wrist is not as bent when I cut hair. It gives me full motion and reduces any potential for RSI (repetitive strain injuries) or new injury that may result from improper angle or use of the wrist.
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