Adjusting Tension:
Adjusting the Tension on your shears is very easy to
do and should be able to be performed by every stylist. Some sharpeners refer
to this as balancing the shear and will charge $10 to do it for you. Although
“balancing” your shears sounds very complicated it in fact is
not.
Step 1: Hold shears straight up and down.
Step 2: Open shears so that they are perpendicular
Step 3: Release handle: Shears should fall only
half way between perpendicular and completely closed.
If shears fall closed completely, they are too
loose.
If shears do not fall at all, they are too tight.
Tips:
- Make sure the shears are straight up and down to
begin. Many stylist start with the shears at some sort of angle which will
effect the outcome of the tension test.
- If the tension is too loose the shears will bend
hair. If your shears are bending hair check tension.
- If the tension is too tight there will be
unnecessary “wear and tear” on your shears, and more importantly your hand will
be doing more work than needed. This extra pressure required by your hand can
lead to a repetitive motion disorder known as “task specific focal
dystonia”