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: 

1. 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.
2. If the tension is too loose the shears will bend hair.  If your shears are bending hair check tension.
3. 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”