A professional hair scissor, properly maintained, is a 10- to 20-year tool. Neglected, even the best scissor loses its edge within six months. Maintenance isn't something you do when you have spare time — it's part of the daily practice of using the tool.
After every use
The most important habit is the simple wipe-down after each day.
1. Remove hair and residue
Immediately after use, wipe the blades with a soft cloth — microfibre or cotton. Pay particular attention to the pivot area, where hair and styling product tend to collect.
Hair colour, perm solution, or bleach left on the blades will start corroding even premium steel within days. This step is not optional.
2. Dry completely
If the blades are wet from a shampoo cut or after cleaning, dry them fully before storing. A damp scissor left closed in a case will corrode from the inside.
3. Store correctly
Use a proper scissor case or stand. Don't leave scissors on the counter, in a pocket, or balanced on a surface where they can fall. Micro-chips and edge nicks from impact damage are permanent.
Oiling
Scissors are precision mechanisms and need regular lubrication. Skipping oil accelerates pivot wear, makes the action feel heavy, and eventually makes tension adjustment unreliable.
How often
- Light use (a few hours a day) — once a week
- Standard salon use (6–8 hours a day) — every 2–3 days
- Heavy use (10+ hours a day) — daily
How to oil
- Open the scissor fully
- Apply 1–2 drops of dedicated scissor oil to the pivot
- Open and close the scissor several times to work the oil in
- Wipe off excess oil with a soft cloth
Always use scissor oil (or a medical/food-grade odourless oil). Machine oil and cooking oils eventually turn sticky or develop odour.
Tension adjustment
Check and adjust tension regularly. The full procedure is covered on the ergonomics page.
New scissors drift in tension during the first few weeks as the pivot beds in. Make a weekly tension check part of your routine so you don't discover a problem mid-client.
Sharpening
Sharpening is unavoidable in a professional's life with scissors. No matter how premium the steel, edges wear with use.
When to sharpen
Watch for these signs:
- Hair pulls instead of cutting cleanly
- Slide cutting stalls or catches
- The "click" when the blades close sounds dull
- Visible nicks or discoloration on the edge
Sharpening frequency
For standard salon use, sharpen every 6 to 12 months. The exact schedule depends on use intensity and cutting style.
Convex edges need specialists
Sharpening a convex edge is a different skill from sharpening a knife or a bevel-edge blade. Maintaining the subtle curve of the convex geometry requires dedicated equipment and experience.
General sharpening shops often can't do convex edges correctly — they'll flatten the curve, and the original sharpness won't come back. Always send your scissors to a specialist who explicitly handles convex edges.
Ichiro offers sharpening services through authorised distributors. See the sharpening page for details.
Things to avoid
- Never cut paper or string — anything other than hair damages the edge immediately.
- Never drop them — impact against a metal station or mirror base can cause invisible micro-distortion.
- Don't share scissors — tension and grip preferences are personal. Keep your scissor your own.
- Avoid aggressive disinfectant sprays — some disinfectants damage steel or handle finish. Always wipe off residue immediately after application.
Annual service
Book an annual check with an authorised distributor or a trusted sharpener. They'll review tension, edge condition, pivot wear, and handle surface. A yearly professional inspection catches small problems before they become expensive ones.
With consistent care, a good scissor is a lifetime tool. Small daily habits sustain years of sharp work.