Have you ever wondered what the difference was between dull verses sharp shears and/or the impact it plays on the health of your ends? Do you know how to test your shears to see if they are sharp enough?

Being the inquisitive person that I am, all of these questions have been floating around in my mind for years! I had the opportunity to ask a professional and was able to set my mind at ease. Andy, co-owner of Hoshi Shears (where I got my shears from), was kind enough to answer my questions regarding Dull vs. Sharp Shears. Check out Andy's response below:

Dangers of Dull Shears
When your shears are dull, that means the edges have been worn down so they no longer taper to a point. They have become rounded or nicked from everyday use and/or abuse. When this happens, the shears will no longer leave a clean line when you are working. They will push, fold, or bend the hair. This usually is first noticeable at or near the tips, because the tips are the most frequently used portion of the blades. Also, there is less pressure between the blades at the tips, and this pressure helps the edges cut.

The reason dull shears ruin the ends is that they don't slice through the hair cleanly. The edges will break the hair or stretch and snap it (like pulling a rubber band until it breaks). Dull shears hack or chop the hair, leaving damaged ends. Think of a newspaper that you tried to cut with a butter knife. It's torn, uneven, haphazard.

Benefits of Sharp Shears
Sharp shears will slice the hair cleanly, leaving the ends undamaged. Cleaving through the hair will be effortless. They slice each piece, leaving a clean, even end, no matter the angle between hair and shears. A sharp set of shears will let you perform any cutting tchnique you like, leaving a workable - or finished - line. Think of that same newspaper after you cut it with a razor blade. The cut is clean and smooth - there are no loose fibers hanging.

Sharp vs. Dull Test