5 Scissor Maintenance Tips Every Groomer Should Know
Scissors undergo continuous stress in a busy salon. From the daily friction of cutting through various coat textures to the occasional accidental drop, proper care is essential to keep them sharp, effective, and reliable. When your shears are dull or damaged, they can complicate your job, leading to uneven cuts, hand strain, and reduced efficiency. Prioritizing regular maintenance protects your investment by extending the life of your scissors, ensuring every grooming session is smooth and precise.
Here are five professional tips to help you maintain your valuable pet grooming scissors:
1. Clean Your Scissors After Every Groom
Hair, dander, moisture, and fine dirt particles quickly build up between the blades and around the pivot screw, causing unnecessary wear.
After finishing each dog, wipe down your scissors with a soft cotton cloth or a chamois, ensuring you remove all visible hair and debris. A quick spritz of rubbing alcohol on the cloth can help cut through any built-up oil.
Regular cleaning prevents moisture and hair fragments from grinding down the cutting edge and keeps the pivot area free of obstruction.
2. Check and Adjust Dial & Tension
The correct tension is vital for smooth cutting, proper performance, and protecting your hands. Scissors that are too loose will fold the hair instead of cutting it, resulting in a ragged finish. Shears that are too tight require excessive force, leading to hand fatigue and possible repetitive strain injuries (RSI).
How to Check: Hold the shear horizontally with the tips pointing away from you. Lift the cutting blade up (approximately 45 degrees) and let it fall. It should fall smoothly, stopping cleanly a quarter to halfway down the blade before closing.
How to Adjust: Use the tension dial or screw on your Geib or Witte shears to achieve this balance—tight enough to cut smoothly, loose enough to operate without strain.
For more information on how to check and adjust your scissor tension, click here.
3. Oiling Your Scissors Daily
Oil reduces friction between the blades and protects the metal from moisture, extending the life of the cutting edge and pivot assembly.
Only a drop or two of professional scissor oil is needed. Open the shears fully, apply a single drop of oil where the blades cross (the pivot screw), and another drop near the tips on the inside of the blade. Gently open and close the shears several times to distribute the oil, then wipe off any excess oil from the blades. This should be done at the end of every working day.
[product=groom-professional-scissor-oil-10ml]
The Groom Professional Scissor Oil is a very fine, light oil perfect for all grooming scissors and will not blunt or cause damage to the edge or blades. Unique dispenser releases one drop at a time to ensure no wastage.
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4. Invest in Professional Sharpening Services
Do not attempt to sharpen your premium Geib Buttercut or Witte Roseline shears yourself, and avoid using generic, low-cost sharpening tools. Improper sharpening will permanently damage the delicate convex edge and micro-serration.
Frequency: Most groomers need their primary cutting shears sharpened every 3–6 months, depending on volume.
Trust the Experts (like us!): Only trust professional pet scissor sharpeners who specialize in convex edges and micro-serration. Professional sharpening maintains the precise factory angle, ensuring maximum performance and longevity.
[product=service-pet-grooming-scissor-sharpening]
Professional grooming scissor sharpening service for all brands including Geib, Witte Roseline, Kenchii, and more. This service can be purchased for straight scissors, thinners, chunkers and curved scissors, including micro-serrated scissors.
Freight charge covers the cost of the scissor return. Your scissors will still need to be shipped to our location in Panmure, Auckland.
Important: We are only able to sharpen pet grooming scissors.
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5. Managing the Dreaded Drop
The accidental drop happens to everyone, and it can instantly damage your tools. The impact almost always causes a burr (a small nick) on the cutting edge or misaligns the tips.
If your shears drop, stop using them immediately. Carefully check the tips first. If they are slightly bent or nicked, the shear will pull or fold hair. If the damage is slight, a professional sharpening service should be able to correct the issue. If the blades are severely bent or have broken teeth, they may be beyond repair.
If you notice your blades locking up or catching on one another while cutting (not due to tension), this often indicates a hidden burr or minor misalignment, a strong sign that they need professional attention right away.
6. Avoid 'Catching' Falling Shears
When a pair of expensive shears begins to fall, your instinct might be to catch them. Do not attempt to catch your shears if they fall!
Safety First: This is a serious injury risk. The momentum of a falling shear, even a small pair, can cause deep cuts to your hand or wrist.
Shop Geib Buttercut and Witte Roseline shears at AllGroom and experience the difference that premium tools and expert care can make! Explore the full range of shears and accessories and keep your tools in top shape with regular maintenance.