How do I adjust the tension on my scissors & how do I know if the tension is correct?

The right tension is part of scissor care. A scissor that is too tense or tight will not only cause the scissor to wear down faster, causing it to go blunt faster and shorten its life, but will cause fatigue for you also due to the extra effort required to use the scissor. However a scissor that is too loose tends to 'fold' the hair rather than cut it, making a perfectly sharp scissor feel like it's blunt when it isn't. 

Making sure your tension is correct is especially important when using thinning, blending, or chunker scissors. If the tension is incorrect on your scissors with notched blades, this can cause the teeth to catch, which can permanently damage your scissors with continued use if not corrected.

To test the tension:

Hold your scissors upright, with the blades pointing upwards. Hold one of the scissor handles with one hand. Using your other hand, lift the other scissor handle so the blade is at a 90-degree angle. Let go of the handle, and let the blade drop. If the tension is correct, the blade should only fall to around the ⅔ closed position to create a 45° angle. If the scissors snap shut all the way, your tension is too loose. If your scissors don't move, or close less than ⅔rds of the way, your tension is too tight. 

How to adjust the tension: 

Hold your scissors upright, with the blades pointing upwards. Using the righty-tighty lefty-loosey rule, make small adjustments using the adjustable screw dial or by using the adjustment tool provided. Turn the screw in the required direction in small increments. Make sure to check your tension after each small adjustment. Once the blade of your scissors falls and closes ⅔rds of the way, your tension is correct.

See the photo below for an example of how your scissors should look when dropped closed with the correct tension.