Beyond The Edge with Thad

  Every August, salons begin preparing for one of the busiest stretches of the year. Families schedule back-to-school haircuts, college students freshen up their look, and cosmetology students return to the classroom. It all adds up to one thing: your shears are about to work overtime. If your shears haven't been sharpened recently, now is the ideal time to take care of them before your schedule fills up. Dull Shears Cost More Than You Think Professional shears are precision tools. As they gradually lose their edge, you may notice: Hair folding instead of cutting cleanly Increased hand and wrist fatigue Slower cutting speed More effort required for every haircut Less consistent results Many stylists don't realize how gradually these changes happen until they use a freshly sharpened pair again. Don't Wait Until They Feel "Really Dull" One of the biggest mistakes professionals make is waiting too long. Routine sharpening helps maintain the life of yo...

  When you invest in a quality pair of professional shears, you’re not just buying a cutting tool—you’re investing in precision, comfort, and performance behind the chair. But how well do you really know the tool you rely on every day? Understanding the anatomy of your shears can help you identify wear, communicate better when it’s time for sharpening or adjustments, and get the most out of your investment. Let’s break down the key parts of your professional shears and what each component does. 1. The Blade: The Foundation of Your Shear The blades are the heart of your shears. They work together to create the smooth, controlled cutting action you depend on for every haircut. Professional shears typically have two blades: The cutting blade features the sharpened edge that does the majority of the cutting. The supporting blade provides stability and tension as the shears close. The quality, shape, and design of the blades affect everything from how smoothly the shears cut...

Summer is here, and it's time to make sure your shears are performing at their best. Dull or poorly adjusted shears can slow down your work, cause unnecessary hand fatigue, and affect the quality of every haircut. At Don't Run With Scissors (DRWS), Thad continues his weekly route service throughout Northeast Wisconsin, helping stylists and barbers keep their professional tools in top condition with expert sharpening and tune-ups. If you're located along one of this month's routes and your shears are due for service, now is a great time to contact Thad to schedule a stop. June 2026 Route Schedule Tuesday, June 2nd Heart of the Valley Route Little Chute Kimberly Kaukauna Tuesday, June 9th Rural Route Hortonville Shiocton New London Seymour Surrounding communities Tuesday, June 16th De Pere / Green Bay Route Tuesday, June 23rd Green Bay Route 2 Mason Street area Lime Kiln Road area Main Street area Tuesday, June 30th Green Bay Route 3 Cormier Road area Oneida Street area M...

  If you’ve ever shopped for new professional shears or talked with a sharpening specialist, you’ve probably heard the terms convex edge and beveled edge . These two edge types are the most common designs used in professional hair cutting shears, and they each serve a different purpose behind the chair. Understanding the difference can help stylists and barbers choose the right tool for their cutting style—and maintain those tools properly. Let’s break it down.

  Why “good enough” shears might be costing you more than you think When your schedule is full and clients are waiting, it’s easy to push through with tools that feel just okay . But cutting with dull shears doesn’t just affect your haircut—it quietly impacts your time, your body, your reputation, and even your income. Let’s break down the real (and often overlooked) cost of working with dull shears. Slower Haircuts = Fewer Clients Per Day Dull shears don’t cut cleanly—they push, bend, and fold hair before finally slicing through it. That means: More passes per section Extra time refining your work Slower overall services Even adding just 5 extra minutes per client can add up quickly over the course of a week. Over time, that’s fewer appointments available—and less revenue in your chair.

  Professional hairstylists rely on their shears every single day. Yet many stylists admit they’re not exactly sure what happens during the sharpening process. Is it just a quick grind on a machine? Does it simply make the blades “sharper”? In reality, professional shear sharpening is a detailed process that restores the cutting performance, balance, and longevity of your tools . When done correctly, it goes far beyond simply sharpening the edge. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what actually happens when your shears are professionally sharpened. 1. Inspecting the Edge Before any sharpening begins, the first step is a careful inspection of the shear blades . A professional sharpener examines the shears under magnification to identify: Nicks or chips in the blade Micro-serrations or wear along the cutting edge Bent tips Uneven edge wear Loose or misaligned tension Many issues with cutting performance actually come from damage that isn’t visible to the naked...