The way some stylists hold their shears makes me cringe

I've been watching a lot of behind-the-chair videos lately, and I keep seeing the same thing. People hold their shears with their thumb in the wrong hole, or they grip them like a hammer. It's not just a small thing. That grip puts strain on your hand and wrist, and you lose a lot of control over the blade. I had a client with super fine hair last month, and a shaky, tight grip would have butchered the cut. I learned the proper hold from my instructor, Mrs. Gable, about eight years ago. She made us practice with dull shears for a week until it felt natural. Now I can see the difference in my lines and how my hand feels after a full day. Has anyone else had to unlearn a bad scissor habit, and what helped you fix it?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona_lane9d ago

Mrs. Gable had me do the same paper towel drill as @the_jordan. It felt silly but it really builds the muscle memory. Now a proper hold is just automatic.

jordanl829d ago

Wait they made you practice with dull shears for a whole week? That sounds like actual torture. My teacher just yelled at us until we switched our thumb over. The hammer grip thing is so real though, I see it all the time and my own wrist hurts just watching it.

the_jordan9d ago

Tell me about it, mine made us cut through a whole roll of paper towels with the wrong grip. My thumb was numb for days.