Vertical cutting & straight line cutting

The scissors need to be held absolutely vertical and so fully offset scissors are recommended.

Blunt cutting – bobs, & one lengths

As the scissors need to sit flat to the neck and the fingers need to be got out of the way, fully
offset scissors are recommended.

Deep point cutting

The elbow needs to be high for this technique so straight set scissors are recommended.

Intricate work

When looking for clean lines around the edges of the hairline, then fine or narrow tipped scissors
are recommended.

Scissors over comb

Longer sizes are required to avoid ‘chunk’ lines in the cut. 

Length of blade

This is important in two different respects.

a) Handsize. It is true you will find you prefer a particular length of scissors as this feels the best
fit for you and on the whole this should be what influences your choice.

b) However, scissors over comb work requires longer length blades to avoid ‘chunk’ lines in the
cut.

c) Fine precision work

Shorter blade lengths are recommended.

Back cutting and channeling

The heel of the scissors is almost never used in most other cutting techniques and so it is almost
always the sharpest part of the blade. With razor edged blades therefore, this part of the
scissors is ideal for these two techniques.