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Basic Career Disciplines

Let’s collaborate the importance of Basic Career Disciplines from the haircutter and the sharpeners perspective. These traits can be easily observed in a few seconds and will influence any discussion about the scissors.

 

Is the scissor adjusted correctly, does it have a proper edge, and is it managed appropriately?

 

Stylists exhibiting these qualities have fewer issues with their scissors and they can easily be evaluated for any necessary service or repair. It confirms or denies an equal understanding of how a scissors mechanics are impacted by daily maintenance and how the manufacturer intended their product to be utilized.

Basic Career Disciplines are mandatory.

Training centers, platform artist, and Cosmetology/Barber schools often use conflicting terminology and techniques. Undeniably this has generated industry-wide uncertainty about definitions, confusion of tension settings, thumb pressure, and proper upper hand control.

 

This is a key point of frustration at every level of the scissor industry. The majority of these conflicts involve creative license to demonstrate why their unique haircutting technique is superior to a competitor.

 

Nevertheless, Basic Career Disciplines are neutral, similar to the Law of Color and the Law of Physics. It is a fact that specific principles cannot be changed regardless of creative license.

 

These disciplines intertwine with all cutting techniques because these principles can only enhance the performance of scissors. It is unimaginable that any genuine creative cutting technique would cause scissors to malfunction.

 

No matter the cutting method you choose, following the recommended scissors tension setting, having a relaxed upper hand, and maintaining the proper blades edge will ensure a successful experience.

This is the starting point for a meaningful discussion on scissors.

It is essential to recognize the stylist who does, and the ones who do not entirely acknowledge Basic Career Disciplines. Sharpeners with an appreciation for these disciplines are guaranteeing that all their customers will have a more enjoyable experience with their scissors

 

Ignoring standards by either the stylist or the sharpener negates any legitimate evaluation of a scissor’s performance. Consequently, a sharpening service cannot correct a malfunctioning scissor if the haircutter is unfamiliar with their scissors or continues to disregard common principles.

 

Confirming each other's understanding of a scissors function develops the mutual understanding necessary for a working relationship. Talking With Your Sharpener offers insight on this topic.

Behind The Scissors

Unleash Your Scissors Enduring Potential 

Our articles are an easy-to-use tool for highlighting a stylist's responsibility for their scissors, do research, and solve preventable scissor malfunctions.

Lowering standards helps no one since high expectations are the key to achievement.  In the defense of excellence we must speak the truth, never apologize, and never back down.

Heather Mac Donald - February, 2024

The Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute

Quote from Imprimis Vol 53, Number 2

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