How Often Should You Sharpen Your Shears? A Stylist's Guide

If you're cutting hair five days a week, your shears are working harder than almost any other tool in your kit — and most stylists wait way too long to get them sharpened.

The general rule: every 4-6 weeks for full-time stylists, or every 400-600 haircuts, whichever comes first. Part-time or lower-volume stylists can usually stretch to 8-10 weeks.

Signs your shears are overdue before that window:

• Hair pushes or bends instead of cutting cleanly
• You're applying more pressure than usual to close a cut
• Split ends appear right after a fresh trim
• Your hand or wrist is more fatigued by the end of the day
• Visible nicks or a dull glint along the blade edge when you check it in light

Why it matters more than people think: a dull blade doesn't just cut worse — it crushes the hair shaft instead of slicing it, which leads to split ends and damage that makes your client blame their hair, not the tool. Sharp shears also mean less hand and wrist strain over a full day of cutting, which adds up over a career.

Book a sharpening: text 512-705-5905 or book online.