How to Choose the right Pet Grooming Scissors

Selecting shears is one of the most important decisions a groomer has to make. Which shears you select has a major impact on the speed and quality of your work, on the health of your hands, and on your wallet also. Dog trimming scissors come in such a vast array of sizes, materials and brands so taking your time and researching which pair is perfect for you is the best way to go about it.

When deciding which Pet grooming scissors are right for you there is three important factors to consider;
1. What type of scissor blade will you need?
2. What kind of handle do you need? 
3. What length of blade do you need? 

When buying dog grooming scissors, the very first point you will need to look at is what kind of blade style you need.  There are several choices to choose ultimately will depend on what you intend to use your scissors for.

BLADES:

1. Bull Nosed Blades
   These dog grooming scissors have flat and round edge tips that help to reduce the risk of cuts and nicks to the dog.  Using this type of scissor for this area will reduce the risk to both you and the dog, and cause less pain if a problem does occur. 
2. Wide Blades
   Wide blades grooming scissors is recommended if you have a dog with a heavy or coarse coat, such as Cocker Spaniels and Old English Sheep Dogs.
3. Bent, Short and Long Shanks
   You can also buy dog grooming scissors with a bent shank which helps to reduce finger drag through a coat as they help to keep your hand away from it.  Short shank grooming scissors allow for a more comfortable grip with your middle and index fingers and thumb as they do not require much scissor movement.  Long shank dog trimming scissors require more force to open and close, causing more pressure on the thumb.  They are ideal for people with long fingers as they provide a more relaxed cutting position.

HANDLE

1. Symmetric Handle/Opposing Grip:
   Any dog grooming scissors with this type of handle features two shanks that are the same length and symmetrical to the centre screw. They are the least ergonomic option available but are suited for people cut with the thumb and middle finger.  
2. Offset Handle:
   A pair of dog grooming scissors with this handle has a short thumb shank and a longer finger shank.  It is aimed at making the scissors more comfortable to use as the shorter thumb handle reduces the stress on the thumb tendon and helps reduce the risk of RSI.
3. Crane Handle:
   It is rare to find dog grooming scissors with a crane handle but they are available.  They are also offset but when you hold the scissors horizontally, the handle will angle downwards.  This improves your positioning and prevents stress on the thumb, arm and shoulder.  This also helps to move your hand away from the dog when using your grooming scissors, allowing for a more open cut.

LENGTH:

1. Pet Grooming scissors come in lengths from 4 1/2" to 12", with 8 1/2" being the most common, all-around shears.
2. Most of your scissoring will be done with these on Bichons, Poodles, puppy cuts on Lhasas, etc. Smaller shears of 6 1/2" to 7 1/2" are very good for use on small dogs, or to trim small areas-inside a toy poodle’s hind legs, for instance.
3. Very small shears such as the 4 1/2" are useful for close work around the eyes, or for edging just the tips of prick ears. The 9" to 12" shears are great for a puppy cut on an Old English Sheep dog, or a Standard Poodle.

MATERIAL:

Various features will affect the weight, feel and performance of the grooming shears. The type of material used to manufacture the shears affects its durability and maintenance requirements.

1. Carbon steel is durable and holds an edge, but must be kept oiled to prevent rust.
2. Stainless steel is a high-quality steel combined with chromium to resist rust.
3. Cobalt steel is a type of hardened stainless steel designed to resist chips and nicks.
4. The steel used in shears is also subjected to sub-zero temperatures during the manufacturing process in order to change the composition of the metal making it harder. Thus, shears that are ice tempered, frozen tempered or cold forged will hold an edge longer. Most shears today are cold forged or ice-tempered

EKAL committed to bring best quality products to its valued customers. We design & manufacture high quality stainless steel instruments to the requirements of our customers for the use in diverse industries.