Open shears are one of the most common causes of avoidable injury in a working salon or barbershop — not because stylists are careless, but because a fast-paced floor full of moving people, dropped capes, and quick handoffs leaves little margin for error. Shear safety isn't about slowing down; it's about building habits that protect you, your coworkers, and your clients without ever breaking your rhythm. Here's what every stylist and barber should know about handling, storing, cleaning, and maintaining cutting shears safely.
Passing Shears Safely in a Busy Salon
Handing shears to another person is one of the highest-risk moments in a salon, especially during a rush when several stylists are moving between stations. A shear passed carelessly — blades open, point first, or tossed across a station — can easily cut a hand or catch on clothing.
- Close the blades before handing them off. Never pass shears open. Close them fully so there's no exposed cutting edge.
- Pass handle-first. Hold the shears by the blades (closed) and offer the handle to the other person, the same way you'd hand someone a knife in a kitchen.
- Make eye contact or say something. A quick "here you go" or a glance to confirm the other person is ready to receive the tool prevents fumbled handoffs.
- Never toss or slide shears across a counter. Set them down and let the other person pick them up, or hand them over directly — don't launch them across a station to save time.
- Avoid handing off shears while distracted. If you're mid-conversation or looking at your phone, stop and focus for the handoff itself.
Carrying and Storing Shears Between Uses
Most shear-related cuts don't happen during a haircut — they happen in the seconds before or after, when a tool is being carried, set down, or picked back up without much thought.
Carrying Shears Safely
- Keep shears closed any time they're not actively cutting hair, even for a few seconds between sections.
- If you carry shears in a holster or pouch, make sure the point is fully seated and the blades are covered before you move around the salon.
- Never carry open shears in a pocket, apron pouch without a sheath, or loosely in your hand while walking.
Storing Shears at Your Station
- Use a dedicated shear stand, magnetic strip, or closed case rather than leaving shears loose on the counter where they can be knocked to the floor.
- Store shears with the point facing down or away from where you or a client would naturally reach.
- Keep shears separate from combs, clips, and other tools so blades aren't grabbed by accident when reaching for something else.
- At the end of the day, store shears in their case in a dry, stable spot away from the edge of a counter or drawer where they could be pushed off.
Handling Chipped or Damaged Blades
Even well-maintained shears can pick up a small chip or nick from an accidental drop or contact with a foreign object like a snap or zipper. A damaged edge isn't just a performance problem — it changes how the blade behaves, and that raises the risk of a slip that could cut you or your client.
- Stop using the shears immediately once you notice a chip, burr, or uneven edge. A damaged blade requires more force to cut, which increases the chance of the blade slipping off the hair.
- Don't try to "work around" the damage. Compensating with a different angle or extra pressure is how a small blade issue turns into an injury.
- Set the shears aside clearly — a piece of tape with "damaged" or "needs sharpening" written on the case keeps a coworker from grabbing them by mistake.
- Send them to a professional sharpening service that can assess whether the chip can be ground out or whether the blade is compromised beyond repair. Don't attempt to file or grind a chip yourself; improper sharpening can throw off the tension and geometry of the blade.
- Dispose of shears that are beyond repair carefully. Close the blades, wrap the cutting edges securely (tape or a rigid sleeve works well) so no one is cut while handling trash or recycling, and check whether your local waste service accepts metal tools for recycling rather than sending them to general trash.
Sanitation Practices That Protect You and Your Clients
Shears come into contact with skin far more often than most stylists realize — a nicked ear, a scraped neck, or simple skin oils and hair debris are all part of a normal day. Because of that, cleaning and disinfecting shears between every single client isn't optional; it protects clients from cross-contamination and protects you from exposure as well.
Between Every Client
- Wipe blades free of hair and debris immediately after each haircut, before any product or moisture has a chance to dry on the metal.
- Disinfect shears with a hospital-grade, EPA-registered disinfectant labeled for use on metal instruments, following the contact time listed on the product — a quick wipe often isn't long enough to actually disinfect.
- Dry shears completely after disinfecting. Moisture left on the blades or pivot promotes corrosion and can also harbor bacteria.
- Follow your state cosmetology or barbering board's sanitation requirements, which typically specify approved disinfectants and minimum contact times for implements used on skin.
If Skin Contact or Bleeding Occurs
- Stop the service and address the client's skin first — clean the area and apply appropriate first aid.
- Treat any shears involved as contaminated. Clean and disinfect them fully — including the pivot area — before they're used again on anyone.
- Dispose of any single-use materials that contacted blood (tissues, wipes) according to your salon's bloodborne pathogen exposure procedures, and follow your local regulations for handling that kind of waste.
- Wash your own hands thoroughly if you had any contact with blood, and cover any cuts or breaks in your own skin before continuing to work.
General Hygiene Habits
- Never share unsanitized shears between stylists without a full disinfection cycle in between.
- Keep a visibly separate space for "clean, ready-to-use" shears versus "used, needs disinfecting" shears so nothing gets mixed up during a busy shift.
- Clean your shear case or holster periodically — hair and product residue can build up there too.
Keeping Your Station Organized to Prevent Dropped-Tool Accidents
A cluttered station is one of the most overlooked safety hazards in a salon. Cords tangled underfoot, tools piled on top of each other, and no clear "home" for shears all make it more likely that something gets knocked over or dropped.
- Give every tool a specific spot at your station so you're not reaching blindly through clutter to find your shears.
- Keep clipper and dryer cords routed away from the areas where you set down or pick up shears.
- Clear hair clippings and product bottles off your counter regularly so there's always a clean, stable surface to set tools on.
- Never balance shears on the edge of a counter, cart, or rolling tray — a bumped cart or a client shifting in the chair can send them to the floor.
- If shears do get dropped, don't catch them. Let them fall, then pick them up carefully and check the blades and tips for damage before using them again.
Recognizing Repetitive Strain as a Safety Issue
Shear safety isn't only about cuts and contamination — the cumulative strain of repetitive cutting motions on your hands, wrists, and shoulders is a real occupational risk over a long career. Pain, numbness, or stiffness that shows up regularly after a shift shouldn't be ignored as "just part of the job." Well-maintained, properly tensioned shears that cut with minimal resistance reduce the grip force your hand needs to apply, and taking short breaks to rest your hands during a long day both help lower this risk. If discomfort persists, it's worth having it evaluated rather than pushing through it.
Choosing Shears That Support Safe Habits
Good safety habits work best when they're paired with shears that are properly maintained and suited to how you cut. Blades that hold their edge, a pivot that stays properly tensioned, and a comfortable handle design all make safe handling easier and reduce the extra force that leads to slips or fatigue. If it's time to replace a damaged pair or add a second set to your kit, you can browse Shihan Shears' full range of hair-cutting shears to find a pair that fits your hand and your work.
None of these habits take much extra time once they become routine, but together they significantly cut down on the everyday risks that come with working around sharp tools all day. A little consistency with handling, storage, sanitation, and station organization goes a long way toward a safer shift for you and every client in your chair.