Haircutting Tools

Study Notes

Conventional straight razors are made of hardened steel blades that require honing and stropping to produce a cutting edge.
Forged shears are made by working heated metal into a finished shape through hammering or compression.

Guards are plastic or hard rubber comb attachments that fit over clipper blades to minimize the amount of hair being cut with the clippers.
Guards can also be a metal shield applied over a haircutting razor for protection.
Taper combs are used for cutting or trimming hair when a gradual blending from short to longer is required within the haircut.

Hone is a sharpening block used to create a cutting edge on conventional straight razors.
A strop is an elongated piece of leather or other materials used to finish the edge of conventional straight razors to a smooth, whetted cutting edge.
Russian strop is a type of cowhide strop that is considered to be one of the best and requires breaking in.
Shell strop is a type of horsehide strop made from the muscular rump area of the horse and considered to be the best strop for use by barbers.

Set of the shears refers to the manner in which the blades and shanks of the shears align with each other and are joined at the tension screw or rivet.
Palming the shears is the technique used to hold shears in a safe manner while combing through or otherwise working with hair.
Palming the comb is the technique used to hold the comb in the hand opposite of the hand that is cutting with the shears.
Texturizing shears produce visible differences in hair lengths to add texture and volume.
Thinning shears, also known as blending shears, eliminate visible lines in the hair and are used for blending hair.

Thermal styling tools produce heat for hairstyling purposes.
Trimmers, also known as outliners and edgers, are small clippers used for detail, precision design, and fine finish work after a haircut or beard trim.
High-frequency machine produces a high rate of oscillation or Tesla current for stimulating scalp, facial, and body tissues.