How to Realign Hair Scissors: Process of Tightening the Screws

If you're having trouble cutting hair with your hair scissors, the problem may be that the screw in the middle pivot section has become loose.

This is a common issue and can be fixed by realigning your hair scissors. 

This article will teach you how to realign hair scissors using a simple process that only takes a few minutes!

What tools do you need to realign your hair shears?

You will need a Phillips head screwdriver or a tension adjuster key to start. If the screw is loose, it will be easy to remove with the screwdriver.

A tension key is a standard tool that comes with most new pairs of hair scissors. 

This tool allows you to insert it into the screw head easily and tighten or loosen the tension system.

However, if you do not have a tension adjuster key, then you can use a Phillips head screwdriver with a thin head to adjust.

How to tell if your hair scissors are misaligned?

When your scissors are misaligned, you will need to stop cutting hair and look at realigning them to avoid any damage to the blades.

The ability to recognize when it's time to align your scissors is crucial, as you will prevent any damage to the hair shears and avoid giving a bad haircut.

The two blades that comprise hair cutting tools are linked at the center, also called the pivot, using screws. When the blades have joined, the spring force of the internal tension system ensures that the contact between blades is close enough to cut hair but not scrape against the other blade. 

If the screw is loose, the spring force gets taken away and causes that hair to bend when you cut the hair. 

Worst case scenario, misaligned scissors with a loose screw or spring can cause the blades to damage each other when opening and closing. 

Here are a few ways to test the tension and tightness of the scissor blade alignments:

1. Hold your hair scissors in a natural cutting position with both blades closed.
2. Removing your fingers from the bottom handle's finger holes, let gravity take control and see if the scissors open by themselves.
3. Usually the scissors are loose enough to open and close using light pressure from your fingers and thumb, but not enough so that they will fall open by themselves.
4. Sometimes you may have alignment issues from loose blades that cause issues cutting hair. If you find that your scissor is dull, but the blade edges are still sharp, then you may need to realign the shears to improve their cutting performance.

Hair scissors that are wrongly aligned could mean what makes the difference between a perfect haircut and one that isn't. A proper alignment will ensure that you can get long-lasting usage from the hair scissors.

The easiest way to realign hair scissors: step by step guide

Now that you know how to identify if your hair scissors need realigning, it's time to teach you the simple steps on how to do it yourself.

The following steps will show you how to tighten the screw in the middle pivot section of your hair scissors using either a Phillips head screwdriver or a tension adjuster key.

1. Cleaning scissors: Before you start realigning your hair shears, you want to make sure that you have thoroughly removed any buildup of hair or debris stuck between the blades. Use rubbing alcohol to ensure they are perfectly cleaned before moving ahead.
2. Lubrication: A problem with the screws and tension system dryness. Using a little lubricant, such as scissor oil, machine oil, or even WD-40, can help protect the screws while realigning.
3. Scissor screws: There are different types of scissor screws used to align the blades together at the pivot section. Most regular screws can be adjusted with a Phillips head screwdriver or adjuster key. Thumbscrews can be adjusted by hand. If you are unsure how to handle your scissor screw, contact us with a picture!
4. Adjusting the tension: The tension on the screw must be adjusted by one click or within 1/16 Th inch increments, based on the screw type. 
5. Twist the screw: Turning the screw left (anti-clockwise) will loosen them, and turning the screw right (clockwise) will tighten them. If the screw is loose, rotate it counter clockwise until it attains the correct tension.
6. Special Tension Adjusting Screw Many hair scissor makers make scissor models that need an appropriate device to alter the tension of the screw. A regular screwdriver isn't compatible with this system for adjusting tension, and you should be extra cautious so that you don't lose the instrument that came along with your scissors.

All screws are the same, in the sense that they can be either loose or tight. If your hairdressing scissors are misaligned, then you will need to loosen the screw, clean and lubricate, then tighten the screw little by little until you are satisfied with the tightness.

If you are having any difficulties realigning your scissors, send us an email (hello@jpscissors.com), and we'll do what we can to guide you through the process!