So....this is a bit off from the shear business, but, it is still in the beauty industry. I found a fantastic makeup line. If you are looking for a professional product line that will NOT be diverted to who knows where. I found it!!!! Why will it NOT be diverted you ask? This company has a foundation....or several types of foundation that can be customized to match the clients skin tone. There is Liquid Custom Foundation, Hydrating Custom Minerals, Liquid to Powder Mineral Foundation and more. You are familiar with hair color formulas. When you formulate your clients foundation...there is only one place they can purchase that formula. From Their Trained Makeup Professional!
I will be adding a new Blog and a link from this one to keep you informed on New Products and company updates. Look for it in the next week. In the mean time you can check it out at: www.debrafinck.motivescosmetics.com

Well, it has been way too long since I posted! I have been fine tuning my website and anyone who has built a website knows what I mean.
While visiting salons in the Portland, Or area this week I encountered a great question from a customer. "I just bought these Japanese shears. Can you tell me if I got a good deal?" First of all, I am not in the practice of dissing other brands of shears. But, moving on. Something I run across a shear labeled "Japanese Steel" or "Japanese Design" or Japanese Whatever. It DOES NOT say Made in Japan or Japan on it. The deception really bugs me! This shear is exactly what it says Japanese Steel. Most likely it is made in Korea, Taiwan or the US. Sometimes they are made in Pakistan...Hopefully not!
Just because it isn't made in Japan doesn't mean it isn't a good shear. If you are shopping for a Japan shear, they are usually a bit more expensive.
So. if you are shopping for shears. Purchase from someone that will backup their product. If you are buying at a show, find out what recourse you have if, when you get back home and find that they don't cut, etc....can you return them? There are reputable shear companies and then there are all the rest. Be Careful!

Well, today I don't have a shear to display, but I do have a salon story for you. In all my 28 years of shear sharpening...today topped every bad sharpening job I have EVER seen. I was in a very upscale salon. The owner handed me her shears. First, I noticed that the edge was very rough. Then when I put on my jewelers glasses and took a closer look.....I couldn't believe my eyes! Someone had sharpened the wrong side of the blade! The inside of the blade had a bevel put on it with a grinder. It took me over an hour to fix them...and I had to take a lot of metal off, too. I asked her how she could even use those shears. She told me that she had taken them to one of those cutlery stores in the mall. BAD IDEA! She said that she had not been able to use them since.They do not have the equipment or the training to do hair shears. Sooooo.....what have we learned today???? DON'T DO THAT. There may not be someone in your area that can fix them.

A Different Slant on the Swivel Type Shear...or should I say no Slant.

I really like this new style of shear. You can loosen it so that the finger holes move freely...or you can set the finger holes where they are comfortable for you and then tighten the thumb nut. Either way, it is a very versatile shear. Now, about this brand...I like the workmanship of this line. You may not see it at the hair shows, but don't miss out on this high quality shear. The kicker? Pricing is a BIG WOW for this shear. One style available in Hitachi Steel - 5", 5.5" and 6". Price: $350.00
Featured Shear in Cobalt available in 6" at a price of $420.00.
To purchase email debrafinck@gmail.com

Matsuzaki....it is one of the oldest shear companies I know of. Over 105 years in existence! This line of shears is rated by STARS. A single star all the way up to five stars. As the stars increase so does the quality. Yes, they are pretty pricey, but, I have clients that have used their five star shears for fifteen years or more! So, a $1000 shear used for....say ten years. That breaks down to about 27 cents a day. A great investment.

What about those shears with color on them...you know the "pretty shears"

O.K....lets get real!

People in the beauty industry are artists. They like pretty things, beautiful things, sparkly things. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. Here's the thing. If you are going to get a colorful shear just make sure it is quality under the color. When it comes to shears, just like dryers and flat irons, you get what you pay for. Many of the colorful shears are made with inferior steel and hardware. What is hardware? It is the screw, or tension adjuster, the finger rest, etc. Now, with that said, there are beautiful shears with quality under the color....like these patterned shears.

I think these shears are so COOL! Best of all, they are well made!

Priced just under $300.

The HOTTEST Swivel Shears...hands down!

This is the HOTTEST swivel shear I have found. Every person that I have sold this shear to LOVES it. So, here is the lowdown on it.

Offset 3D swivel, the thumb ring rotates around the perpendicular axis for the handle, eliminating strain applied to the hand and wrist. The wider distance between the thumb and finger hole the greater it reduces thumb travel when cutting. Also, tension Screw with V10 Cobalt Stainless Steel. Available sizes: 5.0", 5.5" and 6.0"

By the way, if you have never owned a shear with V10 Cobalt Stainless Steel, you will only know what you're missing by owning one!