How to Clean and Oil Barber Scissors
Quick answer
To clean barber scissors, wipe both blades with a soft cloth, open them to 90° and clear hair from around the pivot, then dry them fully. To oil them, put one drop of scissor oil where the blades cross at the pivot, open and close a few times, and wipe off the excess. Do it every day.
Cleaning barber scissors takes a minute: wipe, clear the pivot, dry, oil, case. Do the quick wipe after every client and the full routine at the end of the day. That keeps hair and moisture out of the pivot, which is what makes a shear stiff and rough.
What you need
- A soft, lint-free cloth or chamois
- Light scissor oil, or the oil your maker supplies
- A small soft brush, such as a clean toothbrush, for the pivot
- Your tension key, if the shear has a user adjuster
- A padded case or pouch
How to clean and oil barber scissors in 7 steps
- Wipe the blades. Hold the shear closed and wipe each outer face from the pivot to the tip. Keep the cloth on the flat of the blade and move away from the edge.
- Open to 90° and wipe the inner faces. Hair collects on the inside of the blades near the pivot. Wipe it out.
- Clear the pivot. With the blades open, brush around the pivot screw and the base of the blades to remove packed hair.
- Disinfect if your shop requires it. Use a disinfectant suitable for steel tools as your workplace process sets out. Wipe; do not soak.
- Dry completely. Dry the blades, the pivot area, the rings and any inserts. Moisture left at the pivot is the problem.
- Oil the pivot. Put one drop of oil where the blades cross at the pivot. Open and close the shear five or six times to work it in. Wipe off the excess, including any on the blades.
- Close and case. Close the blades and store the shear in its own slot.
Jaguar’s care advice follows the same order: remove hair and residue after use and dry thoroughly after cleaning.
Check tension after oiling
Once a week, after oiling, do the drop test so you know the tension is still right.
- Hold the shear by the finger ring with the still blade level.
- Lift the moving blade upright and let go.
- Right: it falls and stops part way. Too loose: it closes fully. Too tight: it barely moves.
Adjust in small steps with the maker’s adjuster. The pivot systems guide explains the main types.
Swivels and thinning shears need extra attention
A swivel shear has a second pivot at the thumb ring. Brush around it, dry it and put a drop of oil on it too.
A thinning shear packs hair between the teeth. Brush along the toothed blade from pivot to tip before you wipe. The thinning vs texturising guide covers toothed shears in more depth.
Seven cleaning mistakes to skip
- Over-oiling. More oil holds more hair. One drop, then wipe.
- Putting it away damp. A closed case traps moisture against the steel.
- Soaking in disinfectant. It sits in the pivot. Wipe, then dry.
- Wiping toward the edge. Wipe along the flat of the blade, away from the edge.
- Tapping the shear on the station to clear hair. That is how tips get bent.
- Taking the pivot apart. It changes the tension and can damage the screw.
- Using cooking or household oil. It turns sticky and holds hair.
When cleaning does not fix it
If the shear still pushes or folds hair after cleaning, oiling and setting tension, the edge needs attention. The blunt barber scissors tests help you confirm it, and the sharpening services guide lists what to ask a sharpener.
Store them properly
A case keeps the tips from touching each other or the bottom of a drawer. One slot per shear, closed and dry.
Felt case for four shears
Browse more storage in cases and accessories, or read the full routine, including weekly and service checks, in the barber scissor maintenance guide. For choosing your next pair, start with how to choose barber scissors.
Questions
How often should I clean my barber scissors?
Wipe the blades after every client and do the full clean and oil at the end of each day. Clean again after any disinfecting, because disinfectant and water left at the pivot are what stiffen it.
What can I use to oil barber scissors?
A light scissor or clipper oil, or the oil your maker supplies. Avoid cooking oil, which turns sticky, and heavy household lubricants, which hold hair at the pivot.
Can I wash barber scissors in water?
You can rinse or wipe them with water if your shop process needs it, but dry them straight away, blades and pivot, and re-oil. Never leave a shear soaking or put it away wet.
How do I disinfect barber scissors?
Follow your workplace hygiene process. Wipe the shear clean first, use a disinfectant suitable for steel tools for the contact time it lists, then dry it completely and oil the pivot. Do not soak the shear.
Should I take my scissors apart to clean them?
No. Taking the pivot apart changes the tension setting and can damage the screw or bearing. Clean around the pivot with the blades open, and leave stripping down to a sharpener.