Sam Villa demonstrates how to make sure the tension screw on your shears is properly tightened.

Sam Villa demonstrates how to make sure the tension screw on your shears is properly tightened.

Have you ever been cutting your client's hair and something with your shears just seeemed... off? Your instinct might be to get them sharpened, but not so fast cautions Sam Villa, Redken Global Artistic Ambassador, who suggests that what might be off is the tension screw.

"It's surprising how much longer you can use your shears before they need to be sharpened when you're conscious of the tension screw," Villa says.

Villa suggest holding shears parallel to the floor and lifting the top blade; the top blade should be at a 45-degree position. If the blade collapses, it's too loose.

Once you stabilize the blades, according to the guideline, customize it to your cutting style by tightening or loosening it a notch.

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