Course 07 · Scissors: An Introduction · Lesson 3 of 12
How do you hold grooming scissors safely?
A correct scissor hold keeps the blades controlled, the fingers clear and the cutting point always in view.
Hold grooming scissors with your thumb in one handle ring and your ring finger in the other, with your index and middle fingers resting lightly for guidance, your wrist relaxed, and the blades pointing away from your body and away from the dog skin. Only your thumb moves the blade, while your ring finger stays steady, so the cut is controlled and deliberate. Your other hand holds and combs the section to be cut, keeping skin and fingers clear of the blade path. A safe hold feels steady and unhurried, and it lets you stop mid cut if the dog moves.
Where do your fingers go?
Place your thumb in the larger ring and your ring finger in the smaller ring, pushing the ring finger in only as far as the first joint, so you can release the scissors quickly if needed. Rest your index finger along the shank, in front of the ring, to guide the direction, and let your middle finger rest beside the ring finger for support. Do not push your fingers deep into the rings, grip with your whole fist, or hold the scissors like household scissors with thumb and middle finger only, because those holds reduce control and tire the hand. The finger rest, if fitted, should support the little finger lightly, not bear weight. Practise the hold with the scissors closed and empty, until it feels natural and the blades open and close smoothly with thumb movement alone.
How do you open and close the blades?
Open the blades by moving your thumb away from your ring finger, and close them by bringing your thumb towards your ring finger, in a smooth, even motion. Avoid snapping the blades shut, forcing them through thick hair, or closing them fully across a large section, because a forced closure can fold hair, leave a step and jerk the scissors towards the skin. Cut with the middle part of the blade, not the very tip and not the hinge, for most work, because the middle gives the most even cut and the best control. Keep the blades clean and lightly oiled as the maker directs, so they move without sticking or grinding, and stop if the action feels rough, because a rough action makes your hand compensate and lose control.
What does your other hand do?
Your other hand is the safety hand. It holds the section of coat to be cut, combs it into its natural fall, and keeps the skin smooth and clear of the blades. Hold the hair between your fingers, with your fingers between the skin and the scissors, so the blades cannot reach skin without passing your fingers first, but keep your own fingers clear of the blade edge. Comb the section, lift it gently, cut a small amount, comb again and check. Do not pull hair tight, twist a section, or hold skin stretched hard, because tension changes the length once the hair is released. The safety hand should move slowly and predictably, so the dog can settle, and it should release the coat at once if the dog moves.
How do you keep the blades in view and under control?
Keep the cutting point in view at all times, in good light, with nothing blocking your sight line. Do not cut behind a fold, under a flap of coat, or where you cannot see the skin surface. Keep the blades parallel to the skin surface, not pointing into it, and keep the tip pointing away from eyes, ears and skin folds. Move your whole arm to follow a curve, rather than twisting your wrist, and reposition yourself around the dog instead of reaching across the body. If you need to look away, close the blades and lower the scissors first. Never walk with open scissors, never leave open scissors on a surface where a dog or child could reach them, and always close and store them when you pause.
What should you practise before working on a dog?
Practise the hold, the thumb movement and the comb and cut rhythm away from the dog, as Lesson 10 explains in full. Practise on a switched off, safe basis first: hold, open, close, reposition, and set the scissors down closed. Then practise cutting a small amount from a piece of wool or a grooming practice item if you have one, combing between cuts, to learn how much a single closure removes. Practise with your non dominant hand holding and combing, because the two hands must work together. Only when the hold feels automatic, the blades move smoothly, and you can stop mid cut without jerking, should you move to a real, calm dog, and then only for a tiny tidy in an easy area.
What should you check before each cut?
- Thumb and ring finger placed correctly, wrist relaxed.
- Blades in view, parallel to skin, tip away from eyes and folds.
- Safety hand guarding skin, section combed into natural fall.
- Dog calm and still, with a clear stop if it moves.
Stop and get help: when is the hold not safe enough?
The hold is not safe enough if the scissors feel loose in your hand, the blades flop or stick, your wrist aches quickly, you cannot see the cutting point, or the dog will not stay still. Stop, close the scissors, and check tension, cleanliness and your grip. If the problem persists, ask a groomer to check your hold in person, because a small correction to finger position or thumb movement can transform control, and text cannot show you the correction on your own hand. Do not persist with an unsafe hold in the hope that practice on the dog will fix it. Practice away from the dog, get hands-on correction, and return to the dog only when the hold is steady, the blades are controlled, and you can stop at any moment without a jerk.
Further reading
- American Kennel Club: grooming guidance
- Pet grooming equipment guidance: manufacturer instructions