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Dropped Your Scissors? What to Do Next

By SalonScissors editorial team Updated

Labelled scissor diagram: 1 rings, 2 handles, 3 pivot, 4 blades, 5 tips, 6 finger rest.
After a drop, check the tips (5), the blades (4) and the pivot (3) first.

They slipped off the trolley and hit the floor. Even if they look fine, don’t finish the cut with them.

Why a drop matters

Yasaka warns that a drop or knock can chip the blade, and that forcing a cut with a damaged blade shortens the scissors’ life. KAI USA says dropped or chipped shears should go for service straight away, because damaged blades can cause lasting problems.

What to do after dropping your scissors

  1. Put them aside

    Take them out of your working kit and leave them somewhere nobody will grab them for the next client. A note on the case helps: “Dropped. Don’t use.”

  2. Look them over

    In good light, check that the tips still meet, look along each edge for nicks and see if the pivot looks the same. Keep your fingers off the edge.

  3. Open and close them once, gently

    If they grind, catch or won’t close, stop. Don’t force them, and leave the tension screw alone.

  4. Write down what happened

    Where they fell from, what they landed on and anything you’ve noticed since. It saves the sharpener guessing.

  5. Send them for service

    Pack them closed and cushioned, with your note. If they won’t close, ask the sharpener how to pack them.

Keep the day moving

Switch to your backup pair for the rest of the day rather than pushing a dropped pair through more cuts. When they come back from service, check them before the first client.

Common questions

My scissors look fine after a drop. Can I keep using them?

Not until they’ve been checked. Yasaka warns a drop can chip the blade, and KAI USA says to stop using dropped shears and send them for service straight away.

Should I tighten the screw after a drop?

No. Leave it as it is and tell the sharpener what happened, so they see the pair as it landed.

How do I stop dropping my scissors?

Give them a set resting place. Kasho suggests a safe spot at your station where they rest closed, and a case for carrying them.

Next step

Ask us about sharpening with the model and what happened. The sharpening prep guide shows how to write the note and pack them.