Hot scissors?

[Gypsygirl]

I have a really great hair stylist and she's been doing my hair forever...I do trust her. But this morning I talked to her on the phone and she said, let's cut your ends with thermocut scissors this time- I think they're going to really work for you. I had no idea what she was talking about, so she told me: the blades of these scissors are heated, and the heat kind of "seals" the ends so they won't split as easily. I'm very tempted to give it a try, but...since heat is involved in this process and everyone says heat is "bad"- do you think it's going to work? Or do you even think it might be damaging? :confused:

As I said, I do trust her. She always does exactly what I tell her to do, and she's even told me, no, your ends don't need another trim yet, a couple of times I went in to have my bangs trimmed. But you guys are experts, too- and it's always good to get a second opinion, isn't it? ;)

[purplebubba]

You could ask her to do one side with those and the other with regular ones and see which side holds up better.

[Shanarana]

I don't see the logic behind that, but I'm not the brightest bulb around.

[marzipanthecat]

I can see where this is coming from. A friend of mine - her grandmother (who is no longer around but would be about 110 years old if she was till alive) used to cut all the hair for everyone in the family, and after cutting it, she would "seal" the ends by holding a hot blade to the ends (she only did this to the girls, it would be too hot to use for a boy with short hair, it would burn the scalp).

Anyway, she showed me how it was done, and apart from the unpleasant smell of singed hair, it didn't seem to make any difference to all to the hair. It did not stop split ends, anyway.

I think the suggestion of asking her to trim half your hair as normal and half with these thermoscissors is a good idea (if she would agree to do that!) - it would make an interesting comparison.

[Euphony]

I've never heard of this, sounds interesting. Almost seems like it's 'cauterizing a wound' in a sense. I have no idea if it would be harmful, just sounds interesting - I wonder if it works for the intended purpose.

[Akiko]

Maybe the hairstylist is talking about ThermoCut (http://www.thermo-cut.com/gb/index.html)? I don't have experience. I just do self-trimming with a pair of regular Jaguar scissors (nice, though).

[Copasetic]

This seems like a gimmick to me. I can't imagine that cutting your hair with hot scissors "seals" it in anyway. Hair isn't like wax or plastic. But I don't think it would be damaging the way that flat irons are because the scissors wouldn't be held to your hair for a long time. I don't think it would hurt to try it if you are curious.

[amaiaisabella]

I don't know about sealing it in for split-end prevention, but a friend of mine used to have her entire head braided or dreaded, and the stylist would use lighted candles or matches to "close off" the end of the braid. Her hair never split, and when she took the braids or dreads out, she had little to no tangles. Maybe that is somehow related?

[RancheroTheBee]

amaiaisabella: I think that usually the kind of cornrows you're thinking of are usually partially synthetic, usually to achieve the closing-off at the ends you're referring to.

In any case, anything hot enough to theoretically "cauterize" the strand would be hot enough to boil the nucleus and cause splits. Unless they're going by some sort of logic where the scissors were causing less stress by avoiding really cold temperatures, as metal tends to do, but I don't see how that would help, either.

ETA: In fact, wouldn't heat just lift up the cuticle, leaving your hair more susceptible to damage?

[KajiKodomo]

I don't know anything about how damaging it may or may not be, but I know that the thought makes me cringe.

I'm watching this thread to see if anyone knows for sure how damaging/not damaging it would be. :D

[lilalong]

I tried it a couple of years ago. It really did help with the split ends.

I'm not doing it anymore, since I trim my hair myself now, but if I was you I would give it a try.

[Stephanie]

Some members on the boards years ago used to do a S&D with a lighter instead of scissors. If I recall correctly, it worked a little better than snipping with scissors so long as they smoothed the end between their fingers afterwards (like you would a rope). Not sure about the hot scissors, however...

[Jim]

Sound like the latest fad to sweep the nation. But how bad could it be? I doubt that it can cause much damage since it is only touching the very ends. If it causes a problem you can just have another dusting trim. On the other hand, maybe it is a great new thing and you'll love it. Your hairdresser must have used these already so I don't expect she would suggest using them if they caused damage.

Good luck with it and let us know how it goes...

Jim

[amaiaisabella]

amaiaisabella: I think that usually the kind of cornrows you're thinking of are usually partially synthetic, usually to achieve the closing-off at the ends you're referring to.


That's most likely the case! :) Though I do think one time she was able to grow her hair out long enough to do it naturally. That would be cool to think about, though!

[rhubarbarin]

I think these people are confusing human hair with nylon. Plastic melts togetherl when heat is applied. Natural fiber burns and the core of the hair explodes outwards.

[enfys]

The closet thing I can think of is where I flame seal the ends on satin cord (rattail). It doesn't work on natural cord (cotton). And hair's natural last time I looked. Also, and this is clear on the cord because it's 1/8" diameter, the ends becomes a blackened, hard blob. Surely this would tangle more?

Maybe it's easier to cut? I've seen advice that you should dip a knife in hot water before you cut a cake.

[Heidi_234]

Me! Me! I had a cut done with those!
I'm really not sure if it's gimmick or not. They (of course) did a commercial with micro pictures showing an end that has been cut with regular scissors, all split and flaky (http://hotscissorshairstudio.com/images/hair3.jpg), and an end cut with hot scissors, all smooth and sealed (http://hotscissorshairstudio.com/images/hair4.jpg). The stylist who did my hair said it takes a couple of trims to get it to work (of course) (I mean, as like it would take some time before all the ends would be either new or have been cut with those).
A hot scissor cut cost me twice as much, so I didn't follow. Can't anything say about my ends though.
It doesn't make the hair burn, and there was no smell of roasted hair.
It's sound rather convincing to me, but I have to agree there's not whole lot of logic in it.

[amaiaisabella]

I think these people are confusing human hair with nylon. Plastic melts togetherl when heat is applied. Natural fiber burns and the core of the hair explodes outwards.

See, phrasing really is everything! Had a stylist ever said that to me, I would have exploded out of the styling chair so fast you would have seen smoke! :D

[florenonite]

The closet thing I can think of is where I flame seal the ends on satin cord (rattail). It doesn't work on natural cord (cotton). And hair's natural last time I looked. Also, and this is clear on the cord because it's 1/8" diameter, the ends becomes a blackened, hard blob. Surely this would tangle more?

Maybe it's easier to cut? I've seen advice that you should dip a knife in hot water before you cut a cake.

That's a good point. I wear bracelets made of nylon cord, and they're fastened quite simply by burning the ends together. If you roll it between your fingers well enough you don't get too much of a blob, but I think it's impossible to avoid it altogether, and if you're cutting you won't be rolling each individual strand like that.

[enfys]

That's a good point. I wear bracelets made of nylon cord, and they're fastened quite simply by burning the ends together. If you roll it between your fingers well enough you don't get too much of a blob, but I think it's impossible to avoid it altogether, and if you're cutting you won't be rolling each individual strand like that.

Yeah, it varies by brand; some makes of it melts more quickly and go into a drippy messy blob. I'm sporting a burn on my lip that demonstrates that you shouldn't try to prevent this by blowing on the tip it you're holding it close enough to touch you. Ow.

I think that burn would be enough to put me off hot scissors.

Maybe ask the hairdresser if she's used them on her own hair?

[Anje]

Huh... this is a weird one, isn't it?

I like PurpleBubba's idea of seeing if you can get her to do your hair half with the hot scissors and half with the regular ones, and you can see if it makes a difference. At worst, every hair on the heated side splits in a few weeks, and you have to trim a 1/4 inch to make it nice again. At best, the heated side won't split and you'll start a new LHC fad!

[mikegeorge]

In about 1968 I saw a person on the Merv Griffin show cutting hair with a flame. It was called "flame cutting". I don't remember much else.

[jupiterjuniper]

The idea of this is kind of scary. I just think of the smell of when my hair was singed by a candle. No tanks. How could people cut their hair with fire??

[SHELIAANN1969]

In about 1968 I saw a person on the Merv Griffin show cutting hair with a flame. It was called "flame cutting". I don't remember much else.


One word ~~ ACK!! Ok, I lied, 2 more words ~~ Hell NO


The idea of this is kind of scary. I just think of the smell of when my hair was singed by a candle. No tanks. How could people cut their hair with fire??



Very, very carefully! :D

[Magicknthenight]

I dunno putting heat on the ends of your hair doesn't sound nice to me:scared:. I probably wouldn't risk it since trimming works well already. However you could try it with a small section of hair and see if it makes it better or worse. That way you wouldn't have to retrim all your hair if it didn't work out.

[Shanarana]

That almost seems like a giveaway right there if it costs more to have it done like that than the old traditional way. I don't know, seems a bit fishy to me.

[Isilme]

well, if you are curious, try it. But it seems odd to me. We know that heat=damage, I wouldn't try it.

[Islandgrrl]

Seems to me like a clever way to charge more for a haircut. :bigeyes:

ETA: I googled the ThermoCut system.

Here are some of the bullet points I found in the product description:

* ThermoCut means: The blades of the hairdressing scissors are heated. The hair ends are sealed by the heat, the bodily moisture and care substances are preserved.

* Sealed Ends. Preserving Nature.

* Using the Jaguar TC ThermoCut System, the natural qualities of the hair are preserved, for every type of hair is healthy in its original state.

* This stimulates the self-regeneration of the hair.

I'm particularly intrigued by the last statement claiming "self-regeneration of the hair." :confused:

The system shows a "regular price" of $1,263.00.

Wow.

[Elenna]

Some members on the boards years ago used to do a S&D with a lighter instead of scissors. If I recall correctly, it worked a little better than snipping with scissors so long as they smoothed the end between their fingers afterwards (like you would a rope). Not sure about the hot scissors, however...

I had a mental picture of her hair going up in flames. :bigeyes: But reallly, any heat applicance causes hair damage, so why would thermo scissors be any different? Unless you like crisped ends.

[Anje]

I will admit that the pictures on the Jaguar TC site are pretty impressive.

[Stephanie]

I think the "smoothing of the ends" actually had more to do with removing the crispy little end that forms when you singe your hair - not really shaping it (as if it were pliable like melted plastic), but cleaning it up a bit.

I'll stick to my no trimming, neglect method. ;)

[manderly]

I've seen flame haircuts before :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCGSrDeGx-A



Now, I can understand the theory behind this. While yes, the hair isn't like nylon, it is kind of like skin, which you can cauterize to seal. I don't believe that the heat applied to the hair in the manner of a quick snip of the scissors would be damaging.

I would be curious to give it a try :)

[longhairedfairy]

I've heard of women singeing the ends to keep them from splitting. I think it’s been done for a long time, but I don’t know how well it works. I’d rather just do S&D.

[longhairedfairy]

That almost seems like a giveaway right there if it costs more to have it done like that than the old traditional way. I don't know, seems a bit fishy to me.

Singeing is pretty old and traditional, but I don't see how hot scissors would give the same result. *shrug* Personally, I wouldn't pay for it unless I knew it would work really well.

[Suldrun]

I saw the singeing years ago on TV. There was a guy trimming peoples hair with a candle! I think its an old tradition. Old things become new again and then old and then new again with each generation I think :)

[frodolaughs]

If you decide to try this please, please let us know what you think of the results. It does sound interesting to me.

[marialena]

I think these people are confusing human hair with nylon. Plastic melts togetherl when heat is applied. Natural fiber burns and the core of the hair explodes outwards.

I haven't heard about this scissors before but I agree with you rhubarbarin. Hair are not nylon to get sealed with hot scissors . And I have never heard someone to doing that with some other way, by heating classical scissors or something like this.

I don't think that you must try it.

( is this hairdresser looking for quinea-pigs?? )

[longhairedfairy]

Old things become new again and then old and then new again with each generation I think :)

Like bell bottoms.

[Shanarana]

Like bell bottoms.


Noooooooooo :run:

[Suldrun]

longhairedfairy:agree::agree: lol

Yes and the eighties yikes. Music good..clothes bad!

[longhairedfairy]

longhairedfairy:agree::agree: lol

Yes and the eighties yikes. Music good..clothes bad!

Ah, the eighties super-tight pants and teased-beyond-repair hair. Oh, and sky-scraping bangs.:lol:

[Natalia]

Hmm i dont knwo abotu effective but hair care has gone retro. Those scissors remind me of history class when they showed the photos of native american women (sorry cant remember what their tribe was) singeing off their hair with heated wood sap thinking it would make it stop growing.

[BittSweetCherry]

I'm sending this question the Beauty Brains, along with the Jaguar TC homepage and it's claims (I'd love to know how, by using a pair of hot scissors:

"Fine hair will be given more volume,
Split hair will become healthy and more resistant
Permed hair will be given more elasticity
Dull, brittle hair will be regenerated
Every type of hair will be easier to style.")


:rolleyes:

[florenonite]

longhairedfairy:agree::agree: lol

Yes and the eighties yikes. Music good..clothes bad!

I agree, though most people my age think it's the other way round :rolleyes: I've seen many girls in spandex and leggings, and few who listen to The Smiths.


I'm sending this question the Beauty Brains, along with the Jaguar TC homepage and it's claims (I'd love to know how, by using a pair of hot scissors:
"Fine hair will be given more volume,
Split hair will become healthy and more resistant
Permed hair will be given more elasticity
Dull, brittle hair will be regenerated
Every type of hair will be easier to style.")
:rolleyes:

Anything that claims to be good for all hair types sounds pretty sketchy to me. Ditto anything that tells me my fine hair will have more volume - it has far too much already!

[longhairedfairy]

I'm sending this question the Beauty Brains, along with the Jaguar TC homepage and it's claims (I'd love to know how, by using a pair of hot scissors:
"Fine hair will be given more volume,
Split hair will become healthy and more resistant
Permed hair will be given more elasticity
Dull, brittle hair will be regenerated
Every type of hair will be easier to style.")
:rolleyes:

Oh, bull poopie! There's no reason that something being done only to the ends would affect all the length in those ways.

[missmanytoes]

longhairedfairy:agree::agree: lol

Yes and the eighties yikes. Music good..clothes bad!

Hey! I was convinced I looked gooood wearing lace gloves and torn jeans! Ye gods, did I just admit that on teh internet??

[Gypsygirl]

Wow, thanks so much, everyone! That's a lot of food for thought! I'm so glad some of you have actually tried this!

I still haven't made up my mind...but I think I'm going to give it a try. As some of you have said, if it does cause damage, another small trim's going to deal with that. Maybe I will be able to talk her into doing just one side- that's a great idea. She's a fun person, and she and her team think I'm a weirdo new age hippie, anyway. :) Just kiddin.

I don't think she's looking for a "guinea pig" (:D)...but thanks for the warning, Marialena. I've known her for a long time and she'd be silly to do something like that to me for several reasons.

Anyway...thank you so much! I love this community. :crush:

[Gypsygirl]

OK...I'm taking a deep breath...
I've decided to try this. I'll let you know how it goes...please keep me in your thoughts. :p

[Heidi_234]

OK...I'm taking a deep breath...
I've decided to try this. I'll let you know how it goes...please keep me in your thoughts. :p
lol it's okay. I'm pretty sure it won't cause more splits. I actually thought of buying hot scissors when I decided to covert to self-trimming since I didn't know how much they cost, and those photos looked convincing enough to me. :o

[Gypsygirl]

Oh, that sounds good. (But I'm kind of nervous, anyway. ;) My stylist thinks that's so funny.)

[Heidi_234]

Oh, that sounds good. (But I'm kind of nervous, anyway. ;) My stylist thinks that's so funny.)
hehe yeah, side effects of being an LHCer. Happens :lol: (Other symptoms may include possession of wide variety of pointy hair toys, kitchen witchery, chronical preference of cheep conditioners over expensive ones, and overall concern over other people's lengths of hair). :p

[florenonite]

hehe yeah, side effects of being an LHCer. Happens :lol: (Other symptoms may include possession of wide variety of pointy hair toys, kitchen witchery, chronical preference of cheep conditioners over expensive ones, and overall concern over other people's lengths of hair). :p

"kitchen witchery" includes things like flatmates commenting on an odd smell in the kitchen and being thoroughly bemused when you say it's henna. Predictable responses to that include "well what's wrong with normal hair dye?"

A further symptom is excessive internet shopping because you just can't get henna, shampoo bars, or Tangle Teezers in shops, and then having to explain to the aforementioned flatmates why you keep getting stuff for your hair in the post :rolleyes:

[Gypsygirl]

I guess I should warn my husband that my "hairmania" is going to get even worse now...because this is contagious, right? :D

[BittSweetCherry]

The Beauty Brains responded - and they're not convinced, either:

http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/05/06/can-jaguar-hot-scissors-seal-split-ends/

[alys]

S&D with a lighter!! I'm sorry that got me a good guffaw! I'm not trying to be mean dear Stephanie, just picturing what little hair i have disappearing with flick of my bic :) I am wayyy tooooo clumsy and foolish to put a lighter near my hair....I CAN ALREADY SMELL IT :)

[MommaRalph]

http://www.thermo-cut.com/gb/index.html

This explains the reasoning behind the "sealing". I'd love to try it!

Valerie

[Wavelength]

The Beauty Brains responded - and they're not convinced, either:

http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/05/06/can-jaguar-hot-scissors-seal-split-ends/

That's a good article. Beauty Brains can be kinda hit or miss with me, but this one is very well thought out.

Some of the comments are good too. For instance, one commenter said that if heat creates healthy hair, then flat-ironing it would be another way to "seal" it and make it healthy! But we already know how much flat-ironing damages hair -- so why would cutting it with hot scissors be any better?

[GlassEyes]

@Wavelength: Well, no. Flat ironing sears the hair into a flattened (straight) shape by using heat. It's a different application than a quick burst of heat that would (supposedly) seal the ends of the hair.

However, and this is my two cents, I don't think the ends would seal. Hair doesn't act like plastic fibers--aka, melting. I think it's far more likely the heat would cause the ends to flare and burst open, causing more damage. :shrug:

[Wavelength]

Fair enough, I've never flat-ironed in my life so I admit I don't know much about it.

But the point stands, heat in general is usually damaging to hair, so I don't see why the method of heat application (scissors vs. flat-irons) would make any difference.

[Deemeeuh]

I know this is an old thread, I just wanted to give me two cents for anyone still interested in this.

At first glance the Jaguar TC site looks amazing... BUT:
A commenter on the BeautyBrains site makes the good point- "For starters, why don’t the hair samples cut with the ThermoCut have scales?"
Picture of Regular Cut Hair Strand (http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/05/06/can-jaguar-hot-scissors-seal-split-ends/bild3/) compared to Picture of ThermoCut Hair Strand (http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/05/06/can-jaguar-hot-scissors-seal-split-ends/bild4/)
I suspect they may have used synthetic hair for the second picture.
And as Left Brain notes, anything can be done with photoshop these days.

[LoveMyLongHair]

Gypsygirl,

I know this is old, but could you please report back? I have been wondering about these, but do not want to spend 250.00 on nothing.

[Amber_Maiden]

huh, never heard of this, but interesting... I probably wouldn't do it though.

[jojo]

I am not convinced but would love to hear some results!

[missdelarocha]

May I ask where the cuticle 'scales' have disappeared to in the 'sealed off hair'? Definitely doubtful! I wish somebody here with a microscope could cut a hair with this and look at it, I'm thinking it would look exactly the same.



OK...I'm taking a deep breath...
I've decided to try this. I'll let you know how it goes...please keep me in your thoughts. :p

We would love to know how it went!!