Is there a Difference Between Right and Left-Handed Scissors?
This may seem like a silly question, but it is a common question asked by dog groomers. Fundamentally, there are differences between right-handed dog grooming scissors and left-handed dog grooming scissors and as such, it is essential to ensure the dog groomer purchases the correct scissor orientation for their laterality.
Although the percentage varies worldwide, in Western countries, 85 to 90% of people are right-handed and between 10-15% of people are left-handed. Mixed-handedness (preferring different hands for different tasks) and ambidextrousness (the ability to perform tasks equally well with either hand) are rare but not unheard of.
As there is a much higher percentage of right-handed people and therefore a higher percentage of right-handed dog groomers, the majority of dog grooming scissors have been designed in the right-handed model.
Whilst there are ranges of left-handed dog grooming scissors available, the variety available is far less compared to their right-handed counterparts. Historically this has meant that natural left-handed dog groomers have been taught to use right-handed scissors in their left hand.
Abbfabb offers a wide range of left-handed dog grooming scissors specially designed for left-handed dog groomers.
What happens if a Left-Handed Dog Groomer uses a Right-Handed Scissor?
If a left-handed dog groomer uses a right-handed scissor, this can harm the grooming quality and the calibre of the finishes, can cause damage to the scissors and cause unnecessary aches and pains to the dog groomer. This is because the cutting edges of the blades for a right-handed scissor are on the opposite side. As a result, the groomer will find that they have to apply a lot of pressure to cut the blades, which will blunt the edges very quickly and potentially damage the scissors.
Suppose the dog groomer uses the scissors upside-down to ensure the cutting edges are on the right side; this will mean that the groomer is not getting the full benefit of the scissor and, again, can cause issues for the scissor and the dog groomer.
It is advised that if the dog groomer is naturally left-handed, the groomer must always use left-handed scissors. It will help them learn the art of dog grooming using the correct scissors, help build their confidence and help create wonderful grooms: happy dogs, happy customers, and happy groomers.
How to tell a Right-Handed Scissor from a Left-Handed Scissor?
The difference between the two types of scissors is in the blades.
When compared to right-handed scissors, left-handed scissors have their blades ‘switched.’ On a right-handed scissor, the top blade has the handle type and the finger rest pointing towards the right, with the bottom blade housing the thumb hole.
On a left-handed scissor, the blade, handle type and finger rest are top blade but pointing to the left, with the bottom blade housing the thumb hole. A tip to help spot the difference is to note which hole the bumper rests on. It will always rest on the thumb hole and be part of the handle on the bottom blade.
In summary.
It is highly recommended that a left-handed dog groomer should always use scissors designed for their hand orientation and always check that they are purchasing and using left-handed dog grooming scissors.
To view our full range of Left-Handed dog grooming scissors, please click here.