Thinning shears

5

5PotatoChips

New member
I received a nice pair of thinning shears for Christmas. I am super excited and have already tested them out. :) But I have one really big question that I can't find an answer to anywhere: how do you not leave cut marks?!!

Every video that I've watched and everything I've read simply says, "Be sure not leave cut marks!" but they never say how! Now, I am still very much learning the best way to use them, and already I can tell these scissors are so much nicer than the pet store ones, but I'm still leaving cut marks. I particularly want to use them on Malka. She has a long shaggy coat and I would like to trim her up so she looks neater, (you know so I can actually see her chest, stomach, so forth. She tends to look like a woolly mammoth. :tongue:)

Please, please, please someone explain how not leave cut marks!
 
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5PotatoChips

New member
P.S.
I'd thought I'd add that I have watched all the Penny Shubert videos and while they have been great, the Newfies she does are already neatly trimmed up. How do you go about tackling a shaggy Newfie?
 
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5PotatoChips

New member
Thinning shears, I think. Not sure on the correct terminology. They have a blade on one side and teeth on the other side. One of the finger holes has a little rest for your pinky. (At least that's what I think it's for. :eek: Still learning.) It's actually a pair that was recommended on an old thread here as being a good quality pair, but not too expensive. Does that help?
 
W

wrknnwf

Active member
Those are actually blending shears I think. Which are similar to thinners. Thinners have teeth on both sides of the blades. Then there are then newer style of toothed shears called chunkers.

Here's a website that might be helpful. It has information on the three different types and some instruction on how she uses each. Read the whole thing. I think she has videos, too, but I didn't watch them.

Basically, I only make two to three cuts in one spot before moving up or down the length of hair. Seems to work for me. If you keep chopping away in the same spot, you will leave marks. Jeannie can probably give a more accurate description.

If there is a Regional Club in your area, you might check to see if they hold grooming seminars or ask if someone in the club would be willing to trade a demo for a donation from you.

Don't know where you are, but our club, HANC, has invited Penny Shubert to hold a seminar for us. We have auditor spots at VERY reasonable prices for anyone who just wants to watch, or working spots for anyone who wants to practice on their dog. Lot's of clubs hold similar workshops which might be open to non-members like ours is.
 
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5PotatoChips

New member
Thank you! That does help. We're in the middle of PA so it's a several hour drive to the closest regional clubs, but I will have to keep my eye out. Some of the problem is I'm not very patient with myself, so if the Newfies don't look perfect after a try or two I get frustrated. :crazy: Fortunately, their hair does grow back so I can keep trying over and over again. ;) Do you hold the scissors vertical? And if so do have the tips pointed upwards or downwards towards the ground?
 
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wrknnwf

Active member
Vertical, tips down, but when I use them on ears or feet, that doesn't work. I think everyone develops their own style after a while. Practice make perfect.
 
Jeannie

Jeannie

Super Moderator
when I use thinning shears like you have I take off what length I want then I go into the coat and take 1 snip about an inch from the skin, then I take another about an inch further out then another until I get to the end. That sort of blends it. Another thing when you are doing the blending, or using them to thin the coat you should never see the tips of the shears. That will give you a choppy look.
 
Sound Bay Newfs

Sound Bay Newfs

Active member
How many teeth does it have? The less teeth, the choppy look you may get. More teeth give a finer look. Do not cut across but with the tip pointed up or down. Cutting across leaves marks.
 
5

5PotatoChips

New member
That is all helpful! Thank you! I believe the shears have 56 teeth... around there anyway. Hopefully today or tomorrow I can work on Malka some more. She's been very patient, if not entirely thrilled with all this. ;) I'll have to post pictures of before and after shots when I'm done. And any tips of suggestions are always welcome! There definitely is a learning curve.
 
Jeannie

Jeannie

Super Moderator
take a vertical slice of coat. Trim off the thin straggly ends not trimming into the thicker part. If you have to go into the thicker part then make the cuts as I explained before to take away the marks.
 
Ginny

Ginny

New member
Jeannie said:
when I use thinning shears like you have I take off what length I want then I go into the coat and take 1 snip about an inch from the skin, then I take another about an inch further out then another until I get to the end. That sort of blends it. Another thing when you are doing the blending, or using them to thin the coat you should never see the tips of the shears. That will give you a choppy look.
Click to expand...
Have never done this, Jeannie. Thanks for the tip!

If she's that overgrown, you'll spend a lot of time with 56 teeth thinning shears. You may want to add some chunkers to your arsenal and then follow those up with the high tooth count.

Always a debate...I nearly always point the shears up when trimming. My dear friend, handler, and co-groomer insists on points down! Never across the hair. Despite the differing styles, the dogs come out looking great!
 
Jeannie

Jeannie

Super Moderator
I don't think it matter if the shears are pointed up or down. You are still getting a vertical cut. Is she left handed? Not seeing the point of the thinners is very important.
 
5

5PotatoChips

New member
Thank you for all the tips! I'm going to try and get a picture of her today. She looks... not bad I think. I definitely have a greater appreciation for all you groomers out there! She still looks choppy from my first attempt, but I'm slowly getting there. Maybe. ;) She does have a slightly wavy coat- along her back, neck, and down her shoulders. And the hair around her neck and on her chest has gotten this sort of, almost, crimped look as I've trimmed her shorter. I'm having a hard time making it look all blended together. Practice I guess. It grows back fast so I'll have lots of opportunities!
 
Jeannie

Jeannie

Super Moderator
Yes you have an endless supply of hair on which to practice. One way to eliminate the crimped/wavy coat is to blow dry your newf until completely dry. Yes this can take hours. However if you invest in a good dryer it will make you very happy. Another thing is while you blow dry you can comb/brush your dog at the same time. Contact Lynn. Her name on here is sound bay newfs.
 
5

5PotatoChips

New member
We actually do have a dryer and absolutely love it! (K-9 III) Don't know what we'd do without it! Here are some pictures of her. The first two pictures give you an idea what she looked like before and the next ones are the after shots. (Sorry about the quality, I was having trouble with my phone.)
 
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