Cutting a mane with scissors?

[webble]

The blade on my solocomb needs changing and I haven't got around to it so this morning I tried using scissors instead. I did the same technique taking bits from underneath and doing a few strands at a time and it looks ok. if anything better than with the comb because the ends dont look so blunt if that makes sense. So why are scissors so taboo?

 

[lunarlove]

I use scissors and I've been a groom for years, I must be a rebel lol!! I think it is just if people just get the scissors and start hacking away at it but if you do it the same way that you would pull or solo combe a mane its fine.

 

[Abacus]

I use a mixture of scissors and a mane rake. It looks more chopped than if I pulled it, but neat and fine, and happy horse as he hates being pulled. Anyway, after a few days, it doesn't look that different, and it looks nice plaited.

 

[_GG_]

Not taboo for me. I've been using scissors for years and years. Do it just as I would pull but snip instead. I can get a really scruffy mane done in under 15 minutes and it makes for much neater plaits as well as far less stray hairs growing through.

 

[Marydoll]

Ive used scissors fairly regularly for trimming and cutting although i tend to use a thinning blade and comb i never blunt cut, but will point cut with scissors i think it gives a better look

 

[webble]

Ive used scissors fairly regularly for trimming and cutting although i tend to use a thinning blade and comb i never blunt cut, but will point cut with scissors i think it gives a better look

Glad its not just me using them then. Marydoll what is point cutting please?

 

[Marydoll]

Point cutting is where you comb the mane and run the mane down between two fingers and point the scissors up and make small cuts upwards into the mane at a very slight angle, the finished effect is less " blunt" and more natural looking

 

[Goldenstar]

I always use scissors on thin manes I angle the scissors upwards and snip away so I never cut a straight line the end result if you are careful you can't tell it's not pulled .
I finish off with a little bit of pulling on any bits I don't like the look of .
Works best if you do a little snipping over a few days .

 

[leflynn]

I always use scissors, easier to get neater and horse hates having his mane pulled so it's easier on both of us!

 

[Equi]

If used the way you are all saying, there is nothing wrong with them. But i can not stand when i see a horse that someone has clearly took them to and they have a blunt forlock, they look so silly it makes me cringe lol

 

[Tia0513]

I used scissors once... it was not a good look! I have always been one to pull so I tend to leave the scissors well alone. If you can pull it off (excuse the pun!!) then go for it.

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

I always use scissors on my Welshie's mane. I let it get quite long over winter then have to lose quite a bit so I can plait. I've just feel cruel pulling that amount so I get most of the length off by snipping upwards with scissors, then pull to the finished length.

 

[samleigh]

My boy has to have the horse version of the basin cut..even if I try to back comb we have head tossing, foot stomping and after he decidedly stamped on my foot, day before a S/J competition "I said NO mum" I give in and go with scissors he loves the snip snip and has a little snooze but I mainly do dressage so plaited but show jumping I just hope the speed in which we go around stops anyone commenting on the bluntish haircut ! thought about taking him to the local barbers, might do a better job!

 

[Casey76]

An old sharer once did this to my horse:

I nearly cried... By the time it was pulled back into a "V" shape it was really short, and it took aaaaages to grow to a "normal" length.

Although it takes longer, I prefer pulling a mane. My two current ponies are going au naturel untilI can no longer cope lol!

 

[cambrica]

An old sharer once did this to my horse:

I nearly cried... By the time it was pulled back into a "V" shape it was really short, and it took aaaaages to grow to a "normal" length.

Although it takes longer, I prefer pulling a mane. My two current ponies are going au naturel untilI can no longer cope lol!

Oh no! Poor thing, I bet you were distraught. I did that once to my hair when I was a kid, my mum went ballistic too!

 

[Goldenstar]

An old sharer once did this to my horse:

I nearly cried... By the time it was pulled back into a "V" shape it was really short, and it took aaaaages to grow to a "normal" length.

Although it takes longer, I prefer pulling a mane. My two current ponies are going au naturel untilI can no longer cope lol!

Oh no ! That's a real basin cut .
One groom I had kindly cut my saddlebreds tail I nearly had a heart attack she did not realise they are supposed to have very very long tails .
I have strict on I shorten tail policy now

 

[sam_]

I always use scissors on my own horses manes and the horses at work, if they have thick manes i will pull it first then finish with scissors if a fine mane just use the scissors

 

[Hollowhorse]

There's definitely a knack to it - you have to be quite sympathetic, but it can work well on horses with naturally thinner manes.

 

[Marydoll]

OMG Casey76 it looks like Jim Carrey in Dumb and dumbers hair cut, sorry but that so funny

 

[Pinkvboots]

If used the way you are all saying, there is nothing wrong with them. But i can not stand when i see a horse that someone has clearly took them to and they have a blunt forlock, they look so silly it makes me cringe lol

I hate that look too nothing worse than a blunt thick forelock, bit like a basin haircut for horses lol!

 

[Pinkvboots]

Oh no! Poor thing, I bet you were distraught. I did that once to my hair when I was a kid, my mum went ballistic too!

Oh no I have just seen this didnt read the whole thread, poor you I think I would have wanted to strangle the sharer.

 

[Pinkvboots]

An old sharer once did this to my horse:

I nearly cried... By the time it was pulled back into a "V" shape it was really short, and it took aaaaages to grow to a "normal" length.

Although it takes longer, I prefer pulling a mane. My two current ponies are going au naturel untilI can no longer cope lol!

Sorry meant to comment on this poor horse and poor you.

 

[Penny Less]

Mine usually looks like this ! He doesn't seem to mind

 

[Brightbay]

I can never understand why the desired look can't be achieved with scissors? Human hairdressers don't leave us all with pudding basin hair, they have a variety of techniques to achieve layers, feathered looks and blunt ends depending on what the client wants. Why on earth do these techniques not apply to horses? Surely the only reason a scissor cut mane doesn't achieve the desired look is due to a lack of knowledge on the part of the horsey hairdresser - if I had to have a plaitable mane (and I'm glad I don't) I think I'd rather take the time to learn how to achieve it with scissors rather than subject the horse to pulling.

Any hairdressers out there to offer advice?

 

[Spring Feather]

Casey I am so sorry but I laughed out loud when I saw your poor horse. I apologise but it was funny, not for you I suspect though!

I have been a die hard mane puller all of my life until I moved overseas and now, I might pull just to tidy up manes but that's about it. My broodmares are left au natural all year and only go to inspections once a year so I plait them to the length I want the plaits to be and then I snip the bottoms off, roll up plait and away they go. I have a number of mares to get ready all at the same time so I don't have the gusto to pull them anymore. Once the mares come home I take my scissors out and snip upwards into the mane (as someone mentioned above) and their manes look just fine for another year :smile3:

For the horses who compete and have short manes I tend to keep lightly pulled but if their manes have grown a little bit too thick or long over winter then I'll snip them too; no-one sees them anyway at shows as they are plaited up.

 

[Jnhuk]

If anyone has the January equi-ads free magazine go to page 48 (article on equido) for a classic bad scissor cut mane and forelock. Cannot believe they used that picture in the mag.

My issue is the Scottish one but presume it is the same in other areas?

 

[Crugeran Celt]

Point cutting is where you comb the mane and run the mane down between two fingers and point the scissors up and make small cuts upwards into the mane at a very slight angle, the finished effect is less " blunt" and more natural looking

This is how I always cut my ponies manes, can't stand a pulled mane or tail.

 

[henmother]

An old sharer once did this to my horse:

I nearly cried... By the time it was pulled back into a "V" shape it was really short, and it took aaaaages to grow to a "normal" length.

Although it takes longer, I prefer pulling a mane. My two current ponies are going au naturel untilI can no longer cope lol!

Oh dear me...

 

[henmother]

Could you use thinning scissors?hate pulling manes but wouldn't be confident using normal scissors.

 

[Goldenstar]

Could you use thinning scissors?hate pulling manes but wouldn't be confident using normal scissors.

I got a worse effect with thinning scissors .