Try these tests to evaluate your shear sharpness: 1. Can you cut a wet facial tissue with your shears? 2. Do they cut from the tip to the ride line (where your blades meet at the screw)? 3. Do they chew that tissue or pull at it, ripping it? If the scissors chew or pull tissue, then there is an issue with their sharpness. Another way to check: Dangle a piece of thread wthout keeping it taunt and try cutting it. Start from the pivot of your shears (where the screw joins the blades' of your shears) and cut the thread numerous times, going down your blades, This way you test your blades from the top, to middle and all the way to your tips! Your shears should cut in all areas on your blades. If your shears snag the thread, or if they fold the thread, first check their tension (Read relevant section on how to find out if the tension is right?). If the tension screw is too loose, your shears will fold hair. If the tension is right and they still don't cut hair well, it is time to get those back-up shears out and send the dull ones to your Sharpener!