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Can you bring hair-cutting scissors on a plane? Hairdressers and barbers want to know, and we have the answers. Read on to learn whether or not you can, and how to do it properly without getting a cavity check.
What Are Hair-Cutting Scissors?
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If you’re trying to determine if it’s okay to bring your hair-cutting scissors on the plane, you might wonder what exactly defines hair-cutting scissors. Hair-cutting scissors are scissors that are specifically designed for cutting hair.
Most have a finger-brace extension protruding from the bottom finger hole. Hair-cutting scissors might also be called hair scissors, hair-cutting shears, barber shears, or hair shears. Texturizing shears are also considered to be hair-cutting scissors.
The size of a scissors’ blades is the most important determiner of whether or not scissors of any sort, including hair-cutting scissors, are allowed on a plane in carry-on luggage or checked luggage. You may not have measured your scissors before.
But you will need to do so before deciding how to pack them for a plane. Most hair-cutting shears range in size 5-7 inches (13-18 cm) with blades that are 3 inches long or less, making them appropriate for both carry-on luggage and checked luggage.
Can You Bring Hair-Cutting Scissors on a Plane?
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When it comes to determining whether or not you can bring hair-cutting shears on a plane, you need to determine what the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has to say about scissors in general.
TSA is the organization that is in charge of airport security in the USA, and its officers confiscate anything on their list of forbidden items. So, can you bring hair-cutting scissors on a plane?
Yes, TSA allows you to bring scissors on a plane both in your carry-on bag or in your checked baggage. However, if the blade is longer than 4 inches, you can only put it in your checked baggage.
Of course, keep in mind that laws and regulations are constantly changing, so it’s important to double-check the TSA website before you travel to make sure that nothing has changed.
Their list of prohibited items is also helpful to determine what is and isn’t allowed in a carry-on bag or checked luggage. Read on for more details about the rules TSA has for packing scissors in carry-on and checked bags.
Packing Hair-Cutting Scissors in Carry-On Bags
According to the TSA, you can include scissors in your carry-on bag as long as they are less than 4 inches from the pivot point. Despite the entire length of hair-cutting scissors usually being from 5-7 inches (13-18 cm) long, most of them meet the requirement of the blade being no more than 4 inches long from the pivot point.
A 7-inch long pair of scissors is less than 3 inches long from pivot point to tip. However, some longer scissors may have a longer blade, so it’s important that you measure them before deciding that you can add them to your carry-on bag.
Keep in mind that federal law restricts TSA from returning any prohibited items that you have to leave behind at the security checkpoint, so you could lose your scissors if they aren’t regulation size.
Packing Hair-Cutting Scissors In Checked Bags
While there are limitations on the size of scissors that you can put in your carry-on baggage, TSA has no special length requirements for packing scissors in your checked baggage.
You can pack any hair scissors in your checked baggage without concern, even if the blades are over 4 inches long from pivot point to tip. However, TSA says that you must wrap or sheathe your scissors in checked baggage. Read on for information on sheathing or wrapping your hair scissors for your flight.
Sheathing or Wrapping Hair-Cutting Scissors
TSA states that if you include sharp objects like scissors in your checked baggage, you should sheathe or wrap them so that baggage handlers or inspectors don’t hurt themselves during handling or inspection.
Sheathing or wrapping hair scissors can also prevent you from hurting yourself when you reach into your bag for something. Sheathes serve the purpose of protecting items in your bag from accidental impalement or cuts.
Unsheathed scissors can also punch through luggage, which can ruin a good bag or even scrape you or someone else who brushes against the sharp tip sticking out of your bag.
While the TSA only requires a sheath or wrap around your scissors if you check your luggage, sheathing or wrapping your hair-cutting shears is a good idea no matter if you plan to put them in your checked or unchecked baggage.
Below, you will find some options for sheathing and wrapping scissors for your flight, including purchasing a scissor sheath, making a DIY scissor sheath, repurposing another item into a scissor sheath, or wrapping your scissors.
Purchasing a Scissor Sheath
Many pairs of hair-cutting shears come with their own sheath. However, if yours didn’t come with a sheath or you lost it, you can always find a substitute. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of scissor sheaths available for longer scissors, like hair scissors.
However, you could try the Klein Tools 5101 Scissors Holder, which is a riveted holder that fits scissors up to 7 inches tall. Most scissor sheaths available online are sheaths for shorter embroidery scissors.
So they would only sheathe the bottom portion of the scissors. However, if the main point is to prevent the scissors from cutting into items in your luggage, an embroidery scissors sheath might work okay.
Making a DIY Scissor Sheath
You can also make your own scissor sheath with craft items you may already have at home. Here are some options for making your own scissors sheath:
- Make a scissors sheath from fabric
- Make a scissors sheath from leather
- Make a no-sew scissors sheath with felt
- Make a no-sew scissors sheath with cardstock paper.
Repurposing Another Item into a Scissor Sheath
An alternative to a scissors sheath is to use a sheath or pouch for some other object, such as a:
- Knife sheath
- Pencil case
- Makeup bag
- Sunglasses case
Additionally, if you haven’t removed your scissors from their original plastic packaging, the manufacturer’s packaging can double as a sheath for your scissors.
Wrapping Hair-Cutting Scissors
Rather than going to the trouble of buying or making a scissors sheath, you can wrap your hair cutting scissors in something. Some options include:
- Cloth of any weight
- Leather
- Paper of any weight
- Paper towels
- A washcloth
- A hand towel
Some people even wrap items like knives and scissors in a piece of clothing to save space. However, there’s always the risk that the scissors could puncture the piece of clothing and leave you without something you planned to wear.
The Best Hair-Cutting Scissors for Travel
The best hair cutting scissors for travel:
- Have blades that are less than 4 inches long from the scissor pivot point (most scissors 7 inches or shorter will work)
- Have a sheath
Here are some options that include a sheath to keep you and your belongings safe. These will pass through TSA checkpoints without problems, no matter if you put your scissors in your carry-on bag or put them in your checked luggage.
CIICII Hair Cutting Scissors Shears Kit
Why not get a pair of scissors that comes in a nice leather case with other matching items you will need for cutting hair? Everything in the CIICII kit is a classy black color with gold trim. The kit includes the following:
- Hair-cutting scissors
- Hair-thinning scissors
- Comb
- Hair clips
- Leather case
- Cleaning cloth
- Scissor adjuster
The scissors are 6.7 inches long, with a pivot point near the middle of the pair of scissors, making the blades the perfect size for a carry-on. The leather case allows you to check it in your baggage as well.
HIMART Hair Cutting Professional Hair-Cutting/Thinning Shears Kit
The HIMART kit also has its own carrying case and includes a variety of other items besides scissors that you might need for a haircut. Components of the kit include:
- Hair scissors
- Thinning scissors
- Cleaning cloth
- Comb
- Two hair clips
- Black carrying case
The two scissors come in classic stainless steel and are 6.5” with a pivot point in the middle, making the blades the perfect length for air travel. A nice bonus with the storage case is that it has straps inside to keep each piece of the kit secure.
Tecto Hair Cutting Scissors
If you want a no-frills pair of black hair scissors with a carrying case, this is an excellent choice. The scissors are made from alloy steel, while the sheath is black leather.
Since the scissors are 6 inches long (not including the finger rest) and the pivot point is at the midpoint of the scissors, it’s the perfect size for travel. The leather case will keep everything in your luggage safe from your scissors no matter if you take it as a carry-on item or check it in your baggage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some other related questions.
What scissors can I take on a plane?
You can take any scissors in your carry-on bag if they have a blade that is less than 4 inches (10 cm) from the pivot point to the tip. Longer scissors should go in your checked baggage.
Scissors allowed on planes include hair scissors, cuticle scissors, manicure scissors, kitchen shears, small gardening scissors, small garden pruners, and kid’s scissors.
Can I take hair clippers on a plane?
Yes, you can take your hair clippers on a plane in carry-on or checked luggage without restriction.
What sharp objects can you bring in a carry-on?
You can also bring any of these sharp objects in your carry-on luggage on a plane:
- Bottle openers and corkscrews (with no blade)
- Crochet hooks and knitting needles
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
Can I bring nail scissors on a plane?
Yes, you can bring nail scissors, cuticle scissors, and manicure scissors onto a plane. However, the blades can be no more than 4 inches (10 centimeters) from the bottom tip of the scissors to the pivot point.
Can you take scissors on an international flight?
The same rules apply to taking scissors on international flights as on domestic flights. TSA allows you to take any scissors with blades that are is less than 4 inches from pivot point to tip in your international flight carry-on bag.
Meanwhile, TSA allows any size scissors in your checked luggage for international flights as long as you sheathe or wrap it.
So, Can You Bring Hair Cutting Scissors on Planes?
Yes, you can bring hair-cutting scissors on planes. If you want to put it in your carry-on, you just need to make sure that the blades are less than 4 inches long (10 centimeters) from the pivot point.
Size isn’t important for checked bags. However, if you place it in checked luggage, it needs to be in a sheath or be wrapped.