Katie Barnes Tool Range FAQ

How was the tool range made?

Katie is renowned for her experience and knowledge on the competition circuit and her obsession with the creation of the perfectly structured enhancement. For years, Katie has found that the industry tools were missing something: they were too long; too clumpy; blunt or difficult to use and she had to tailor her tools to get the desired results. With this in mind, and following many requests, the Katie Barnes Tool Range® was born. Katie wanted to create a range of tools which she could be truly passionate about and know that the industry was getting the best possible solution at a reasonable price. Development of the range began 2 years ago in 2017 and an extensive amount of research and testing has gone into the range, from both Katie and other respected industry techs, to ensure the tools and packaging meet the needs of the industry. With confidence in one hand and good tools in the other, we are excited to be able to launch the first products in the range: the KB Form Tailoring Range®; Cuticle Scissors and competition essentials such as Aluminium Form Support and Pinching Tools, with many more innovative tools to come. We have found that too many tools are packaged in unnecessary plastic which is immediately discarded, so we have researched and designed our packaging to ensure that it can be recycled or reused.

How should scissors be cared for?

Scissors will last longer, and keep a sharp edge for longer, if you take the appropriate level of care. Although each of us has a preference for how to use our scissors, the essentials for scissor care do not change:

Separate storage

Keep your scissors in their protective box, a scissor case or holder, when not in use. Never store scissors together or touching – each must go in their own compartment. Tips and blades should be carefully protected from damage using the plastic cap provided. Never store them downwards. 

Careful handling

Take care when putting scissors down and during working. The tips can damage easily.  Take care when working with sharp implements and follow HSE guidelines.

Avoid drops

If you drop your scissors you’re best to get them checked by a professional. Even a little damage can get much worse if you keep using them without checking. A drop may mean they need a service and sharpen or it may make them redundant to use.

Take care when cleaning

If you are using a jar to disinfect your tools, you must protect the blade tips by placing a circle of cotton wool in the bottom of the jar.

Keep them dry

Store them somewhere dry. Even the humidity from warm air can damage them, making them rust, discolour or pit. Ensure tools are thoroughly dried after sanitising, disinfecting or sterilising.

Only for intended use

Use different pairs for form tailoring & cuticle work as cutting paper will blunt blades.

Do not share

Sharing is caring but not when it comes to scissors, brushes or tools! Sharing is often regretted. Even a small change in the way someone else holds and uses your scissors can quickly shorten the scissor’s life and make them feel like they never cut the same again for you.

Practice safe cuticle prep

Never cut living tissue. Follow our tutorial and guide here https://youtu.be/o1Z-eOguRHc

What is the difference between curved and straight scissors?

We often get asked when to use each of these blades on our scissors.

Simply put, curved cut curved lines and straight cut straight lines.

There is also a matter of personal preference and results wanted to achieve but these are our recommendations:

The curved blades have the sharpest point facing upwards allowing you to follow the natural contours of the cuticle zone to remove cuticle and hangnails without worrying about damaging the surrounding or the underlying skin. When tailoring forms with the curved blade it allows you to follow the natural contours and shape of the nails free edge which is curved. This saves time versus trying to achieve curves using straight scissors.  The curved blades are ideal for making controlled cuts because they can be closed without the user needing to worry about accidentally cutting surrounding tissue.

Straight scissors are required to achieve a straight line such as when wishing to cut nail art items or relief cuts that are required to be straight to get the perfect form closure. They leave a smoother outline and finish.

Why different pairs of scissors for different tasks?

Whilst our form tailoring scissors can be used to remove cuticle or hangnails, due to blade size, we recommend our cuticle scissors. However, whichever your preference most importantly it is essential to never use the same scissors for two different tasks. For example never use scissors to cut forms and the same pair to remove cuticle.

Why?

Is it just a marketing gimmick or is it really vital?

All paper products contain minerals that are abrasive and will eventually dull even a razor-sharp pair of scissors. Paper (and cardboard) filling and coating contain kaolin clay, titanium oxide, calcium carbonate and talc. These stiffen the paper, fill it out, and adjust how the paper absorbs ink. They can also be used to enhance opacity, whiteness, and pitch.  Kaolin clay and ground calcium carbonate are quite hard and these are what can destroy a set of scissors that are not designed to be used with them.

This means that over time, scissors that are used to cut paper will blunt and need sharpening.

When working on areas as delicate as the cuticle area, using a blunter pair of scissors can make them more prone to causing damage due to additional force required.

Always keep different sets of tools for their designed purpose.

When should tools be sharpened?

There’s no such thing as a scissor that will NEVER need to be sharpened regardless of quality, cost or guarantees. All scissors must be sharpened when they get damaged, dull or are nicked. By nature of repetitive use, tools will blunt over time. Think of your kitchen knives, including the most expensive - they all require sharpening to keep them in optimum condition to guarantee the best results at all times. If you use this when it is blunt, it will cause more pressure to be required and result in tearing rather than a smooth cutting motion. The same principles can be applied to your nail tools.

The timeframe on this is dependent upon the amount of use, care, storage and any damage that may have occurred, however annually can be good practice.

Never sharpen professional scissors at home using any methods you may have read up on the internet. Seek a professional sharpener experienced with the tools you are using (they use different kinds of plates and machines for different tools!)  We are looking at offering this as a service in the future but for now, we can recommend: https://www.sharpening-service.co.uk

Why are sharp tools important?

Sharp tools are safer and more efficient to use than blunt ones.  When a tool is blunt or thick, additional force is required to achieve the same results. This adds unnecessary stress on tech hands and can cause damage to the customers nails and surrounding skin.

How do I clean my tools?

Recommended and tested disinfection solutions with our #katiebarnestoolrange:

Barbicide® and Mundo Tool Disinfectant.

• Do not leave longer than Manufacturers recommended time in solution.
• When removed from the solution, dry thoroughly to avoid damage to the protective coating and potential rusting.
• Whilst the blades are in this solution for the recommended time, place a circle of cotton wool at the bottom of the jar, to avoid blunting.
• Wipe the blades with this solution or a disinfectant wipe occasionally to prevent a sticky build-up of glue from the forms.
• Safe and tested for sterilisation in hospital approved autoclave units.
• These cuticle scissors meet international standards for bioburden, and sterility testing.
• CE certified and meet international standards to provide confidence in both the quality and safety of the product.

All of our metal tools in the #katiebarnestoolrange have been tried and tested in the Enbio autoclave so we can proudly recommend this autoclave as a method of sterilising our tools to our customers following correct sanitation and disinfection.  To find out more information visit https://www.enbio.com/uk/enbio-s.html their website is super knowledgeable and offers so much advice from choosing the right autoclave, differences between autoclave and lots of fabulous facts on sterilisation.  Enter katiebarnes at checkout to receive a discount.

What are our tools made from?

Our tools are made from Japanese surgical stainless steel.

Why do we choose this?

Stainless steel’s chromium content is largely responsible for increasing the items corrosion resistance because it prevents the iron from oxidizing. If there’s no oxidation, there’s no opportunity for rust to develop. Our tools are also chromium coated to provide an additional layer of protection.

Japanese surgical steel is a higher density steel, making for a smoother surface, giving a finer, sharper edge that re-sharpens well. It is very resistant to corrosion and has a high carbon content. Our tool range is made from Japanese surgical stainless steel as the most corrosion-resistant form of stainless steel.

Recycling

We are passionate about the environment and helping to remove to use of unnecessarily plastic packaging so hopefully you love our packing as much as we do and can find a new use for our storage box.  If not, all of our tool range comes in recyclable cardboard packaging.

The tissue paper we use to pack our products is:

• PH resistant, resists running, bleeding and fading
• Made from 99% recycled pulp fibres
• Approximately 35% of the electricity used to make this product is produced from renewable sources
• Recyclable

View the range here.

Returns Policy

Products are non returnable or exchangeable unless faulty due to cross contamination and resale.