Finding a perfect pair of scissors for haircutting can be a game-changer. But finding the best hair cutting scissors from the right brand can be even better. We have compiled a list of the best professional hair cutting scissors brands for you. The brand delivers hair cutting scissors ideal for hairstylists, professionals, home hairdressing enthusiasts, and barbers.
We will present you with some of the best-reviewed and high-rated hair cutting scissors from Japan, Germany, and other countries. We will also provide you will things to look out for when buying the best hair cutting scissors. We have so much lined up to ensure you choose the best product from reputable world brands. When shopping for a pair of professional hair cutting scissors, you should not just go for any scissors. As a hair professional, the hair cutting shears you buy tells a lot about you and your styling techniques.
There are short and long hair shears, convex blades, and bevelled blades. Because of different hair cutting scissors available on the market, it is vital to understand all the options you have on the table to make an informed decision. One of the most important things to do is to know the size of your hand before anything else. This way, you will be able to purchase a pair of scissors that fit your hand perfectly. Also, you should check out the hair scissors features to know the best tool that matches the type of haircut you like.
What size of professional hair cutting scissors should I choose?
The size of hair scissors determines a lot on how you cut your hair. If you experience some pain when cutting your hair with the development of carpal tunnel or RSI, the reason might be you are using the wrong size of shear. The length of your hair cutting scissors is measured from the blades’ tip to the end: the longest finger’s edge. If your finger has a finger rest, when calculating the length of your scissors, you should not include it.
To determine your perfect size, take a pair of shears and place them in your hand’s palm. The finger hole should be positioned at your thumb’s base, while the blade’s tip is a little past your middle finger’s top joint. However, if your hand is smaller, you should buy the smallest size available of professional shear. Before buying any haircutting scissors, ensure you purchase the right size to avoid frustrations.
What to look for in the best professional hair scissors
When searching for the best hair cutting shears, you must consider the design, features, blades, durability and sharpness. You will want a pair of hair cutting scissors that will serve you for a long time while maintaining their sharp edges without falling apart or rusting as well. We have done a breakdown of these assets individually.
1. Blades
There are two kinds of blades you will notice with traditional scissors. The first type of blade is the bevelled edge. This pair of shear blades are designed using different metals, and they tend to be extremely lightweight. European hair stylists prefer shears with bevelled edges with micro serration on one blade or both.
The second type of blade is convex: most common in Japanese shears. Shears with convex edges began from swordsmithing techniques. These types of blades are the sharpest, and most professionals prefer these convex blades when buying shears. Convex blades have razor-like edges, and they will be perfect for any professional hairdresser who wants to achieve different cutting techniques with great precision. Also, they are excellent for working ahead with a lot of hair.
2. Sizes
Scissors are measured in inches, with the smallest pair of scissors measuring 5.5 or 5 and the largest having 7 inches in length. When exploring different shears online, you will notice they are in multiple sizes. Depending on the size of your hand and your styling techniques, you will be able to find shears with the perfect size for you. For smaller hands with thin fingers, you will need a shorter blade without paying much attention to the finger hole. However, finger holes are vital for comfort and your cutting abilities.
Depending on your hand’s length, you can work with a 6-inch blade. Moreover, if you are unsure of the right size to buy, a 6-inch blade might be a good choice as it tends to be ideal for most professionals. If you have larger fingers and you hardly find the right size, you should search for hair scissors brands that design XL scissors.
3. Materials
Most scissors are made using stainless steel. However, there are different kinds of steel. Japanese shears are made out of high-grade ATS314 or Hitachi 440C steel, containing Vavandium, titanium, and cobalt for more strength. Shears with the highest quality integrate cobalt alloy, titanium, and vavandium to achieve the sharpest edges. In addition, shears made from these metals can maintain their sharp edges for quite some time.
Below is a list of different steel scissors:
- 420: They are most common among Pakistan shears, and they are not the highest quality.
- 440A: Shears made from this steel tend to be cheaper with less quality.
- 440C: They are popularly known as Hitachi 440C steel and are commonly used to make Japanese shears.
- S1: This is a type of steel that started integrating cobalt to strengthen the blades.
- S3: It is a cobalt alloy that is higher than S1
- V1: Combine titanium and Vavindium
- V10: This is a higher form of vavindium.
- V10 Gold: This steel is mixed with gold for a more precise razor edge.
Types of hair cutting scissors
There are different types of scissors on the market. While most blades are designed for precise trims and cuts, others are made to enhance to thin down thick hair or improve hair texture. Below is a list of various types of scissors available:
1. Straight Scissors
This is the most popular type of scissors on the market. They are most common with barbers and hairdressers. Any professional barber or hairdresser needs to have at least two straight scissors with long and short blades.
2. Small straight scissors
These are the best options when you are supposed to hold hair up over the fingers when cutting. These blades help you avoid accidents when you are cutting. It is also much easier to use these scissors when cutting at the back of the neck or at the hairline. This is why you always find most barbers carrying small straight shears when working on their clients.
3. Large straight scissors
If you are using a comb to lift your hair, you should try using these shears. These shears work well to cover most of the surface hair and help you improve your cutting abilities. However, they tend to be heavier; hence they will be more appropriate for working on wet and thick hair.
4. Thinning scissor
When you are working on extra-thick hair ahead, your clients might want you to thin their hair down. Thinning scissors will be an essential tool for most barbers as they help them develop some modern hair trims that men love. You should own the two types of thinning shears, which have different numbers of teeth. The 28 teeth thinning scissors will be perfect for delivering modern styles and texturing thick hair. A pair of thinning scissors with 40 or more teeth will be perfect for tempering edges, blending, and increasing texture.
Shear Handle
Professional hair cutting handles are of three types. The type of shear handle you will choose will depend on your needs and preference. However, the decision will also depend on the stance or position while you are cutting your hair. The following is a deeper look into the haircutting scissors handles:
1. Even handle
Regular and cheaper scissors will have this kind of handle as the design is quite simple and fits most fingers. Both finger holes have an asymmetrical shape, and the handle itself offers a more neutral cutting position. Most beginners use this type of hair cutting scissors handle because of their price and availability. The only setback for hair shears with even handles is they do not always offer the perfect cut, especially when you want more precise cuts.
2. Offset handle
Professional hair cutting scissors have an offset design, whereby one handle tend to be longer than the other. This kind of handle design is perfect for providing more comfort, but it would take you some time getting used to it if you have been using even scissors. When cutting hair, offset handles give a more open hand position, allowing you to maintain your arm and elbow at a lower position, thus delivering more precise cuts.
This type of handle also helps in reducing fatigue on your joints and muscles, especially on your shoulder when you are cutting hair for more extended periods. Most barbers and hairstylists prefer offset handles as they are more comfortable compared to even handles.
3. Crane handle
While this handle seems much similar to the offset design, there is a slight difference. The top of this handle is straight, allowing you to drop down your elbow for a more comfortable position when styling. If you like slide-cutting styles, you should get hair scissors with this kind of handle.
Best professional hair cutting scissors brands
The following are some of the best and most popular manufacturers of high-quality hair cutting scissors
1. Washi Shears
Washi is a very popular Japanese brand. It is well-known for making the best-quality hair cutting scissors. Stylists prefer shears from this manufacturer because of their excellent craftsmanship. WaShi shears offer superior customer services, and they offer different models and versions each year. Their latest line of haircutting shears features anti-push edges that melt easily through your hair for more precision cuts that take no time. They are made with unique blades and lightweight designs. When you use these shears, you will realise you need more than one for enhanced haircutting techniques.
Washi is the latest shear brand perfect for providing solutions to all your barbershop challenges. The manufacturer designed these shears with great ergonomic handles for comfortable cutting every time. Washi uses authentic Hitch 440C steel, making them slightly higher than some other shears on our list.
With their sharp edges, these shears cut your hair at lightning speed. By just holding them in your hands, you feel professional. These shears enable you to cut through dry or wet hair, giving you precision pointcuts. Moreover, the latest series of Washi shears have an anti-push edge design.
The package also includes a texture razor and a case. You can opt to buy different sizes separately or buy shears of different sizes in a single set: 5.5, 6, 6.5 inches. All Washi shears come with a lifetime warranty for protecting your purchase.
Washi pros
- They are designed using high-grade Hitachi 440C steel.
- Washi shears come in different sizes.
- Their handles have a design that gives more ergonomics.
- The anti-push edge feature improves washi shears cutting abilities.
- The package includes a texture razor and a case.
Washi cons
- They are available in only one colour.
- They are more extensive than some other haircutting shears on our list.
2. Matsui Shears
We chose the Matsui shears for their outstanding design that applies high-grade quality materials. Matsui started making hair scissors in 1998, and since then, they have been making high-quality scissors available in most salons and barbershops today. If you prefer sharp Japanese scissors, Matsui will be an appropriate choice for you. These shears will look good in your hand as they come in beautiful colours, such as pink gold or rose gold hues.
Matsui shears are available in a wide range of colours and blades. However, they conventionally feature convex blades from Hitachi 440C steel.
For the style and look that comes with Matsui scissors, you will not pay much to get all the elegance. These professional hair cutting scissors are crafted using high-grade materials without a high price tag. Created using Hitch 440C Japanese steel, Matsui shears also come with a lifetime warranty for any reason. This brand is one of the top sellers of hair cutting scissors. Also, Matsui offers multiple sizes and colours, which include a gold set and matte black.
These shears are ideal for different hair cutting techniques you may want to try. They have a simple, sleek design, and they tend to be extremely sharp. The package comes with spare blades, a tension adjuster, a cleaning cloth, and even spare finger inserts.
Matsui shears are balanced, and you can quickly clip them away without your fingers getting tired. They are also outstanding for Japanese scissors for their accent colour screws and shape. You will definitely fall in love with Matsui scissors as they will help you give your clients great results.
Matsui pros
- They have an extremely beautiful sleek design.
- Even with their high-grade material, they are less expensive.
- They come in different colours and sizes to choose from.
- Matsui scissors package comes with everything you need
- They offer great value.
Matsui cons
- More options of blades would be good.
3. Joewell Shears
Joewell started making shears in 1917, meaning Joewell has come a long way. The company has strived to create high-quality shears which are most appropriate for hairdressers and barbers. Their design is thoughtful of challenges that barbers and hairdressers face every day, such as nickel skin allergies and hand fatigue. You will also notice that Joewell shears come with a lifetime warranty that protects the shears if anything happens to them. Moreover, a lifetime warranty means that the manufacturer is quite confident with their products. So you should not worry when your scissors start rusting out or falling apart.
Joewell pros
- Joewell shears have convex blades which are made from high-grade steel.
- They have great finger rest.
- They are designed with a dry bearing tension system.
Joewell cons
- They do not include the case.
- Dulls quickly.
Best Selling Joewell Scissors
- Medium weight scissors with shaped shanks and regular size bows.
- Removable finger rest. Rubber stopper.
- Extremely sharp blades
- Extra-long life and durability
- With a lightweight and smooth action
4. JUNTETSU
This brand of scissors is renowned for providing high-quality cutting products at lower prices. The primary role of these Juntestu scissors is to offer affordable 440C and VG10 scissors for professional hairdressers. The Juntestu uses the Japanese offset designs in almost all of their scissors to make them outstanding and do well on the market.
Juntetsu pros
- They have high-quality VG10 steel.
- Their blades have convex edges.
- Juntetsu scissors have a lightweight design.
- They have the best value for your money and tend to be less expensive.
Jentestsu cons
- They have a simple design.
- These scissors are available in right-handed models only, hence not taking care of left-handed hairdressers.
5. ICHIRO scissors
Ichiro scissors brand makes one of the best hair cutting scissors on the market. The company uses 440C Japanese steel to manufacture its great-quality scissors. Ichiro scissors provide ultra-sharp edges, which are perfect for making barbering tools. Because of premium quality, these shears are lightweight and easy to manage and maintain.
Ichiro pros
- They are available at affordable prices.
- The ball bearing screws offers smooth working of the scissors.
- Ichiro scissors are designed using high-quality 440C steel.
- They have a five-stars rating.
Ichiro cons
- They are mostly right-handed, and they may not be suitable for left-handed barbers.
6. Jaguar
This is a German scissors brand dedicated to producing the best barber and hairdressing shears for New Zealand and Australia. Jaguar scissors are designed using German steel, and they are crafted with a lot of care to deliver effortless cuts. They have a classic design with a twist. Traditional handles and improved lightweight design enables these Jaguar scissors to hold firmly and tightly.
Jaguar scissors contain micro serration for ensuring easy and smooth cuts. The stainless chromium steel is used to craft sturdy, strong, and long-lasting scissors. If well-maintained, these shears can serve you for many years. The Vario Screw Connection system is applied in the making of Jaguar shears for enhanced tension adjustment. Despite Jaguar scissors possessing premium quality, they are available at affordable prices.
Jaguar pros
- They are made using high-quality German steel.
- Jaguar shears have an allergy-neutral coating.
- The micro-serrated blade ensures smooth and precise cuts.
Jaguar cons
- Their traditional handle needs some improvement.
Best Selling Jaguar Scissors
- Very long-lasting sharpness
- Made from forged special steel
- With angled thumb Ring
- Flat Smart spin screw system allows incomparably easy, perfect cutting...
- Classic design for a traditional feeling during cutting
- Symmetrical arrangement loops for fingers
- Scissors made of high quality stainless steel
- One tip with micro gearing
- Suitable for beginners
- Very long-lasting sharpness
- Made from forged special steel
- With angled thumb Ring
- English (Publication Language)
Tips for effective hair cutting
1. Spray the hair with water
You can choose to either cut your hair when it’s dry or wet. But cutting hair when it is wet delivers a perfect look. So, you should pour water thoroughly into your hair.
2. Comb your hair
Combing helps you to get rid of knots from your hair. Also, combing your hair will give you an idea about your hair’s length and thickness. After spraying, ensure to comb your hair before anything else.
3. Hold your scissors properly
This is one of the most fundamental steps in achieving a perfect haircut. You should learn how to hold scissors as the scissors position largely determines the results you get. There are many tricks, tips and ways of holding scissors. Some models have designs that give you automatic grips. Depending on the model you are using, you should understand the perfect way of holding your shears.
4. Learn to cut hair at home
When cutting short hair, ensure you cut from the slides of your head until you achieve your desired results. For long hair, you may need to clip it into sections for a perfect cut. You can use tutorials to guide you when you are cutting your hair at home. If you are struggling to cut your hair at home, you should visit your nearest barbershop.
5. Review and make some changes
After you have finished cutting your hair, check your head to see if you are satisfied. If not, you might want to book an appointment with your barber or hairdresser.
Conclusion
The above professional hair cutting brands are determined to ensure you get perfect shears for your barbershop or salon. Some have been in existence for many years, and they understand everything you need in a hair scissor. So, if you find any shears on the market from the above brands, you should not waste your time looking for other options. They are the best.