Hair cutting shears are an essential tool for any barber or hair stylist. A great pair of shears will provide you with years of buttery-smooth hair cutting and, depending on the style, can add plenty of character to your arsenal of tools.
But, when it comes to choosing the right pair, your options are pretty much endless. There are a TON out there!
To make it a little easier, I’ve scoured the internet for the most sought-after shears money can buy and put them into a detailed list which I’ve dubbed the best professional hair cutting shears reviews and ultimate guide!
It’s important to know that this list is focused on high quality shears with the highest ratings based on actual user impressions. They range in length from 5 – 7 inches and each length are typically used for different types of cuts.
Shorter shears tend to be used when performing more detailed cutting techniques.
Longer shears are better for cutting larger amounts of hair at once.
If you don’t have time to go through this entire article, you can check out my top pick on Amazon here.
Types of Steel
The steel used when making shears determines it’s toughness and overall quality. Higher quality shears contain cobalt steels, Vanadium and Titanium. Below is a list of steels from lowest to highest quality:
- 420 – Used in Pakistani made scissors
- 440A
- 440C
- S1 – Where cobalt begins being used
- S3
- V1 – Vivandium and Titanium are added
- V10
- V10 Gold
- ATS314 – Greatest amount of Cobalt, Vivandium & Titanium
| Shear | Photo | Steel Quality | Length | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerolite Japanese Hitachi Stainless Steel Pro Hair Cutting Scissors |   | ATS-314 | Available in 5.5" and 6" | .4 Pounds | See on Amazon! |
| Kamisori Diablo Professional Hair Cutting Shear |   | 440C | Available in 5", 5.5" and 6" | .96 Pounds | See on Amazon! |
| Kamisori Emerald Professional Hair Cutting Shear |   | Kamisori's "Damascus" | Available in 5", 5.5" and 6" | .12 Pounds | See on Amazon! |
| Yasaka M600 Shear |   | ATS-314 | 6" | N/A | See on Amazon! |
| Mosher Salon Tools Professional Diamond Series Shears |   | 440C | 6" | .35 Pounds | See on Amazon! |
| Eagle Sharp Professional Hair Cutting Scissors |   | 440C | Available in 5.5", 6" and 7" | .2 Pounds | See on Amazon! |
| Harutake Professional Hair Cutting Scissor Kit |   | 440C | 6" cutting, 6" thinning and 7" cutting shear | N/A | See on Amazon! |
| ZZZRT Multi-color Student and Barber Kit |   | Japanese Stainless Steel | 5.5" cutting, 5.5" thinning shear. Others not Specified | N/A | See on Amazon! |
Aerolite Japanese Hitachi Stainless Steel Pro Hair Cutting Scissors – Best Affordable Hair Cutting Shears
These hybrid hair cutting shears by Aerolite Scissor Company are highly rated and also come in at an affordable price.
The company has come up with a special manufacturing process to make their tools one solid and seamless piece. Hence why they use the word “hybrid”.
You can get them in both 5.5” and 6” in length and they are made using the finest Hitachi ATS-314 stainless steel which is the highest grade of steel used to make the best shears.
The handles are made from military grade aircraft alloy which make them very light and easy to handle causing minimal stress on the hands, arms and shoulders.
The blades are sharpened using diamond point abrasives for long lasting sharpness and durability. Aerolite claims that this way of sharpening keeps hair healthier after being cut compared to common Japanese convex blades. They are then perfectly aligned by machines using special computer software.
Talk about an advanced pair of scissors!
User Impressions
Even though an extremely expensive pair of shears might be tempting to buy, it’s just not necessary in some cases. These are used by many professionals and had no problem keeping up with $600+ shears in terms of sharpness, weight and balance.
They are very well made at an affordable price and there’s really nothing bad to say about them.
Pros
- ATS-314 steel
- Lightweight
- Comes with 2 finger rings for different finger sizes
- Premium blade oil included
Cons
- Does not come with carrying case
Mosher Salon Tools Professional Diamond Series Shears – Best Scissors for Cutting Hair at Home
They are a 6” shear which is a standard length commonly used by stylists. It has an ergonomic handle with a molded finger rest that lets you cut for longer periods of time without putting stress on your hands.
It’s handmade with high quality 440C Japanese steel and the blades come well oiled which makes for smooth effortless cutting.
User Impressions
Compared to more expensive shears, these surprisingly cut just as well whether you’re cutting wet or dry hair and feel great in your hand. They are extremely sharp and don’t bend the hair over while cutting like some other shears on the market.
Stylists with 20+ years of experience recommend these. So, if you’re looking for an accurate pair of shears at a very affordable price, these may be just what you need.
Pros
- Handmade with 440C Japanese Steel
- Very sharp blades
- Appealing diamond accent
- Leather zip-up case for travelling and storage
Cons
- No rubber thumb hole insert for sizing
- Some users found them to be heavy
Eagle Sharp Professional Hair Cutting Scissors
Another affordable pair of scissors, this time coming in at 7” in length. There’s nothing fancy about them, they’re just a good all-round shear that will get the job done. They do have some nice red accents that make them stand out.
They are made from forged Japanese 440C stainless steel with a rockwell hardness of 58-60 and have an adjustable screw to adjust tension. The screw along with the thumb inserts are colored in red which really make these scissors stand out.
User Impressions
While they aren’t the best of the best, I included these shears in this list because they have a good reputation and exceeded the expectations of almost everyone who used them.
They are well balanced, very sharp and cut through hair with ease. When you compare price to quality, these are a good buy.
Pros
- Sharp convex edge blades
- 440C stainless steel
Cons
- Small finger holes
- No travel case
High End Hair Cutting Shears
There is nearly an endless amount of options when it comes to good shears, but there are a few companies out there that make ones that stand out above the rest. They use only the highest quality Japanese steel, forge the sharpest blades and boast an insane amount of detail and craftsmanship in their tools.
These are a special kind of shear that a barber or stylist will hold dear to their heart for a lifetime. You could say that these shears to a barber are like a katana to a samurai.
Kamisori Emerald 6.0” Professional Hair Cutting Shear – Best Cutting Shears in the World
Say hello to Kamisori’s most expensive hair cutting shears. The company is known for making the best shears money can buy and the Emerald is at the very top of its class.
It’s handmade in Japan, forged with the finest Damascus steel using 12 – 16 premium metals and has a rockwell hardness of 64 which means its edge will stay extremely sharp for longer.
The epic craftsmanship that has gone into these make it an elegant and perfectly balanced shear that provides unparalleled sharpness. The fixed finger rest and ergonomic offset handle make it a dream to handle constant daily cutting and multi-tasking. The beautiful emerald accent adds style to the ball-bearing system used to adjust tension.
It has won many awards in the beauty industry and even the top celebrity hairdressers have named it the “KING OF ALL SHEARS”.
Expect this beauty to last you a minimum of 20-25 years.
Awards
- American Salon Pro’s Choice (multi-year)
- Beauty Launchpad Readers Choice (multi-year)
- Hairdresser Journal Stylists Choice
- Canadian Salon Hairdresser Favorite Tools
- Coiffure de Paris
Note on Damascus Steel
In my research I found that true Demascus steel has not been produced since the 1700’s but in the last 50 years has been made using similar properties of the real thing. It’s referred to as “Modern Demascus” and although it’s not exactly what was used up until the 17th century, it is still the strongest you can find.
Pros
- Damascus steel
- Unbelievably sharp blades
- Great for multi-tasking
- Beautiful design
- Luxury Case
Cons
- Price
Kamisori Diablo Professional Hair Cutting Shear – Best Hair Cutting Shears for Professionals
One of the most popular scissors by Kamisori is the Diablo which comes out of their dragon collection. I think the beautiful thing about this is that it’s a great looking high-end shear made by the best in the business but at a very reasonable price.
It comes with a gorgeous engraved handle and a sharp convex edge blade made from genuine Japanese 440C steel that is built to maintain its sharpness longer than other shear brands. It has a rockwell hardness of 59.
The one I’ve listed here is the 5.5” model but you can also get it in 5” and 6”.
The main difference between this and the Emerald listed above is the grade of steel and sharpness. Everything else is similar in that it also has an offset handle, fixed finger rest and super durable ball-bearing system.
If you want an amazing shear for the best value, these are hands down the ones to get. Expect these to easily last you 15 – 20 years.
Pros
- Amazing craftsmanship
- Japanese 440C steel
- Beautiful design
- Very sharp
- Luxury case
- Price
Cons
- Not made with higher grade ATS-314 steel
Yasaka M600 6” Scissors
Yasaka is another established name when it comes to high end shears. The M600 comes in a 6” length and is made with ATS314 cobalt alloy stainless steel manufactured with the purest iron.
They provide amazing control and stability while staying comfortable in your hand. Its light weight gives you the ability to cut all day long using pretty much any variety of cutting technique.
Yasaka’s shears are superbly sharp and are known for being extremely durable and long lasting.
They stand by the Japanese Sword Smithing Tradition which is how the Japanese became the greatest sword smiths in the world almost 750 years ago.
This makes the list because they are also a very affordable shear with everything you’d find in even the most expensive ones.
Pros
- ATS-314 steel
- Sharp and well balanced
- Lightweight
- Carrying case
- Price
Cons
- Plain Design
- Case is just a zip-up bag
Shear Sets for Professionals and Students
Harutake Professional Hair Cutting Scissors Kit
What sort of list would this be if we didn’t include a couple of hair cutting scissors kits? A kit is great if you’re looking for an all in one set with multiple scissors. Let’s start it off with a beautiful kit by Harutake that is sure to make you stand out as a professional.
Firstly, this kit comes with a great variety of scissor lengths starting with a 6” shear which is probably the most common length used in the styling profession. It also comes with a 6” pair of thinning shears and a pair of 7” scissors for making more powerful cuts.
They are handmade from high quality Japanese 440C stainless steel with a rockwell hardness of 56 – 60.
The hidden adjustable knob is masked by a nice blue crystal accent that uses Harutake’s patented special knob key and finger rests relieve stress on hands, shoulders and wrists.
User Impressions
This kit is all you need to do a nice haircut anywhere. The 7” is very well balanced and let’s you cut like you’re using a 5.5” shear.
While not the lightest scissors on the market, they aren’t very heavy and feel great in your hands. For their weight and blade sharpness, many users found that they performed just as well as most shears that are twice the price.
If you’re in need of some good quality stylish shears for a good price, this kit is definitely recommended.
Pros
- Japanese 440C steel
- Good variety of scissors
- Beautiful design
- Blades come very sharp
- Comes with case
Cons
- May dull quickly when used on coarse hair
- Slightly heavy
ZZZRT Multi Color Complete Students and Barber Kit
All aspiring barbers and stylists should have a set of shears that can handle anything that’s thrown at them. This kit might be exactly what you need if you’re starting out.
This multi color professional hair scissors set comes with 4 pairs of hairdressing scissors, 1 pair of hair thinning scissors, a hair thinning razor and a comb.
The tools are made with high quality Japanese stainless steel and coated in titanium for extra durability and to help prevent rust.
The ergonomically curved thumb holes help reduce stress on hands and arms when cutting for long periods of time.
User Impressions
This is a great set for the price. Most sets like this could cost hundreds of dollars to get shears that cut as well as these do. It comes with a nice variety of scissors that provide a smooth cut. They are definitely a great beginner set but will do just fine for any professional as well.
A few things worth mentioning are that some found that the blades became dull within 6 months of use and it came with a plain black case that did not have the design on it as advertised.
That being said, blades can always be sharpened and the fact that it even comes with a case is a plus either way.
Pros
- Japanese steel
- Large variety of tools
- Carrying case
- Cool multi-color design
- Great peice
Cons
- Blades may become dull quickly
- Case didn’t come as advertised for some people
Conclusion
Whether you’re a professional that’s been in the industry for 30+ years or a student that’s just starting out, there’s a shear out there for everyone. But, it can be overwhelming trying to find something that is truly reputable and fits your style.
For those reasons, I tried to include as much variety in this list as possible while only giving you the highest quality and top rated hair cutting shears out there.
If you’re looking for new shears for your shop or simply want to groom your beard or even trim your body hair from home, I hope this guide helps you find what you’ve been searching for!
