Where are haircutting shears made?

There are so many things to consider when purchasing a new pair of hair cutting shears. There are all sorts of different blades, lengths, colors and most importantly, steels! Let's take a dive into the hair cutting scissor steel world!

Japanese Shears

We begin with Japan. Of course the home of the samurai sword would be best known for its high quality steel. Not only do they make awesome swords and knives but they also produce hair cutting scissors that are top notch!

Japanese hairdressing shears are made from... you guessed it, Japanese stainless steel. Some may consider Japanese steel to be the best quality steel available, and we would have to agree. Japanese steel shears can be given a very sharp edge that will last longer. Japanese shears are known for their convex edge blades, or some may call them the japanese edge. The convex edge is the sharpest edge you will find on a pair of shears. Convex blades are great for all different types of advanced cutting techniques, like slide cutting. These techniques require a very sharp blade. This sharp blade is not best for a blunt cutting technique. The blade is so sharp it will just push the hair instead of keeping it in place to create straight lines. Japanese steel is the only steel with such great blade edge retention that it can hold a convex edge. However, convex blades are so sharp they may dull quickly, especially if not used properly.

Japanese steel shears also can have a semi convex edge. This edge is not as precise and sharp. However, don't let that scare you ! You will still find this edge on scissors made from higher quality steel. This cutting edge that will last longer.

There are different types of japanese steel that are used in most hair cutting shears. The most commonly used is 440C. This steel is the best for its price tag. It is still very hard, but also affordable. Even more high quality steel than 440C is Hitachi 314, VG10 and Damascus steel. VG10 is more expensive, but also the best! Damascus is high quality VG10 steel, folded multiple times to create Damascus steel. These shears will be the best of the best!

Scissor brands that use Japanese steel include our very own Matsui Shears, Joewell and Yasaka.

 

German shears

German steel is known for being the best in the European steel market. It is a premium scissor steel that makes quality hair cutting tools. German steel is known for being quite the work horse. 

German shears are known for their bevel edge blades. This type of edge is less fussy than the convex edge and will last longer. A beveled edge is the perfect blade for blunt cutting and other techniques. Barber shears are known for their narrow beveled edge and corrosion resistance. So if you're a hard working barber you may prefer a German shear. Along with a beveled edge you may find that they have a serrated edge as well. This means that on one blade there are tiny little cuts. These cuts help to hold the hair in place when you're cutting. Another great feature for blunt cutting and scissor over comb. Another reason German steel is great for barber shears!

German scissor brands include Jaguar and Solingen.

Chinese Shears

Now this may come as a surprise to you but China is definitely a huge producer of hair cutting shears. However this can get a bit tricky.

Many scissor brands are made in China, however many are still made using Japanese Steel. This means that you're getting all the perks of hairdressing shears made from premium quality japanese steel but for a more affordable price. 

You can also buy Chinese steel shears. Chinese steel has come along way. They are not the highest quality steel, but they will still do a good job. Chinese steel tends to be a softer, lighter steel. They may not be as strong as Japanese scissors but they will be most affordable and perform well enough for basic cutting tools.

Others

You may come across shears from other places in your search for the perfect pair. Some of these are Korea, India and Pakistan. Unfortunately the quality of these shears can vary greatly. Most cheaper hair cutting shears that you will find on the internet, on sites such as Amazon, will be made in Pakistan. These shears are cheap for a reason. The steel is known for being the lowest quality scissor steel you can get. It is nowhere near as hard as other steel and will lose their edge quicker. So if you're looking for a cheap pair, maybe these are for you, but if you're looking for your next perfect pair, we do not recommend just any scissor.

Premium Shears, Premium Steel!

If you want the best hair cutting scissors out there, you want them made from a premium hardened steel... and most likely a bit of a price tag. This is why here at Scissor Tech we try hard to keep our high quality Japanese steel shears at the best prices you can find! Every hairdresser deserves high quality hairdressing scissors that don't break the bank!

We are always happy to help you decide which scissor steel is best for you! Reach out to one of our customer service reps if you need more information!