Picks
Cutting Scissors for Hairdressing Students: 8 Picks
A first pair starts with a size that suits your hand (5.5 to 6.0 inch as a guide) and a handle shape you find easy to hold. This page lists 8 cutting scissors chosen by a stated rule on stock and price, so you can compare them side by side.
Key points
- Choose a first pair on four points: size, handle shape, blade edge and budget.
- For practice, 5.5 to 6.0 inch is a guide; with smaller hands, start comparing at 5.0 to 5.5 inch.
- The 8 models here are chosen by stock and price and are not ranked. The selection rule and the order are stated just below.
How this list was chosen
Right-handed cutting scissors with a Offset / Classic (even) / Crane handle and a 5.5 or 6.0 inch size in stock for under ¥18,182 tax-free, plus right-handed cutting scissors in the "Students and apprentices" category with any size in stock. Up to 8 models. Listed by tax-free price, from low to high.
This is a list in a stated order, not a ranking. Prices are tax-free export prices; stock and specifications come from the same data as the product pages.
8 models compared
A price with "from" varies by size or specification; a dash means there is no entry. Sizes and stock are for right-handed models.
| Model | Price (tax-free) | Sizes | Handle | Edge | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mina Jay II Cutting Scissors | ¥11,364 | 5.0–7.0″ | Offset | Convex | Right-handed: In stock |
| Mina Umi Cutting Scissors | ¥11,364 | 4.5–7.0″ | Offset | Convex | Right-handed: In stock |
| Mina Sakura II Cutting Scissors | ¥13,091 | 5.0–7.0″ | Offset | Convex | In stock |
| Mina Black Diamond Cutting Scissors | ¥13,091 | 5.5 / 6.0 / 7.0″ | Offset | – | In stock |
| Mina Rainbow II Cutting Scissors | ¥13,091 | 4.5–7.0″ | Offset | Convex | Right-handed: In stock |
| Mina Ash Black Cutting Scissors | ¥14,091 | 5.5 / 6.0″ | Offset | Convex | In stock |
| Ichiro Ergo Apprentice Cutting Scissors | ¥19,727 | 5.5 / 6.0″ | Offset | – | In stock |
| Ichiro Ichiko Precision Cutting Scissors | ¥24,545 | 4.5 / 5.0″ | Offset | Convex | In stock |
The 8 models in detail
Mina Shears Mina Jay II Cutting Scissors
Offset-handle, convex-edge cutting scissors. Right-handed in 5.0 to 7.0 inches, left-handed in 5.5 and 6.0 inches.
- Sizes
- Right-handed: 5.0–7.0″
- Handle
- Offset
- Edge
- Convex
- Tension
- Right-handed 5.5–7.0″: Concealed pivot
- Finish
- Right-handed 5.5–7.0″: Satin
Right-handed: In stock
¥11,364 tax-free
View product (Mina Jay II Cutting Scissors) Order this modelMina Shears Mina Umi Cutting Scissors
Cutting scissors combining fine pointed tips, a convex edge and a key-adjustable tension screw. Also left-handed, for stylists looking for a mirror-finish offset.
- Sizes
- Right-handed: 4.5–7.0″
- Handle
- Offset
- Edge
- Convex
- Tension
- Key-adjustable screw
- Tip
- Fine point
- Blade profile
- Straight
- Finish
- Mirror polish
Mina Shears Mina Sakura II Cutting Scissors
Offset-handle, convex-edge cutting scissors. Five sizes from 5.0 to 7.0 inches, from detail work to short back and sides.
- Sizes
- 5.0–7.0″
- Handle
- Offset
- Edge
- Convex
Mina Shears Mina Black Diamond Cutting Scissors
Black cutting scissors with an offset handle. Three sizes (5.5, 6.0 and 7.0 inches) let you choose by length, from detail work to short back and sides and scissor-over-comb.
- Sizes
- 5.5 / 6.0 / 7.0″
- Handle
- Offset
- Tension
- Manual adjusting screw
- Finish
- Matte
Mina Shears Mina Rainbow II Cutting Scissors
Rainbow cutting scissors with an offset handle and a convex edge. Six sizes from 4.5 to 7.0 inches, right- or left-handed.
- Sizes
- Right-handed: 4.5–7.0″
- Handle
- Offset
- Edge
- Convex
- Finish
- Right-handed 5.0–6.0″: Polished
Right-handed: In stock
¥13,091 tax-free
View product (Mina Rainbow II Cutting Scissors) Order this modelMina Shears Mina Ash Black Cutting Scissors
Ash black cutting scissors with an offset handle and a convex edge. Choose the length by use: 5.5 inches for detail work, 6.0 inches for all-round salon work.
- Sizes
- 5.5 / 6.0″
- Handle
- Offset
- Edge
- Convex
- Finish
- 6.0″: Polished
Ichiro Shears Ichiro Ergo Apprentice Cutting Scissors
Offset-handle cutting scissors for hairdressing students and new stylists. The 5.5-inch has a convex edge and the 6.0-inch is micro-serrated, so you choose by edge type.
- Sizes
- 5.5 / 6.0″
- Handle
- Offset
- Finish
- Mirror polish
Ichiro Shears Ichiro Ichiko Precision Cutting Scissors
Offset-handle cutting scissors in two short sizes, 4.5 and 5.0 inches. For stylists whose work centres on detail and dry cutting.
- Sizes
- 4.5 / 5.0″
- Handle
- Offset
- Edge
- Convex
- Finish
- Mirror polish
Guides on how to choose
- Scissors for Hairdressing Students and New Stylists Choosing a first pair of scissors as a hairdressing student or new stylist: size, handle shape, matching Cutting and Thinning Scissors, budget and basic care.
- How to Choose Your Scissor Size How scissor size is measured in inches, and how to choose a size for your hand and the cutting you do. Starting points for hairdressers, barbers and students.
- Scissor Handle Types Explained Classic, offset, crane and swivel thumb: handle shapes explained by the length and angle of the two handles (shanks), plus what to check when trying them.
Questions and answers
How was this list chosen?
Right-handed cutting scissors with a Offset / Classic (even) / Crane handle and a 5.5 or 6.0 inch size in stock for under ¥18,182 tax-free, plus right-handed cutting scissors in the "Students and apprentices" category with any size in stock. Up to 8 models. Listed by tax-free price, from low to high. This is a list in a stated order, not a ranking. Prices are tax-free export prices; stock and specifications come from the same data as the product pages.
My school specifies scissors. What should I do?
Follow the school's specification first. You can learn the basics with the specified model and look for a pair that suits your own hand when you start work in a salon.
Which size should I choose?
For practice, 5.5 to 6.0 inch is a guide, and with smaller hands you can start comparing at 5.0 to 5.5 inch. How to measure is explained in How to Choose Your Scissor Size.
Should I buy thinning scissors as well?
Lessons and salon practice use both cutting and thinning scissors. If you buy both, matching the handle shape of the thinning scissors to the cutting scissors makes switching between them smoother. See also the two-piece sets.