Our 7 cutters under A$200: the Mina Umi from A$109, Ichiro Ergo for apprentices, Mina Classic II for blunt lines, Dark Gem for barbers and two left pairs.
By SalonScissors editorial team Updated
Quick answer
Short on time? Pick from these four.
Best for apprentices
Ichiro Ergo Apprentice 5.5" · convex slice edge
How we chose: Seven cutters under A$200 from our range, picked for job, hand and handle. We sell them and haven’t run cutting tests. Prices checked 15 October 2026.
The cards run from lowest price to highest, and every option on them was under A$200 when we checked.
Five are right-handed and two are left-handed. Why seven? We’d rather stop there than pad the list with colour swaps of the same scissor.
| Scissor | Best for | Hand | Handle | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mina Umi 5.5" | left-handers on a tight budget | Left | Offset | A$109 |
| 2. Mina Classic II 5.5" | blunt lines with a micro-serrated edge | Right | Semi-offset | A$109 |
| 3. Mina Classic Pastel Pink 5.5" | wet cutting and clean perimeters with a classic handle | Right | Level classic rings | A$124.95 |
| 4. Mina Dark Gem 6.5" | barbers and over-comb work on a budget | Right | Offset | A$134.95 |
| 5. Mina Sakura Double Swivel 5.5" | trying a double-swivel handle on a budget | Right | Double swivel rings | A$144.95 |
| 6. Ichiro Ergo Apprentice 5.5" | apprentices who want a convex slice edge | Right | Offset | A$189 |
| 7. Ichiro Rose Lefty 6.0" | left-handers who want a 6.0" pair | Left | Offset grip | A$199 |
Catalogue photos show each model. The size or hand pictured can differ from the option named.
Best for: left-handers on a tight budget
A$109
A left-handed 5.5" with a flat edge and an offset handle.
Keep in mind: It’s one cutter. The Umi set adds a matching 6" thinner if you need both.
View this option: Mina Umi 5.5"On the product page, choose Left / 5.5" Cutting Scissor.
Best for: blunt lines with a micro-serrated edge
A$109
A micro-serrated bevel edge holds the hair as the blades close, with a semi-offset handle.
Keep in mind: Pick a smooth edge instead if you slide cut a lot.
View this option: Mina Classic II 5.5"On the product page, choose 5.5" Inch Cutting.
Best for: wet cutting and clean perimeters with a classic handle
A$124.95
A micro-serrated 5.5" with level classic rings and a pastel pink finish.
Keep in mind: For long sliding strokes, a smooth-edge cutter suits better.
View this option: Mina Classic Pastel Pink 5.5"Best for: barbers and over-comb work on a budget
A$134.95
A long flat-edge cutter with a matte black finish, listed for broad sections and over-comb work.
Keep in mind: Sizes start at 6.5". Keep a shorter pair for close fringe detail.
View this option: Mina Dark Gem 6.5"On the product page, choose 6.5" Cutting Scissor.
Best for: trying a double-swivel handle on a budget
A$144.95
Both the thumb and finger rings rotate, so your grip can move as you work.
Keep in mind: Moving rings feel different from a fixed handle. Try it before a full day.
View this option: Mina Sakura Double Swivel 5.5"On the product page, choose 5.5" Inch.
Best for: apprentices who want a convex slice edge
A$189
Ichiro’s apprentice pair, with a convex slice edge and an offset handle.
Keep in mind: The 6.0" option is micro-serrated, so check which edge your course names.
View this option: Ichiro Ergo Apprentice 5.5"On the product page, choose 5.5" Convex Slice Cutting.
Best for: left-handers who want a 6.0" pair
A$199
A dedicated left-handed 6.0" with a convex slice blade and an offset grip.
Keep in mind: One size only. For a shorter left pair, see the Umi 5.5".
View this option: Ichiro Rose Lefty 6.0"| If you need | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A first pair for your course | Ichiro Ergo 5.5” | Convex slice edge, offset handle |
| A left-handed pair | Mina Umi 5.5” or Ichiro Rose Lefty 6.0” | True left-handed builds |
| Blunt lines and bobs | Mina Classic II 5.5” | Micro-serrated edge |
| Level rings | Mina Classic Pastel Pink 5.5” | Classic handle, micro-serrated |
| Barber and over-comb work | Mina Dark Gem 6.5” | Long, flat-edge blade |
| A swivel to try | Mina Sakura Double Swivel 5.5” | Both rings rotate |
A micro-serrated edge holds the hair as the blades close, so it suits blunt lines and wet cutting. It works against you on a slide cut. If you slide cut a lot, go for a smooth edge like the Umi’s flat edge or the Ergo’s convex slice.
Our pick: the Classic II for blunt work, the Ergo for everything else.
On the Sakura Double Swivel, both the thumb and finger rings turn, so your grip can move as you work around the head. It feels different from a fixed handle, so ease into it.
Our pick: fixed rings for a first pair. Save the swivel for when you want to try something different.
For a first pair, a backup or a course kit, yes. Each pick here is a full-size cutter. Move up once you know the length and handle you like.
Only if your work or course calls for one. The Mina Umi and Ichiro Ergo also come as sets with a 30-tooth thinner.
It’s a long barber blade, made for broad sections and over-comb work. It also comes in 7.0”. Keep a shorter pair for fringes and ears, and see our barber scissors guide for the rest of the kit.
You have 14 days to change your mind, as set out on our returns page. Standard delivery is free on orders over A$89, which covers every pair here.
The scissor finder narrows it by hand, size and budget. Can you stretch the budget? The 10 Japanese scissors under A$300 adds swivel thumbs, wide blades and Juntetsu.
Tell us what you cut and which scissors you are comparing.
Our 10 Japanese picks under A$300: the Ichiro Ergo for apprentices, Juntetsu Classic II for slide cutting, the Chomper Wide for barbers and two lefties.
Wrong size, wrong hand, a set you don’t need, chasing steel, poor fit, no care budget and an unclear seller: the 7 first-pair mistakes and their fixes.
