Our 10 hair cutting scissor picks: the Mina Umi for a first pair, the Rose Lefty for left-handers, the Yasaka SA for level rings and the FX PRO for reach.
By SalonScissors editorial team Updated
Quick answer
Short on time? Here are the picks.
Best for left-handers on a budget
Ichiro Rose Lefty 6.0" · lowest-priced left pair
How we chose: Ten cutting scissors from our range, picked for hand, size, handle and budget. We sell them all and haven’t run cutting tests. Prices checked 15 October 2026.
The cards run from lowest price to highest. Each pick rests on the maker’s specs and our listings, and every price comes from our product pages.
Seven are right-handed and three are left-handed. Tap a name to jump to its card.
| Scissor | Best for | Hand | Handle | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mina Umi 5.5" | a first pair on a budget | Right | Offset | A$109 |
| 2. Mina Sakura II 5.0" | close detail and fringes with a shorter blade | Right | Offset | A$124.95 |
| 3. Ichiro Ergo Apprentice 5.5" | apprentices who want a convex slice edge | Right | Offset | A$189 |
| 4. Ichiro Rose Lefty 6.0" | left-handers on a budget | Left | Offset grip | A$199 |
| 5. Kasho Design Master Offset 5.5" | a mid-price offset pair with a ratchet tension screw | Right | Offset | A$349 |
| 6. Yasaka SA 5.5" | a classic straight handle | Right | Straight | A$399 |
| 7. Yasaka LEFT 5.5" | a left-handed 5.5" everyday pair | Left | Offset | A$449 |
| 8. Kamisori Diablo II 5.5" | an offset pair with a fixed finger rest | Right | Offset | A$499 |
| 9. Joewell FX PRO 6.0" | longer sections and more reach | Right | 3D offset | A$699 |
| 10. Joewell FX LEFTY 5.5" | left-handers who want Joewell’s 3D handle | Left | 3D offset | A$749 |
Catalogue photos show each model. The size or hand pictured can differ from the option named.
Best for: a first pair on a budget
A$109
The lowest price on this list, 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 Right / 5.5" Cutting Scissor.
Best for: close detail and fringes with a shorter blade
A$124.95
The shortest pair here: a convex edge and an offset handle at a budget price.
Keep in mind: Less reach across wide sections. Sakura II also comes in 5.5" to 7.0".
View this option: Mina Sakura II 5.0"On the product page, choose 5.0" Inch.
Best for: apprentices who want a convex slice edge
A$189
Ichiro’s apprentice pair. This 5.5" option has a convex slice edge and an offset handle.
Keep in mind: The 6.0" option is micro-serrated instead. Check which edge your course list names.
View this option: Ichiro Ergo Apprentice 5.5"On the product page, choose 5.5" Convex Slice Cutting.
Best for: left-handers on a budget
A$199
The lowest-priced left-handed pair here: a 6.0" convex slice blade with an offset grip.
Keep in mind: It only comes in 6.0". For a shorter left pair, look at Yasaka LEFT or FX LEFTY.
View this option: Ichiro Rose Lefty 6.0"Best for: a mid-price offset pair with a ratchet tension screw
A$349
KAI lists semi-convex, satin-finish blades and a ratchet screw for the Design Master series.
Keep in mind: Design Master also comes with a straight handle, or left-handed, each with its own listing.
View this option: Kasho Design Master Offset 5.5"On the product page, choose 5.5" Inch Cutting Scissors.
Maker specs: KAI’s Kasho catalogue, page 16
Best for: a classic straight handle
A$399
The only straight-handle pair here. Yasaka publishes a 60 mm blade for the SA-5.5.
Keep in mind: Both rings sit level, so it holds differently from the offset pairs on this list.
View this option: Yasaka SA 5.5"On the product page, choose 5.5" Inch Cutting Scissor.
Maker specs: Yasaka’s SA-5.5 specs
Best for: a left-handed 5.5" everyday pair
A$449
A true left-handed build with an offset handle. Yasaka publishes a 58 mm blade for LEFT 5.5.
Keep in mind: The same listing has 5.0" and 6.0" options, each with its own blade length.
View this option: Yasaka LEFT 5.5"On the product page, choose 5.5" Inch Cutting Scissor.
Maker specs: Yasaka’s LEFT 5.5 specs
Best for: an offset pair with a fixed finger rest
A$499
A polished offset cutter with a fixed finger rest. Kamisori describes a 3D convex edge.
Keep in mind: The finger rest doesn’t come off. If you like removing yours, pick a removable one.
View this option: Kamisori Diablo II 5.5"On the product page, choose Right / 5.5".
Maker specs: Kamisori’s Diablo II page
Best for: longer sections and more reach
A$699
The only right-handed 6.0" here. Joewell publishes a 63 mm blade with Sword & Flat blades.
Keep in mind: For close detail, the 5.0" and 5.5" options on the same listing are shorter.
View this option: Joewell FX PRO 6.0"On the product page, choose 6.0" Cutting Scissor.
Maker specs: Joewell’s FX-PRO specs
Best for: left-handers who want Joewell’s 3D handle
A$749
A true left-handed FX with a removable finger rest. Joewell publishes a 54 mm blade.
Keep in mind: Same 5.5" size as the Yasaka LEFT, but a shorter blade: 54 mm against 58 mm.
View this option: Joewell FX LEFTY 5.5"On the product page, choose 5.5" Cutting Scissor.
Maker specs: Joewell’s FX-L55 specs
The Mina Umi 5.5” is the lowest price on this list, with a flat edge and an offset handle. If most of your day is fringes and fine detail, the shorter Mina Sakura II 5.0” costs a little more.
Apprentices, check your course list first. If it names an edge, the Ichiro Ergo Apprentice comes as a 5.5” convex slice or a 6.0” micro-serrated pair.
Our pick: the Mina Umi 5.5” for a first pair. Want more budget options? See the 10 cutters under A$300.
If you cut with your left hand, buy a left-handed pair. Three of the ten are left-handed:
Our pick: the Rose Lefty on a budget, or the Yasaka LEFT if you want a 5.5”. Need it cheaper still? The Mina Umi also comes as a Left / 5.5” option. For more choice, see the 10 left-handed cutters.
On an offset handle the thumb branch is shorter, so the thumb ring sits closer to the pivot than the finger ring. Nine of these ten are offset. The Yasaka SA 5.5” is the only straight handle here, with both rings level like a classic pair.
Two details split the offset pairs. The Joewell FX PRO and FX LEFTY use Joewell’s 3D handle, and the Kamisori Diablo II has a fixed finger rest that doesn’t come off.
Our pick: the Yasaka SA if you like level rings. If you’re used to offset, any of the other nine keeps that layout.
Inch size measures the whole scissor, not the blade. Where the maker publishes a blade length, the card gives it in mm.
| Size | Good for | Picks here |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0” | Fringes, ears and close detail | Mina Sakura II |
| 5.5” | An everyday all-rounder | Seven of the ten, including the Mina Umi and Yasaka SA |
| 6.0” | Longer sections and more reach | Joewell FX PRO, Ichiro Rose Lefty |
Our pick: start at 5.5” unless you already know you want shorter or longer. The size guide shows how to measure the pair you have.
These ten lean towards salon work, and none goes past 6.0”. For scissor-over-comb, our listings point to longer blades instead: the Yasaka 7.0” with a semi-offset handle, or the Mina Dark Gem in 6.5” and 7.0” at a budget price. Left-handed barbers can look at the Joewell LSF Lefty in 6.5” or 7.0”.
Our pick: the Yasaka 7.0” for a long everyday blade, or the Mina Dark Gem 7.0” on a budget. For the rest of a barber kit, see our barber scissors guide.
Yasaka 7.0 Inch Cutting Scissors
Best for scissor-over-comb with a semi-offset handle
Mina Dark Gem Cutting Scissors
Best for over-comb work on a budget
A$134.95
View Mina Dark Gem Cutting ScissorsIf you’re not sure, start at 5.5”. Go to 5.0” for close detail and fringes, or 6.0” and up for reach across bigger sections and over the comb.
Yes, if you cut with your left hand. A left-handed pair has its blades the other way round, so they close together under your grip instead of pushing apart.
Only if your work or course calls for one. A cutter makes the shape, and a thinner softens weight afterwards. The Mina Umi and Ichiro Ergo also come as sets with a 30-tooth thinner.
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.
Answer a few quick questions in the scissor finder for a shortlist matched to your hand, size and budget, or browse every cutting scissor we sell.
Tell us what you cut and which scissors you are comparing.
Ten compact cutters (5.0" to 5.5") and ten longer ones (6.0" to 7.0"): the Ichiko for fringes, the Ichiro Sword for over-comb and more, with prices.
Buy for the hand you cut with, start at 5.5” and pick a handle you can control. Real picks from A$109 for apprentices, barbers and left-handers.
