Barber Scissors Guide: Length, Blade and Kit

Scissor-over-comb needs more blade than most salon cutting, so a barber’s kit starts with a long pair. Here’s the length, blade and kit to buy.

What do barbers use scissors for?

Clippers take the bulk off. Scissors do four jobs around them: scissor-over-comb on the back and sides, blending a fade or taper into longer hair, detail around the ears and neckline, and texture on top. That takes a long cutter, a shorter cutter, a blender and a texturiser:

Australia’s over-comb unit, SHBHCUT005, covers scissor-over-comb and clipper-over-comb, plus outlines and blending. Our scissor-over-comb guide shows which tool suits each part of the cut. This one is about the scissors.

How long should barber scissors be?

6.5” to 7.0” for scissor-over-comb. A longer blade covers more of the comb on every pass. Joewell’s length guide says shorter scissors suit detailed work and longer ones cut more hair at once.

Here’s the extra blade, in Joewell’s own specs:

Size	Joewell model	Blade
5.5”	FX-PRO 55	54 mm
6.5”	LSF-65	74 mm
7.0”	LSF-70	85 mm

That’s 31 mm more blade along the comb on a 7.0” than on a 5.5”.

5.5” or 6.0” for detail. Around the ears and on a tight neckline, a shorter blade is easier to place. Want more than 7.0”? The Kamisori Sword goes to 7.5” in both hands. Our size guide shows how to measure the pair you have.

Which blade and edge suit barber work?

Straighter blades hold the hair. Joewell’s blade guide says the straighter the blade, the easier it holds hair without it sliding, while a curved bamboo-leaf blade suits slide cuts. For over-comb and blunt lines, go straight.

The edge matters too:

Edge	Good for	In our range
Convex	A very sharp edge for softer cutting	Ichiro Sword, Juntetsu VG10 Ergo, Joewell LSF
Flat or bevel	Blunt lines and over-comb	Mina Dark Gem, Mina Umi
Micro-serrated	Grips the hair as the blades close, so skip it for slide cuts	Mina Classic II 6.0”

“Sword” in a name describes the blade’s shape, so check the edge as well:

The best barber scissors in our range

Six long cutters, from the lowest price.

Best on a budget: Mina Dark Gem

Choose 7.0” Cutting Scissor, or 6.5” for more control. Flat edge, offset handle, matte black finish. Keep in mind: it’s right-handed only. Left-handers can get the Mina Umi as Left / 7” Cutting Scissor for A$109.

Best wide blade: Ichiro Sword

Choose 7.0” for the longest stroke or 6.5” in between. A wide convex blade and an offset handle. Keep in mind: it’s right-handed only, so pick 6.0” if it’s also your detail pair.

Best for VG10 steel: Juntetsu VG10 Ergo

Choose 7.0” Inches; 6.0” and 6.5” are listed too. A convex blade and an offset handle. Keep in mind: the Juntetsu Moonlight Sword has the same sizes and price in a different design.

Best everyday 7.0”: Yasaka

A fixed 7.0” with a semi-offset handle, ATS314 cobalt stainless steel and a slice edge, listed for long strokes and scissor-over-comb. Keep in mind: one size, right-handed only.

Best for left-handed barbers: Joewell LSF Lefty

Joewell lists the LSF-70 with an 85 mm Convex Shape blade and a permanent finger rest. The 6.5” LSF-65 has 74 mm. Keep in mind: Joewell sizes its finger holes Small.

Best premium pick: Kasho Silver Offset

Choose 7.0” Inch Cutting Scissors, listed for longer strokes and over-comb work; 5.5” to 6.5” are listed too. An ATS-314 slice blade with a convex, hollow-ground edge and an offset handle. Keep in mind: the Yasaka 7.0” also uses ATS314 steel, for about half the price.

Which thinning scissors do barbers need?

Two kinds, for two jobs:

• A blender softens the line where clipper work meets scissor work.
• A texturiser or chunker has fewer, wider-spaced teeth and takes out visible pieces for texture on top.

Don’t choose on tooth count. Joewell’s thinning guide says the cut ratio depends on the number of teeth and their shape.

Best blender on a budget: Mina Umi

A 6.0” thinner with V-shaped teeth and an offset handle, in Right or Left. Keep in mind: blend a small section first, then build up.

Best texturiser: Ichiro Kawa

Choose 14-Teeth Chunker for visible texture, or 30-Teeth Blender (Popular) to soften a line. Same price, same offset grip. Keep in mind: it’s right-handed only.

From the barber range, the Kasho Design Master 15 Tooth is a 6.0” texturiser for visible separation, at A$429.

What should an apprentice barber buy first?

Check your course kit list first. The assessment for SHBHCUT005 sets each station up with:

• cutting scissors, plus texturising and thinning scissors;
• clippers with attachments, and safety razors;
• cutting combs with fine and coarse ends, a tapering comb and a flat-top comb;
• sectioning clips and a neck brush.

For the scissors, one three-piece set covers all three jobs:

A 7.0” for over-comb, a 5.5” for detail and a 6.0”, 30-tooth thinner. Left-handed? Choose Left-Handed / 5.5” & 7.0” Cutting / 6.0” Thinning. Keep in mind: the set comes in 27 pairings, so check the hand and both lengths before you order.

On a tighter budget, a two-piece kit:

A 7.0” flat-bevel cutter and a 6.0” thinner. Keep in mind: it’s right-handed only, with no short detail pair.

How do you look after barber scissors?

The same way as any salon scissors, after every client:

1. Brush the hair out of the pivot and from between a thinner’s teeth.
2. Clean the blades with your shop’s approved product, following its label.
3. Dry the blades, rings and pivot. Joewell warns that moisture left after cleaning can cause rust.
4. Oil the pivot only if your maker says to, then store the pair closed in its own slot or pouch.

Our cleaning guide has the full routine and each maker’s oiling advice.

Common questions

What size scissors do barbers use?

A 6.5” or 7.0” for scissor-over-comb, plus a 5.5” or 6.0” for detail around the ears and neckline. The size guide shows how to measure yours.

Are barber scissors different from hairdressing scissors?

Mainly in length. A barber’s long cutter is the same kind of tool with more blade for over-comb work. Steel, edge and handle choices work the same way.

How many pairs of scissors does a barber need?

Three covers most of the work: a 6.5” or 7.0” for over-comb, a 5.5” or 6.0” for detail and a blender. Add a texturiser if you cut a lot of texture on top.

What can left-handed barbers buy?

A true left-handed pair. In our range: the Joewell LSF Lefty in 6.5” or 7.0” (A$649), the Kamisori Sword in Left 6.0” to 7.5” (A$690) and the Mina Umi as Left / 7” Cutting Scissor (A$109).

Do I still need scissors if I fade with clippers?

Yes, for blending into longer hair, the top and close detail. Australia’s over-comb unit, SHBHCUT005, assesses scissor-over-comb as well as clipper-over-comb.

Next step

Ready to choose? Start with the barber range.

Related: scissor-over-comb tools and the size guide.