Best Scissors for Hairdressing Apprentices
By SalonScissors editorial team Updated
Your first kit only has to get you through class and your first clients. Here’s what to buy now.
How we chose: Picks from our range, based on maker specs, listed options and price. We sell them and haven’t run cutting tests. Prices checked 26 October 2026.
Before you buy, check your course list. If it names a size, an edge or a brand, buy that. Everything below is for when it doesn’t.
Which cutter should an apprentice start with?
The Ichiro Ergo Apprentice in 5.5”. It’s a right-handed offset cutter at A$199.95, and it comes with two edges:
| Ichiro Ergo option | The edge | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5” Convex Slice Cutting | Smooth and fine, for point cutting and slicing | You’re not sure. This is our pick |
| 6.0” Micro-Serrated Cutting | Tiny serrations grip the hair, so it won’t slide | You mainly cut blunt lines or scissor-over-comb |
On a tighter budget, the Mina Umi is A$114.95: choose Right / 5.5” Cutting Scissor. It has a flat edge, good for blunt lines but not for slide cutting.
Do you need a thinner in your first year?
Not on day one. Outlines, sections and your first one-length and graduated cuts are mostly cutter work. Add a thinner when blending comes up in your training, or when you start finishing clients.
If you know blending is coming this year, buy the set now. The Ichiro Ergo set is A$229.95, while the Ergo cutter and Ergo thinner bought separately come to A$399.90.
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1. Day one
Your cutter
The hand you cut with, in 5.5” unless you’ve been told otherwise.
Compare cutters -
2. When blending starts
A thinner
A 30-tooth blender, like the one in both starter sets.
See thinner picks -
3. On the floor
Case, care and a backup
A case and care kit from day one. A second cutter once you’re cutting clients.
Daily care routine
One cutter or a set?
Here are three ways to get a 5.5” cutter and a 6.0”, 30-tooth thinner, with today’s prices from our product pages:
One set
Mina Umi set
A$174.95 for both tools
A 5.5” cutter and a 6.0”, 30-tooth thinner, right-handed.
One set
Ichiro Ergo set
A$229.95 for both tools
A 5.5” cutter and a 6.0”, 30-tooth thinner, right-handed.
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Ichiro Ergo Slice & Serrated Hairdressing Scissor SetA$229.95
Choose 5.5" Convex Edge Slice Cutting Scissor / 6.0" 30 Teeth Thinning Scissor
Two buys
Ichiro Ergo cutter and thinner
A$399.90 for both tools
A 5.5” cutter and a 6.0”, 30-tooth thinner, right-handed.
Prices come from our product pages. Catalogue photos show each range, so the size pictured can differ.
Only need the cutter for now? Buy the Ichiro Ergo Apprentice, then add the Ergo thinner at A$199.95 when blending starts. Need two cutters and a thinner? Compare the three-piece master sets.
Left-handed apprentices
The Ergo is right-handed only. The Mina Umi comes in both hands: Left / 5.5” Cutting Scissor for A$114.95, or the set with a 6.0” thinner for A$174.95. Want a convex edge? The Ichiro Rose Lefty is a 6.0” left-handed convex slice cutter at A$199.
Mina Umi Hairdressing Scissor Set
Best for left-handed apprentices (Left / 5.5” Cutting & 6” Thinning)
Barbering apprentices
Barbering adds scissor-over-comb, and that wants a longer blade: 6.5” or 7.0”. Keep a shorter cutter for detail around the ears. The Ichiro Sword is A$219 in 6.0”, 6.5” or 7.0”, or the Mina Dark Gem is A$134.95 in 6.5” or 7.0”.
Ichiro Sword Scissors
Best for barber apprentices learning scissor-over-comb (6.5”)
What will your first year cost?
| Tight budget | Our starter picks | |
|---|---|---|
| Cutter and thinner | Mina Umi set, A$174.95 | Ichiro Ergo set, A$229.95 |
| Case | Mina case, A$14.95 | Mina case, A$14.95 |
| Care kit | Maintenance kit, A$19.95 | Maintenance kit, A$19.95 |
| Total | A$209.85 | A$264.85 |
Cutter only for now? That’s A$143.90 with the Mina Umi or A$223.90 with the Ichiro Ergo Apprentice. Every total here is over A$89, so standard delivery is free. Sharpening comes later: ask us for a quote when the edge starts folding hair.
Common questions
What scissors does a hairdressing apprentice need?
One cutter to start, usually a 5.5”. Add a thinner when blending starts, and keep a case and a care kit from day one. Barbering apprentices add a longer cutter for scissor-over-comb.
How much should an apprentice spend on scissors?
A$114.95 to A$229.95 for the scissors, or A$149.85 to A$264.85 with a case and a care kit. There’s no need to spend more in first year: using this pair is how you’ll learn what you want from the next one.
What if my scissors start folding hair?
Wipe and dry the blades, and check nothing is caught at the pivot. If they still fold hair, they need sharpening, so ask us with the model. A backup cutter keeps you working in the meantime.
Next step
Not sure about size or hand? The scissor finder asks four questions and shows the exact option to pick.
Before you pay, run through the 7 first-pair mistakes. Choosing where to buy a kit? See the Top 9 online hair scissor stores for apprentices and TAFE students in Australia and NZ.