The Best DMI Scissors for Hairdressers
DMI is the own scissor line of D. MacIntyre & Son, a hair and beauty wholesaler based in Milton Keynes, England. The range pairs Japanese steel with hollow-ground convex blades and offset crane handles at prices suited to students and newly qualified stylists. Four picks from $78 to $98, all sold through established UK hairdressing suppliers.
What are the best DMI scissors?
The Professional, around $78, is the entry cutting scissor in the DMI range — Japanese steel, hollow-ground convex blade, offset crane handle, available in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch in both right- and left-handed builds. The Barber, around $85, is a 6.5 and 7.0 inch cutting scissor supplied with black finger-ring inserts and a black sheath for barber use. The Barber Thinning, around $85, is a 6.0-inch 30-tooth thinning shear with hollow-ground Japanese steel blades, also supplied with black inserts and sheath. The Professional Thinning, around $98, is a 5.5-inch thinning shear in Japanese steel for students and entry-level use, available in right- and left-handed builds.
DMI is positioned at the student and entry-level professional market. The brand uses Japanese steel throughout — hollow-ground convex blades and offset crane handles across both the cutting and thinning ranges. The Professional series is the only model in the catalogued range with confirmed left-handed availability, in both cutting and thinning versions. The Barber and Barber Thinning are distinguished from the Professional by their longer blade lengths and the supplied black accessories (inserts and sheath), indicating a barber-specific positioning. DMI has broad UK distribution: confirmed stockists include Direct Hairdressing Scissors, Eson Direct, Coolblades, Chris & Sons, Capital Hair & Beauty, and others. The range does not have confirmed international distribution outside the United Kingdom.
Verified Jun 2026
Four DMI picks from $78 to $98
| Attribute | DMI Professional Scissors DMI | DMI Barber Scissors DMI | DMI Barber Thinning Scissors DMI | DMI Professional Thinning Scissors DMI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$78 | US$85 | US$85 | US$98 |
| Price tier | Budget | Budget | Budget | Budget |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Made in | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Handle | Offset crane | Offset crane | Offset crane | Offset crane |
| Blade type | Hollow ground convex | Hollow ground convex | Hollow ground thinning | Thinning |
| Sizes (in) | 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 | 6.5 · 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product |
All four use Japanese steel with hollow-ground convex blades. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
The DMI student and professional range
DMI is the own scissor line of D. MacIntyre & Son, a hair and beauty wholesaler based in Milton Keynes, England. The brand puts Japanese steel, hollow-ground convex blades, and offset crane handles into four models priced between $78 and $98 — a range built for hairdressing students and newly qualified stylists who need a professional-grade scissor at an accessible price.
DMI has broad UK distribution across established hairdressing suppliers. The Professional series includes left-handed models in both cutting and thinning versions.
The four picks
1. DMI Professional (guide price around $78). DMI’s entry cutting scissor — Japanese steel, hollow-ground convex blade, offset crane handle. Available in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch in both right- and left-handed builds. The Professional is the most versatile model in the catalogued DMI range for hairdressing use, covering the standard size run and both hand orientations at the lowest guide price. Available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors and Chris & Sons.
2. DMI Barber Scissors (around $85). DMI’s longer cutting scissor in Japanese steel with a hollow-ground convex blade, offset crane handle, supplied with black finger-ring inserts and a black sheath. Available in 6.5 and 7.0 inch — the longer blade lengths suited to scissor-over-comb and barber-style cutting. Available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors and Chris & Sons.
3. DMI Barber Thinning Scissors (around $85). DMI’s 6.0-inch, 30-tooth thinning shear with hollow-ground Japanese steel blades, supplied with black finger-ring inserts and a black sheath. Suited to blending and thinning in a barber context at the same guide price as the Barber cutting scissor. Available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors and Chris & Sons.
4. DMI Professional Thinning Scissors (around $98). DMI’s 5.5-inch thinning shear in Japanese steel for students and entry-level use, available in both right- and left-handed builds. The Professional Thinning pairs with the Professional cutting scissor for stylists who want a matched set across both cutting and thinning at the entry price level. The highest guide price in the catalogued DMI range, at $98. Available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors and Chris & Sons.
How we chose
Each pick covers a distinct use in the DMI range. The Professional is the standard hairdressing cutter with left-hand availability. The Barber covers longer blade lengths for barber-style work. The Barber Thinning adds blending at barber lengths. The Professional Thinning rounds out the student-oriented cutter-and-thinner pairing in left-handed builds. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider DMI catalogue
The DMI brand page and the brand’s parent company at dmacintyre.co.uk cover the wider range, including coloured Professional models. UK stockists including Eson Direct and Coolblades carry the full catalogue with current pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMI is the own-brand scissor line of D. MacIntyre & Son, a hair and beauty wholesaler based in Milton Keynes, England. The brand sells through UK hairdressing suppliers rather than its own retail site.
DMI is positioned for hairdressing students and entry-level professionals. The price range — $78 to $98 at guide prices across the four catalogued models — makes the range accessible for trainees buying their first professional pair.
Yes. The DMI Professional cutting scissor and Professional Thinning are both available in left-handed builds, alongside the standard right-handed versions.
The DMI Professional is a 5.0 to 6.0 inch cutting scissor available in right- and left-handed builds, aimed at hairdressers and students. The Barber is a longer scissor at 6.5 and 7.0 inch, supplied with black finger-ring inserts and a black sheath, positioned for barbers who work on shorter styles where longer blades are practical.
DMI has broad UK distribution. Confirmed stockists include Direct Hairdressing Scissors, Eson Direct, Coolblades, and Chris & Sons. D. MacIntyre & Son’s wholesale operation is at dmacintyre.co.uk.