The Best DOWA Scissors for Hairdressers
DOWA is a Japanese scissor brand operated by Dowa International Ltd., with offices in London and Tokyo, producing scissors under the PASSION name since 1980. The range runs from entry stainless at $108 through cobalt models to a Damascus flagship at $804. Five picks here cover that spread, all made in Japan.
What are the best DOWA scissors?
The C4, around $108, is the entry point — a hollow-ground stainless scissor with a semi-offset handle available in three sizes from 5.0 to 6.0 inch. The Mido, around $127, is a stainless scissor designed around hand comfort, with a dipped thumb hole and smaller finger holes suited to tapering and slicing work. The Crown, around $209, steps up to VG10 cobalt steel in longer sizes — 6.0 to 7.5 inch — for stylists cutting at barber lengths who want more edge retention. The Sword X, around $304, is a cobalt alloy scissor with a sword blade profile and a longer handle shank, individually honed and fitted with a tension-locking screw. The Keiun, around $804, is the Damascus flagship — layered steel over an ATS-314 cobalt core, named after the Japanese for a view of clouds in reference to its Damascus pattern.
DOWA’s cutting scissors fall into two main steel categories: high carbon stainless at the entry tier (C4, Mido) and cobalt alloys from the Crown upward. The Damascus models — Keiun, Cirrus, Kokaji, Nimbus — use a layered Damascus structure with an ATS-314 cobalt core. The Crown uses VG10 cobalt, which DOWA describes as adding edge retention over the entry stainless. The Sword X and several other mid-range models use cobalt alloy steel. Dowa International runs a sharpening service from its London office. For current model specifications and steel grade details, see the DOWA brand page or the official Dowa International site.
Verified Jun 2026
Five DOWA Passion picks from $108 to $804
| Attribute | DOWA Passion C4 Cutting Scissors DOWA | DOWA Passion Mido Cutting Scissors DOWA | DOWA Passion Cobalt Crown Cutting Scissors DOWA | DOWA Passion Sword X Cutting Scissors DOWA | DOWA Passion Keiun Damascus Cutting Scissors DOWA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$108 | US$127 | US$209 | US$304 | US$804 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Mid-range | Mid-range | Luxury |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Cobalt Alloy | Cobalt Alloy | Damascus + Cobalt ATS314 |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset |
| Blade type | Hollow ground | Slim slicing blade | Weighted long blade | Sword blade | Damascus layered with cobalt core |
| Sizes (in) | 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 | 6.0 · 6.5 · 7.0 · 7.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Japan. Available through HIEN and Dowa International. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
The DOWA Passion range
DOWA is a Japanese brand operated by Dowa International Ltd., with offices in London and Tokyo. The company has produced professional scissors under the PASSION name since 1980. Dowa International is also the official UK importer for YS Park Pro Tools.
The catalogued range covers 19 models, split between entry stainless, cobalt alloy mid-range, and a Damascus premium line. Sizes run from 4.5 to 7.5 inches across the cutting range. Steel runs from high carbon stainless at entry through cobalt alloy models to Damascus with an ATS-314 cobalt core at the top. All DOWA scissors are made in Japan.
DOWA scissors are sold through the HIEN online store, the Hasami House Rakuten storefront, and the official Dowa International website. Dowa International runs a sharpening service from its London office.
The five picks
1. DOWA Passion C4 (guide price around $108). DOWA’s entry cutting scissor — high carbon stainless steel, hollow ground blades, semi-offset handle in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. The C4 is designed around a semi-offset handle that suits both level-set and offset preferences and accommodates larger fingers. The hollow ground blade keeps weight down while maintaining cutting efficiency. Available through HIEN and Dowa International.
2. DOWA Passion Mido (around $127). DOWA’s entry stainless scissor built around hand comfort — high carbon stainless with a dipped thumb hole, smaller-than-average finger holes, and a curved finger rest. The Mido is designed for tapering and slicing work where quick response and hand freedom matter. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. Available through HIEN and Dowa International.
3. DOWA Passion Cobalt Crown (around $209). DOWA’s VG10 cobalt cutting scissor in longer sizes — 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and 7.5 inch. The Crown uses weighted blades that DOWA describes as suited to crisp control on longer lengths, taking stress off the hand during long-blade cutting sessions. VG10 cobalt raises edge retention above the entry stainless tier. The 7.5 inch option is the longest in the catalogued PASSION range. Available through HIEN and Dowa International.
4. DOWA Passion Sword X (around $304). DOWA’s cobalt alloy scissor with a sword blade profile. The Sword X has a longer handle shank for grip comfort and a tension-locking screw for tension adjustment; each pair is individually honed. DOWA describes the sword blade as channelling equal cutting energy to the tip. Available in 5.0 inch. Available through HIEN and Dowa International.
5. DOWA Passion Keiun Damascus (around $804). DOWA’s Damascus flagship — layered Damascus steel with an ATS-314 cobalt inner core, hollow ground blades, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. DOWA named the Keiun after the Japanese for a view of clouds, a reference to the swirling Damascus pattern on the surface. The layered ductile steel structure is described as absorbing cutting shock, with the ATS-314 cobalt core providing sharpness and edge hold. Available through HIEN and Dowa International.
How we chose
The five picks represent the main structural tiers in the DOWA range: entry stainless (C4, Mido), cobalt alloy mid-range (Crown, Sword X), and the Damascus premium line (Keiun). The Crown is included over other cobalt models for its long-size range up to 7.5 inch. The Sword X is included for its sword blade profile at the cobalt alloy tier. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider DOWA catalogue
The DOWA Passion range also includes several additional cobalt models: the Arc, Eclipse, Omega, Alto NY, Alto YTK, and V10 cover prices from around $215 to $361 in the non-Damascus cobalt tier. The Damascus line extends to the Nimbus ($475), Cirrus Slim ($487), Kokaji Slim ($506), Cirrus Fat ($538), and Kokaji Fat ($538) in addition to the Keiun. The DOWA Passion 2 Step ($250) is the catalogued thinning scissor in the range. For the full catalogue, see the DOWA brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. DOWA is a Japanese brand operated by Dowa International Ltd., with offices in London and Tokyo. The company has produced scissors under the PASSION name since 1980.
DOWA’s range covers high carbon stainless at the entry tier, cobalt alloy steel in the mid-range, and Damascus with an ATS-314 cobalt core in the premium Damascus models. The product page for each model lists the confirmed grade.
The DOWA Damascus scissors — Keiun, Cirrus Fat, Cirrus Slim, Kokaji Fat, Kokaji Slim, and Nimbus — use layered Damascus steel with an ATS-314 cobalt inner core. The Damascus pattern is structural rather than decorative. The Keiun is the most expensive in the Damascus range at a guide price of around $804.
DOWA scissors are sold through the HIEN online store, the Hasami House Rakuten storefront, and the official Dowa International website. For current retailer links, see the DOWA brand page.
Dowa International states that it operates a sharpening service from its London office. For current terms and pricing, contact Dowa International directly.
The catalogued PASSION range runs from 4.5 to 7.5 inches. The Crown runs up to 7.5 inch, making it the longest in these picks. The C4 and Mido cover 5.0 to 6.0 inch; the Sword X is 5.0 inch only; the Keiun runs 5.5 and 6.0 inch.