The Best Elite Classic Scissors for Hairdressers
Elite Classic is the in-house shear brand of Nina Inc., a beauty supply distributor based in Newark, Delaware, with over 30 years in the salon trade. The range covers cutting and thinning shears with convex edge blades and offset handles, sold exclusively through the Nina Inc. catalogue. Five picks here run $120 to $175.
What are the best Elite Classic scissors?
The ET25, around $120, is the lower-tooth thinning scissor — a 25-tooth blade for significant bulk reduction, suited to thick or coarse hair. The EQ, around $130, is the standard offset bent-thumb cutting scissor with a slim pointed convex blade. The NXC, around $140, departs from the straight blade common to the range with a curved blade suited to slice cutting and controlled curved sectioning. The EDR, around $150, is an offset cutting scissor with a slim pointed convex blade in a standard offset handle geometry. The ETR, around $175, is the three-ring model — a tripod handle that distributes grip across three fingers rather than the standard two-ring configuration.
Elite Classic uses convex edge blades across all cutting models. The thinning models use blade tooth counts inferred from the model numbers — the ET25 at approximately 25 teeth and the EDT30 at approximately 30 teeth; confirm the actual count with Nina Inc. before buying. The offset bent-thumb handle runs through the EQ, EZ, EGB, and EDR models, each with minor geometry differences across the product line. The NXC curved blade is the only model in the range that departs from straight-blade geometry. The ETR three-ring handle suits stylists who use a tripod cutting grip. All models are sold through Nina Inc. at ninainc.com.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Elite Classic picks from $120 to $175
| Attribute | Elite Classic ET25 Thinning Scissors Elite Classic | Elite Classic EQ Professional Cutting Scissors Elite Classic | Elite Classic NXC Curved Cutting Scissors Elite Classic | Elite Classic EDR Professional Cutting Scissors Elite Classic | Elite Classic ETR Three-Ring Cutting Scissors Elite Classic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$120 | US$130 | US$140 | US$150 | US$175 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Entry-level | Entry-level | Entry-level |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Made in | — | — | — | — | — |
| Handle | Offset | Offset (bent thumb) | Offset | Offset | Three-ring (tripod) |
| Blade type | Thinning (25 teeth) | Convex | Convex | Convex | Convex |
| Sizes (in) | |||||
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five available through Nina Inc. (ninainc.com). Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on the product pages or directly with Nina Inc.
The Elite Classic convex range
Elite Classic is the in-house shear brand of Nina Inc., a beauty supply distributor based in Newark, Delaware, with over 30 years in the salon industry. The line covers cutting and thinning shears, all with convex edge blades and offset handles, and is sold exclusively through the Nina Inc. catalogue at ninainc.com.
The five-pick range runs from the ET25 thinning entry at $120 to the ETR three-ring cutting model at $175. Three of the five picks are cutting scissors — the EQ, NXC, and EDR — each in a distinct offset handle geometry. The ET25 is the lower-tooth thinning pick; the NXC is the sole curved-blade model in the catalogue. All models are available through Nina Inc..
The five picks
1. Elite Classic ET25 Thinning (guide price around $120). Elite Classic’s lower-tooth thinning scissor, with a blade tooth count inferred from the model number as approximately 25 teeth. A lower tooth count removes a higher proportion of hair per pass, making the ET25 the more aggressive bulk-removal tool in the Elite Classic thinning range. The offset handle is consistent with the broader line. Confirm the actual tooth count with Nina Inc. before buying. Available through Nina Inc..
2. Elite Classic EQ (around $130). Elite Classic’s standard offset bent-thumb cutting scissor with a slim pointed convex blade. The EQ is the base-level cutting model in the Elite Classic range, suited to stylists who prefer the reduced wrist deviation of a bent-thumb offset handle. The slim pointed tip allows close-in work on shorter sections. Available through Nina Inc..
3. Elite Classic NXC (around $140). Elite Classic’s curved-blade cutting scissor in an offset handle with a convex edge. The NXC uses a curved blade rather than the straight profile found across the rest of the Elite Classic cutting range. A curved blade suits slice cutting and controlled curved sectioning techniques. For stylists who work with arc-pull and curved slicing regularly, the NXC is the only model in the Elite Classic catalogue with this blade geometry. Available through Nina Inc..
4. Elite Classic EDR (around $150). Elite Classic’s slim pointed convex cutting scissor in a standard offset handle. The EDR sits at the mid-tier of the Elite Classic cutting range alongside the EGB. The offset handle reduces shoulder elevation during cutting sessions; the slim pointed blade suits detail work and point cutting around shorter sections. Available through Nina Inc..
5. Elite Classic ETR (around $175). Elite Classic’s three-ring tripod-handle cutting scissor with a slim pointed convex blade. The ETR uses a handle with three rings rather than the standard two, distributing grip load across the thumb, index, and middle fingers. This handle type suits stylists who use a tripod cutting grip and prefer the stability of three contact points. It is the most expensive cutting model in the Elite Classic range and the only one with this handle configuration. Available through Nina Inc..
How we chose
The five picks cover the distinctive categories in the Elite Classic range: the ET25 for thinning and bulk removal, the EQ as the standard offset cutting model, the NXC for its curved blade, the EDR at the mid-cutting tier, and the ETR for the three-ring handle option. Guide prices move; confirm current figures with Nina Inc. before buying.
The wider Elite Classic catalogue
The Elite Classic EZ (around $130) and Elite Classic EGB (around $150) are further offset bent-thumb cutting models that sit alongside the EQ and EDR with minor geometric differences. The Elite Classic EDT30 Thinning (around $135) is the higher-tooth thinning option with an inferred 30-tooth count. The full current range is listed on the Elite Classic brand page and at ninainc.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elite Classic is the in-house shear brand of Nina Inc., a beauty supply distributor based in Newark, Delaware. Nina Inc. has been in the salon trade for over 30 years. The Elite Classic line is sold exclusively through the Nina Inc. catalogue at ninainc.com.
All Elite Classic cutting models use convex edge blades. The convex edge is the standard professional scissor edge type — ground on both sides of the blade to a sharp, smooth cutting surface. Thinning models use serrated teeth on one blade.
Elite Classic cutting shears come in offset bent-thumb configurations (EQ, EZ, EGB, EDR), a three-ring tripod handle (ETR), and standard offset (NXC). The offset geometry reduces wrist elevation compared to a symmetric handle. The ETR three-ring handle distributes grip across three fingers.
The ET25 has an inferred 25-tooth blade and the EDT30 an inferred 30-tooth blade, based on the model numbers. A lower tooth count removes a higher proportion of hair per pass: the ET25 is suited to more aggressive bulk removal, and the EDT30 to moderate thinning and blending. Confirm the actual tooth counts directly with Nina Inc. before buying.
Elite Classic is sold exclusively through Nina Inc. at ninainc.com. Nina Inc. is the distributor and catalog channel for the brand. No other retailers are listed for Elite Classic in the ScissorPedia catalogue.