The Best Italian Scissor Brands for Hairdressers
Italy's professional scissor tradition is centred on Maniago in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a metalworking town with cutlery and blade production dating back centuries. The four picks here cover TRI ($70 Italian stainless entry), Hepike ($90 Hitachi 440 Japanese-steel pair), Kiepe ($120 Monster Cut from Premana, Lecco), and Leader ($275 Maniago-made Firenze) — one product from each of the four Italian brands on ScissorPedia.
What are the best Italian scissor brands for hairdressers?
TRI's Essential Elite 500, around $70, is a 420J2 Japanese steel entry cutting scissor produced in Italy under IT&LY Hairfashion, a Milan company established in 1987. Hepike's Regular AA, around $90, is a Hitachi 440 Japanese-steel classic-handle cutting scissor at 59.5 HRC, distributed in the UK by Crewe Orlando. Kiepe's Monster Cut, around $120, is an Italian stainless steel cutting shear from a Premana, Lecco brand founded in 1960. Leader's Firenze, around $275, is a handmade Italian stainless cutting scissor from Maniago, produced across more than 200 production steps under third-generation family ownership at Leader-CAM.
Three of the four Italian brands on ScissorPedia document Italian country of manufacture: TRI (Essential Elite 500), Kiepe (Monster Cut), and Leader (Firenze, Passione). Hepike uses Japanese Hitachi 440 steel published at 59.5 HRC and is distributed in the UK through Crewe Orlando, a trade supplier established in 1978. The four brands cover the range from a student-grade entry pair at $70 through a Maniago handmade professional model at $525 for the Leader Passione Damascus.
Verified Jun 2026
Four picks across four Italian brands, from $70 to $275
| Attribute | TRI Essential Elite 500 Cutting Scissors TRI | Hepike Regular AA Cutting Scissors Hepike | Kiepe Monster Cut Kiepe | Leader Firenze Cutting Scissors Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$70 | US$90 | US$120 | US$275 |
| Price tier | Budget | Entry-level | Entry-level | Mid-range |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Made in | Italy | — | Italy | Italy |
| Handle | Offset | Classic (even) | — | Offset |
| Blade type | — | Convex | — | Convex |
| Sizes (in) | 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 | 5.0" · 5.5" · 6.0" · 6.5" · 7.0" | 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 | 5.7 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product |
One representative product per brand. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
Four brands, two production contexts
Italy’s catalogued scissor brands on ScissorPedia split across two distinct contexts. Kiepe (Premana, Lecco, founded 1960) and Leader (Maniago) represent Italy’s traditional northern metalworking towns, where blade production has continued for generations. TRI operates under IT&LY Hairfashion, a Milan-based professional beauty company established in 1987 that distributes across Europe and beyond, with scissors produced in Italy under that umbrella. Hepike is distributed in the UK through Crewe Orlando (established 1978) and uses Japanese Hitachi 440 steel at 59.5 HRC — a specification the brand documents directly.
The four brands sit at different positions in the market. TRI offers the widest range of price points, from $35 entry models to $190 for the Titan. Kiepe runs from $55 student pairs to $150 for the Sonic. Leader’s Firenze entry is $275 — a handmade Maniago price — with the Damascus Passione at $525 at the top. Hepike’s catalogued range sits between $75 and $95.
The four picks
1. TRI Essential Elite 500 (guide price around $70). TRI’s 420J2 Japanese steel cutting scissor, produced in Italy. Available in 5.0 (model 520), 5.5 (521), and 6.0 (522) inch, each supplied with finger rings, removable finger rest, and an aluminium case. The Essential Elite 500 is the step up from TRI’s Dimension Slim entry, bringing a polished finish and three size options at a student-accessible price. Available through yoiscissors.co.uk and Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
2. Hepike Regular AA (around $90). Hepike’s classic even-handle cutting scissor in Japanese Hitachi 440 steel at 59.5 HRC. Available in five sizes from 5.0 to 7.0 inch. The even handle places both rings at the same angle — a grip that suits stylists trained on traditional scissor positions or those working long sections where a neutral wrist angle is preferable. Razor-edge convex blade; tension-regulating screw; removable finger rest. Distributed in the UK by Crewe Orlando and available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
3. Kiepe Monster Cut (around $120). Kiepe’s Italian stainless steel cutting shear from Premana, Lecco, available in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch. Kiepe was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Premana, a small municipality in the Lecco province with a long tradition in cutlery and tool production. The Monster Cut sits in the mid-tier of Kiepe’s cutting range, above the Academy student pair and below the Sonic Ergo and Blonde models. Available direct from kiepe.co.uk and through Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
4. Leader Firenze (around $275). Leader’s 5.7 inch handmade cutting scissor from Maniago, made in Italy across more than 200 production steps by Leader-CAM, a third-generation family company. Italian stainless steel, offset handle, convex blade. The Firenze is the entry point into the Leader catalogue. Above it sits the Italian Style and Kiss at $365, and the Damascus-steel Passione at $525. For current sizing, stock, and pricing, visit the Leader brand page or Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
How we chose
These four brands are every Italian-origin scissor brand on ScissorPedia with documented retail availability and confirmed guide prices. One product per brand covers entry to professional tiers. Guide prices move; confirm current figures on each product page before buying.
Adjacent roundups
For German brands from the other major European scissor tradition — Jaguar, TONDEO, Cerena, Nic, and EKS — the German scissor brands roundup covers the Solingen-centred industry. For the UK brands that use a mixture of Japanese and European steel, the UK scissor brands roundup maps Haito, TITAN, Nikko, Matakki, Glamtech, and eBlade from £46 to £500+.
Frequently Asked Questions
The traditional centre of Italian scissor production is Maniago, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. Leader is produced in Maniago by Leader-CAM, a third-generation family company, across more than 200 handmade production steps. Kiepe is headquartered in Premana, Lecco, another cutlery and tool-making town in northern Italy. TRI scissors are produced in Italy under IT&LY Hairfashion, a Milan-based professional beauty company. Hepike is distributed in the UK and uses Japanese Hitachi 440 steel; country of manufacture for Hepike is not published on product pages — Direct Hairdressing Scissors carries the full current specifications.
TRI’s Essential Elite 500 uses 420J2 Japanese steel. TRI’s premium Ergo Classic Cobalt uses cobalt steel. Kiepe uses Italian stainless steel across its cutting range. Leader uses Italian stainless steel for the Firenze and Kiss models, and Damascus steel for the Passione. Hepike uses Japanese Hitachi 440 at 59.5 HRC, a specification published directly by the brand.
Maniago has a documented metalworking tradition. Leader scissors are produced in Maniago by Leader-CAM and the brand documents over 200 production steps for each pair under third-generation family ownership. The Firenze model (5.7 inch, Italian stainless, offset handle) and the Passione (Damascus steel, 6.0 and 7.0 inch) are the two Maniago-made Leader models catalogued on ScissorPedia. The specification on each product page is the practical guide to what you are buying.
The four brands catalogued here run from $35 (TRI Dimension Slim entry) to $525 (Leader Passione Damascus). TRI’s range runs $35 to $190. Kiepe runs $55 to $150. Hepike runs $75 to $95 for catalogued models. Leader runs $275 to $525.