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 list 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. Together the four brands run from a student-grade entry pair at $70 to a Maniago handmade professional model at $525, the Leader Passione Damascus.
Verified Jun 2026
The picks, at a glance
Product photos from the ScissorPedia catalogue; see each product page for provenance.
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 |
| Made in | Italy | Not listed | Italy | Italy |
| Handle | Offset | Classic (even) | Not listed | Offset |
| Blade type | Not listed | Convex | Not listed | 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 |
| Product links | 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 contexts. Kiepe (Premana, Lecco, founded 1960) and Leader (Maniago) represent the 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 publishes directly.
The four brands sit at different positions in the market. TRI offers the widest spread 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, in 5.0 (model 520), 5.5 (521), and 6.0 (522) inch. Each size ships with finger rings, a removable finger rest, and an aluminium case. It sits a step above TRI’s Dimension Slim entry, adding 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). A classic even-handle cutting scissor from Hepike in Japanese Hitachi 440 steel at 59.5 HRC, across five sizes from 5.0 to 7.0 inch. The even handle sets both rings at the same angle, a grip that suits stylists trained on traditional scissor positions or anyone working long sections where a neutral wrist angle helps. 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 cutting shear in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch, from a brand founded in 1960 and headquartered in Premana, a small municipality in the Lecco province with a long tradition in cutlery and tool production. The Monster Cut sits mid-tier in the Kiepe 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: Italian stainless steel, offset handle, convex blade, made in Italy across more than 200 production steps by Leader-CAM, a third-generation family company. The Firenze is the entry point into the Leader catalogue; above it sit 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 confirmed retail availability and 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
Where are Italian scissors made?
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, and Direct Hairdressing Scissors carries the full current specifications.
What steel do Italian scissors use?
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.
Are Maniago scissors good quality?
Maniago’s metalworking tradition goes back centuries. Leader scissors are produced in Maniago by Leader-CAM, and the brand counts more than 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.
What price range do Italian scissor brands cover?
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.