The Best Juntetsu Scissors for Hairdressers
Juntetsu is a Tokyo-based Japanese scissor brand known for making Takefu VG-10 accessible at the lower end of the professional price range. The range starts at $129 for a Japan-made VG-10 cutting scissor and extends through cobalt-enhanced VG-10 and ATS-314 cobalt at the top. Five picks here, from the entry Classic II to the angled-blade Sword at $324, all made in Japan.
What are the best Juntetsu scissors?
The Classic II, around $129, is Juntetsu's entry VG-10 cutting scissor at 58–60 HRC with an offset handle — one of the most accessible Japan-made VG-10 scissors in the market. The VG10 Offset, around $194, puts Takefu VG-10 at 60–62 HRC into a 3D offset ergonomic handle in the full 4.5 to 7.0 inch size range. The Akane, around $234, pairs VG-10 with a rose gold finish — the same cutting performance as the VG10 Offset with a titanium coating applied to the blade face. The Cobalt Apex, around $246, uses a cobalt-enhanced version of Takefu VG-10 with a 45-degree convex edge and enhanced tip strength. The Sword, around $324, applies ATS-314 cobalt steel at 62–63 HRC to an angled sword blade design in barbering lengths from 6.0 to 7.0 inch.
The first three picks use standard Takefu VG-10; the Cobalt Apex uses VG-10 Cobalt, which is a cobalt-enhanced version of the same base; the Sword uses ATS-314 cobalt steel — a different grade entirely. The hardness progression in this list runs from 58–60 HRC (Classic II) through 60–62 HRC (VG10 Offset, Akane, Cobalt Apex) to 62–63 HRC (Sword). All five are made in Japan.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Juntetsu picks from $129 to $324
| Attribute | Juntetsu Classic II Hair Cutting Scissors Juntetsu | Juntetsu VG10 Offset Hair Cutting Scissors Juntetsu | Juntetsu Akane Premium Rose Gold Hair Cutting Shears Juntetsu | Juntetsu Cobalt Apex Haircutting Scissor Juntetsu | Juntetsu Sword Professional Hair Cutting Shears Juntetsu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$129 | US$194 | US$234 | US$246 | US$324 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Steel | VG-10 | VG-10 | VG-10 | VG-10 Cobalt | ATS-314 Cobalt |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset |
| Blade type | — | Convex | Convex | Convex | Sword |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5 · 6.0 | 4.5 · 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 · 7.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 | 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 | 6.0 · 6.5 · 7.0 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Japan. Steel and hardness from product pages. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
Juntetsu’s position in the VG-10 market
Juntetsu is a Tokyo-based Japanese brand that has made Takefu VG-10 accessible at the lower end of the professional price range. The Classic II at $129 is one of the few Japan-manufactured VG-10 scissors available below $150; most VG-10 from Japanese production starts above $180 in other catalogues.
The Juntetsu range is primarily VG-10 — Takefu-sourced across most of the cutting line, with a cobalt-enhanced VG-10 variant (VG-10 Cobalt) in the Cobalt Apex and some thinning models. At the top of the cutting range, the Sword steps to ATS-314 cobalt at 62–63 HRC for stylists who want a harder blade in barbering-length scissors.
The practical progression for a stylist building into Juntetsu: Classic II as a first Japan-made VG-10 pair, VG10 Offset as the step-up with a 60–62 HRC bracket and wider size range, Cobalt Apex for the cobalt-enhanced edge, and Sword if you work in 6.0 to 7.0 inch lengths with barbering technique.
The five picks
1. Juntetsu Classic II (guide price around $129). Juntetsu’s entry VG-10 cutting scissor. Takefu VG-10 at 58–60 HRC, convex edge, offset handle. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The Classic II’s position in the market is notable: Japan-manufactured, VG-10 steel, convex edge, $129. For a stylist moving into Japanese professional scissors, it is the most accessible Juntetsu entry. Available through Japan Scissors.
2. Juntetsu VG10 Offset (around $194). Juntetsu’s core VG-10 professional scissor. Takefu VG-10 at 60–62 HRC, 3D offset ergonomic handle, convex edge. Available in the full range from 4.5 to 7.0 inch — the widest size run in this list. The VG10 Offset steps the Classic II to a higher hardness bracket (60–62 versus 58–60 HRC) and a 3D offset handle designed for ergonomic comfort. Available through Japan Scissors.
3. Juntetsu Akane (around $234). Juntetsu’s VG-10 cutting scissor in a rose gold finish. Takefu VG-10 with a convex edge, offset handle, and a rose gold titanium coating applied to the blade face. The Akane pairs the same VG-10 cutting performance as the VG10 Offset with a PVD rose gold titanium coating — for stylists who want the Juntetsu VG-10 grade in a coloured finish. Available in 4.5 to 7.0 inch. Available through Japan Scissors.
4. Juntetsu Cobalt Apex (around $246). Juntetsu’s cobalt-enhanced VG-10 cutting scissor. Takefu VG-10 Cobalt at 60–62 HRC, 45-degree convex edge, ergonomic offset handle. The Cobalt Apex uses a cobalt-enhanced version of Takefu VG-10 — the product page specifies enhanced tip strength as a feature of the 45-degree edge geometry. Made in Japan. Available through Japan Scissors.
5. Juntetsu Sword (around $324). Juntetsu’s ATS-314 cobalt steel barber shear. ATS-314 cobalt at 62–63 HRC, angled sword blade design, Master’s Grip geometry offset handle. Available in 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 inch — a size range designed for barbering lengths. The Sword’s angled blade is documented for scissor-over-comb and detail work at barbering lengths. The ATS-314 steel at 62–63 HRC is the hardest steel in this list. Available through Japan Scissors.
How we chose
Each pick documents Juntetsu as brand and Japan as country of manufacture. The five cover three steel grades (VG-10, VG-10 Cobalt, ATS-314 Cobalt) and a hardness progression from 58–60 to 62–63 HRC. The Akane and VG10 Offset use the same VG-10 grade — the distinction is the rose gold coating and size range. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Juntetsu range
Juntetsu’s full cutting range includes Damascus models (Juntetsu Matte Black Damascus), swivel-thumb models, aluminium-cobalt alloy builds (Juntetsu Aero Pro Cobalt), and a matched VG-10 offset set (Juntetsu VG10 Offset Set). The thinning and texturizing range — including the Chomper series — is on the Juntetsu brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Takefu VG-10 is VG-10 steel produced by Takefu Special Steel, one of Japan’s primary blade-steel manufacturers. VG-10 contains cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium. The cobalt and vanadium additions create a fine carbide structure that takes and holds a keen convex edge at 58–62 HRC depending on the processing. Juntetsu specifies Takefu as the source on several product pages — ‘Takefu VG-10’ is the same steel as standard VG-10, the sourcing note confirms the mill. Some Juntetsu models specify VG-10 Cobalt, which is a cobalt-enhanced variant of the same base grade.
Standard VG-10 already contains cobalt as part of its alloy formula. ‘VG-10 Cobalt’ as used by Juntetsu refers to a version with a higher cobalt content or additional cobalt processing — the Cobalt Apex product page specifies the cobalt enhancement. In the Juntetsu range, VG-10 Cobalt models (Cobalt Apex, some thinning models) sit above standard VG-10 models in both price and documented hardness bracket. Confirm the specific grade on the product page before buying.
The Sword features a blade angled at the tip rather than running parallel to the handle — a ‘sword blade’ geometry where the cutting edge curves slightly upward toward the point. Juntetsu’s product page documents this as designed for barbering-length work (6.0 to 7.0 inch), where the angled tip aids scissor-over-comb and clipper-over-finger detail cutting. The ATS-314 cobalt steel at 62–63 HRC supports the dry-cutting contexts common in barbering.
Yes. Juntetsu makes thinning scissors across the VG-10 range (28-tooth, 30-tooth, and 40-tooth models) and a wide range of texturizing scissors including the Chomper, VG10 Chomper, and cobalt texturizing models. See the Juntetsu brand page for the full thinning and texturizing catalogue.