The Best Kasho Scissors for Hairdressers
Kasho is the professional scissors brand of KAI Corporation, a company established in 1908 and headquartered in Tokyo. Scissors are made in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture — Japan's primary blade-making centre. The range is built primarily around VG-10W, KAI's tungsten-enhanced VG-10 grade, across series from the entry Design Master through to the Green line and the sintered steel Millennium at the top. Five picks here span US$227 to US$812, all made in Japan in Seki City.
Updated
What are the best Kasho scissors for professional hairdressers?
The Design Master Offset, around US$227, is the entry to Kasho's professional range in VG-10W with a semi-convex edge, Disc Operation System tension, and offset handle. The Blue Offset, around US$292, has a full convex edge in VG-10W and a flat-head screw. The Silver Offset, around US$487, is a premium VG-10W pair at 58–60 HRC with higher finishing standards than the Blue. The Green Semi-Offset, around US$584, is a semi-offset pair at the top of the VG-10W range at 58–60 HRC. The Millennium Offset, around US$812, applies Kasho's sintered steel at 60–62 HRC — the highest-hardness tier in the Kasho range.
Every pick uses VG-10W except the Millennium, which uses sintered steel. VG-10W is KAI’s tungsten-modified VG-10 grade — the tungsten addition refines carbide structure for a more durable edge than standard VG-10. The practical step between Design Master and Blue is the edge finish (semi-convex to full convex); the step from Blue to Silver and Green is finishing quality and hardness bracket; the step to Millennium is the alloy change to sintered steel. Series names on the product page (Design Master, Blue, Silver, Green, Millennium) directly correspond to these tiers.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | Pick 1 Kasho Design Master Offset Hair Cutting Scissors Kasho | Pick 2 Kasho Blue Offset Hair Cutting Scissors Kasho | Pick 3 Kasho Silver Offset Hair Cutting Scissors Kasho | Pick 4 Kasho Green Semi-Offset Hair Cutting Scissors Kasho | Pick 5 Kasho Millennium Offset Hair Cutting Scissors Kasho |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price band | US$227Price band US$200–400 · Mid-range | US$292Price band US$200–400 · Mid-range | US$487Price band US$400–800 · Premium | US$584Price band US$400–800 · Premium | US$812Price band US$800+ · Luxury |
| Steel | VG-10W | VG-10W | VG-10W | VG-10W | Not listed |
| Made in | Japan | Not listed | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Semi-Offset | Offset |
| Blade type | Semi-Convex | Convex | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Sizes (in) | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0 | 4.5· 5.0· 5.5 | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.3· 6.2 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
Five Kasho picks from US$227 to US$812
- 1Kasho
Kasho Design Master Offset Hair Cutting Scissors
- VG-10W
- Offset handle
- Semi-Convex blade
Kasho’s entry professional series: VG-10W steel, semi-convex edge, Disc Operation System tension adjustment, offset handle, in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. The same VG-10W alloy and Japanese production as the upper series, with a semi-convex edge finish rather than the full convex of higher tiers. A straight (classic symmetric) handle variant and thinning versions are also available in the Design Master range. Available through Japan Scissors and Shear Integrity.
View Kasho Design Master Offset Hair Cutting Scissors - 2Kasho
Kasho Blue Offset Hair Cutting Scissors
- VG-10W
- Offset handle
- Convex blade
VG-10W steel with a full convex edge and a flat-head screw. The Blue Offset sizes listed by Kasho are 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5 inch. A straight handle variant is also available. Blue-series specifications.
View Kasho Blue Offset Hair Cutting Scissors - 3Kasho
Kasho Silver Offset Hair Cutting Scissors
- VG-10W
- Offset handle
- 5.5 · 6.0″
Premium VG-10W with a published 58–60 HRC bracket, above the Design Master and Blue ranges in finishing standard. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch; straight handle and a black-coated offset variant (Silver Offset Black) sit alongside it in the Silver series.
View Kasho Silver Offset Hair Cutting Scissors - 4Kasho
Kasho Green Semi-Offset Hair Cutting Scissors
- VG-10W
- Semi-Offset handle
- 5.5 · 6.0″
The top of the VG-10W line at the same 58–60 HRC bracket as the Silver, in a semi-offset handle — geometry that sits between offset and the full ergonomic drop of a crane, for stylists who want some ergonomic relief without the full offset. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch.
View Kasho Green Semi-Offset Hair Cutting Scissors - 5Kasho
Kasho Millennium Offset Hair Cutting Scissors
- Sintered Steel
- Offset handle
- 5.3 · 6.2″
The alloy change: Kasho’s sintered steel at a published 60–62 HRC, produced by powder metallurgy rather than conventional casting for a finer carbide structure and improved edge retention. Available in 5.3 and 6.2 inch.
View Kasho Millennium Offset Hair Cutting Scissors
Kasho’s series structure
9 September 2026 correction: the Blue-series maker specifications identify a flat-head screw, not the Disc Operation System previously attributed to Blue here. This update corrects that feature and removes the shared-tension comparison; other series and prices were not re-reviewed.
Kasho is produced by KAI Corporation — a Tokyo-headquartered company that has been making blades since 1908 — in Seki City, Gifu. The professional scissors range is built primarily around VG-10W, KAI’s tungsten-modified version of VG-10, and is organised into named series that correspond directly to production tiers.
The five series covered here form a progression. Design Master is the entry series with a semi-convex edge and Disc Operation System tension. Blue has a full convex edge and a flat-head screw. Silver and Green represent premium VG-10W finishing at 58–60 HRC, with Green at the top of the VG-10W line. The Millennium uses sintered steel at 60–62 HRC — a different alloy family entirely, not a finishing upgrade of VG-10W.
For a stylist buying into Kasho for the first time, the Design Master is the practical entry. For a stylist who already knows the design and wants the next finish level, the Blue is the step. The Silver and Green are the upper professional range within VG-10W; the Millennium is for stylists who want sintered steel performance.
How we chose
Each pick represents a distinct tier in the Kasho series structure. The Design Master and Blue cover the entry and step-up within VG-10W; Silver and Green cover the premium VG-10W finishing tiers; the Millennium is the sintered steel top. Guide prices move — confirm current figures before buying.
Where to buy: Japan Scissors stocks all five picks, alongside specialist Kasho stockists.
The wider Kasho range
The full Kasho cutting range includes an ergonomic model (Kasho XP Super Ergo), a dedicated slide-cut model (Kasho Green Slide), a ceramic composite option (Kasho Ceramic), and a Damascus-pattern pair (Kasho Damascus Offset). Left-handed models are available in the Design Master and Ivory series. Full thinning and texturising range on the Kasho brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 answers you can open one at a timeWhat is VG-10W and how does it differ from standard VG-10?
VG-10W is KAI Corporation’s tungsten-modified version of VG-10. The tungsten addition refines the carbide structure in the alloy, which produces a harder and more wear-resistant edge compared to standard VG-10 at equivalent processing. In practice, VG-10W is used across most of the Kasho professional range — Design Master, Blue, Silver, Green, Impression, and others — as the standard working alloy. Standard VG-10 is used by other manufacturers; VG-10W is specific to KAI’s Kasho line.
What is the Disc Operation System in Kasho scissors?
The Disc Operation System is Kasho’s tension adjustment mechanism. A disc-shaped dial at the pivot allows the tension to be adjusted without a coin or separate key — turn the dial to increase or decrease blade pressure. It is listed on the Design Master product page. The Blue-series maker page instead specifies a flat-head screw. Higher-tier Kasho models may use a different tension mechanism; confirm on the product page for the specific model.
What is the difference between the Kasho Design Master, Blue, Silver, and Green?
Design Master is the entry series: VG-10W steel, semi-convex edge, Disc Operation System, offset handle. Blue has a full convex edge in VG-10W and a flat-head screw. Silver offers higher finishing standards in VG-10W at 58–60 HRC. Green is the top VG-10W series, also at 58–60 HRC, with the highest finish quality before the sintered steel Millennium. Each series is a distinct production tier rather than a cosmetic rebadge — the edge finish and production standards differ between them.
Does Kasho make thinning scissors?
Yes. Kasho makes thinning scissors across several series including the Design Master (15, 30, and 38 tooth variants), Wasabi texturiser, and Green Sasa double thinning. The full thinning range is on the Kasho brand page. Thinning scissors are not covered in this roundup, which focuses on cutting models.