The Best Kikui Scissors for Hairdressers
Kikui is a Japanese scissors manufacturer founded in 1953 by Kiyoji Kikui in Wakayama, operating as Kikui Scissors Co., Ltd. The company is best known for a cobalt alloy blade — roughly 70 percent cobalt — which Kikui developed in 1973. Five picks here run from $471 to $900, all made in Wakayama, Japan.
What are the best Kikui scissors?
The Forged Stainless Cut (Level-set), around $471, is Kikui's entry forged stainless steel cutter on a reversible level-set handle in 5.5 and 6.0 inch — suited to stylists who prefer a classic symmetric grip. The Forged Stainless Cut (Offset), around $471, is the same forged stainless blade on a kobu-style offset handle with a shortened thumb, for stylists who want offset geometry at the entry price. The Forged Stainless Thinning (Level-set), around $486, pairs the forged stainless steel with a 6-inch level-set handle in 20-25% and 30-35% removal rates. The Cobalt Standard (Level-set), around $700, is Kikui's cobalt alloy flagship on a level-set handle — roughly 70% cobalt, convex edge, 5.0 to 7.0 inch. The Cobalt Power, around $900, applies the cobalt alloy steel to a larger blade in sizes up to 7.5 inch, suited to barber-style cutting and over-comb work.
The Kikui range divides into two steel lines: forged stainless steel and cobalt alloy. The forged stainless models (Forged Stainless Cut and Thinning) are made to order in Wakayama and use a forged blade stock for a fine, even grain. They open the range at $471 to $486. The cobalt alloy line — Cobalt Standard (Level-set and Offset), Cobalt Ergonomic, Cobalt Thinning (Level-set and Offset), and Cobalt Power — uses Kikui’s roughly 70% cobalt grade, which the brand developed in 1973. Kikui describes this steel as non-magnetic and rust-resistant. The practical distinction between the Cobalt Standard and the Cobalt Power is the size range: the Standard covers 5.0 to 7.0 inch for everyday salon cutting; the Power extends to 7.5 inch for barber-length and over-comb cutting. The Cobalt Standard is offered in both level-set (even, symmetric) and offset handle configurations; the Cobalt Power uses an offset handle.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Kikui picks from $471 to $900
| Attribute | Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Level-set) Scissors Kikui | Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Offset) Scissors Kikui | Kikui Forged Stainless Thinning (Level-set) Scissors Kikui | Kikui Cobalt Standard (Level-set) Cutting Scissors Kikui | Kikui Cobalt Power Cutting Scissors Kikui |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$471 | US$471 | US$486 | US$700 | US$900 |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium | Premium | Premium | Luxury |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Cobalt Alloy Steel | Cobalt Alloy Steel |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Level-set (Even) | Offset | Level-set (Even) | Level-set (Even) | Offset |
| Blade type | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5 · 6.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.3 | 6.0 | 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 · 7.0 | 6.3 · 6.5 · 7.0 · 7.2 · 7.5 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Wakayama, Japan by Kikui Scissors Co., Ltd. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
The Kikui range
Kikui is a Japanese scissors manufacturer founded in 1953 by Kiyoji Kikui in Wakayama. Operating as Kikui Scissors Co., Ltd., the company hand-finishes its shears at the Wakayama facility. Kikui’s defining product is its cobalt alloy blade — a grade Kikui developed in 1973, with roughly 70% cobalt content that the company describes as non-magnetic and rust-resistant, and which Kikui has built its professional line on for over 50 years.
The range splits into two material lines. The Forged Stainless Cut and Thinning models are made to order in Wakayama using forged blade stock; they open the catalogue at $471 to $486. The Cobalt Standard, Cobalt Ergonomic, Cobalt Thinning, and Cobalt Power models all use the 70% cobalt grade; they run from $700 to $900. Within each line, the handle choice — level-set (even, symmetric) or offset — is the primary configuration decision.
All Kikui scissors are made in Japan.
The five picks
1. Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Level-set) (guide price around $471). Kikui’s forged stainless cutting scissor on a reversible level-set (Meganetype) handle, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The forged blade stock gives a fine, even grain for cutting feel and durability. Suited to stylists who prefer a classic symmetric grip and want Kikui’s forged construction at the entry price. Made to order in Wakayama. Available through Kikui’s own site at scissors.co.jp.
2. Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Offset) (around $471). Kikui’s forged stainless cutting scissor on a kobu-style offset handle with a shortened thumb ring, in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.3 inch. Same forged stainless blade as the level-set model; the offset handle suits stylists who prefer a dropped-thumb ergonomic geometry. Made to order in Wakayama. Available through Kikui’s own site.
3. Kikui Forged Stainless Thinning (Level-set) (around $486). Kikui’s forged stainless thinning scissor on a 6-inch level-set handle, in 20-25% and 30-35% removal rates. Even V-groove teeth give predictable bulk removal — the 630 (20-25%) for balanced everyday blending, the 640 (30-35%) for faster bulk reduction. Made to order in Wakayama. Available through Kikui’s own site.
4. Kikui Cobalt Standard (Level-set) (around $700). Kikui’s cobalt alloy cutting scissor on a level-set handle, available from 5.0 to 7.0 inch with a convex edge. The Cobalt Standard is the widest size run in the Kikui cutting range — suited to everyday salon work across the full span from 5.0 inch precision cutting to 7.0 inch lengths. Roughly 70% cobalt alloy, rust-resistant, hand-finished in Wakayama. Available through Shear Integrity and Scissor Dude.
5. Kikui Cobalt Power (around $900). Kikui’s cobalt alloy cutting scissor in a power blade design, in 6.3, 6.5, 7.0, 7.2, and 7.5 inch. The Cobalt Power extends the size range beyond the Standard’s 7.0-inch top, with the 7.5 inch suited to barber-style over-comb cutting and techniques that need maximum blade reach. Offset handle, roughly 70% cobalt alloy, hand-finished in Wakayama. Available through Shear Integrity and Scissor Dude.
How we chose
The five picks cover both Kikui material lines and a practical spread of handle types. The two forged stainless models at $471 represent the entry range in level-set and offset handle configurations; the forged stainless thinning at $486 covers the companion thinning work; the Cobalt Standard at $700 is the everyday cobalt cutter across the full size run; the Cobalt Power at $900 extends to barber lengths. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Kikui catalogue
The Kikui Cobalt Standard (Offset) (around $700) puts the cobalt alloy on an offset handle across 5.0 to 6.5 inch. The Kikui Cobalt Ergonomic (around $790) is the cobalt alloy cutter on a sculpted ergonomic handle in 6.0 and 6.3 inch. Cobalt thinning scissors — the Cobalt Thinning (Level-set) and Cobalt Thinning (Offset) at around $707 — are both covered on the Kikui brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Kiyoji Kikui founded the company in 1953, and it has operated in Wakayama ever since. Kikui Scissors Co., Ltd. hand-finishes its shears in Japan. The cobalt alloy flagship line and the forged stainless range are both produced at the Wakayama facility.
Kikui’s flagship line uses a Cobalt Alloy with approximately 70% cobalt content — a grade the company developed in 1973, which Kikui states is non-magnetic and rust-resistant. The lower-priced Forged Stainless range uses forged stainless steel blades, made to order in Wakayama.
Both use Kikui’s cobalt alloy steel. The Cobalt Standard (level-set and offset) covers 5.0 to 7.0 inch and suits everyday salon cutting. The Cobalt Power extends the size range to 7.5 inch and is designed for barber-style cutting, over-comb work, and techniques that need a longer blade. The Power carries a guide price of around $900 compared to $700 for the Standard.
Level-set (also called Meganetype on Kikui’s own site) refers to a reversible, symmetrical handle where both rings sit at the same height. It suits stylists who prefer an even (classic) grip without the dropped thumb of an offset handle. The forged stainless and cobalt thinning models are both available in level-set. Some Kikui level-set handles are reversible for either hand.
The Forged Stainless Thinning and Cobalt Thinning models are both offered in 20-25% (the 530 or 630 model number designation) and 30-35% (the 537 or 640 designation) removal rates. The 20-25% rate is suited to everyday blending; the 30-35% rate gives faster bulk reduction. Both the forged stainless and cobalt thinning lines are 5.8 to 6.0 inch.
Kikui is sold through its own site at scissors.co.jp and through professional retailers in North America and Japan, including SalonCentric, LA Shear, Scissor Dude, Shear Integrity, and Takano in Canada. See the Kikui brand page for the full list.