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, described by Kikui as roughly 70 percent cobalt and developed in 1973. Five picks here run from US$471 to US$900, all made in Wakayama, Japan.
Updated
What are the best Kikui scissors?
The Forged Stainless Cut (Level-set), around US$471, lists CS55-M and CS60-M on a Meganetype handle. The Forged Stainless Cut (Offset), around US$471, lists CS55-OS, CS60-OS and CS63-OS on a Kobu-style offset handle. Both reviewed cutting listings are right-handed. The Forged Stainless Thinning (Level-set), around US$486, pairs forged stainless steel with a 6-inch level-set handle and maker-listed CS630-M (20–25%) and CS640-M (30–35%) option labels. The Cobalt Standard (Level-set), around US$700, has Japanese shop sizes of 5.0, 5.3, 5.5 and 6.0 inches. The Cobalt Power, around US$900, has Japanese shop sizes of 6.3, 6.5, 7.0 and 7.3 inches. English catalog ranges differ; confirm the exact channel and model code.
Kikui describes separate forged-stainless and cobalt-base alloy families. Its material wording does not establish a steel-producer grade, measured cutting feel, fatigue reduction or corrosion immunity. The six reviewed cutting listings are categorized right-handed; a symmetric handle alone does not establish left-handed blade geometry. Product size lists now follow exact Japanese shop selectors reviewed on 3 October 2026. The separate English catalog lists LS from 5.0 to 7.0 inches, OS from 5.0 to 7.0 inches, PWR from 6.3 to 7.5 inches, and ERG in 6.0 and 6.3 inches. These are channel-specific ranges, not interchangeable codes or a combined availability list. Guide prices retain their original observation dates.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | Pick 1 Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Level-set) Scissors Kikui | Pick 2 Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Offset) Scissors Kikui | Pick 3 Kikui Forged Stainless Thinning (Level-set) Scissors Kikui | Pick 4 Kikui Cobalt Standard (Level-set) Cutting Scissors Kikui | Pick 5 Kikui Cobalt Power Cutting Scissors Kikui |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price band | US$471Price band US$400–800 · Premium | US$471Price band US$400–800 · Premium | US$486Price band US$400–800 · Premium | US$700Price band US$400–800 · Premium | US$900Price band US$800+ · Luxury |
| Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Cobalt Alloy | Cobalt Alloy |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Level-set (Even) | Offset | Level-set (Even) | Level-set (Even) | Offset |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0· 6.3 | 6.0 | 5.0· 5.3· 5.5· 6.0 | 6.3· 6.5· 7.0· 7.3 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
Five Kikui picks from US$471 to US$900
- 1Kikui
Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Level-set) Scissors
- Stainless Steel
- Level-set (Even) handle
- 5.5 · 6.0″
Kikui’s forged-stainless cutting model lists CS55-M (5.5 inches) and CS60-M (6.0 inches) on a Meganetype handle. The shop categorizes it right-handed; handle symmetry does not make it suitable for either hand. No grain analysis or measured cutting feel is established. Exact maker listing.
View Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Level-set) Scissors - 2Kikui
Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Offset) Scissors
- Stainless Steel
- Offset handle
- 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.3″
Kikui’s forged-stainless cutting model lists CS55-OS, CS60-OS and CS63-OS in 5.5, 6.0 and 6.3 inches. The maker describes a Kobu-style offset handle with a shortened thumb. This is geometry, not proof of reduced fatigue. The listing is right-handed. Exact maker listing.
View Kikui Forged Stainless Cut (Offset) Scissors - 3Kikui
Kikui Forged Stainless Thinning (Level-set) Scissors
- Stainless Steel
- Level-set (Even) handle
- 6.0″
Kikui’s 6-inch Meganetype thinning model. The maker lists CS630-M (30 teeth, 20–25%) and CS640-M (40 teeth, 30–35%); these are ordering-option labels. Kikui describes its V-groove design for base-building work. The listing is categorized right-handed. Exact maker listing.
View Kikui Forged Stainless Thinning (Level-set) Scissors - 4Kikui
Kikui Cobalt Standard (Level-set) Cutting Scissors
- Cobalt Alloy
- Level-set (Even) handle
- 5.0 · 5.3 · 5.5 · 6.0″
Kikui’s cobalt-base alloy cutting model has Japanese shop sizes of 5.0, 5.3, 5.5 and 6.0 inches. M and MA distinguish screw-type and fixed-type finger rests. The listing is right-handed. The separate English LS catalog spans 5.0–7.0 inches; no code equivalence is assumed. Exact maker listing.
View Kikui Cobalt Standard (Level-set) Cutting Scissors - 5Kikui
Kikui Cobalt Power Cutting Scissors
- Cobalt Alloy
- Offset handle
- 6.3 · 6.5 · 7.0 · 7.3″
Kikui’s Japanese K listing has Co63-K, Co65-K, Co70-K and Co73-K in 6.3, 6.5, 7.0 and 7.3 inches. The English PWR catalog extends to 7.5 inches and also lists 7.3, not 7.2. Confirm the exact channel and model. The K listing is right-handed. Exact maker listing.
View Kikui Cobalt Power Cutting Scissors
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 describes its cobalt-base alloy as approximately 70% cobalt and dates its development to 1973. The family description is not a steel-producer grade or an independent corrosion or edge-life result. Maker catalog.
The range has separate forged-stainless and cobalt-base alloy families. The six cutting listings reviewed here identify their material and ordering configurations without establishing measured grain structure, cutting feel or fatigue reduction. A material claim does not supply evidence for an unbound field.
All Kikui scissors are made in Japan.
How we chose
The five picks cover both Kikui material families and level-set and offset handle configurations. Their guide prices retain the original observations; confirm current figures before buying. Four cobalt product size lists now follow the Japanese shop selectors reviewed on 3 October 2026. The English catalog’s different ranges are described separately, without combining options or assuming code equivalence.
The wider Kikui catalog
The Kikui Cobalt Standard (Offset) (around US$700) lists Japanese shop sizes of 5.5, 6.0, 6.3 and 6.5 inches with OS/OSA finger-rest options. Exact maker listing. The Kikui Cobalt Ergonomic (around US$790) lists Co60-F, Co63-F, Co65-F and Co70-F in 6.0, 6.3, 6.5 and 7.0 inches with a maker-described 3D offset handle. Exact maker listing. Cobalt thinning scissors, the Cobalt Thinning (Level-set) and Cobalt Thinning (Offset) at around US$707, are both covered on the Kikui brand page.
Maker material and model labels
Kikui describes a cobalt-base alloy family and a separate forged-stainless family; the cobalt description is not a steel-grade identity. Maker catalog. The exact Meganetype cobalt, offset cobalt and forged-stainless thinning listings distinguish model codes and option labels. Confirm the exact configuration rather than assuming a published percentage predicts every pass.
The six Japanese cutting listings are also categorized right-handed. English LS/OS/PWR/ERG catalog names and Japanese M/MA, OS/OSA, K and F model codes are recorded separately. The shop defines inch sizes as approximate overall length and blade lengths from screw center to tip. A symmetric handle does not establish left-handed blade geometry.
Frequently Asked Questions
6 answers you can open one at a timeIs Kikui a Japanese scissor brand?
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.
What steel do Kikui scissors use?
Kikui describes its cobalt family as approximately 70% cobalt-base alloy and markets corrosion resistance. These are maker descriptions, not independent compatibility or performance tests. The forged-stainless range is a separate material family; no steel-producer grade is established for the nine reviewed cutting and thinning models.
What is the difference between the Kikui Cobalt Standard and the Cobalt Power?
The Japanese shop lists Standard level-set M/MA in 5.0, 5.3, 5.5 and 6.0 inches; Standard offset OS/OSA in 5.5, 6.0, 6.3 and 6.5 inches; and Power K in 6.3, 6.5, 7.0 and 7.3 inches. The separate English catalog lists LS/OS up to 7.0 inches and PWR up to 7.5 inches. Confirm the channel and exact model code; the ranges are not combined. Historical guide prices are around US$900 for Power and US$700 for Standard.
What does level-set mean in Kikui scissors?
Kikui uses Meganetype for its level-set handle. Handle symmetry does not establish left-handed blade geometry. All nine reviewed cutting and thinning listings are categorized right-handed, including CS55-M/CS60-M and CS630-M/CS640-M. Confirm an explicitly specified left-handed model when needed.
What thinning rates do Kikui scissors offer?
Kikui lists Co530-M/Co530-OS with 30 teeth and 20–25% labels; Co537-M/Co537-OS with 37 teeth and 30–35% labels. CS630-M/CS640-M have 30/40 teeth and 20–25%/30–35% labels. These are nominal maker options, not measured per-pass guarantees. The cobalt listings are 5.8 inches and the forged listing is 6.0 inches.
Where can I buy Kikui scissors?
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.
Sources
- Kikui — Product range (manufacturer official)
- 🇯🇵 Kikui: cobalt thinning level set exact model listing (manufacturer specification)
- 🇯🇵 Kikui: cobalt thinning offset exact model listing (manufacturer specification)
- 🇯🇵 Kikui: forged stainless thinning level set exact model listing (manufacturer specification)
- 🇯🇵 Kikui: kikui-cobalt-ergonomic exact cutting model listing (manufacturer specification)
- 🇯🇵 Kikui: kikui-cobalt-power exact cutting model listing (manufacturer specification)
- 🇯🇵 Kikui: kikui-cobalt-standard-level-set exact cutting model listing (manufacturer specification)
- 🇯🇵 Kikui: kikui-cobalt-standard-offset exact cutting model listing (manufacturer specification)
- 🇯🇵 Kikui: kikui-forged-stainless-cut-level-set exact cutting model listing (manufacturer specification)
- 🇯🇵 Kikui: kikui-forged-stainless-cut-offset exact cutting model listing (manufacturer specification)