The Best Koi Scissors for Hairdressers
Koi is a scissor brand from KOI Professional Ltd, based in Sale, Cheshire, in the UK. The range is built on 440C Japanese forged steel across cutting models with offset, semi-offset, straight, and swivel thumb handles, plus decorative finishes. Five picks here run from $89 to $200, covering the key handle types and finishes across the Koi catalogue.
What are the best Koi scissors?
The Elegance, at around $89, is Koi's entry point in 440C Japanese forged steel — a hollow ground convex blade in an offset handle, available from 4.5 to 6.0 inch. The Extreme, around $125, adds a single bend offset handle and includes a zip case. The Leap, around $190, is a semi-offset model in 5.5 inch with an anti-slip handle pattern. The Kay Swivel, around $200, is the swivel thumb model — the handle allows the thumb ring to rotate freely, reducing rotational load on the wrist and forearm. The Bling, also around $200, is the decorated model — same 440C steel and convex offset spec as the cutting range, with jewelled handle stones and a pink tension screw.
Koi describes its shears as hand-honed from 440C Japanese forged steel. 440C is a high-carbon stainless grade used in professional cutting tools for its hardness and edge retention. All five picks use a convex blade edge. The handle type is the primary distinction across the range: offset (Elegance, Extreme, Bling), semi-offset (Leap), and swivel thumb (Kay Swivel). UK pricing is listed in GBP through Direct Hairdressing Scissors; the USD guide prices on each product page are converted figures.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Koi picks from $89 to $200
| Attribute | Koi Elegance Koi | Koi Extreme Koi | Koi Leap Koi | Koi Kay Swivel Koi | Koi Bling Koi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$89 | US$125 | US$190 | US$200 | US$200 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Made in | — | — | — | — | — |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Semi-offset | Swivel thumb | Offset |
| Blade type | Convex | Convex | Convex | Convex | Convex |
| Sizes (in) | 4.5 · 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 | 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 | 5.5 | ||
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five in 440C Japanese forged steel, available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors. Guide prices converted from GBP at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
The Koi range
Koi is the hairdressing shear line of KOI Professional Ltd, based in Sale, Cheshire. The scissors reach salons and barbers through specialist retailers including Direct Hairdressing Scissors, a UK online store, which lists the full current catalogue. (This Cheshire brand is distinct from the US Centrix Koi shear.)
The range is built on 440C Japanese forged steel across all models. Each pick uses a convex blade. The main distinctions between models are handle geometry — offset, single bend offset, semi-offset, swivel thumb — and finish. Pricing is set in GBP; USD guide prices on each product page are converted figures.
The five picks
1. Koi Elegance (guide price around $89). Koi’s entry professional scissor in 440C Japanese forged steel with a hollow ground convex blade and an offset handle. Available in 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch — the widest size run in the Koi cutting range. A removable finger rest ships with each pair. At this price point the Elegance covers all-round salon cutting work: blunt cuts, sectioning, and scissor-over-comb. Available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
2. Koi Extreme (around $125). Koi’s mid-range offset model with a single bend handle. The single bend angles the thumb ring lower than a straight offset while remaining less pronounced than a fully cranked design — a step up in ergonomic positioning from the Elegance. Same 440C Japanese forged steel and hollow ground convex blade. Available in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. A zip case ships with each pair. Suited to precision work including point cutting and slide cutting. Available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
3. Koi Leap (around $190). Koi’s semi-offset cutting model in 440C Japanese forged steel with a convex blade and an anti-slip handle pattern. The semi-offset handle sits between a classic even grip and a full offset — the thumb ring drops lower than a straight handle but less than the Extreme’s single bend. Available as a single 5.5 inch size. The Leap bridges Koi’s lower and upper price tiers and suits stylists who are not yet committed to a fully offset geometry. Available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
4. Koi Kay Swivel (around $200). Koi’s swivel thumb model in 440C Japanese forged steel with a convex blade. The thumb ring rotates freely, allowing the thumb to follow a natural arc through each cut rather than turning against a fixed ring. This reduces rotational load on the wrist and forearm — a mechanism used by stylists managing repetitive strain or working long sessions. Confirmed sizes are not published by the brand; check the retailer listing. Stylists accustomed to fixed-ring designs will need an adjustment period. Available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
5. Koi Bling (around $200). Koi’s decorated cutting model — same 440C Japanese forged steel and offset convex blade as the core cutting range, with decorative stones set into the handle shank and a pink jewelled tension screw. The surface additions do not change the cutting geometry or steel specification. Intended for stylists who want a personalised tool on the same performance platform as the rest of the range. Available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
How we chose
Each pick represents a distinct position in the Koi handle and finish range: Elegance (entry offset), Extreme (single bend offset), Leap (semi-offset), Kay Swivel (swivel thumb), Bling (decorated offset). All five share the same 440C Japanese forged steel and convex blade. Guide prices converted from GBP; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Koi catalogue
The Koi Rainbow Titanium (around $125) applies a multi-tone titanium coating over the standard 440C body for a distinctive finish, in a single 5.0 inch offset configuration. The Koi catalogue also includes barber models, additional thinning shears, and a dedicated left-handed model (the Koi Lefty). Current model listings are maintained at Direct Hairdressing Scissors and on the Koi brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Koi is the scissor line of KOI Professional Ltd, headquartered in Sale, Cheshire, in the UK. The brand is separate from the US Centrix Koi shear sold in the American market.
Koi describes its shears as hand-honed and made from 440C Japanese forged steel. 440C is a high-carbon stainless grade chosen for hardness and edge retention in professional cutting work.
Koi shears are stocked by specialist retailers including Direct Hairdressing Scissors, a UK online store that lists current models, sizes, and pricing for the range.
The Koi Kay Swivel has a rotating thumb ring that allows the thumb to follow a natural arc through the cut, reducing rotational load on the wrist and forearm. It is available through Direct Hairdressing Scissors and is intended for stylists managing repetitive strain or working extended chair time.
The Elegance is available in 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. The Extreme runs 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. The Leap is a single 5.5 inch. The Rainbow Titanium is 5.0 inch. For the Kay Swivel and Bling, confirmed size variants are not published — check the Direct Hairdressing Scissors listing for current availability.