The Best Korean Scissor Brands for Hairdressers
South Korea has a substantial professional scissor industry with brands operating from Daegu, Seoul, Siheung-si, and through US distribution networks. The six picks here cover Yamajo (Daegu, cobalt entry), Matsukaze (Siheung-si, established 1976), Debut (crane handle 440C), Akkohs (Seoul, cobalt alloy thinning), Yuroshi (Japanese 440C convex), and Mirage (VG-10 swivel), from $37 to $375.
What are the best Korean scissor brands?
Yamajo's Cobalt Step Cut Plus, around $37, is a cobalt steel offset cutting scissor from a Daegu company established in 1991. Matsukaze's AC, around $139, is a convex-edge offset cutting scissor from a Siheung-si brand founded in 1976. Debut's C, around $200, is a crane-handle 440C cutting scissor with a lifetime warranty. Akkohs' A25, around $245, is a cobalt alloy thinning shear with 25, 28, or 32 tooth options from a Seoul brand founded in 1978. Yuroshi's WXC, around $249, is a forged Japanese 440C convex cutting shear with slim pointed blades. Mirage's Orca Silver, around $375, is a Hitachi VG-10 super cobalt swivel cutting shear, hand-forged in South Korea.
Korean scissor brands reach the professional market through two main channels: direct sales via Korean e-commerce (Yamajo Mall, matsukaze.kr) and US specialty distributors (Nina Inc., SCISSOR MALL, Stay Sharp Shears, Shear Story). The six picks below draw from both channels and cover four steel grades, cobalt, cobalt alloy, Japanese 440C, and VG-10, across cutting and thinning types.
Verified Jun 2026
The picks, at a glance
Product photos from the ScissorPedia catalogue; see each product page for provenance.
Six picks across six Korean brands, from $37 to $375
| Attribute | Yamajo Cobalt Step Cut Plus Cutting Scissors Yamajo | Matsukaze AC Matsukaze | Debut C Crane Handle Cutting Scissors Debut | Akkohs A25 Thinning Shears Akkohs | Yuroshi WXC Cutting Shear Yuroshi | Mirage Orca Silver Cutting Scissors Mirage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$37 | US$139 | US$200 | US$245 | US$249 | US$375 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Steel | Not listed | Not listed | Japanese 440-C Stainless Steel | Cobalt Alloy | Japanese 440C Stainless Steel | Hitachi VG-10 Super Cobalt Stainless Steel |
| Made in | South Korea | South Korea | Taiwan | South Korea | South Korea | South Korea |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Crane | Offset | Offset | Swivel |
| Blade type | Convex | Convex | Convex edge | Thinning teeth | Convex edge | Convex edge, hollow-ground |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5" | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.25 | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0 | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0· 6.5 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
One representative product per brand. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
South Korea’s professional scissor industry
Korean scissor production has been established since the second half of the twentieth century. Brands like Matsukaze (founded 1976) and Akkohs (founded 1978) built decades of professional supply before most of the global scissor market had access to Korean-made shears. Yamajo, operating from Daegu since 1991, represents the second generation of Korean manufacturers that combined locally developed processing with Japanese steel materials.
The industry reaches international buyers through two routes. Some brands sell directly via Korean e-commerce platforms such as Yamajo Mall and matsukaze.kr, where price guides are in Korean Won and shipping is arranged internationally. Others work through established US specialty distributors: Nina Inc. in Newark, Delaware carries Yuroshi and Aikyo; SCISSOR MALL distributes Debut and Mirage; Stay Sharp Shears stocks Akkohs alongside other Korean lines.
Steel sourcing varies by brand. Yamajo publishes cobalt, VG10, and ATS-314 grades across its catalogue. Mirage specifies Hitachi VG-10 super cobalt on the Orca Silver. Yuroshi uses Japanese forged 440C, and Akkohs uses cobalt alloy. Some brands, Matsukaze and Sonnet among them, do not publish a specific sub-grade on their product pages; for full specifications on those, the brand’s own website is the authoritative source.
The six picks
1. Yamajo Cobalt Step Cut Plus (guide price around $37). Yamajo’s compact entry cutting scissor from Daegu: cobalt steel, an offset handle, a convex blade, at 5.5 inch. Yamajo has operated in Daegu since 1991 and publishes cobalt as the grade for this line. At this price it is the accessible end of the Korean catalogue, handling standard salon sections, fringe cutting, and perimeter work. Sold direct from Yamajo Mall.
2. Matsukaze AC (around $139). The entry-tier cutting scissor from Matsukaze in Siheung-si, Gyeonggi Province: offset handle, convex edge, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. Matsukaze was founded in 1976 and reports 90% automated production at its Siheung-si facility. The AC starts a catalogue that runs up to the HANA and TORY models at $321, and it sells direct from matsukaze.kr.
3. Debut C (around $200). Debut’s crane-handle cutting shear in Japanese 440C stainless at 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The bent-down thumb ring positions the thumb below the finger plane, a geometry stylists use to reduce forearm and shoulder tension through extended cutting sessions, and the thin blades with narrow tips suit precision section work. Lifetime warranty. Stocked by SCISSOR MALL, Dynamic Sharpening, and Edgemaster International.
4. Akkohs A25 (around $245). A cobalt alloy thinning shear at 5.25 inch from Akkohs, a Seoul brand established in 1978. The A25 is the Sogi A series entry, with 25, 28, or 32 tooth configurations: lower counts remove more volume per stroke, higher counts give a finer blended result. Offset handle. Available through Stay Sharp Shears and SCISSOR Dude.
5. Yuroshi WXC (around $249). Yuroshi’s forged Japanese 440C convex cutting shear: slim pointed blades for detail and slide cutting, a mirror polish finish, and thumb-adjustable click screw tension, in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch with an offset handle. The WXC covers general salon cutting, point work, and slide techniques equally well; the slim tip is the feature to buy it for. Yuroshi is distributed through Nina Inc. and SCISSOR Dude in the US.
6. Mirage Orca Silver (around $375). Mirage’s Hitachi VG-10 super cobalt swivel shear, hand-forged in South Korea: a fully rotating swivel thumb ring, convex hollow-ground blades, and click-dial adjustable tension, in 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch. The swivel handle lets the thumb track the cutting motion without fixing the wrist, which many stylists find reduces repetitive strain across a full working week. Available through SCISSOR MALL, Shear Integrity, and Edgemaster International.
How we chose
Each of these six brands has confirmed retail availability and guide prices. The picks cover four steel grades (cobalt, cobalt alloy, Japanese 440C, VG-10), cutting and thinning types, and five handle styles (offset, crane, swivel). Prices run from $37 to $375. Guide prices move; check the current figures on each product page before buying.
The wider Korean catalogue on ScissorPedia
The full Korean catalogue on ScissorPedia includes Aikyo (V10 cobalt and ATS-314 cutting and thinning, distributed through Nina Inc.); Sonnet (RCD and JOY cutting lines through Shear Story); and Aichi (VX Gold Handle and Curve 7 inch models). For the comparable Japanese industry mapped by price tier, the Japanese brands by tier roundup covers the full spectrum from under $100 through $1,000+.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Korean scissors as good as Japanese scissors?
The relevant comparison is the specification: steel grade, edge geometry, hardness rating, and build quality. Several Korean brands use Japanese-sourced steel; Yamajo publishes cobalt and VG10 grades, Yuroshi uses Japanese 440C, and Mirage uses Hitachi VG-10. The manufacturing process and quality controls in place determine the result. Each product page lists the specifications so you can compare directly against any equivalent Japanese-built pair.
Where can I buy Korean scissor brands?
Korean brands are available through both direct and distributor channels. Yamajo sells direct from yamajomall.com; Matsukaze from matsukaze.kr. Akkohs, Yuroshi, and Aikyo are stocked by US-based specialty retailers including Nina Inc., SCISSOR Dude, and Stay Sharp Shears. Debut and Mirage are available through SCISSOR MALL, Dynamic Sharpening, and Edgemaster International. The brand pages on ScissorPedia carry retailer links for each.
What steel do Korean scissors use?
Korean brands use a range of steel grades. Yamajo publishes cobalt, VG10, and ATS-314 across its range. Akkohs uses cobalt alloy. Yuroshi uses Japanese forged 440C. Mirage uses Hitachi VG-10 super cobalt. Matsukaze does not publish a specific sub-grade on its product pages; for current specifications, check the matsukaze.kr product listings directly.
What price range do Korean scissor brands cover?
The six brands catalogued here range from $37 (Yamajo Cobalt Step Cut Plus) to $375 (Mirage Orca Silver). Yamajo’s entry models start under $40. Matsukaze runs from $139 to $321 for its cutting range. Akkohs sits between $195 and $285 for cutting and thinning. Yuroshi’s cutting shears run $249 to $425. Mirage runs $369 to $395 for its catalogued range.