The Best Mina Scissors for Hairdressers
Mina is a Japanese scissor brand from Saitama, Japan, producing hot-forged professional scissors for hairdressers, barbers, students, and apprentices. The cutting range uses SUS440C at the entry and mid tiers and 7CR in the coloured models, across offset and double swivel handles. The Umi is the only model in the range available from 4.5 inch; the Sakura Double Swivel is the only model with a double swivel thumb ring. Five picks span $64 to $100, all made in Japan.
What are the best Mina scissors for professional hairdressers?
The Jay, around $64, is Mina's entry SUS440C offset scissor in five sizes from 5.0 to 7.0 inch. The Umi, around $71, is the only model in the range available from 4.5 inch, across six sizes including the short detail lengths. The Sakura II, around $81, is the SUS440C mid-tier offset in five sizes from 5.0 to 7.0 inch. The Sakura Double Swivel, around $94, puts a double swivel thumb ring on the same SUS440C steel in three standard salon sizes. The Black Diamond, around $100, uses 7CR steel in three sizes 5.5 to 6.5 inch.
All five document Japan as country of manufacture at the brand level and across documented product pages. The Jay and Umi are the entry offset picks, with the Umi covering six sizes including the 4.5 inch length not on any other model here. The Sakura II is the mid-tier offset step. The Sakura Double Swivel is the only pick with a swivel mechanism. The Black Diamond is the 7CR pick at the top of this price range.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Mina picks from $64 to $100
| Attribute | Mina Jay Offset Hair Cutting Scissors Mina | Mina Umi Hair Cutting Scissors Mina | Mina Sakura II Hair Cutting Scissors Mina | Mina Sakura Double Swivel Hair Cutting Scissors Mina | Mina Black Diamond Cutting Scissors Mina |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$64 | US$71 | US$81 | US$94 | US$100 |
| Price tier | Budget | Budget | Budget | Budget | Entry-level |
| Steel | SUS440C | SUS440C | SUS440C | SUS440C | Unknown |
| Made in | Japan | — | — | — | — |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Double Swivel | Offset |
| Blade type | — | Flat | Convex | Convex | Convex |
| Sizes (in) | 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 · 7.0 | 4.5 · 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 · 7.0 | 5.0 · 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 · 7.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 | 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Japan. Steel grades from product pages. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
Mina’s affordable Japan-made range
Mina is a Japanese scissor brand based in Saitama, Japan, making hot-forged professional scissors for hairdressers, barbers, students, and apprentices. The cutting range uses SUS440C steel across entry and mid-tier models and 7CR in the coloured finish models, with offset and double swivel handle configurations across a $64 to $100 price range. The range includes one model available from 4.5 inch — the Umi — and one double swivel model, the Sakura Double Swivel.
The five picks below span the full price range, covering the entry offset, the wide-size pick, the mid-tier offset, the double swivel, and the 7CR model.
The five picks
1. Mina Jay (guide price around $64). Mina’s entry SUS440C offset cutting scissor. SUS440C steel, 58-60 HRC, offset handle, convex edge. Available in 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 inch — five sizes covering detail lengths through barber lengths. The Jay is the entry point into the Mina cutting range: SUS440C steel, an offset handle, and a full-span size run at the lowest price on this page. The widest standard size run among the five picks, at five lengths. Available through Japan Scissors and Scissor Lab.
2. Mina Umi (around $71). Mina’s offset scissor with the widest size run in the range. SUS440C steel, 58 HRC, offset handle. Available in 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 inch — six sizes, the only model in this roundup available from 4.5 inch. The Umi is the wide-size pick: the product page documents a 4.5 to 7.0 inch range, covering close fringe and detail work at 4.5 inch through scissor-over-comb lengths at 7.0 inch. The product page notes a flat cutting edge rather than a convex edge — a distinction documented alongside the SUS440C steel and offset handle. Available through Japan Scissors and Scissor Lab.
3. Mina Sakura II (around $81). Mina’s mid-tier SUS440C offset scissor. SUS440C Japanese steel, 58-60 HRC, offset handle, convex edge. Available in 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 inch — five sizes. The Sakura II is the mid-tier offset pick: SUS440C steel at 58-60 HRC, a convex edge, and an offset ergonomic handle — the product page describes it as a step up from the base Mina range. Five sizes from 5.0 to 7.0 inch at an accessible price point. Available through Japan Scissors and Scissor Lab.
4. Mina Sakura Double Swivel (around $94). Mina’s double swivel thumb scissor. SUS440C Japanese steel, 58-60 HRC, double swivel thumb ring. Available in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch — three standard salon lengths. The Sakura Double Swivel is the only swivel pick in this roundup: the product page documents a double swivel thumb ring — a mechanism that allows the thumb ring to rotate on two axes through the cutting stroke, reducing thumb-joint effort during extended sessions. The only double swivel model in the Mina cutting range. Available through Japan Scissors and Scissor Lab.
5. Mina Black Diamond (around $100). Mina’s 7CR steel offset scissor. 7CR steel, offset handle, convex edge. Available in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch — three sizes. The Black Diamond is the 7CR steel pick: the product page documents 7CR steel and an offset ergonomic handle, at the highest price in this list. The Black Diamond is one of two models in the Mina range using 7CR steel — alongside the Ash Black — and is available in three salon lengths. Available through Japan Scissors and Scissor Lab.
How we chose
All five picks document Japan as country of manufacture at the brand level and across several product pages. The Jay and Umi are both entry SUS440C offset picks, differentiated by size run — five standard sizes on the Jay, six sizes including 4.5 inch on the Umi. The Sakura II is the mid-tier SUS440C step. The Sakura Double Swivel is the only pick with a double swivel mechanism. The Black Diamond is the only pick with 7CR steel. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Mina range
The Mina Rainbow II (around $71) is the SUS440C offset model in six sizes from 4.5 to 7.0 inch with a rainbow titanium surface finish — the same size run as the Umi at the same price, with an added colour treatment. The Mina Ash Black (around $88) is the second 7CR model in the range — 7CR steel at 55-57 HRC with an offset handle in 5.5 and 6.0 inch, a step below the Black Diamond in HRC range. The Mina Classic II (around $100) is the top-priced SUS440C offset model in three sizes from 5.5 to 6.5 inch — an alternative to the Black Diamond at the same price with SUS440C rather than 7CR. Thinning scissors, scissor sets, and left-handed models are on the Mina brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mina is a Japanese brand based in Saitama, Japan, producing hot-forged professional scissors. The cutting range uses SUS440C steel across the entry and mid-tier models and 7CR steel on the coloured Black Diamond and Ash Black models. All scissors in this roundup document Japan as country of manufacture. For the full range and current pricing, visit the Mina brand website or an authorized retailer.
The Sakura Double Swivel product page documents a double swivel thumb ring — a thumb ring mechanism that rotates through two axes rather than one. This allows the thumb to move naturally through the cutting stroke without pulling out of the ring between cuts, reducing the rotation required at the wrist and thumb joint over an extended session. The Sakura Double Swivel is the only double swivel model in the Mina cutting range and is available in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch.
The Umi product page documents a size range from 4.5 inch to 7.0 inch — a wider span than the standard 5.0 to 7.0 inch range of most Mina cutting models. The 4.5 inch size is suited to close detail work, fringe trimming, and work around the ears where a shorter blade makes control easier. This makes the Umi the only model in the Mina cutting range covering that lower length, as well as covering standard salon and barber lengths up to 7.0 inch.
7CR — sometimes written 7Cr or 7Cr13 — is a chromium stainless steel used in the Mina Black Diamond and Ash Black cutting models. The brand page documents 7CR as one of the steel grades used in the Mina cutting range alongside SUS440C. For full specification details on 7CR steel as used in Mina scissors, consult the product page or the Mina brand website.
The Mina brand documentation describes its scissors as produced for hairdressers, barbers, students, and apprentices. The price range — from $64 to $100 in this roundup — positions Mina as an affordable entry into hot-forged professional scissors. The Jay at $64 in five sizes and the Umi at $71 with a 4.5 to 7.0 inch range are the most accessible entry points. All five picks in this roundup are professional scissors using hot-forged construction.