The Best Naruto Scissors for Hairdressers

Naruto’s Takarazuka Cobalt Alloy range

Naruto is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1963 in Takarazuka, Hyogo. Cobalt Alloy steel runs throughout the range, and the brand’s own documentation describes its scissors as built to last 20 to 30 years. The size increments are non-standard across much of the range: fractional lengths — 5.6, 5.7, 5.9, 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.8 inch — sit alongside standard half-inch sizes across the range, allowing a closer blade-length fit than half-inch steps alone. The range is structured from the Forte entry line through the Vista tier to the New HibonZ top line, which adds a disk bearing tension system.

The five picks below span $400 to $1,600, covering the entry engraved offset, two straight and symmetric clam-blade models at mid-range, the Vista tier in its widest fractional size run, and the New HibonZ dry cutting specialist.

The five picks

1. Naruto GilvyZ Karakusa (guide price around $400). Naruto’s entry Cobalt Alloy scissor with a karakusa vine-scroll engraved handle. Cobalt Alloy steel, convex blade, offset handle, karakusa engraving. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch — the two standard salon lengths, and the only picks on this page in these sizes. The GilvyZ Karakusa is the entry offset and the most accessible model here: the product page notes a traditional karakusa (vine scroll) pattern engraved into the handle, reflecting a Japanese decorative craft tradition applied to the scissor body. Made in Takarazuka, Japan. Available through Precision and Scissor Story.

2. Naruto Hosomi SE (around $773). Naruto’s straight-handle scissor with a clam-shaped blade and fine tip. Cobalt Alloy steel, straight handle, clam-shaped (hamaguri) blade, thin fine tip. Available in 6.0 inch — one size. The Hosomi SE is the straight-handle precision pick: the product page documents a clam-shaped blade — a blade with a convex curved cross-section, also called hamaguri — with a thin, fine tip and a balanced feel noted for precise work. The straight handle positions finger and thumb rings in an even plane, suited to stylists who prefer a symmetric hand position. Available through Precision and Scissor Story.

3. Naruto Crab Vista M G (around $950). Naruto’s Vista tier straight-handle scissor in four fractional sizes. Cobalt Alloy steel, Vista tier, straight handle, convex blade. Available in 5.7, 5.9, 6.1, and 6.4 inch — four sizes at 0.2-inch intervals, each a separately named model within the Crab Vista M G series. The Crab Vista is the Vista tier straight pick: the product page describes Vista tier craftsmanship at this price level. The four fractional sizes — M-I G (5.7”), M-II G (5.9”), M-III G (6.1”), and M-VI G (6.4”) — allow stylists to select a length between the 5.5 and 7.0 inch half-inch steps. Available through Precision and Scissor Story.

4. Naruto Megane ST (around $987). Naruto’s symmetric eyeglass-handle scissor with a clam-shaped blade. Cobalt Alloy steel, symmetric eyeglass handle, clam-shaped (hamaguri) blade, soft cutting feel. Available in 5.6 inch (Megane ST II) and 6.3 inch (Megane ST V S) — two non-standard sizes. The Megane ST is the symmetric handle pick: the product page documents a symmetric eyeglass handle — a handle where the finger and thumb rings sit at the same level, creating an even grip plane — with a clam-shaped blade and a noted soft cutting feel. The 5.6 inch is suited to detail and fringe work; the 6.3 inch version adds length for panel cutting. Available through Precision and Scissor Story.

5. Naruto Matic DS (around $1,600). Naruto’s New HibonZ dry cutting specialist with bamboo-tapered blades. Cobalt Alloy steel, New HibonZ series, bamboo-tapered blades, disk bearing tension system. Available in 5.8 inch (DS I), 6.0 inch (DS II, around $1,640), and 6.3 inch (DS III, around $1,690) — three sizes. The Matic DS is the New HibonZ pick on this page: the product page documents bamboo-tapered blades — a blade with progressive width reduction from heel to tip — suited to slide and dry cutting strokes where reduced tip mass limits resistance through the hair. The disk bearing tension system is also documented on the product page as part of the New HibonZ specification. Available through Precision and Scissor Story.

How we chose

All five picks document Takarazuka, Japan as country of manufacture and Cobalt Alloy as steel grade. The GilvyZ Karakusa is the only pick in standard 5.5 and 6.0 inch sizes and the only model with a decorative engraved handle. The Hosomi SE and Megane ST are both included for their clam-shaped blade specification, on different handle types — straight and symmetric respectively. The Crab Vista is the Vista tier pick with the widest fractional size run. The Matic DS is the New HibonZ dry cutting specialist and the only pick with a disk bearing tension system. Guide prices move and vary within multi-size series; confirm current figures before buying.

The wider Naruto range

The Naruto Maticline III (around $450) is the third generation of the Maticline offset series — Cobalt Alloy in 5.5 and 6.0 inch, the entry alongside the GilvyZ Karakusa at similar pricing. The Naruto ForteGraver ST (around $500) is the entry straight-handle pick — a 5.5 inch straight-handle convex scissor for stylists new to the Naruto range. The Naruto Bond Vista BV-I (around $1,070) is a three-size Vista tier model in 5.3, 5.6, and 6.0 inch — the shorter-size Vista alternative for detail and fringe lengths. The Naruto Circline SEIS (around $2,000) is the New HibonZ crane-offset flagship — 6.0 inch, disk bearing, crane handle that lowers the elbow for extended cutting sessions, at the top of the Naruto cutting range. Thinning scissors are on the Naruto brand page.