The Best Nikko Scissors for Hairdressers
Nikko is a UK scissor brand produced by Scissors Craft in Northolt, Middlesex. The cutting range works through Japanese Steel, Cobalt Alloy, and Damascus steel across maker-labelled ergonomic, offset, and straight handle configurations. The Ergo Cobalt adds a ball-bearing screw for smooth blade action; the Offset Damascus and Kokaji Slim Straight top the price range with layered Damascus steel and a slim straight blade respectively. Five picks span US$319 to US$756, all made in the UK.
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What are the best Nikko scissors for professional hairdressers?
The Ergo Cobalt, around US$319, is Nikko's Cobalt Alloy scissor with a maker-labelled ergonomic handle and ball-bearing screw in two sizes. The Original Offset, around US$356, is the Japanese Steel entry offset in two sizes. The Cobalt, around US$399, is the flagship Cobalt Alloy offset in two sizes. The Offset Damascus, around US$684, is the layered Damascus offset scissor in 6.0 inch. The Kokaji Slim Straight, around US$756, is the Japanese Steel narrow-blade straight handle scissor in two sizes.
All five are made in the UK. The Ergo Cobalt and Original Offset are the entry picks — Cobalt Alloy on the Ergo Cobalt, Japanese Steel on the Original Offset, both in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The Cobalt is the flagship Cobalt Alloy offset at US$399. The Offset Damascus is the Damascus offset pick in a single 6.0 inch size. The Kokaji Slim Straight is the Japanese Steel straight-handle pick, its slim blade profile built for point-cutting and detail work.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | Pick 1 Nikko Ergo Cobalt Nikko | Pick 2 Nikko Original Offset Nikko | Pick 3 Nikko Cobalt Nikko | Pick 4 Nikko Offset Damascus Nikko | Pick 5 Nikko Kokaji Slim Straight Nikko |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price band | US$319Price band US$200–400 · Mid-range | US$356Price band US$200–400 · Mid-range | US$399Price band US$200–400 · Mid-range | US$684Price band US$400–800 · Premium | US$756Price band US$400–800 · Premium |
| Steel | Cobalt Alloy | Not listed | Cobalt Alloy | Damascus | Not listed |
| Made in | UK | UK | UK | UK | UK |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
Five Nikko picks from US$319 to US$756
- 1Nikko
Nikko Ergo Cobalt
- Cobalt Alloy
- 5.5 · 6.0″
Nikko’s Cobalt Alloy scissor with a maker-labelled ergonomic handle and a ball-bearing screw, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The pivot uses a ball-bearing rather than a standard flat or cone screw, which smooths the blade rotation through the cutting stroke. The lowest-priced Cobalt Alloy model in the range with a named handle and pivot specification. Available through Scissors Craft.
View Nikko Ergo Cobalt - 2Nikko
Nikko Original Offset
- Japanese Steel
- 5.5 · 6.0″
The Japanese Steel entry into Nikko’s core range: an offset handle for everyday salon cutting, in the same 5.5 and 6.0 inch lengths. The only Japanese Steel offset pick in this roundup, and the entry price on the page.
View Nikko Original Offset - 3Nikko
Nikko Cobalt
- Cobalt Alloy
- 5.5 · 6.0″
The flagship of the cobalt range — Cobalt Alloy steel, forged for a sharp and durable cutting edge, on an offset handle in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. Choosing between this and the Ergo Cobalt comes down to the listed handle and pivot: maker-labelled ergonomic with a ball-bearing screw on the Ergo, standard offset on the flagship Cobalt.
View Nikko Cobalt - 4Nikko
Nikko Offset Damascus
- Damascus
- 6.0″
The Damascus pick with an offset handle: a layered Damascus steel blade in a single 6.0 inch size. One of three Damascus models in the range — the others are the Damascus straight model and the Damascus Barber — this is the one for stylists who want Damascus steel without giving up the offset grip.
View Nikko Offset Damascus - 5Nikko
Nikko Kokaji Slim Straight
- Japanese Steel
- 5.5 · 6.0″
The straight-handle pick, and the upper Japanese Steel option in this roundup: a slim blade profile — narrower than standard width — for detailed point-cutting and precision sectioning, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. A straight handle keeps finger and thumb rings at the same level. Its series sibling, the Kokaji Fat, carries a wider blade for bulk-removal and slide-cutting.
View Nikko Kokaji Slim Straight
Nikko’s UK-made range
Nikko is a scissor brand produced by Scissors Craft in Northolt, Middlesex. The cutting range climbs from Japanese Steel at the entry tier through Cobalt Alloy across the core range to Damascus at the top, spread over maker-labelled ergonomic, offset, and straight handle configurations. Details matter here: the Ergo Cobalt runs a ball-bearing screw for smooth blade action, and the Kokaji series splits into a slim blade for point-cutting and a wider blade for bulk-removal work.
The five picks span US$319 to US$756, covering the full steel progression and all three handle types.
How we chose
All five are UK-made, and all five are stocked by Scissors Craft. The Ergo Cobalt and Original Offset hold the entry spots at US$319 and US$356 — Cobalt Alloy with Nikko’s Ergo handle label against Japanese Steel offset. The Cobalt is the flagship Cobalt Alloy offset at US$399; the Offset Damascus the Damascus pick at US$684; the Kokaji Slim Straight the straight-handle narrow-blade pick at US$756. Three steel grades and three handle types across US$319 to US$756. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Nikko range
The Nikko Cobalt Slim (around US$381) is the compact slim-blade Cobalt Alloy model in 5.0 and 5.5 inch — the two shorter lengths in the Nikko range. The Nikko Cobalt Super (around US$513) is the Cobalt Alloy model with an offset design the maker labels ergonomic, a step above the Cobalt in price. The Nikko Cobalt Gel (around US$629) is the Cobalt Alloy model with a gel-finish handle in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The Nikko Damascus Barber (around US$756) is the Damascus model in 6.5 and 7.0 inch — the barber-length Damascus pick alongside the Offset Damascus. The full range including the left-handed Cobalt Lefty and the ATS-314 models is on the Nikko brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
6 answers you can open one at a timeWhere is Nikko based and who makes it?
Nikko is produced by Scissors Craft, based in Northolt, Middlesex, UK, and each product page lists the UK as country of manufacture. The cutting range uses Japanese Steel, Cobalt Alloy, and Damascus steel, with prices from around US$205 to US$762 across the catalogued models. For the current range and pricing, consult the Scissors Craft website.
What is the ball-bearing screw on the Nikko Ergo Cobalt?
The Ergo Cobalt product page lists a ball-bearing screw alongside the Cobalt Alloy blade and a handle it labels ergonomic. A ball-bearing screw uses a ball-bearing at the pivot rather than a standard flat or cone screw, producing a smoother rotation between the blades during the cutting stroke. The Ergo Cobalt is available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch.
What is the Nikko Cobalt and how does it differ from the Ergo Cobalt?
The Nikko Cobalt product page describes it as the flagship model of the cobalt range — Cobalt Alloy steel on an offset handle, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The Ergo Cobalt uses the same Cobalt Alloy steel but pairs it with a maker-labelled ergonomic handle rather than the Cobalt’s offset configuration, plus a ball-bearing screw. The Cobalt sits US$80 higher at guide price. Both are UK-made and come in the same two sizes.
What is the Damascus steel on the Nikko Offset Damascus?
The Offset Damascus product page lists a layered Damascus steel blade on an offset handle, in 6.0 inch. Damascus steel is produced by layering or folding different steel types, creating a patterned blade when etched or polished. The Offset Damascus is one of three Damascus models in the Nikko range, alongside the Damascus and the Damascus Barber. For full construction details, consult the product page or the Scissors Craft website.
What is the slim blade on the Nikko Kokaji Slim Straight?
The Kokaji Slim Straight product page lists a slim blade profile — a narrower blade cross-section than a standard width — on a straight handle with Japanese Steel, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The narrow blade suits detailed point-cutting and precision sectioning work. A straight handle positions finger and thumb rings at the same level, for stylists who prefer a symmetric hand position. The Kokaji series pairs the Slim Straight with the Kokaji Fat, which carries a wider blade profile for bulk-removal and slide-cutting.
Does Nikko make thinning scissors?
Yes. Nikko makes the Thinning Double, a double-serrated thinning scissor in Japanese Steel at 6.0 inch. This roundup covers cutting scissors only. The full range is on the Nikko brand page.