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 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 $319 to $756, all made in the UK.
What are the best Nikko scissors for professional hairdressers?
The Ergo Cobalt, around $319, is Nikko's Cobalt Alloy scissor with an ergonomic handle and ball-bearing screw in two sizes. The Original Offset, around $356, is the Japanese Steel entry offset in two sizes. The Cobalt, around $399, is the flagship Cobalt Alloy offset in two sizes. The Offset Damascus, around $684, is the layered Damascus offset scissor in 6.0 inch. The Kokaji Slim Straight, around $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 $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.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Nikko picks from $319 to $756
| Attribute | Nikko Ergo Cobalt Nikko | Nikko Original Offset Nikko | Nikko Cobalt Nikko | Nikko Offset Damascus Nikko | Nikko Kokaji Slim Straight Nikko |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$319 | US$356 | US$399 | US$684 | US$756 |
| Price tier | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range | Premium | 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 |
All five made in the UK by Scissors Craft. Steel grades from product pages. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
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 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 below span $319 to $756, covering the full steel progression and all three handle types.
The five picks
1. Nikko Ergo Cobalt (guide price around $319). Nikko’s Cobalt Alloy scissor with an 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.
2. Nikko Original Offset (around $356). 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.
3. Nikko Cobalt (around $399). 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 grip: ergonomic handle with a ball-bearing screw on the Ergo, standard offset on the flagship Cobalt.
4. Nikko Offset Damascus (around $684). 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.
5. Nikko Kokaji Slim Straight (around $756). 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.
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 $319 and $356 — Cobalt Alloy ergonomic against Japanese Steel offset. The Cobalt is the flagship Cobalt Alloy offset at $399; the Offset Damascus the Damascus pick at $684; the Kokaji Slim Straight the straight-handle narrow-blade pick at $756. Three steel grades and three handle types across $319 to $756. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Nikko range
The Nikko Cobalt Slim (around $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 $513) is the Cobalt Alloy model with an ergonomic offset design, a step above the Cobalt in price. The Nikko Cobalt Gel (around $629) is the Cobalt Alloy model with a gel-finish handle for comfortable all-day cutting. The Nikko Damascus Barber (around $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
Where 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 $205 to $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 ergonomic handle. 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 an ergonomic handle rather than an offset configuration, plus a ball-bearing screw. The Cobalt sits $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.