The Best Passion Scissors for Hairdressers
Passion is a UK scissor brand produced by Dowa International Ltd. in London, established since 1980, with Japanese craftsmanship running across the range. The cutting line climbs from ATS-314 at the entry tier through Cobalt Alloy at mid-range to Damascus at the top, with both UK-made and Japan-made models in the catalogue. The Alto Barber pairs a Damascus outer layer with an ATS-314 cobalt cutting core. Five picks span $160 to $538, available through DOWA International and Shear Integrity.
What are the best Passion scissors for professional hairdressers?
The Avanti, around $160, is Passion's most affordable ATS-314 offset model in two sizes, UK-made with Japanese craftsmanship. The Vertex, around $196, is the Japan-made ATS-314 offset model with slim sword blades and fine tips in four sizes from 5.5 to 7.0 inch. The Cobalt Super II, around $266, is the Japan-made Cobalt Alloy offset model with a clam blade and tension locking screw in three sizes. The Cobalt Raptor, around $278, is the Japan-made Cobalt Alloy model with weighted Takefu VG10 blades and ergonomic handles in four sizes. The Alto Barber, around $538, is the Damascus model with an ATS-314 cobalt cutting core and straight blade for barbering in 6.5 and 7.0 inch.
The Avanti and Vertex are both ATS-314 offset picks, separated by country of manufacture — UK on the Avanti, Japan on the Vertex — and by size run and blade design: two standard sizes on the Avanti, four sizes with slim sword blades on the Vertex. The Cobalt Super II and Cobalt Raptor are both Japan-made Cobalt Alloy picks, split by blade and handle: clam blade on the Super II, weighted Takefu VG10 cobalt blades with ergonomic handles on the Raptor. The Alto Barber is the Damascus pick and the barbering-length model in two sizes.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Passion picks from $160 to $538
| Attribute | Passion Avanti Cutting Scissors Passion | Passion Vertex Cutting Scissors Passion | Passion Cobalt Super II Cutting Scissors Passion | Passion Cobalt Raptor Cutting Scissors Passion | Passion Alto Barber Damascus Cutting Scissors Passion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$160 | US$196 | US$266 | US$278 | US$538 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Mid-range | Mid-range | Premium |
| Steel | ATS-314 | ATS-314 | Cobalt Alloy | Cobalt Alloy | Damascus |
| Made in | UK | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Not listed | Offset |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0· 6.5· 7.0 | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0· 6.5· 7.0 | 6.5· 7.0 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
UK and Japan as countries of manufacture per product pages. Steel grades from product pages. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
Passion’s Japan-crafted range
Passion is a UK scissor brand produced by Dowa International Ltd. in London, established since 1980, with Japanese craftsmanship across the range. The cutting line uses ATS-314 at entry and mid tiers, Cobalt Alloy at the mid-to-upper tier, and Damascus at the top. Both manufacturing origins appear in the catalogue: the entry Avanti is UK-made, while the Vertex, Cobalt Super II, Cobalt Raptor, and Alto Barber are Japan-made. The Alto Barber pairs a Damascus outer layer with an ATS-314 cobalt cutting core.
The five picks below span $160 to $538, covering both origins, three steel grades, two Cobalt Alloy models with distinct blade and handle specifications, and a barber-specific Damascus pick.
The five picks
1. Passion Avanti (guide price around $160). Passion’s most affordable ATS-314 offset scissor, UK-made with Japanese craftsmanship: offset handle, removable finger rest, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The product page describes it as the most affordable model in the range — a straightforward ATS-314 offset in the two standard salon lengths. Available through DOWA International and Shear Integrity.
2. Passion Vertex (around $196). The Japan-made ATS-314 pick: slim sword blades with fine tips for precision, a ball bearing screw system, and weight balanced toward the hand — a development of the Passion Zeta design with those blade refinements added. Four sizes from 5.5 to 7.0 inch, the widest run among the ATS-314 picks here. Available through DOWA International and Shear Integrity.
3. Passion Cobalt Super II (around $266). The clam-blade Cobalt Alloy pick: a Cobalt special alloy blade in a clam profile — a convex curved blade cross-section — on a classic offset handle with a tension locking screw. Three sizes, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch, including the 5.0 short detail length. Japan-made.
4. Passion Cobalt Raptor (around $278). The weighted-blade Cobalt Alloy pick: weighted blades in Takefu VG10 cobalt alloy — suited to cutting through thick hair with extra power — with ergonomic handles and a ball bearing screw. Four sizes from 5.5 to 7.0 inch, tied with the Vertex for the widest run on this page. Japan-made.
5. Passion Alto Barber (around $538). The Damascus pick and the barbering specialist: a Damascus outer layer over an ATS-314 cobalt cutting core — the cutting edge is the same ATS-314 cobalt steel used in the Vertex and Avanti — with a straight blade edge suited to barbering and a classic offset handle. Two barber lengths, 6.5 and 7.0 inch. Japan-made.
How we chose
The Avanti and Vertex are both ATS-314 offset picks, split by country (UK versus Japan), blade design (standard versus slim sword blades with fine tips), and size run (two versus four sizes). The Cobalt Super II and Cobalt Raptor are both Japan-made Cobalt Alloy picks, split by blade (clam versus weighted) and handle (offset versus ergonomic). The Alto Barber takes the Damascus and barber-length spot. Three steel grades across both UK-made and Japan-made models, at $160 to $538. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Passion range
The Passion Cobalt Aqua (around $190) is an ATS-314 model with ergonomic fatigue-reducing handles and a wide mid-section blade built for slide cutting — in three sizes from 5.5 to 6.5 inch. The Passion Cobalt Crown (around $209) is the Cobalt Alloy model covering the widest size run in the range — four sizes from 6.0 to 7.5 inch — for stylists needing the longer barber lengths. The Passion Cobalt V10 (around $215) is the shortest-size Cobalt Alloy model in three sizes from 4.5 to 5.5 inch — the only Passion cutting model available at 4.5 inch. The Passion Nimbus (around $475) is a weighted Damascus model with ergonomic handles and straight clam blades — a Damascus pick at the standard 5.5 and 6.0 inch lengths. Thinning scissors are on the Passion brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Passion based and who makes it?
Passion is produced by Dowa International Ltd., based in London, UK, and the brand has been established since 1980. Several models list Japan as country of manufacture; the entry models including the Avanti list the UK, alongside Japanese craftsmanship as a brand attribute. For full manufacturing and provenance details, consult the Passion brand website or an authorised retailer.
What is the difference between UK-made and Japan-made Passion scissors?
Several Passion product pages list the UK as country of manufacture, including the Avanti, Microlight, Phantom, and Zeta. Others list Japan, including the Vertex, Cobalt Super II, Cobalt Raptor, and Alto Barber. Both the UK-made and Japan-made models carry Japanese craftsmanship as a brand attribute — the Avanti product page states this explicitly. For the specific manufacturing details of each model, consult the individual product page or the Passion brand website.
What are the slim sword blades and fine tips on the Passion Vertex?
The Vertex product page lists slim sword blades with fine tips. A slim sword blade profile has a narrower blade body than a standard width shear, reducing contact with the hair during the cutting stroke and improving precision at the tip; fine tips allow more control when point-cutting and working around hairlines and ears. The Vertex is described on the product page as based on the Passion Zeta design with these blade refinements added, alongside a ball bearing screw system and weight balanced toward the hand.
What is the Damascus on the Passion Alto Barber?
The Alto Barber product page lists Damascus steel with an ATS-314 cobalt cutting core. The Damascus outer layers provide the blade’s surface pattern and body; the ATS-314 cobalt core provides the cutting edge — the same cobalt steel used in the Vertex and other ATS-314 models in the range. The page also lists a straight blade edge suited to barbering, and the Alto Barber comes in 6.5 and 7.0 inch — the two barber-length sizes in this list.
Does Passion make thinning scissors?
Yes. Passion makes thinning scissors including the Cobalt Thinning, Cirrus Thinning, and other models. This roundup covers cutting scissors only. The full thinning range is on the Passion brand page.