The Best Samurai Scissors for Hairdressers
Samurai is a UK scissor brand established in 2006 in Newcastle, importing Japanese steel shears distributed through more than 400 Sally Beauty stores across the UK and Ireland. The range is built on three families: Shimasu at entry, Tora in the middle, and Hasaki at the top. Five picks here run from US$44 to US$127 in 5.0 to 6.0 inch lengths.
Updated
What are the best Samurai scissors?
The Shimasu 6.0, around US$44, is Samurai's entry offset cutting shear in J420 stainless steel — the starting point for students and trainees. The Shimasu Thinning, also around US$44, pairs a thinning blade with the same entry construction for basic blending at the same price. The Tora 5.0, around US$76, steps up to J440 Japanese steel in a 5.0 inch offset cutting shear with a black flower finish. The Tora Thinning, around US$76, puts a rainbow titanium-coated thinning blade in the Tora tier for weight removal. The Hasaki 6.0, around US$127, is Samurai's top-tier cutting shear in Japanese steel with a straight handle and convex edge — the premium option in the Samurai catalogue.
The three-family structure maps to a clear price and steel progression. Shimasu uses J420 stainless — the entry grade suited to training and backup use. Tora steps to J440, a harder Japanese stainless, and adds design finishes (black flower on the cutter, rainbow titanium on the thinner). Hasaki is the top family, with a convex edge and straight handle geometry. Guide prices across the range stay between US$44 and US$127, making Samurai one of the more accessible Japanese steel brands for UK and Ireland stylists. The brand is available through Sally Beauty stores and the official Samurai Scissors website.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | Pick 1 Samurai Shimasu 6.0 Offset Cutting Scissors Samurai | Pick 2 Samurai Shimasu 5.5 Thinning Scissors Samurai | Pick 3 Samurai Tora 5.0 Black Flower Cutting Scissors Samurai | Pick 4 Samurai Tora 5.5 Rainbow Thinning Scissors Samurai | Pick 5 Samurai Hasaki 6.0 Straight Cutting Scissors Samurai |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price band | US$44Price band Under US$100 · Budget | US$44Price band Under US$100 · Budget | US$76Price band Under US$100 · Budget | US$76Price band Under US$100 · Budget | US$127Price band US$100–200 · Entry-level |
| Made in | UK | UK | UK | UK | UK |
| Sizes (in) | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 6.0 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
Five Samurai picks from US$44 to US$127
- 1Samurai
Samurai Shimasu 6.0 Offset Cutting Scissors
- J420
- 6.0″
Samurai’s entry offset cutting shear in J420 stainless steel at 6.0 inch. The Shimasu 6.0 is the larger of the two Shimasu cutting variants — an offset handle with a budget-accessible price suited to students and trainees entering the Japanese steel range. The 5.5 inch Shimasu offset is the companion size. Available through Samurai Scissors.
View Samurai Shimasu 6.0 Offset Cutting Scissors - 2Samurai
Samurai Shimasu 5.5 Thinning Scissors
- J420
- 5.5″
Samurai’s entry thinning shear at 5.5 inch in J420 stainless. The Shimasu Thinning pairs a thinning blade with the same entry construction as the Shimasu cutting shear, for basic blending and weight removal at the same price point. Suited to students who need a thinning option alongside their first cutting shear. Available through Samurai Scissors.
View Samurai Shimasu 5.5 Thinning Scissors - 3Samurai
Samurai Tora 5.0 Black Flower Cutting Scissors
- J440
- 5.0″
Samurai’s 5.0 inch cutting shear in J440 Japanese steel with a black flower design and offset handle. The Tora 5.0 is the smaller of the Tora cutting options — J440 is a harder stainless than the entry Shimasu J420, and the 5.0 inch length suits stylists working closer in on shorter cuts or detail work. Available through Samurai Scissors.
View Samurai Tora 5.0 Black Flower Cutting Scissors - 4Samurai
Samurai Tora 5.5 Rainbow Thinning Scissors
- J440
- 5.5″
Samurai’s 5.5 inch thinning shear in Japanese steel with a rainbow titanium finish. The Tora Thinning sits at the same price as the Tora cutter and adds a coated finish alongside the thinning blade. For stylists in the Tora tier who want a thinning pair to match their cutting shear. Available through Samurai Scissors.
View Samurai Tora 5.5 Rainbow Thinning Scissors - 5Samurai
Samurai Hasaki 6.0 Straight Cutting Scissors
- Japanese Hitachi Stainless Steel
- 6.0″
Samurai’s top-tier 6.0 inch cutting shear in Japanese steel with a straight handle and convex edge. The Hasaki 6.0 is the premium option in the Samurai catalogue — a straight (symmetric) handle rather than offset, at a guide price roughly three times the Shimasu entry. The 5.5 inch Hasaki offset is the companion variant. Available through Samurai Scissors.
View Samurai Hasaki 6.0 Straight Cutting Scissors
The Samurai range
Samurai is a UK brand founded in 2006 in Newcastle, built around three families at distinct price and steel tiers. Shimasu covers entry-level work in J420 stainless. Tora steps to J440 Japanese steel in the mid-tier. Hasaki is the premium family with a convex edge at the top of the catalogue.
The three-family structure is consistent across cutting and thinning models. Guide prices run from US$44 in the Shimasu family to US$127 in the Hasaki line, keeping the full range accessible for students and working stylists. Samurai reaches the UK and Ireland market through Sally Beauty stores, Direct Hairdressing Scissors, and the official Samurai Scissors website.
How we chose
Each pick represents a distinct position in the Samurai three-family structure. The Shimasu cutting and thinning shears cover the entry tier at the lowest price point. The Tora cutting and thinning shears step to J440 and add coated finishes in the mid-tier. The Hasaki 6.0 takes the range to the premium family with a convex edge. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Samurai catalogue
The Hasaki 5.5 offset cutting shear is the companion to the Hasaki 6.0 for stylists who prefer a shorter length or offset geometry. The full Samurai range, including left-handed models, is covered on the Samurai brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
5 answers you can open one at a timeWhat steel does Samurai use in its scissors?
Samurai uses Japanese stainless steel across the range, with J420 in the entry Shimasu family and J440 in the Tora line. The Hasaki series is specified as Japanese steel; confirm the exact grade on the product page before buying.
Where are Samurai scissors sold?
Samurai is distributed through more than 400 Sally Beauty stores across the UK and Ireland, through Direct Hairdressing Scissors, and through the official Samurai Scissors website at samurai-scissors.uk.
What is the difference between Shimasu, Tora, and Hasaki?
Shimasu is the entry family, using J420 stainless at a guide price of around US$44. Tora is the mid-tier, stepping to J440 Japanese steel with design finishes at around US$76. Hasaki is the top family, with a convex edge and straight handle, at around US$127.
What sizes do Samurai scissors come in?
Catalogued Samurai models run from 5.0 inch (Tora Black Flower) to 6.0 inch (Shimasu and Hasaki lines), with 5.5 inch available in the Shimasu offset, Tora thinning, and Hasaki offset. Confirm current sizes on the product page before ordering.
Does Samurai make thinning scissors?
Yes. The Shimasu Thinning and Tora Thinning are both catalogued thinning models. The Shimasu Thinning is a 5.5 inch J420 entry model; the Tora Thinning is a 5.5 inch J440 model with a rainbow titanium finish.