The Best Shihan Scissors for Hairdressers
Shihan is a USA-based scissor brand launched in 2022 under parent company Saki Shears. The name comes from a Japanese term meaning master teacher or expert. The range spans cutting and thinning scissors at guide prices from $155 to $320, with steel choices across 440C, VG-10, ZA-18, and ATS-314. Five picks here cover the spread from $155 to $275, all available through Shihan Shears.
What are the best Shihan scissors?
The Kongo, around $155, is Shihan's entry cutting scissor in Japanese steel at 6.0 inch — the starting point in the range. The Rose Gold, around $190, puts a rose gold finish on the same 6.0 inch format for stylists who want a more distinctive look. The Red Moon, around $199, steps to VG-10 steel in a 5.5 inch format with a red accent — Shihan's step-up over the entry Japanese steel models. The Legacy, around $220, moves to ATS-314 steel in a longer 7.0 inch blade, the model in the range suited to over-comb and scissor-over-comb work at barber lengths. The Meister, around $275, applies VG-10 to a 5.75 inch format — the mid-length, mid-tier pick for all-round styling.
Shihan’s range runs several distinct steel grades. The entry models list Japanese steel as the specification; the Red Moon and Meister name VG-10; the Legacy names ATS-314. VG-10 is a cobalt-alloyed cutlery steel used across many Japanese professional scissors; ATS-314 is a cobalt stainless used across multiple Japanese scissor brands. All Shihan scissors carry a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, according to the brand. Confirm current steel specifications and warranty terms on the Shihan Shears site before purchasing.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Shihan picks from $155 to $275
| Attribute | Shihan Kongo 6 Inch Hair Shears Shihan | Shihan 6 Inch Rose Gold Hair Cutting Shears Shihan | Shihan Red Moon 5.5 Inch Hair Cutting Shears Shihan | Shihan Legacy 7.0 Inch ATS-314 Hair Cutting Shears Shihan | Shihan Meister 5.75 Inch Hair Cutting Shears Shihan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$155 | US$190 | US$199 | US$220 | US$275 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Entry-level | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | VG-10 | ATS-314 | VG-10 |
| Made in | USA | USA | USA | USA | USA |
| Handle | — | — | — | — | — |
| Blade type | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sizes (in) | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 7.0 | 5.75 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five available through Shihan Shears. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
The Shihan range
Shihan launched in 2022 as the scissor line of parent company Saki Shears, taking its name from a Japanese term for master teacher or expert. The catalogue covers cutting scissors and thinning scissors, with seven matched sets among the 21 models. Guide prices run from $155 to $320 across the full range.
Steel grades span entry Japanese steel at the bottom, VG-10 and ATS-314 through the mid-range, and ZA-18 and 440C across other models. All Shihan scissors carry a lifetime warranty according to the brand. The range is available through the Shihan Shears official site and through Scissors HQ.
The five picks
1. Shihan Kongo (guide price around $155). Shihan’s entry cutting scissor, a 6.0 inch pair in Japanese steel. The Kongo is the starting point in the Shihan cutting range — a 6.0 inch pair suited to stylists moving into the Shihan catalogue before stepping to a named grade. Available through Shihan Shears.
2. Shihan Rose Gold (around $190). Shihan’s 6.0 inch cutting scissor with a rose gold finish. The Rose Gold shares the same 6.0 inch format as the Kongo in Japanese steel, with a rose gold coating that distinguishes it visually. Available through Shihan Shears.
3. Shihan Red Moon (around $199). Shihan’s VG-10 cutting scissor at 5.5 inch with a red accent. The Red Moon is the step up from the entry Japanese steel models — VG-10 is a cobalt-alloyed cutlery steel used across many Japanese professional scissors, and the 5.5 inch length suits precision detail work. Available through Shihan Shears.
4. Shihan Legacy (around $220). Shihan’s ATS-314 cutting scissor in a 7.0 inch blade. The Legacy is the longest single cutting scissor in these five picks — ATS-314 is a cobalt stainless used across multiple Japanese scissor brands, and the 7.0 inch blade suits over-comb and scissor-over-comb work at barber lengths. Available through Shihan Shears.
5. Shihan Meister (around $275). Shihan’s VG-10 cutting scissor at 5.75 inch. The Meister pairs VG-10 steel with a mid-length 5.75 inch blade — a versatile format for general styling work. Available through Shihan Shears.
How we chose
The five picks span the Shihan entry-to-mid range: a Japanese steel entry pair, a rose gold finish variant, a VG-10 step-up, an ATS-314 long-blade model, and a VG-10 mid-length. Sets are excluded here to focus on individual cutting scissors. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Shihan catalogue
The Shihan range also includes thinning scissors — the Legacy Thinning ($220) and Red Moon Thinning ($199) — as well as matched sets pairing cutting and thinning scissors. The Shihan Sensei ($275) and Shihan Zen ($199) are further cutting models in the range. The Shihan Quadra ($155) and Shihan Swivel ($155) offer alternative handle configurations at the entry price. For the full catalogue, see the Shihan brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shihan is a USA-based brand launched in 2022 under parent company Saki Shears. For current details on manufacturing and distribution, see the Shihan Shears official site.
Shihan works across several steel grades depending on model: entry models list Japanese steel, the Red Moon and Meister use VG-10, the Legacy uses ATS-314, and other models in the range use ZA-18 or 440C. The product page for each model lists the confirmed grade.
Yes. Shihan Shears carries a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. According to the brand, defective or malfunctioning shears under normal use conditions will be repaired or replaced. For full terms and exclusions, see the Shihan Shears official site.
The catalogued Shihan range runs from 5.5 to 7.0 inches across cutting models. The Kongo and Rose Gold are 6.0 inch; the Red Moon is 5.5 inch; the Meister is 5.75 inch; and the Legacy is 7.0 inch.
Shihan scissors are sold through the official Shihan Shears website and through Scissors HQ. See the brand page for current retailer links.