The Best Tara Scissors for Hairdressers
Tara is a scissor brand run by Nina Inc., based in Newark, Delaware, with shears described as handmade in Japan. The range is built on cobalt alloy throughout, with a super convex edge on every cutting model. Nineteen catalogued models carry guide prices from $429 to $1,599; five picks here span the core cutting range from $679 to $1,299.
What are the best Tara scissors?
The Model XJ, around $689, uses an offset handle with an extra bent thumb and runs from 5.0 to 7.0 inch. The Model XW, around $679, adds large anatomic bent-thumb holes across 5.5 to 6.5 inch. The Model XO, around $699, uses a wide anatomic bent thumb across 5.0 to 7.0 inch. The Model XH, around $679, uses an offset bent-thumb handle and semi-arch blades across 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch. The Model XD, around $1,299, is the long-blade offset shear with a micro-slit super convex edge in 6.3 and 6.8 inch.
Every Tara cutting shear across the five picks uses cobalt alloy and a super convex edge. The differences are in handle geometry, blade profile, and size range. The XJ, XW, XO, and XH are core offset models with different thumb shapes and lengths. The Model XD is the most feature-specific pick, with a micro-slit edge, anatomic bent-thumb handle, and longer blades.
Verified Jul 2026
The picks, at a glance
Product photos from the ScissorPedia catalogue; see each product page for provenance.
Five Tara picks from $679 to $1,299
| Attribute | Tara Model XJ Tara | Tara Model XW Tara | Tara Model XO Tara | Tara Model XH Tara | Tara Model XD Tara |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$689 | US$679 | US$699 | US$679 | US$1,299 |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium | Premium | Premium | Luxury |
| Steel | Cobalt Alloy | Cobalt Alloy | Cobalt Alloy | Cobalt Alloy | Cobalt Alloy |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Sizes (in) | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0· 6.5· 7.0 | 5.5· 6.0· 6.5 | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0· 6.5· 7.0 | 5.5· 6.0· 6.5 | 6.3· 6.8 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Japan. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page or at tarascissors.com.
The Tara cobalt range
Tara is operated by Nina Inc., headquartered in Newark, Delaware. The brand describes its shears as handmade in Japan, and cobalt alloy is the material across the cutting range. Every cutting model in the five picks here uses a super convex edge, a full-length convex grind that suits slicing and stroke cutting as well as standard blunt and point work.
The official Tara catalogue groups models into named categories, while the product pages identify the actual models. The XJ, XW, XO, and XH offer different offset handle shapes and size ranges, and the XD steps to a longer-blade format with a micro-slit edge and anatomic handle. Tara also makes thinning shears tuned to three different removal rates, which sit alongside the cutting range on the brand’s own site.
All Tara scissors come with a lifetime warranty that includes one year of full servicing, as stated by the brand.
The five picks
1. Tara Model XJ (guide price around $689). Tara’s offset model with an extra bent thumb, super convex edge, and sizes from 5.0 to 7.0 inch. The official Tara page lists it in the Classic and Regular categories. Available through Tara’s own site.
2. Tara Model XW (around $679). The Model XW uses an offset handle with large anatomic bent-thumb holes, a super convex edge, and 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch options. Available through Tara’s own site.
3. Tara Model XO (around $699). The Model XO uses an offset handle with a wide anatomic bent thumb, a super convex edge, and sizes from 5.0 to 7.0 inch. Available through Tara’s own site.
4. Tara Model XH (around $679). Tara’s offset handle shear with a bent thumb and super convex semi-arch blades, for slide cutting and point cutting on wet or dry hair. The XH runs across 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch, with thumb-adjustable tension. Available through Tara’s own site.
5. Tara Model XD (around $1,299). Tara’s top-range offset shear, with a micro-slit super convex edge, anatomic bent-thumb handle, and a mirror polish finish. The XD comes in 6.3 and 6.8 inch - longer blades for detailed wet-and-dry work. Available through Tara’s own site.
How we chose
The five picks cover the main current Tara model pages in the core cutting range. The XJ, XW, XO, and XH show how the offset handle geometry changes across thumb shapes and size ranges, while the XD covers the longer-blade end. All five are cutting shears with a super convex edge and cobalt alloy, made in Japan. Guide prices change; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Tara catalogue
The Tara brand page lists the full cutting and thinning range, including the XDream (around $1,599), the XN and XP at $1,499 and $1,199, and thinning shears at 15 to 35 percent removal rates. Left-handed shears are also catalogued under the Tara range. Tara backs every model with a lifetime warranty including one year of full servicing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Tara scissors made?
Tara’s shears are described by the brand as handmade in Japan. The brand itself is run by Nina Inc., based in Newark, Delaware. All five picks here carry a Japan country of manufacture in their product data.
What steel do Tara scissors use?
Tara uses cobalt alloy across its cutting range. The Regular Cutting Shear specifies cobalt alloy; the Classic and Premium specify upgraded and high-grade variants of the same cobalt alloy family. See each product page or tarascissors.com for the precise grade per model.
What is the Tara super convex edge?
Tara applies what it calls a super convex edge to its cutting shears. A convex edge runs the full length of the blade with a gradual hollow grind behind it, which allows slicing and stroke-cutting movements without resistance. Tara lists this edge across every cutting model in the range.
How much do Tara scissors cost?
The 19 catalogued Tara models carry guide prices from $429 for the Regular cutting and thinning pairs up to $1,599 for the XDream. The five picks here run from $429 to $1,299.
Where can I buy Tara scissors?
Tara scissors are sold through tarascissors.com, as well as through Precision Shears, Shear Integrity, and Scissor Dude.
Does Tara make thinning scissors?
Yes. Tara lists thinning shears at multiple removal rates - 15 to 20 percent, 28 percent, and 35 percent - giving stylists a choice of texturizer weight alongside the cutting range.