The Best TRI Scissors for Hairdressers
TRI is the professional scissor line of IT&LY Hairfashion, an Italian brand founded in 1987 and making scissors in Italy. The cutting range uses Japanese Steel at the entry and mid tiers, Cobalt Steel on the ergonomic Ergo Classic, and 440C at the top. Every catalogued cutting model is made in Italy with an offset handle. Five picks span $115 to $190, available through Chris & Sons and Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
What are the best TRI scissors for professional hairdressers?
The Classic, around $115, is TRI's five-size Japanese Steel offset shear from 5.0 to 7.0 inch — the widest size run in the range. The Balance Slim Nickel Free, around $125, is the nickel-free Japanese Steel shear with slim blades in 5.0 inch. The Ergo Classic Cobalt, around $155, is the cobalt steel offset shear with an ergonomic handle in 5.0 and 5.5 inch. The Profile XL, around $160, is the Japanese Steel shear for barber and panel cutting in four sizes from 6.0 to 7.5 inch. The Titan, around $190, is the 440C rose gold finish offset shear in 5.5 and 6.0 inch.
All five are made in Italy with an offset handle. The Classic is the widest-size-run entry pick in Japanese Steel. The Balance Slim Nickel Free is the specialist pick for stylists with nickel sensitivity. The Ergo Classic Cobalt is the cobalt steel step-up with an ergonomic design. The Profile XL is the barber-length specialist in Japanese Steel across four longer sizes. The Titan is the 440C premium-finish pick at the top of the range.
Verified Jun 2026
Five TRI picks from $115 to $190
| Attribute | TRI Classic Cutting Scissors TRI | TRI Balance Slim Nickel Free Cutting Scissors TRI | TRI Ergo Classic Cobalt Cutting Scissors TRI | TRI Profile XL Cutting Scissors TRI | TRI Titan Cutting Scissors TRI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$115 | US$125 | US$155 | US$160 | US$190 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Entry-level | Entry-level | Entry-level |
| Steel | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | 440C |
| Made in | Italy | Italy | Italy | Italy | Italy |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset |
| Sizes (in) | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0· 6.5· 7.0 | 5.0 | 5.0· 5.5 | 6.0· 6.5· 7.0· 7.5 | 5.5· 6.0 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Italy. Steel grades from product pages. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
TRI’s Italy-made range
TRI is the professional scissor line of IT&LY Hairfashion, an Italian brand founded in 1987 that researches, develops, and manufactures its scissors in Italy. The cutting range uses Japanese Steel at the entry and mid tiers, Cobalt Steel on the ergonomic Ergo Classic, and 440C at the top. Every catalogued cutting model is made in Italy with an offset handle. UK distribution runs through It&ly Hair and Beauty Ltd in Chirk, Wrexham.
The five picks below span $115 to $190: the five-size entry workhorse, the nickel-free specialist, the cobalt ergonomic step, the barber-length specialist, and the 440C premium-finish pick.
The five picks
1. TRI Classic (guide price around $115). TRI’s five-size Japanese Steel offset shear for general salon cutting: 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 inch — the widest size run in the catalogued TRI cutting range, from the compact 5.0 detail length to the 7.0 barber length. The product page describes it as a versatile cutting scissor for general salon work, and at $115 it is the lowest guide price on this page. Available through Chris & Sons and Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
2. TRI Balance Slim Nickel Free (around $125). The nickel-free specialist: Japanese Steel with slim blades and a high-polished finish in a 5.0 inch slightly offset model with a metal tension wheel. One size only. Nickel-free construction matters for hairdressers with nickel sensitivity who work with scissors in prolonged skin contact. Available through Chris & Sons and Direct Hairdressing Scissors.
3. TRI Ergo Classic Cobalt (around $155). The cobalt step-up: cobalt steel for enhanced edge retention, on an ergonomic handle designed to reduce hand fatigue across long cutting days. Adding cobalt to the alloy improves hardness and wear resistance compared to standard stainless grades. Two sizes, 5.0 and 5.5 inch — the only cobalt steel pick in this roundup.
4. TRI Profile XL (around $160). The barber and panel-cutting specialist: Japanese Steel in four longer sizes — 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and 7.5 inch — for barbering techniques and scissors-over-comb work where longer blades give greater reach and control. The 7.5 inch length is the longest in the catalogued TRI cutting range.
5. TRI Titan (around $190). The premium-finish pick at the top of the range: a rose gold finish cutting scissor in 440C steel from TRI’s Samurai line, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The highest guide price on this page and the only rose gold finish pick.
How we chose
All five are made in Italy with an offset handle. The Classic is the five-size Japanese Steel entry pick at $115 — the widest size run. The Balance Slim Nickel Free is the nickel-free specialist in 5.0 inch at $125. The Ergo Classic Cobalt is the cobalt ergonomic step at $155 in two sizes. The Profile XL is the barber-length specialist at $160 in four sizes out to 7.5 inch. The Titan is the 440C rose gold finish pick at $190 in two sizes. Three steel grades from $115 to $190. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider TRI range
The TRI Dimension Slim (around $35) and TRI Essential 515 Offset (around $46) are the lowest-priced cutting models in the TRI range, both in Japanese Steel or 420J2 at standard lengths — budget entry options below the Classic in price. The TRI Blue Cascade (around $140) is a Japanese Steel model with a rainbow titanium coating in 5.5 and 6.0 inch — the titanium-coated Japanese Steel option in the mid range. The TRI Samurai Pearl (around $165) is the 440C model with dual removable finger rests for right or left hand use in three sizes — the reversible finger rest pick at 440C. Thinning scissors are on the TRI brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is TRI based and who makes the scissors?
TRI is the professional scissor line of IT&LY Hairfashion, founded in 1987. The brand researches, develops, and manufactures its scissors in Italy. UK distribution runs through It&ly Hair and Beauty Ltd in Chirk, Wrexham. All cutting scissors in the catalogued range list Italy as country of manufacture. For the current range, pricing, and availability, consult the TRI brand page or an authorised retailer.
What steel grades does TRI use?
The TRI cutting range uses three steel grades across the five picks on this page: Japanese Steel on the Classic, Balance Slim Nickel Free, and Profile XL; Cobalt Steel on the Ergo Classic Cobalt; and 440C on the Titan. The brand also uses 420J2 on the Essential Elite line at the budget end of the range. For full steel specification details on any model, consult the individual product page or the TRI brand website.
What is the nickel-free construction on the Balance Slim Nickel Free?
The Balance Slim Nickel Free product page lists nickel-free construction alongside slim blades and a high-polished finish. A nickel-free scissor omits nickel from the metal alloy or coating, which matters for hairdressers who develop contact dermatitis or nickel sensitivity from prolonged skin contact with standard steel scissors. The Balance Slim Nickel Free is available in 5.0 inch — one size — at $125.
What makes the Profile XL different from the Classic?
Both the Classic and Profile XL use Japanese Steel with an offset handle, made in Italy. The Classic is available in five sizes from 5.0 to 7.0 inch — the widest size run in the range — suited to general salon cutting. The Profile XL runs from 6.0 to 7.5 inch in four sizes, built for barbering techniques and scissors-over-comb work where longer blades provide greater reach. Its size run starts at 6.0 inch and extends past the Classic’s 7.0 inch ceiling to 7.5, making it the specialist longer-length pick.
What is the Ergo Classic Cobalt and what is cobalt steel?
The Ergo Classic Cobalt product page lists cobalt steel and an ergonomic handle design intended to reduce hand fatigue during extended use. Cobalt steel is a steel alloy with cobalt added for improved hardness, edge retention, and resistance to wear compared to standard stainless steel grades. The Ergo Classic Cobalt is available in 5.0 and 5.5 inch at $155 — the cobalt step-up in the TRI cutting range.
Does TRI make thinning scissors?
Yes. TRI makes thinning and texturizing scissors including the Blue Cascade Thinner and others. This roundup covers cutting scissors only. The full range including thinning scissors is on the TRI brand page.