The Best U&U Scissors for Hairdressers
U&U is the scissor line of UTSUMI Co., Ltd., a maker founded in 1987 and based in Settsu City, Osaka. The scissors are hand-forged in Japan from cobalt alloy steel and sold through UTSUMI's own channels and specialist US retailers. Four picks from $375 to $400, all made in Japan.
What are the best U&U scissors?
The NY DRY CUT 60, around $375, is U&U's 6.0-inch cutting scissor with a dry-cut blade profile and offset handle — suited to stylists who work primarily on dry hair. The Sword, around $375, is a 5.5 and 6.0-inch scissor with a sword blade profile for point cutting and slide work. The MX160, around $375, is the colour-finish model in the range — available in blue, bronze, and black finishes in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The ER, around $400, is U&U's longer cutting scissor at 6.2 and 7.0 inch, suited to bulk work and slide cutting where extended reach reduces repositioning.
All four U&U cutting models use cobalt alloy steel — a cobalt-enriched stainless used for refined carbides and gradual edge wear — with an offset handle and convex blade. The distinctions are blade profile and size. The NY DRY CUT 60 has a dry-cut blade profile designed for clean section separation on dry hair. The Sword has a sword blade profile, a different tip geometry suited to point cutting. The MX160 offers colour finish options not available on the other models. The ER runs longer blade lengths — 6.2 and 7.0 inch — for stylists who want extended reach. UTSUMI also makes the AT-30 thinning scissor with a reversible megane handle (the handle can be flipped to change the effective cut ratio); that model is documented separately on the U&U brand page. All four cutting models are available through Utsumi America.
Verified Jun 2026
The picks, at a glance
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Product photos from the ScissorPedia catalogue; see each product page for provenance.
Four U&U picks from $375 to $400
| Attribute | U&U NY DRY CUT 60 Professional Cutting Scissors U&U | U&U Sword Professional Cutting Scissors U&U | U&U MX160 Professional Cutting Scissors U&U | U&U ER Professional Cutting Scissors U&U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$375 | US$375 | US$375 | US$400 |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium | Premium | Premium |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset |
| Blade type | Convex | Convex | Convex | Convex |
| Sizes (in) | 6.0 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All four cobalt alloy steel, hand-forged in Osaka, Japan by UTSUMI. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
The U&U cobalt alloy range
U&U is the scissor line of UTSUMI Co., Ltd., founded in 1987 in Settsu City, Osaka. The scissors are hand-forged in Japan from cobalt alloy steel — a cobalt-enriched stainless chosen for refined carbides and gradual edge wear. The cutting range runs four distinct blade profiles in offset handles from 5.5 to 7.0 inch; the AT-30 thinning scissor uses a reversible megane (eyeglass) handle that can be flipped to change the effective cut ratio.
Four picks cover the cutting range from $375 to $400, all available through Utsumi America.
The four picks
1. U&U NY DRY CUT 60 (guide price around $375). U&U’s 6.0-inch cutting scissor with a dry-cut blade profile — designed for precision cutting where clean section separation matters, particularly on dry hair. Cobalt alloy steel, offset handle, convex blade, hand-forged in Osaka. Available through Utsumi America.
2. U&U Sword (around $375). U&U’s cutting scissor with a sword blade profile for point cutting and slide work. Cobalt alloy steel, offset handle, convex blade, hand-forged in Osaka. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The sword profile is a distinct tip geometry from the NY DRY CUT 60’s dry-cut blade — both use the same cobalt alloy at the same guide price. Available through Utsumi America.
3. U&U MX160 (around $375). U&U’s colour-finish cutting scissor — available in blue, bronze, and black finishes in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. Cobalt alloy steel, offset handle, convex blade, hand-forged in Osaka. The MX160 is the only model in the catalogued cutting range to offer colour-finish options; the standard finish models carry the same guide price. Available through Utsumi America.
4. U&U ER (around $400). U&U’s longer cutting scissor at 6.2 and 7.0 inch — suited to stylists who work on bulk cutting, slide cutting, and longer styles where extended blade reach reduces repositioning. Cobalt alloy steel, offset handle, convex blade, hand-forged in Osaka. The highest guide price in the catalogued U&U cutting range, at $400, and the longest available lengths. Available through Utsumi America.
How we chose
Each pick represents a distinct blade profile or size tier in the U&U cutting range. The NY DRY CUT 60 covers dry-cut blade work. The Sword covers point cutting and slide work with sword profile geometry. The MX160 is the colour-finish option for stylists who want a different finish. The ER extends the range to 6.2 and 7.0 inch for bulk and slide work at longer lengths. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider U&U catalogue
The U&U brand page covers the AT-30 thinning scissor, which uses a reversible megane handle that changes the effective cut ratio when flipped. The full range including domestic Japanese stock is on UTSUMI’s own site at uu-utsumi.co.jp. US buyers can also check Scissor Dude and Utsumi America for current availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is U&U a Japanese scissor brand?
Yes. U&U is the scissor line of UTSUMI Co., Ltd., a maker founded in 1987 and based in Settsu City, Osaka. The scissors are hand-forged in Japan.
What steel do U&U scissors use?
U&U cutting scissors use cobalt alloy steel — a cobalt-enriched stainless steel for refined carbides and gradual edge wear. The catalogued models all share this alloy; the AT-30 thinning scissor is also in cobalt-containing steel.
What is the U&U NY DRY CUT 60?
The NY DRY CUT 60 is a 6.0-inch U&U cutting scissor with a dry-cut blade profile — a blade geometry designed for precision cutting on dry hair where clean section separation matters. It uses cobalt alloy steel with an offset handle and convex blade, hand-forged in Osaka.
What is the difference between the U&U Sword and the NY DRY CUT 60?
Both are 6.0-inch (and in the Sword’s case, also 5.5-inch) cobalt alloy offset scissors. The Sword uses a sword blade profile suited to point cutting and slide work; the NY DRY CUT 60 uses a dry-cut blade profile suited to precision cutting on dry hair. Both are at the same guide price.
Where can I buy U&U scissors?
U&U scissors are available through Utsumi America at utsumiamerica.com and through US specialist retailers including Scissor Dude. UTSUMI’s own site is at uu-utsumi.co.jp, and the brand is also stocked by Hasamiya and Pfizz Japan in the domestic Japanese market.