The Best Utsumi Scissors for Hairdressers
Utsumi is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1987 by Chimaki Utsumi in Settsu City, Osaka. The company is credited as the first to produce professional shears using CNC machining, and developed a double-bladed thinning shear in 1994. Five cutting picks here run from $900 to $1,200, all made in Japan. A US operation, Utsumi America, is based in Irvine, California and handles distribution, sharpening, and education for the American market.
What are the best Utsumi scissors?
The USSX, around $900, is Utsumi's all-round U&U cutter — a simple offset handle, slim blade, and small finger hole in Japanese steel, available in 6.5 and 7.0 inch with a flat screw or self-adjuster option. The ER, around $940, puts cobalt alloy steel into an ergonomic offset handle with an adjuster mechanism and fixed finger rest — the cobalt grade distinguishes it from the USSX. The NY DRYCUT, around $950, is a cobalt steel flat-blade scissor built specifically for dry cutting, with a slim blade in 6.0 inch. The Slide Control, around $950, is the specialist slide-cutting model — available in 20, 60, and 80 configurations for different slide-cut intensities. The UMIX MX Damascus, around $1,200, is Utsumi's Damascus steel model, available across 5.5 to 7.0 inch.
Utsumi’s U&U series covers four distinct technique specialisations within the cutting range: the USSX as the all-round workhorse, the ER and NY DRYCUT as cobalt-steel upgrades for standard and dry cutting respectively, the Slide Control as the dedicated slide-technique model, and the UMIX MX Damascus at the top. The slide-cut specialisation is a consistent theme across the catalogue — Utsumi lists slide cut at both 10–40% and 80–90% intensities as a brand specialty, which the Slide Control’s three configurations (20/60/80) directly address. Utsumi America in Irvine, California, provides sharpening and education for the American market; the Irvine office is the practical service point for US stylists who own Utsumi shears.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Utsumi picks from $900 to $1,200
| Attribute | Utsumi U&U USSX Cutting Scissors Utsumi | Utsumi U&U ER Cutting Scissors Utsumi | Utsumi U&U NY DRYCUT Cutting Scissors Utsumi | Utsumi U&U Slide Control Cutting Scissors Utsumi | Utsumi UMIX MX Damascus Cutting Scissors Utsumi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$900 | US$940 | US$950 | US$950 | US$1,200 |
| Price tier | Luxury | Luxury | Luxury | Luxury | Luxury |
| Steel | Unknown | Cobalt Alloy Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Damascus Steel |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Offset | Ergonomic Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset |
| Blade type | Beveled and Flat | — | Flat / Slim | — | — |
| Sizes (in) | 6.5 · 7.0 | 6.2 · 7.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 · 7.0 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five handmade in Japan. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures with the retailer before buying.
The Utsumi U&U range
Utsumi was founded in 1987 by Chimaki Utsumi in Settsu City, Osaka. The company is credited as the first to produce professional shears using CNC machining. In 1994 it developed a double-bladed thinning shear that became widely adopted across the Japanese market. The U&U series is Utsumi’s primary professional cutting and thinning line; all models are handmade in Japan.
The five picks here cover the full U&U cutting catalogue, from the all-round USSX at $900 to the Damascus model at $1,200. In the US, SHEAR INTEGRITY and SCISSOR Dude stock the range; Utsumi America in Irvine, California, provides sharpening and education.
The five picks
1. Utsumi U&U USSX (guide price around $900). Utsumi’s all-round cutting model in Japanese steel. The USSX carries a slim blade with a beveled and flat construction, a simple offset handle, and a small finger hole, available in 6.5 and 7.0 inch with a choice of flat screw or self-adjuster. Available through SHEAR INTEGRITY.
2. Utsumi U&U ER (around $940). Utsumi’s cobalt alloy steel cutting model in an ergonomic offset handle with an adjuster mechanism and a fixed finger rest. The ER comes in 6.2 and 7.0 inch. The cobalt alloy steel distinguishes it from the Japanese steel USSX — a different blade material at a step up in price. Available through SHEAR INTEGRITY and SCISSOR Dude.
3. Utsumi U&U NY DRYCUT (around $950). Utsumi’s cobalt steel flat-blade scissor built for dry cutting. The NY DRYCUT carries a slim blade geometry in 6.0 inch, suited to the dry cutting techniques where blade travel and precision placement through dry hair matter most. Available through SHEAR INTEGRITY.
4. Utsumi U&U Slide Control (around $950). Utsumi’s dedicated slide-cutting model in 6.0 inch. The Slide Control comes in three configurations — 20, 60, and 80 — for different slide-cut intensities, matching Utsumi’s catalogue speciality of slide cutting at 10–40% and 80–90% removal ranges. Available through SHEAR INTEGRITY.
5. Utsumi UMIX MX Damascus (around $1,200). Utsumi’s Damascus steel cutting model at the top of the range. Available across four lengths — 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 inch — the widest size run in the Utsumi cutting catalogue. Available through SHEAR INTEGRITY.
How we chose
These five cover the full U&U cutting range from the all-round entry model to the Damascus top model, and include the two technique-specialist models — the NY DRYCUT for dry cutting and the Slide Control for slide technique. Guide prices are approximate; confirm current figures with the retailer before buying.
The wider Utsumi catalogue
Utsumi also produces thinning shears and operates under additional brand names including NOVA and Jyo-Utopia, which emerged from the company’s acquisition of the Tenyo factory. The Utsumi brand page covers the full catalogue and retailer information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Chimaki Utsumi founded the company in 1987, and it operates from Settsu City, Osaka. All catalogued models are handmade in Japan. A US subsidiary, Utsumi America, is based in Irvine, California.
U&U is the primary Utsumi cutting and thinning line. The catalogued U&U models include the USSX all-round cutter, the ER cobalt model, the NY DRYCUT dry-cutting specialist, and the Slide Control for slide-cut technique. The UMIX MX Damascus is a separate line at the top of the Utsumi catalogue.
The Slide Control comes in three configurations — 20, 60, and 80 — which correspond to the intensity of the slide cut produced. Lower numbers give a softer, more gradual slide; higher numbers give a more aggressive slide removal. The three variants allow the same scissor platform to be matched to different slide-cutting applications.
In the US, Utsumi is stocked by SHEAR INTEGRITY and SCISSOR Dude. Utsumi America (utsumiamerica.com) also handles direct enquiries, sharpening, and education for the American market. Scissors Shop Hayashi carries the range in Japan.
The five catalogued U&U cutting models run from approximately $900 (USSX) to $1,200 (UMIX MX Damascus). The ER, NY DRYCUT, and Slide Control sit at $940–$950. Confirm current pricing with the retailer, as guide prices are approximate.