The Best Washou Scissors for Hairdressers
Washou is made by TOA Scissors in Seki City, Gifu, Japan, a brand operating since 1963. The cutting range spans SUS440C at the entry tier through Molybdenum Alloy, ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy, Damascus, and Super Gold powder-sintered steel at the top. Two blade profiles appear across the range: the Yanagiba — a curved blade documented as suited to orthodox cutting — and the Chokuba, a straight blade documented for clean, controlled cutting lines. The 3D Offset handle is documented on several models as a handle with a structural three-dimensional angle built into the handle body. Five picks span $235 to $1,050, all made in Seki City.
What are the best Washou scissors for professional hairdressers?
The ESC Performance, around $235, is the SUS440C entry scissor with a Yanagiba blade in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The ATS314 YN, around $402, puts ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy into a Chokuba straight blade on an offset handle in two sizes. The CR ATS314, around $503, is the crane offset ATS-314 model in three non-standard sizes. The FTIUD, around $671, is the 3D Offset hot-forged Molybdenum Alloy scissor with a dark gold titanium coating and a Yanagiba blade across four sizes. The Super Gold SGKUD, around $1,050, is the top-tier Super Gold single-sword convex scissor on a thick 3D handle ring in two sizes.
All five document Seki City, Japan as country of manufacture and are available through Shear Integrity. The ESC Performance and FTIUD both carry a Yanagiba blade — the ESC Performance in SUS440C, the FTIUD in hot-forged Molybdenum Alloy with an added dark gold titanium surface coating. The ATS314 YN and CR ATS314 both use ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy, differentiated by handle type: standard offset on the YN, crane offset on the CR. The Super Gold SGKUD is the only pick using Super Gold powder-sintered steel and a single-sword convex blade profile.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Washou picks from $235 to $1,050
| Attribute | Washou ESC Performance Series Cutting Scissors Washou | Washou ATS314 YN Cutting Scissors Washou | Washou CR ATS314 Cobalt Cutting Scissors Washou | Washou FTIUD Cutting Scissors Washou | Washou Super Gold SGKUD Cutting Scissors Washou |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$235 | US$402 | US$503 | US$671 | US$1,050 |
| Price tier | Mid-range | Premium | Premium | Premium | Luxury |
| Steel | SUS440C | ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy | ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy | Unknown | Unknown |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Crane Offset | 3D Offset | 3D Offset |
| Blade type | Yanagiba | Straight (Chokuba) | Straight | Yanagiba | Convex (single-sword) |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5 · 6.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 | 5.7 · 6.2 · 6.75 | 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 · 7.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Seki City, Japan by TOA Scissors. Steel grades from product pages. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
Washou’s Seki City range
Washou is made by TOA Scissors Co., Ltd. in Seki City, Gifu, Japan, a manufacturer operating since 1963 in one of Japan’s established blade-making centres. The cutting range spans multiple steel tiers — SUS440C at entry, Molybdenum Alloy and ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy in the mid range, and Super Gold powder-sintered steel at the top — across two documented blade profiles: Yanagiba (curved) and Chokuba (straight). The 3D Offset handle, documented on several models, is a handle design with a structural angle built into the body rather than a flat offset profile. Many Washou models use non-standard sizes — 5.7, 6.2, 6.75 inch — alongside standard 5.5 and 6.0 inch lengths.
The five picks below span $235 to $1,050 and cover four steel grades, two blade profiles, three handle configurations, and a titanium-coated model. All five are available through Shear Integrity.
The five picks
1. Washou ESC Performance (guide price around $235). Washou’s SUS440C entry scissor with a Yanagiba blade. SUS440C stainless steel, Yanagiba blade profile, offset handle. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch — two standard salon lengths. The ESC Performance is the entry point into the Washou cutting range: SUS440C steel with a Yanagiba curved blade, documented on the product page as a Performance Series model built for orthodox cutting. The most accessible price in this list at two standard salon lengths. Available through Shear Integrity.
2. Washou ATS314 YN (around $402). Washou’s ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy scissor with a Chokuba straight blade. ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy steel, Chokuba straight blade, offset handle. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch — two standard salon lengths. The ATS314 YN steps to ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy and switches to the Chokuba straight blade — documented on the product page as built for clean, controlled cutting — at an offset handle. Made by TOA Scissors in Seki City. Available through Shear Integrity.
3. Washou CR ATS314 (around $503). Washou’s ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy scissor on a crane offset handle. ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy steel, crane offset handle, straight blade. Available in 5.7, 6.2, and 6.75 inch — three non-standard sizes. The CR ATS314 is the crane handle pick in the ATS-314 tier: the product page documents a crane offset handle — a geometry that lowers the elbow position during the cutting stroke — in three non-standard lengths that sit between and above the standard 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch steps. Available through Shear Integrity.
4. Washou FTIUD (around $671). Washou’s hot-forged Molybdenum Alloy scissor with a 3D Offset handle and dark gold titanium coating. Hot-forged Molybdenum Alloy, 3D Offset handle, Yanagiba blade, dark gold titanium surface coating. Available in 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 inch — the widest size run on this page. The FTIUD is the 3D Offset and titanium coating pick: the product page documents hot-forged Molybdenum Alloy steel, a Yanagiba blade profile, a 3D Offset handle, and a dark gold titanium surface coating applied over the blade. The four sizes span close detail and fringe lengths through barber cutting length at 7.0 inch. Available through Shear Integrity.
5. Washou Super Gold SGKUD (around $1,050). Washou’s Super Gold powder-sintered steel scissor with a single-sword convex edge. Super Gold powder-sintered steel, single-sword convex edge, thick 3D Offset handle ring. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch — two sizes. The Super Gold SGKUD is the top-tier pick: Super Gold powder-sintered steel is the highest steel grade in this list, and the product page documents a single-sword convex edge — a convex blade ground on a single side — and a thick 3D Offset handle ring, noting that the weight of the blade carries the cut. The most finely specified scissor in this roundup. Available through Shear Integrity.
How we chose
All five picks document Seki City, Japan as country of manufacture and are stocked by the same retailer. The five cover four steel grades (SUS440C, ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy, Molybdenum Alloy, Super Gold), three handle configurations (offset, crane offset, 3D Offset), two blade profiles (Yanagiba and Chokuba/straight), and a titanium-coated model — spanning $235 to $1,050. The FTIUD is the widest-size pick in the range at four sizes from 5.5 to 7.0 inch. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Washou range
The Washou ATS314 NKM (around $500) is a second ATS-314 offset model with a different blade specification, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch — an ATS-314 alternative at a similar price to the CR. The Washou Damascus FTNDUD1 (around $534) puts a 10-layer Molybdenum Damascus blade on a 3D Offset handle in 5.5 and 6.0 inch — the Damascus entry at the 3D Offset tier. The Washou Super Gold SGUDHK (around $805) is a smaller Super Gold offset scissor in 6.0 inch only, at a lower price point than the SGKUD. Thinning scissors — including the ATS-UD4, NKMT, and NYMB models with left-handed options — are on the Washou brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Washou is made by TOA Scissors Co., Ltd., based in Seki City, Gifu, Japan — one of Japan’s principal blade-making regions. The brand has been operating since 1963. The 3D Offset handle is documented on several Washou cutting models. The product pages describe it as a handle with a structural three-dimensional angle built into the handle body — distinct from a flat-profile offset — with the Super Gold SGKUD product page specifically noting that the thick 3D ring is designed to let the weight of the blade carry the cut. For full handle geometry details, consult the product page or the Washou brand website.
Yanagiba and Chokuba are two blade profiles documented on Washou product pages. Yanagiba is documented as a curved blade profile suited to orthodox cutting — the ESC Performance and FTIUD both carry this blade type. Chokuba is documented as a straight blade built for clean, controlled cutting lines — the ATS314 YN carries this type. Both are specific blade cross-section designations used in Washou’s product documentation. For the precise geometry of each blade profile, consult the individual product page or the Washou brand website.
Super Gold is documented on the SGKUD and SGUDHK product pages as a powder-sintered steel grade. Powder sintering — or powder metallurgy — produces steel by pressing and heating powdered metal rather than casting from molten stock, which allows finer, more consistent grain distribution in the finished blade. The SGKUD product page describes Super Gold as used with a single-sword convex edge and a thick 3D handle ring. Super Gold is the highest documented steel grade in the Washou cutting range featured here. For full Super Gold specifications, consult the product page or the Washou brand website.
The CR ATS314 documents a crane offset handle on the product page. A crane offset positions the finger ring lower than the thumb ring, creating a downward-angled profile when the scissor is held. This geometry lowers the elbow during the cutting stroke, which can reduce shoulder and arm fatigue when cutting at a raised position over an extended working session. The CR ATS314 uses ATS-314 Cobalt Alloy with a straight blade in three non-standard sizes: 5.7, 6.2, and 6.75 inch.
Yes. Washou makes thinning scissors including the ATS-UD4 Thinner, NKMT Thinner, and NYMB Thinner, with both standard and left-handed versions available. This roundup covers cutting scissors only. The full thinning range is on the Washou brand page.