The Best Yagyu Scissors for Hairdressers
Yagyu is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in February 1990 by Matsuo Yagyu in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The brand is known for its patented split screw pivot — a loosening-resistant mechanism the company logo is modelled on. Five picks run from $407 to $621, guide prices being approximate USD conversions from JPY that will move with exchange rates.
What are the best Yagyu scissors?
The XD, around $407, is Yagyu's thinning scissor — the lowest-priced catalogued model in the range and the entry point for stylists who want the patented split screw pivot on a thinning blade. The GH-Air, around $500, is a cutting scissor available in multiple handle variants (GH-Air, GH-AirR, GH-AirM, and Straight). The GHS, around $500, is a cutting scissor covering several sub-variants (GHS280, GHS360, GHS360R, GHSY, GHS925) across blade lengths or handle geometries. The GHX, around $500, is a further offset cutting scissor in the GH family. The Grand Haoh, around $621, is the flagship — the top of the Yagyu range with the same patented split screw and convex blade.
The patented free-split screw runs through every model in the Yagyu range. A spring inserted into a halved screw allows the pivot to hold set tension without loosening under repeated use — the mechanism the company was founded to develop. All Yagyu scissors use a convex blade and offset handle unless specified otherwise. Steel grade is not published on the brand’s product pages. Prices are confirmed in JPY and converted here at approximately ¥154/$1; the USD figures will move with the exchange rate. Yagyu sells direct through its own shop and does not use third-party distributors.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Yagyu picks from $407 to $621
| Attribute | Yagyu XD Thinning Scissors Yagyu | Yagyu GH-Air Professional Cutting Scissors Yagyu | Yagyu GHS Professional Cutting Scissors Yagyu | Yagyu GHX Professional Cutting Scissors Yagyu | Yagyu Grand Haoh Flagship Cutting Scissors Yagyu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$407 | US$500 | US$500 | US$500 | US$621 |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium | Premium | Premium | Premium |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset |
| Blade type | Thinning | Convex | Convex | Convex | Convex |
| Sizes (in) | |||||
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Japan (Kure City, Hiroshima) by YAGYU Co., Ltd. Guide prices are approximate USD conversions from JPY and will move with exchange rates. Confirm current figures on the Yagyu shop.
The Yagyu split screw and the GH range
Yagyu was founded in February 1990 by Matsuo Yagyu in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The company’s defining feature is the patented free-split screw — a pivot mechanism built from a halved screw with a spring inside, designed to hold tension through the thousands of open-and-close cycles a professional scissor handles each day. The split screw is the company’s founding patent and the basis of the brand logo.
The catalogued range runs from the XD thinning scissor at around $407 to the Grand Haoh flagship at around $621. GH-series cutting scissors (GH-Air, GHS, GHX) cluster at around $500. All are made in Kure City, Hiroshima by YAGYU Co., Ltd. Steel grade is not published on the brand’s pages.
Guide prices below are approximate USD conversions from confirmed JPY figures and will move with the exchange rate.
The five picks
1. Yagyu XD Thinning (guide price around $407). Yagyu’s thinning scissor, carrying the same patented free-split screw pivot used across the cutting lineup. Offset handle, thinning blade, made in Kure City, Hiroshima. The XD is the entry-priced model in the Yagyu catalogue and the pick for stylists who want the split screw mechanism on a blending tool. Available through Yagyu directly.
2. Yagyu GH-Air (around $500). A professional cutting scissor available in four handle configurations: standard GH-Air, GH-AirR, GH-AirM, and a Straight variant. All share the patented split screw pivot, offset handle, and convex blade. Made in Kure City, Hiroshima. Available through Yagyu directly.
3. Yagyu GHS (around $500). A professional cutting scissor range covering multiple sub-variants — GHS280, GHS360, GHS360R, GHSY, and GHS925 — each differing in blade length or handle geometry. The split screw pivot, offset handle, and convex blade are consistent across the sub-range. Made in Kure City, Hiroshima. Available through Yagyu directly.
4. Yagyu GHX (around $500). An offset cutting scissor with a convex blade and the patented split screw pivot. The GHX is a single-model option within the GH-series cutting range, for stylists who want a defined model rather than a sub-variant family. Made in Kure City, Hiroshima. Available through Yagyu directly.
5. Yagyu Grand Haoh (around $621). Yagyu’s flagship model — the Grand Haoh (覇王), positioned at the top of the Yagyu range. Patented split screw pivot, offset handle, convex blade. The Haoh Classic is a variant within the same series. At around $621 guide price, the Grand Haoh is the top-priced model in the current Yagyu catalogue. Available through Yagyu directly.
How we chose
Each pick covers a distinct position in the Yagyu range. The XD is the thinning entry; the GH-Air, GHS, and GHX are the three offset cutting models clustered at mid-range; the Grand Haoh is the flagship top. Guide prices in USD are conversions from confirmed JPY figures; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Yagyu catalogue
Left-handed cutting and thinning scissors are available from Yagyu. The Yagyu brand page covers the brand overview. For the complete current catalogue including any models not yet on ScissorPedia, the Yagyu shop is the authoritative source.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Yagyu free-split screw is a patented pivot mechanism. A spring is inserted into a screw cut in half, which allows the pivot to maintain set tension without loosening as the scissors open and close through repeated use. Professional scissors open and close thousands of times daily, making pivot stability a practical concern. The split screw design is the founding patent of YAGYU Co., Ltd. and the basis of the company logo.
All three are offset cutting scissors built around the patented split screw, with convex blades and Hiroshima manufacture. The GH-Air is available in standard, GH-AirR, GH-AirM, and Straight variants. The GHS covers a wider sub-variant family (GHS280, GHS360, GHS360R, GHSY, GHS925) differing in blade length or handle geometry. The GHX is a single-model offset cutter. At the same guide price, the practical choice between them comes down to handle variant or blade length preference. See the Yagyu shop at yagyu.shop-pro.jp for confirmed current specifications.
The Grand Haoh (覇王, meaning Supreme Ruler) is the flagship model in the Yagyu range, positioned above the GH-Air, GHS, and GHX in the catalogue. It uses the same patented split screw pivot, offset handle, and convex blade as the other GH-series models. The Haoh Classic is a variant within the same series. At around $621 guide price (¥95,700 tax included), it is the top-priced current Yagyu model.
Yagyu sells directly through its own online shop at yagyu.shop-pro.jp. The company operates a direct sales model without third-party distributors. Buyers outside Japan order from the manufacturer’s own store.
Yes. Left-handed models are listed among Yagyu’s product types. Check the Yagyu shop at yagyu.shop-pro.jp for current left-handed model availability.