The Best YAMAJO Scissors for Hairdressers
YAMAJO is a South Korean scissor brand founded in 1991, headquartered in the Buk-gu district of Daegu. The range runs three steel grades: cobalt at entry level, VG10 at mid-tier with a bearing pivot, and ATS-314 at the top with a bearing pivot in compact lengths. Guide prices are approximate USD conversions from KRW at ₩1,350 per USD dollar (June 2026) and will move with exchange rates; confirm current pricing on the YAMAJO site before purchase. Five picks here span $37 to $296.
What are the best YAMAJO scissors?
The Cobalt Step Cut Plus, around $37, is YAMAJO's cobalt steel entry cutting shear at 5.5 inch — the most accessible point in the range. The Cobalt Step Cut Plus Thinning, also around $37, is the 30-tooth cobalt thinning shear that pairs with it. The Cobalt Basic, around $73, extends the cobalt line to 6.0 and 7.0 inch — two lengths covering standard and long blade preferences. The VG10 Bearing Masterway, around $222, steps up to VG10 steel with a bearing pivot across 6.75 and 7.0 inch lengths. The ATS-314 Bearing Argon, around $296, is the top-of-range pick: ATS-314 steel, bearing pivot, in the compact 5.0 and 5.5 inch lengths suited to precision work.
YAMAJO’s published steel grades map directly to price position. Cobalt steel is the entry grade, used in the Step Cut Plus and Cobalt Basic lines. VG10 is the mid-tier grade used in the Masterway series, paired with a bearing pivot for smoother tension and pivot action. ATS-314 is the top grade across the Argon series, also with a bearing pivot. The brand states it sources raw materials from Japan and processes them in Daegu. All prices are converted from KRW at ₩1,350 per USD (June 2026).
Verified Jun 2026
Five YAMAJO picks from $37 to $296
| Attribute | Yamajo Cobalt Step Cut Plus Cutting Scissors Yamajo | Yamajo Cobalt Step Cut Plus Thinning Scissors Yamajo | Yamajo Cobalt Basic Cutting Scissors Yamajo | Yamajo VG10 Bearing Masterway Cutting Scissors Yamajo | Yamajo ATS-314 Bearing Argon Cutting Scissors Yamajo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$37 | US$37 | US$73 | US$222 | US$296 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Entry-level | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Made in | South Korea | South Korea | South Korea | South Korea | South Korea |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset |
| Blade type | Convex | Thinning | Convex | Convex | Convex |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5" | 6.0" · 7.0" | 6.75" · 7.0" | 5.0" · 5.5" | |
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Daegu, South Korea by YAMAJO (est. 1991). Guide prices are approximate USD conversions from KRW — confirm current figures at yamajomall.com.
The YAMAJO range
YAMAJO has been producing scissors in Daegu, South Korea since 1991. The brand is headquartered in the Buk-gu district of Daegu and states that it sources raw materials from Japan for processing in its Korean workshop. The range covers cutting and thinning scissors across three steel grades: cobalt, VG10, and ATS-314, with bearing pivots on the two upper tiers.
Guide prices in this roundup are approximate USD conversions from KRW at ₩1,350 per USD dollar (June 2026). Exchange rates move, and KRW prices can change — confirm current pricing at yamajomall.com before purchasing.
The five picks
1. Yamajo Cobalt Step Cut Plus Cutting Scissors (guide price around $37, approximately ₩50,000). YAMAJO’s cobalt steel cutting shear at 5.5 inch in an offset handle with a convex blade. The Step Cut Plus is the most accessible entry in the YAMAJO range. The 5.5 inch length suits detail cutting — fringes, perimeter lines, and close section work where a shorter blade gives more control. Available through YAMAJO Mall.
2. Yamajo Cobalt Step Cut Plus Thinning Scissors (around $37, approximately ₩50,000). YAMAJO’s cobalt steel thinning shear at 30 teeth, paired with the Step Cut Plus cutting model. At 30 teeth the shear removes a moderate-to-heavy proportion per pass, suited to bulk reduction and blending in medium to thick hair. Cobalt steel is the published grade for this line, consistent with the cutting model it sits alongside. Available through YAMAJO Mall.
3. Yamajo Cobalt Basic Cutting Scissors (around $73, approximately ₩99,000). YAMAJO’s cobalt steel cutting shear in two lengths — 6.0 inch and 7.0 inch. The Cobalt Basic Blunt 6 at 6.0 inch covers standard salon cutting across layers, hairlines, and general work; the Cobalt Basic Long 7 at 7.0 inch provides additional reach for slide cutting, one-length cuts, and stylists who prefer to pull through a wider section per stroke. An offset handle and convex blade are shared across both lengths. Available through YAMAJO Mall.
4. Yamajo VG10 Bearing Masterway Cutting Scissors (around $222, approximately ₩299,000). YAMAJO’s VG10 cutting shear with a bearing pivot in two lengths: 6.75 inch and 7.0 inch. VG10 is the grade YAMAJO publishes for this line. The bearing pivot smooths the opening and closing action and maintains consistent tension through extended use. The longer blade lengths make the Masterway the pick for slide cutting, one-length work, and techniques that benefit from wider arcs. Available through YAMAJO Mall.
5. Yamajo ATS-314 Bearing Argon Cutting Scissors (around $296, approximately ₩399,000). YAMAJO’s ATS-314 cutting shear with a bearing pivot in two compact lengths: 5.0 inch and 5.5 inch. ATS-314 is the grade YAMAJO publishes for the Argon series. The compact blade lengths make the Argon the detail-work pick at the top of the range — fringes, perimeter lines, and close-section cutting where a shorter arc gives more control. The bearing pivot and offset handle are shared across both Argon lengths. Available through YAMAJO Mall.
How we chose
The five picks span the full YAMAJO steel hierarchy across cutting and thinning. The Cobalt Step Cut Plus and its paired thinning shear cover the entry cobalt tier at 5.5 inch; the Cobalt Basic broadens the cobalt range to longer blades; the VG10 Masterway steps up to the bearing-pivot mid-tier; and the ATS-314 Argon takes the range to the top grade in a compact precision length. Guide prices are KRW conversions — confirm current figures before buying.
The wider YAMAJO catalogue
The VG10 Bearing Masterway Thinning (around $222) is the Ten-Ten thinning series alongside the VG10 Masterway cutting range — three tooth counts at 10, 16, and 26 teeth for chunking, mid-weight blending, and light texturising respectively. The ATS-314 Bearing Argon Thinning (around $296) adds a thinning companion to the Argon cutting shear, available in 21-tooth and 35-tooth variants. Full details and current pricing at the YAMAJO brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. YAMAJO is a South Korean brand founded in 1991 and based in the Buk-gu district of Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Both grades appear in YAMAJO’s higher-end lines with bearing pivots. VG10 is a cobalt-containing stainless used in the Masterway series, which comes in 6.75 and 7.0 inch lengths. ATS-314 is the grade in the Argon series, available in compact 5.0 and 5.5 inch lengths. Both are well-regarded professional stainless grades. Confirm specific hardness and specification details on the YAMAJO site.
The bearing pivot replaces a standard friction-screw tension adjustment with a ball-bearing assembly. This smooths the opening and closing action and maintains more consistent tension over extended use compared to a standard pivot. YAMAJO uses bearing pivots across the VG10 Masterway and ATS-314 Argon lines.
YAMAJO sells through its own online store at yamajomall.com. The brand’s primary distribution appears to be through that store and within South Korea. Guide prices here are KRW conversions; visit yamajomall.com for current prices and product availability.