News & Updates
Industry developments, product launches, and ScissorPedia milestones.
Mizutani Issues Counterfeit Warning: Fake Scissors 'Becoming More and More Common'
Mizutani issued a direct warning in March 2025 about the growing counterfeit problem: “Fake Mizutani’s are becoming more and more common lately.” The statement, published on Mizutani’s European website, details...
HSC Consortium Expands Made in Japan Verification Program for Professional Scissors
The Hairdressing Scissors Consortium (HSC), Japan’s government-backed initiative to combat counterfeit professional scissors, continues expanding its Made in Japan verification...
Master Reference Knowledge Base: 380 New Technical References Added
ScissorPedia’s master reference knowledge base has expanded with 380 new and updated technical references across 28 categories, all available in...
2026 Industry Outlook: Sustainability, Modular Designs, and Next-Generation Steel
The professional scissors industry enters 2026 with several trends that have moved beyond speculation into tangible product development. Here is...
ScissorPedia Reaches 1,000 Product Specifications Milestone
ScissorPedia’s product database has surpassed 1,000 individually documented scissors specifications. Each entry represents hours of research, cross-referencing, and verification —...
The Complete Sandvik and Bohler Scissors Steel Guide Published
ScissorPedia has published comprehensive guides to European scissors steels from two of the continent’s most important steelmakers: Sandvik/Alleima (Sweden) and...
New Reference: Complete Hitachi/Proterial Yasuki Steel Family Documented
ScissorPedia has published comprehensive documentation of the Hitachi Metals (now Proterial Ltd., following the 2023 rebrand) Yasuki Works steel family....
ScissorPedia Moves Fully to scissorpedia.com
ScissorPedia has completed its migration to scissorpedia.com — the permanent home for what has become the world’s largest independent scissors...
ScissorPedia Reference Library Expands to 244 Technical Articles
ScissorPedia’s reference library has reached 244 technical articles across 19 categories — a milestone that reflects years of systematic documentation...
AEB-L Steel Turns 96: The 1928 Razor Blade Steel Still Used in Scissors
In 1928, Uddeholm (now part of the Voestalpine group) developed AEB-L specifically for razor blades. Ninety-six years later, this steel...
The Stellite Question: Why 50% Cobalt Content Changes Everything
When a scissor contains 50% or more cobalt, calling it a “steel” is technically incorrect. You are no longer dealing...
ScissorPedia Education Hub Launches: Mapping Every Professional Scissors Course
ScissorPedia launches its Education Hub — a comprehensive directory mapping professional scissors education across the United States. The goal is...
2023 CE Compliance Update: Texas, Florida, and Illinois Requirements
Continuing Education (CE) requirements for professional cosmetology licensure vary significantly across US states, and keeping track of current obligations is...
Extramarise Heat Treatment: The Sub-Zero Processing Behind Premium Japanese Scissors
Heat treatment is the invisible step that separates a mediocre scissor from a great one — and sub-zero processing takes...
Seki City Scissors Industry Valued at 12 Billion Yen
Seki City’s scissors production is valued at approximately 12.45 billion yen, cementing the Gifu Prefecture city’s position as the dominant...
Nano Powder Metal Technology: How Mizutani's University of Tokyo Partnership Changed Steel
Mizutani Scissors occupies a unique position in the professional scissors industry: a manufacturer that has invested in genuine materials science...
ScissorPedia Passes 500 Product Specifications in Database
ScissorPedia has reached a significant milestone: 500 individually documented product specifications across more than 100 brands. Every entry in the...
Ono City: Japan's Other Scissor Capital Turns 250 Years of Heritage
When people discuss Japanese scissors manufacturing, the conversation almost always centres on Seki City in Gifu Prefecture. But 200 kilometres...
Aichi Steel AUS-8 vs VG-10: Understanding Mid-Range Japanese Steels
One of the most common questions from stylists upgrading their scissors is whether the jump from AUS-8 to VG-10 steel...
Japanese Scissor Exports Recover as Global Salons Reopen
After more than a year of disruption, Japanese scissors exports are recovering strongly as salons across major international markets reopen....
The Counterfeit Scissors Problem: How to Verify Authenticity
Counterfeit professional scissors are a growing problem in the industry, and the consequences go beyond wasted money. Fake scissors can...
Bohler N690 Austrian Cobalt Steel Gains Traction in European Scissors
Bohler-Uddeholm’s N690 (also designated N690CO) is gaining adoption among European scissors manufacturers seeking a high-performance alternative to the Japanese steels...
Seki Virtual Cutlery Festival 2020: Industry Adapts to Remote Events
Seki City’s annual Cutlery Festival (関の刃物まつり / Seki no Hamono Matsuri), one of the most important events in the Japanese...
Online Scissor Sales Surge as Trade Shows Pause Worldwide
With trade shows cancelled and salon visits by dealers on hold, the professional scissors industry is experiencing an unprecedented shift...
COVID-19 Impact on Japanese Scissors Manufacturing and Supply Chains
The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting global supply chains, and the professional scissors industry is no exception. Japanese manufacturing — centred...
Left-Handed Scissors: Why Reversed Blades Actually Matter
Approximately 10% of the population is left-handed. In a profession as hands-on as hairdressing, that means a significant number of...
Professional Scissors Price Index: How Costs Changed Over a Decade
What does a pair of professional hair scissors actually cost, and how has that changed? After tracking prices across dozens...
Feather Museum in Seki City: A Hidden Gem for Blade Enthusiasts
Tucked away at 1-17 Hinodecho in Seki City, the Feather Museum (フェザーミュージアム) is one of the most underappreciated destinations for...
2018 in Scissors: Ergonomic Handles and Swivel Designs Dominate
If 2018 had a single defining theme in professional scissors, it was ergonomics. Across virtually every major manufacturer, new releases...
The Apprentice's Dilemma: When to Upgrade From Student Scissors
Every apprentice hairdresser faces the same question at some point: when do I stop using student scissors and invest in...
Kasho Blue Series Updated With VG-10W Steel Variant
Kasho, the professional scissors division of KAI Corporation (貝印株式会社), has updated their Blue and Ivory series with blades made from...
Seki Cutlery Museum: Permanent Scissor Exhibition
For anyone serious about understanding where professional hair scissors come from, the Seki Cutlery Museum (関鍛冶伝承館 / Seki Kaji Denshōkan)...
Damascus Steel Scissors: Aesthetic Trend or Performance Advantage?
Damascus steel scissors have become one of the most visually striking categories in professional hairdressing tools. The distinctive wavy, rippled...
Takefu Special Steel SG2 Production Expands for Scissor Market
Takefu Special Steel Co., Ltd. — one of Japan’s premier specialty steel producers — has expanded production capacity for their...
Nickel Allergies in the Salon: Emerging Research on Shear Materials
Nickel allergy is one of the most common contact allergies worldwide, affecting an estimated 10-20% of the general population. For...
The OEM Question: When Two Brands Share a Factory
Here is something the professional scissors industry rarely discusses openly: a significant number of branded scissors share manufacturing origins. Two...
Sandvik 12C27M: Swedish Steel Maker Officially Recommends Grade for Scissors
Sandvik — the Swedish steel giant now operating its materials technology division under the name Alleima — has explicitly recommended...
How Japanese Stylists Buy Scissors: The Dealer System Explained
The way professional stylists in Japan purchase their scissors is fundamentally different from Western markets. Understanding the Japanese system helps...
DLC Coatings Arrive in Professional Scissors
Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings are making their way into the professional scissors market, bringing a technology originally developed for aerospace...
Kikui Cobalt Alloy Innovation: From 1973 to Good Design Award
Kikui has received the 2015 Good Design Award for their cobalt alloy scissors — a recognition that brings renewed attention...
Seki Cutlery Festival 2014: Record Attendance for Scissor Workshops
The 2014 Seki City Cutlery Festival (関刃物まつり) has wrapped up with reports of record attendance for its scissor-specific workshop sessions....
The Rise of Powder Metallurgy in Professional Scissors
Powder metallurgy (粉末冶金技術 / funmatsu yakin gijutsu, abbreviated PM) steels are rapidly establishing themselves as the premium tier in professional...
Beautyworld Japan 2014: New Scissor Launches to Watch
Beautyworld Japan remains the single most important trade show for professional scissors in Asia, and the 2014 edition is shaping...
Understanding the Seki Division of Labour System
One of the most important things to understand about the Japanese scissors industry — and one of the least discussed...
Hitachi Metals Legacy: Understanding the Yasuki Steel Family
If you have spent any time researching Japanese scissors, you have encountered references to steel types with colour-coded names —...
Mizutani Omotesando Showroom Expands Scissor Trial Experience
Mizutani Scissors continues to invest in its direct-to-stylist showroom model, with its Omotesando location offering one of the most comprehensive...
2012 Year in Review: The State of Professional Scissors
As 2012 draws to a close, the professional scissors market continues to evolve along lines that have been developing for...
Seki City Cutlery Festival 2012: Highlights From Japan's Blade Capital
The annual Seki Cutlery Festival (関刃物まつり / Seki Hamono Matsuri) returns this October in Gifu Prefecture, and it remains one...
ScissorPedia Launches: Building the First Independent Scissors Database
Today we are making ScissorPedia publicly available for the first time. What started as a shared spreadsheet in 2008 —...