Finish Types

Reference sectionQuick answers for busy stylists

Begin with the exact pair. Record its model, blade material, finish description and the task it needs to perform. Then use the entries below to explore terminology and formulate questions for the supplier.

• Comparing cutting feel: Include blade geometry, fit, adjustment and condition in the comparison. A coating claim alone does not rank two assembled tools.
• Considering a black finish: Confirm whether it is DLC, another coating or a different surface treatment. Similar appearance does not establish equivalent composition.
• Choosing a colored option: Ask which parts are treated and how the maker handles cleaning, sharpening and repair on that configuration.

Kikui provides a concrete example of why names matter: its product page separates metallic-black DLC, matte-black fine-particle treatment plus DLC, and a gold TiN option. These are descriptions of that maker’s offering, not universal definitions of all black or gold scissors. Maker options.

Reference sectionFinish family cheat sheet

DLC belongs to a family of amorphous carbon coatings with different structures and deposition routes, including PVD and PACVD processes. Grouping all DLC as one PVD film loses that distinction. The exact process and film should come from the specification where available. Oerlikon technical overview.

The directory is a map of terms, not evidence that each appearance corresponds to one alloy, process or quality level. Detailed entries may contain maker examples; keep each example attached to its source and product rather than transferring it across the category.

Reference sectionTroubleshooting and maintenance checklist

A change in color, movement or cutting behavior calls for more information before diagnosis. Record what changed, when it appeared, the exact tool and any recent cleaning or service. Photographs can help describe the affected area, but appearance alone cannot establish the cause.

1. Identify the model and finish from the purchase record or maker’s specification.
2. Describe the affected surface and the observed symptom separately.
3. Give the service provider the relevant exposure and repair history.
4. Obtain the maker’s applicable cleaning, inspection or service instructions.
5. Confirm what a proposed repair changes and whether coating restoration is available.

Kikui’s factory-repair policy provides a service example for its own products and warns that inappropriate earlier sharpening can limit restoration. It does not establish a common abrasive or solvent rule for every finish in this directory. Manufacturer repair route.

Reference sectionFrequently asked questions

Do coatings change how the shear feels on hair?

A maker may offer a coating for friction or wear-related reasons. To compare the working result, identify the complete models and the intended task. Record a trial’s observations without treating them as a universal property of the finish label.

How do I care for DLC versus TiN or TiCN?

Ask for instructions for the exact model and coating, including the pivot and any uncoated areas. This directory does not prescribe one cleaner, abrasive, oiling interval or temperature limit across those films. Coating-supplier process data is not a care instruction for an assembled pair.

When should I re-polish a mirror shear?

Ask the maker or qualified service provider to assess the actual surface and blade condition. A visible scratch is not enough to decide that polishing is required or to specify how much material should be removed. Establish the proposed work and expected result before service.

Correction, 30 September 2026: Replaced universal glide rankings, color-based diagnoses and generic chemical or sharpening instructions. The directory now distinguishes treatment identity from model performance and directs care questions to the appropriate maker.

Keep exploring

• Steel Types
• Edge Types
• Guides: Maintenance Toolkit

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