Japanese Scissors VS German Hairdressing Scissors

September 03, 2021 7 min read

The best hairdressing scissor brands found in Australia are typically from Japan and Germany. So when you are looking for a new pair of hair cutting shears, you will often find Jaguar, Yasaka, Juntetsu or many other Brands that usually come from Germany or Japan. So what are some of the most popular hairdressing scissor brands in Australia?

The main ways these Japanese and German hairdressing scissors stand out from the rest of the other brands is that they are made with higher quality steel that has minimal imperfections and gives the sharpest cuts. If professional hairdressers and barbers are buying the best scissor brands in Australia, they look to Japanese and German shears for a product that will perform well and last for many years to come.

Scissor Brands in Australia for Hairdressing

Things to Consider When Buying Japanese or German Hair Cutting Scissors

If you are ready to purchase a new set of hair cutting scissors, there are some things to consider regardless of if you decide on Japanese or German shears. After you decide if you want to go with Japanese hair cutting scissors or German hair cutting scissors, there are other things to consider before pulling the trigger.

Here are a few things to think about…

1. Higher price isn’t always best.

It is important not to make a purchase because a pair of scissors is priced high, so you think it’s higher quality. Check out the company and the reviews before assuming you are getting the cream of the crop. And, vice versa, don’t just buy a pair of scissors because they are cheap, and you don’t want to pay extra. As a hairdresser, investing in high quality scissors is key!

If you buy quality hair cutting shears, you won’t have to replace them or service them as often as you would if you buy lower quality scissors. But, with that being said, remember top price isn’t always best either.

2. How are you using your scissors?

Another thing to think about is how you are using your scissors and what style will be best for you daily. If you do a lot of point cutting, you will want to research a shear that creates that type of texture. Or if you want a shear that will provide seamless blending so you don’t have to spend time fixing what your other scissors can’t do, research that type of shear.

There are different types of hair cutting scissors that produce different results, so it is important to find the right type that suits your style of cutting.

3. Research the blade before you make a purchase.

There are different types of blades that produce different types of cuts. It is important to look at the different blade types to determine what is best for your style of cutting.

Caring for Your Japanese or German Shears

Whether you purchase Japanese hair cutting scissors or German, it is important to store and care for them properly to ensure a long shelf life and to keep the blade sharp. Proper care involves rinsing them with soap and water daily to remove excess hair.

It is also important to make sure they are properly dried before you put them away.

Hair cutting shears are your go-to tool and you want to treat them that way! Make sure to care for them properly, meaning do not throw them or toss them onto a metal tray or into your workstation drawer or bag of tools and this can chip the blade or make it dull.

Handling your scissors gently and keeping them stored in a separate case away from other tools will keep them sharp and tip-top longer as well.

It is important to keep your scissors well-oiled, so they work at their highest level. If you rub a little oil onto the screw area every couple months, this should keep them moving smoothly.

Japanese Hairdressing Scissors

For hairdressing scissors in Australia, Japanese shears are easily the most popular for professionals. Whether you are a barber, a hairstylist or salon hairdresser, Japanese Scissors are going to be recommended to you like the best pairs even though their price point is easily above $500.

The History of Japanese Hairdressing Scissors

Japanese hairdressing scissors have been leaders in the international hair industry since the 1960s. In 1960, US President Ronald Reagan award Hikari Scissors Japan with an international business award for delivering high-quality products to the American market. The Convex edge blade which is so popular with the best high-end premium hairdressing scissors was also invested by Hikari Japan.

Japanese Hairdressing Scissors were the first to push for offset ergonomics that reduced the fatigue of professional hairdressers and barbers due to the long working hours in Japan and constant Repetitive strain injury that occurred in the workplace.

Japanese History with making hair scissors

Since the 1980s, Japanese hairdressing scissors were the standard in Australia for hair cutting tools. It was common for professionals to invest over $1000 in a pair of hair cutting shears from Japan, as they have an expected life of over 20+ years.

Japanese Shears Are The Best?

So why would people be so eager to purchase Japanese hair scissors? We discussed this with Sarah from Hair Beauty Paradise and she said:

A hairdresser is only as good as the tools she uses. It’s just like my shoes, if I buy a cheaper pair, I end up replacing it within the year. I end up saving money by buying Japanese scissors because I don’t need to replace them and I do not need to sharpen them as often as I do my training scissors.

The Benefits of Japanese Hairdressing Scissors

We now know that these are higher quality, they are the most recommended, but they are also the most expensive. Let’s breakdown the benefits of the best hairdressing scissors from Japan in Australia for hair cutting.

Robust and resistant to chemicals, corrosion and general wear and tear
Minimal maintenance and sharpening due to their extreme sharpness and hardened steel
Less risk of Repetitive Strain Injury and Fatigue with the ergonomic designs and lightweight material
Sharp Hair Cutting Motions with the Japanese convex edge blade and high-quality tension adjustors
Saving Money as you do not need to replace them
What Steel Does Japanese Hairdressing Scissors Use?

The main reason Japanese hair cutting scissors are so popular is due to the high quality steel, and this is the same reason why cheap scissors from Pakistan, Ukraine and other nations are poor quality. So let’s breakdown some of the steel Japanese hairdressing use:
Hitachi ATS 314 (Level 6 - Highest Quality)
Hitachi 440c (Level 5 - Highest Quality)
V10 (VG10) (Level 4 - High Quality)
V1 (VG1) (Level 3 - High Quality)
440C (Level 2 - Standard Quality)
440A (Level 1 - Standard Quality)

Hitachi steel is known as one of the highest quality steel manufacturers in the world, so you will notice that the high-end scissor brands like Fuji MoreZ, Yasaka, Hikari etc. will use this steel. International brands made use similar steel, but if the products are made in Japan, then you can be confident they are using the best quality available for your hair cutting scissors.

Cutting hair in a salon with Japanese hairdressing scissors

What is the best Japanese Hairdressing Scissor Brands?

After discussing the quality and performance of hair cutting scissors from Japan, it’s always better to look through the best brands to get a better understanding of what shears you can purchase in Australia.

German Hairdressing Scissors

For the best hairdressing scissors in Australia, a lot of professionals and casual hairdressers look to German Scissors. For a choice of style and quality hair cutting scissors, Germany leads the international market. These are extremely popular for their European design and unique bevel edge blades.

Germany Hairdressing City Europe

The History of German Hairdressing Scissors

German hairdressing scissors have been popularised in Europe since the 1930s, with Jaguar Solingen leading the charge as the most well known and affordable hairdressing scissor manufacturer. In the 1960s, German Scissor Manufacturers focus on international distribution for hairdressers and barbers with the focus of making aesthetically appealing designs that appease the international market.

The German city of Solingen, also known as the “City of Blades”, is home of the largest and highest quality hairdressing scissor manufacturers in Europe. Many of the well known German hair cutting shears manufacturers come from the same region and distribute hair scissors internationally.

German Shears Are The Best

So why would professional hairdressers and barbers be so eager to purchase a pair of German hairdressing scissors? We discussed this with Michael, a Barber in Sydney:

I used the Jaguar Pre Style Ergo scissors during my apprenticeship and was really happy with them. For less than $200, I had a pair working well for 5 years. I use Jaguar Germany shears just because I have confidence in their products.

A salon in Germany

The Benefits of German Hairdressing Scissors

We understand that German Hairdressing scissors use high quality steel, similar to Japanese Scissors, and that’s usually how the price raises. Let’s breakdown some of the benefits of buying a pair of Jaguar Germany scissors:

Affordable prices with pairs just starting at $100
Colours, Styles and Aesthetic designs that really stand out
Modern Ergonomic designs to prevent RSI injury and fatigue
Bevel edge blades that catch loose hair as the blades close

What Steel Does German Hairdressing Scissors Use?

The main reason why people use German hairdressing scissors is due to high quality steel. We are familiar with BMW and Audi, so everyone associates the German hairdressing shears, like Jaguar Solingen, with quality and precision. Let’s list out the steel types that German hair cutting scissors use:

MC Micro Carbide steel (Level 5 - Highest Quality
Molybdenum steel (Level 4 - High Quality)
Stainless chromium steel (Level 2 - Good Quality)

Is Japanese or German Scissors The Best?

After discussing the best hairdressing scissors in Australia with multiple professional hairdressers and barbers, we discovered that people associate Jaguar Solingen as the best German Shear manufacturer and Fuji MoreZ, Yamato, Yasaka, Hikari and many more are the most popular Japanese brands.

So what is the best hair cutting scissor brand in Australia? It’s hard to be certain, but we would put it in between Yasaka Seiki (Japan) and Jaguar Solingen (Germany). The reason is that people are not spending as much of hairdressing scissors as they used to. Previously a $1500 spend for one pair of shears would be common for hairdressers, but in 2019 hair professionals are looking to spend between $300-600 and expect high quality.