HAIR SHEAR QUALITY GUIDE
- Michael Swanson
- Aug 29, 2023
- 3 min read
"What is the best shear steel, and how do you know you are getting a quality product?"
Understanding quality is one of the most challenging parts of buying a new pair of hairdressing scissors or barber shears. It can lead to many questions. What is the difference between low and high-quality shear steel? What type of steel is in my shears? What makes an excellent dry-cutting shear? How often should I sharpen them?
The different types of shear steel determine:
How sharp your blade is
How easy it is to sharpen
Rust and corrosion resistance
How fragile and the edge is
The weight of the shear
How many years will your shear will last
If you are cutting hair every day, it's important to have the right tools that will last. This hair shear quality guide is meant to help illustrate some of the basic factors involved with choosing a shear.
Scissor Steel is determined by the Rockwell Hardness Rating (HRC). It focuses on your shear's overall strength and hardness. The harder the blade, the better quality they are.
Low-quality
Hardness | Quality Level |
50-55 HRC | Low quality, Soft Blade |
55-57 HRC | Entry-Level Hair Cutting Shears |
57-59 HRC | Mid-Level hair cutting blade. Tougher and more rust-resistant. |
58-60 HRC | Mid to high-quality blade. Tough, Rust Resistant, and easy to sharpen. |
60-62 HRC | High-quality cutting blade. Commonly found in premium shears. Tough, resistant, holds an ultra-sharp edge, and is easy to sharpen. |
61-63 HRC | Ultra high quality cutting blade. Found in the best scissors. |
What is the best steel?
It is a subjective question to ask when it comes to Hair Shears. Steel that comes from different places have the ability to make quality products. Some of the differences include higher carbon content and it all comes down to forging techniques.
Stylists are taught to look for the term "Japanese Steel" when looking for shears and to assume that they are getting the best. The thing to consider is that this steel can be shipped anywhere in the world to be processed. Japanese steel creates a good visual image that these shears are being handmade in Japan by master craftspeople. This is not typically the case when it comes to manufacturing shears. It is the type of steel used and the manufacturing process that makes a good shear. Unfortunately, some companies choose quantity over quality. It is possible to take the highest quality "Japanese Steel" and manufacture it in a cheap way that is good for mass production, but bad for the life of your shears.
My stance when choosing shears is it's fine to choose steel from the top three countries. What is important to me is to look at the hardness rating, forging process, type of steel used, and to buy from a reputable business.
1. Japanese
2. German
3. Korean
4. Taiwanese
5. Chinese
Top Stainless Steel Used in Shears Ranked
Rank | Steel |
1 | ATS-314 |
2 | VG-10 |
3 | V-10 |
4 | V-1 |
5 | S-3 |
6 | S-1 |
7 | 440C - This is the most common steel you will find |
8 | 440A |
Kamibijuu Shears
Our shears are manufactured with a variety of different steels and processes. We list the steel used and the hardness rating on all of our shears. Production techniques are constantly evolving with new technology and we are always keeping up with this and trying new techniques. Follow us on Instagram to keep up with the company as we release new models and launch a new clipper line in 2024.
We are a big fan of using Japanese Steel in a majority of our production. It is the highest quality and a top pick for us.
Our top product the "Kami" uses Damascus Steel which is created by a different process than other steel. Damascus steel is made from layers of high-quality steel folded onto itself 14-16 times, creating around 4,000 layers. The layering technique gives the appearance of a fine wood grain or watermark on the surface of the shears. The main benefit of using layers of steel is that it holds a sharper blade for longer. The sharper the edge, the less push the blade will have, allowing for more precision cuts. This shear has the highest hardness rating of any of our shears which allows us to create a sharper blade. Most other steel doesn't allow for a blade as sharp as this one because it will just dull quickly. We are hearing from customers that is their only shear that will truly cut a straight line.
Financing is available and a "try before you buy" program exists to test out our models before making a commitment. To find out more info you can visit our shop at Kamibijuu.com or email us at customercare@kamibijuu.com
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